the Quran and match it in eloquence so as to invalidate the proof of this claimant who was challenging them in their most outstanding skill and their most notable distinc‌ tion. They would thus have gained a manifest victory, endless renown, and eminence in honor and position. A contest like this would have spared them wars, great expenses, separation from their homeland, and the suffering of hardship and aft١iction.
But the Arabs reflected on the eloquence of the Quran and conceded its inimitability,
for they knew that they would be defeated trying to match it. Hence, some of them believed the caller to the truth and submitted to the call of the Quran and attained the honor of Islam. Others took the course of obduracy and chose to counter with swords rather than words, and preferred a contest of lances to a contest of eloquence. This incapacity and opposition were the ample proof that the Quran was a divine revela‌ tion beyond human capability.
Some ignorant non-Muslims have claimed that the Arabs matched the Quran and
countered it with this proof, lind that this contest has been forgotten because of the passage of time. The response to such a view is that this encounter, had it taken place, would have been made known by the Arabs in their gatherings and publicized at their annual fairs and markets. The enemies of Islam would have taken it for [use as] a ballad, chanting it in every gathering, repeating it on every occasion, passing it on to posterity, and guarding it as a litigant would guard his evidence. This would have been more satisfying to them than preserving the history of their ancestors. Yet, al‌ though pre-Islamic poetry has filled the books of history and the compendiums of literature, we do not see any trace of this encounter, nor do we hear any mention of it. This is in spite of the fact that the Quran challenges all humans-rather, all the jinn and humans-without limiting the challenge to any particular group. This is what God the Almighty says to those [who do not believe in the divine origin of the Quran]:

Say: "Verily though mankind and thejinn should assemble to produce the like of this Quran, they should not produce the like thereof, though they were helpers one of an‌ other (Q. ١٧:٨٨).

Moreover, we see the Christians and the enemies of Islam spending enormous amounts of money to detract from the prestige of this religion and derogate its great Prophet and holy Book. They do this every year, rather, every month. Had they been able to counter the Quran, even by matching one sura of it, that would have served as a greater proof for them and a better means of accomplishing their aim; and they would not have needed to spend all this money and exert themselves.

Fain would they put out the light of God with their mouths, but God will perfect His light however much the rejecters of faith are averse (Q. ٦ I :٨).

On the other hand, a person who deals regularly and deeply with an eloquent text, would, with time, be expected to acquire the ability of matching its style, or coming close to it. This can be observed in everyday life, but does not apply to the Quran, for. despite frequent perusal and prolonged study, no one has been able to imitate it to any extent. This proves to us that the Quran has a style beyond teaching or learn‌ ing. Moreover, had the Quran been the Prophets own words and composition. we would have found passages in the Prophets orations and sayings that resemble it in style and equal it in eloquence. However. the sayings of the Prophet (peace be upon