you are truthful” (2:23).

The proof of this claim lies in the result achieved—a miraculous transformation — which has been acknowledged alike by friends and critics of Islām. Some of the recent writers say: “It was the one miracle claimed by Mohammed—his ‘standing miracle’ he called it; and a miracle indeed it is”.30 “The Qoran is unapproachable as regards convincing power, eloquence and even composition … Never has a people been led more rapidly to civilization, such as it was, than were the Arabs through Islām”.31 “A more disunited people it would be hard to find, till suddenly, the miracle took place! A man arose who, by his personality and by his claim to direct Divine guidance, actually brought about the impossible — namely the union of all these warring factions.”32 “That the best of Arab writers has never succeeded in producing anything equal in merit to the Qur’ān itself is not surprising”.33

In short, the Holy Qur’ān is a miracle because it brought about the greatest transformation that the world has ever witnessed—a transformation of the individual, of the family, of society, of the nation, of the country, an awakening material as well as moral, intellectual as well as spiritual. It produced an effect far greater than that of any other miracle recorded of any prophet; hence its claim to be the greatest of all miracles is incontestable and uncontested.

Prophecy

Of all miracles, the Holy Qur’ān gives the first place to prophecy, and, in fact, prophecy does, in some respects, enjoy a distinction beyond that attributed to other miracles. Miracles generally are manifestation of the powers of God, and prophecy gives prominence to God’s infinite knowledge which comprehends the future as well as the past and present. But there is one great disadvantage attaching to all miracles which are merely manifestations of power. It is very difficult to secure reliable evidence for them under all circumstances. Certain men may have witnessed the performance of such a miracle and their evidence may satisfy their contemporaries, but, with the lapse of time, their testimony loses much of its value. Therefore a miracle stands in need of being proved up to the hilt before it may be