Is the Quran true?

Elisa (No)

From self-contradictions to historical problems, the Quran is not what Muslims claim. Known as the “Quranic Conundrum,” if the Quran is true, then it is false. In several Surahs, “the Scriptures” (referring to the Jewish Torah and Christian writings) were confirmed as true by Allah (Ali 'Imran 3:3, Al Ma'iadh 5:68). Allah instructs Muhammad to consult with Jews and Christians if he doubts because of their Scriptures (Yunas 10:94). And Christians are commanded to judge by the Gospel so they are not “defiantly disobedient” (Al-Ma'idah 5:46-47). The Quran affirms these Scriptures as divine and unchangeable. Yet, some Muslims claim they’re corrupted, raising the question of why the Quran instructs Christians to judge by these scriptures if they were supposedly altered. If Allah is not all-knowing and is incorrect about these Scriptures being altered, and there is strong historical consensus that they weren’t, then the Quran is compromised and untrue. 

Likewise, Muslims claim the Quran has never changed since its creation. However, this extreme claim has been easily refuted when “Dr. Keith Small published a thorough comparison of the popular modern Quranic text to 22 other copies of the Quran, including many of the earliest manuscripts…In just these seven verses, he found nearly 350 variants among all the manuscripts he examined.” 

Next, there are many contradictions in the Quran. For example, there are contradictions on whether Satan is an angel or a jinn or whether or not Allah guides to the truth, to name a few. The Bible was created long before the Quran, which makes many believe that the Quran is just a flawed lookalike of the truth, which Satan himself may have inspired. The Quran references much of the Bible, and Johnathon McLatchie writes, ‘‘As far as ancient texts go, the New Testament is the best attested of antiquity, based on the sheer volume of manuscripts…and the earliness of those manuscripts.’ Not only that, there are several troubling passages throughout the book, such as commanding the assault of non-believers (Surah 2:191, Surah 9:5, Surah 3:151).

Unfortunately, all religions are not treated equally, as close historical study or criticism of Islam is not tolerated. A close examination of this text's overarching ethical worldview reveals significant inconsistencies, undermining its reliability as a source of truth. As a result, it fails to provide a coherent foundation for understanding absolute reality.

Maha (Yes)

For Muslims, the Quran is considered God’s truest words as written in the book itself: 'With the truth we (God) have sent it down and with the truth it has come down.' And there’s ample evidence to support this. 

Contrary to claims that the Quran was authored by the Prophet Muhammad or even Satan, many facts prove that it’s the word of God. The Prophet wasn’t literate, so he couldn’t have written such eloquent words. Moreover, the verses’ unique style and arrangement differ from prophetic narrations.

Similarly, Satan couldn’t have helped write the Quran as the first step before reciting it entails seeking refuge from the devil. The book also has numerous verses declaring Satan as the foe of humanity. Further, the Holy Quran is true since it has remained unchanged over the years, unlike other scriptures. Scientists from the Munich University Institute confirmed this after studying 2,000 copies from different periods and places. Aside from copying errors, there wasn’t any discrepancy in the texts. 

Another testament to the Quran’s authenticity is the numerous scientific facts revealed in it that were proven true centuries later. For instance, verses 23:12-14 detail the early stages of fetus formation, while 55:19-20 explain the conflux phenomenon. 

The Holy Book also includes many prophecies that have happened and continue to take place in the present. For instance, it predicted the defeat of the Persian Empire by the Roman Empire during the 7th century. It also prophesied the spread of Islam despite many efforts against it. So, as a book that remained unchanged and still resonates with worshipers after centuries, there’s no doubt that the Quran is true.