If the Qur'an is eloquent, so was Shakespeare, so why is Qur'an divine?

Is the Qur'an divine because it is eloquent? The eloquence of the Qur'an is often cited as evidence of its divine nature. Scholars argue that the Qur'an's linguistic beauty and literary excellence surpass that of any human work, including the works of renowned writers like Shakespeare. While some may question why the Qur'an is considered divine if Shakespeare's works also exhibit eloquence, a closer examination reveals several key distinctions. 1. Unique Compositional Structure: The Qur'an has a unique compositional structure that sets it apart from the dominant styles of Arab poetry. This structure is so distinct that despite clear challenges, no one has been able to replicate its style. On the other hand, Shakespeare's works, while undoubtedly remarkable, do not possess this level of distinctiveness in their compositional structure. 2. Consistency and Brilliance: The Qur'an underwent scrutiny by the greatest poets of its time, yet no one could point out a passage or verse that could be improved. It consistently displays moments of brilliance, captivating its readers and listeners throughout history. In contrast, while Shakespeare's works undoubtedly exhibit moments of brilliance, they also contain passages that may not reach the same level of literary excellence. 3. Challenges and Boldness: The Qur'an, unlike Shakespeare's works, boldly challenges its deniers and shames them at every turn. It claims a level of sheer power that nothing can come close to. Shakespeare, on the other hand, never claimed his works to be beyond human effort. While he was considered a champion among worthy adversaries, his works did not carry the same weight of divine proclamation. 4. Deep Theological and Philosophical Matters: One cannot overlook the fact that the Qur'an delves into deep theological, philosophical, historical, and moral matters. It transcends the boundaries of time and place, reaching all walks of life. Its impact is profound and enduring, continuing to shape societies and individuals even in the present day. Shakespeare's works, while masterful in their own right, were tailored to a specific time and place, enjoyed by a particular segment of society. 5. Lack of Disparity in Eloquence: Perhaps one of the most remarkable aspects of the Qur'an is its consistent level of eloquence, even under the most challenging circumstances. It was revealed during times of extreme hardship, such as war and personal loss, yet it maintains its poetic beauty and linguistic excellence throughout. This is a testament to its divine nature. Shakespeare, on the other hand, had the luxury of carefully crafting and modifying his works over time, ensuring their literary impact. The Qur'an, however, was revealed spontaneously in response to various situations, yet it displays no disparity in its eloquence. Conclusion The Qur'an's eloquence sets it apart from other literary works, including those of Shakespeare. Its unique compositional structure, consistency in brilliance, bold challenges, exploration of deep theological matters, and unwavering eloquence even in challenging circumstances contribute to the belief in its divine nature. While Shakespeare's works are undoubtedly celebrated for their literary excellence, the Qur'an's distinct qualities and impact throughout history distinguish it as a divine revelation. It was said the poet Labeed was one of the finest poets of the pre-Islamic era. On one occasion, he recited a couplet in the market of Okaz, for which the Arab poets prostrated to him. His couplet was subsequently dangled in the Ka'bah and the title of the era's finest poet was bestowed upon him. Labeed eventually converted to Islam and discontinued writing and reciting poetry. He was asked why he did it, and in response, he said: "Even after the Quran (is there any scope of reciting poetry)?" Sources: El-Hadary, Tariq Hassan. "Equivalence and Translatability of Qur'anic Discourse: A Comparative and Analytical Evaluation." PhD thesis, University of Leeds, 2008. Islahi, Muqaddimah Tadabbur Al Quran

The Orientalist scholar, Arthur J Arberry argued each language has a pinnacle form and for Arabic it is the Qur'an. Shakespeare is one of the most popular literary writers so is a good example to test this out. 1. Shakespeare was educated in Greek and Latin by renowned mentors, and had access to the best libraries of the age Prophet (saw) was unlettered, spent most his life in Makkah, which was extremely backward relative to the world beyond the Arabian deserts. 2. Shakespeare spent most of his life in this craft. First as an actor, then as a professional playwright and then a poet. Before revelation the Prophet (saw) had not even uttered a single couplet of poetry. In fact he spent his life first as a shepherd, then a merchant. 3. Shakespeare had the luxury of carefully going through his works, modifying and amending for the best possible literary outcome. How would the Prophet (saw) have managed quality control? Once he recited a verse, it was learnt by his many companions, and it was out to the world 4. Sonnets were a well known form of expression, centuries before Shakespeare. The Qur'an however, had an entirely unique compositional structure, that differed in every way from the dominant styles of Arab poetry, that none could replicate despite the clear, bold challenge 5. Shakespeare's unique style and vocabulary is consistent in all his works and writings. The language of the Qur'an however is in stark contrast to that of the hadith literature. A lot of research has been conducted in this area (even a study by pew research center). These studies have conducted stylometric, as well as statistical analyses and found major variations in the language of the Qur'an and the hadith. In fact 62% of the winds in Sahih Bukhari are not found in the Qur'an, whereas 83% of the Qur'anic vocabulary is not found in the ahadith 6. Like every piece of literature, Shakespeare had moments of brilliance, and some where that was not the case. The Qur'an underwent the brutal scrutiny (naqd) of the greatest poets of the age, and they could not point out a passage or verse that could be improved. 7. Shakespeare never claimed his works to be beyond human effort. At best, the man was considered a champion among worthy adversaries. In fact, Professor Hugh Craig of Newcastle University ranked Shakespeare at no. 7 among top English playwrights. The Qur'an, on the other hand, is extremely bold in it's challenge to its deniers, shaming them at every turn, knowing full well that nothing can ever come close to its level of sheer power. 8. Shakespeare had the liberty of fiction and entertainment. That was not the goal with the Qur'an. This book spoke of deep theological and philosophical matters. It discussed history and morality, and despite the rigorous social critique does not compromise on eloquence at all. 9. Shakespeare was tailored to a 17th century London stage, enjoyed by a specific segment of society. The Qur'an had to reach all walks of life. From the shepherds to the elite class. The old and the young. The intellectual minds, and the spiritually inclined. In fact the momentum started when the Qur'an was first revealed, 1400 years ago, going from one civilization to the next, throughout history, never really stopped. Even in present day, the impact is extremely profound. 10. Shakespeare had his entire professional life to plan out and draft his works, at his desired time span. How many times do verses begin with "And they ask you (Oh Messenger)..." Qur'an was not only revealed in response to people's unscripted inquiries but also during times of extreme hardship such as war, during injury or attack, and even immediately after the death of loved ones. How does one begin to explain the lack of any disparity in eloquence whatsoever during such difficult tribulations.