Rhetorical inimitability of the heavenly Books other than Quran

12-2-2008 | IslamWeb

Question:

It is known that the Holy Quran has a high level of eloquence in a way Allah subhannahu wata'la challenged humankind and Jinns to write something similar. Do the original holy books (in the language they were revealed and uncorrupted as of today) the Injil, the Torah and other heavenly books have the same level of eloquence knowing they are also the word of God?

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

Allaah The Almighty described His previous heavenly Books that they were Books of admonition, guidance and mercy. Allaah The Almighty Says about the Injeel (Gospel) (what means): {...and We gave him the Gospel, in which was guidance and light and confirming that which preceded it of the Torah as guidance and instruction for the righteous.} [Quran, 5:46] Allaah The Almighty also Says about the Torah (what means): {Then We gave Moses the Scripture, making complete [Our favor] upon the one who did good [i.e. Moses] and as a detailed explanation of all things and as guidance and mercy that perhaps in [the matter of] the meeting with their Lord they would believe.} [Quran, 6:154]

Since these Books are of such importance and status with Allaah The Almighty, they have to be at a certain level of eloquence so that their objectives will be achieved.

It is understood from the statements of some scholars, like As-Shawkaani that those heavenly Books were not a miracle in terms of their eloquence to stand as a challenge to the people to whom they were revealed, as it was the case with the Quran.

Allaah Knows best.