Epilogue

أَفَلَا يَتَدَبَّرُونَ الْقُرْآنَ ۚ وَلَوْ كَانَ مِنْ عِندِ غَيْرِ اللَّهِ لَوَجَدُوا فِيهِ اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا

Will they not, then, meditate upon the Quran? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would surely have found therein much contradiction. (Al Quran 4:82)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Abstract

Abstract: The Qur’an declares itself to be a scripture “about which there is no doubt” legacy.quran.com and a discourse free from internal inconsistencies quran.com. This article explores the philosophical and theological implications of these claims, arguing that a truly coherent understanding of the Qur’an requires letting go of contradictory interpretations inherited from past scholars, regardless of their eminence. First, we examine Qur’anic verses that proclaim its perfection, unity, and lack of contradiction. We then discuss classical and modern scholarly insights which assert that any apparent contradictions in the Qur’an are due to human misunderstanding rather than flaws in the text. Finally, we contend that students of the Qur’an must be willing to critically evaluate and even discard scholarly opinions that conflict with the Qur’an’s clear meaning or with each other. Only by prioritizing the Qur’an’s own harmony and engaging in deep reflection can one fulfill the charge to reconcile its message into a consistent whole. An epilogue offers concluding reflections on approaching the Qur’an as a “coherent, homogeneous and integrated work” thequran.love, cautioning against clinging to contradictory views that obscure its guidance.

Introduction

In Islamic thought, the Qur’an is not just one scripture among many; it is believed to be the verbatim word of God, bestowed as the final revelation to humanity. As such, the Qur’an makes bold self-referential claims about its own nature. It opens by asserting its absolute reliability: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah” legacy.quran.com. Elsewhere, the text challenges skeptics to find any disharmony within it: “Do they not then reflect on the Qur’an? Had it been from anyone other than Allah, they would have certainly found in it many inconsistencies” quran.com. These verses (Q.2:2 and Q.4:82, respectively) set the stage for a fundamental principle in Qur’anic studies – namely, that the divine message is internally consistent and free of error or contradiction by virtue of its divine authorship.

From a philosophical standpoint, the Qur’an’s invitation to search for contradictions is striking. It effectively provides a falsification test grounded in the law of non-contradiction: truth, if truly from an All-Knowing source, must be self-consistent thequran.love. Any genuine contradiction would indicate human origin or error. As one modern scholar noted, “the verse in effect teaches a rational criterion for truth in scripture – non-contradiction”, resonating with the classical logical axiom that truth cannot be self-contradictory thequran.love. The Qur’an’s confidence in this criterion – daring critics to find inconsistencies – underscores the Muslim belief in its divine perfection.

On a theological level, these attributes of certainty and coherence carry important implications for how Muslims approach interpretation. If the Qur’an is indeed without doubt or internal conflict, then any apparent contradiction one encounters must be resolved rather than accepted at face value. Over centuries, Islamic scholars (the ‘ulema’) developed tools like tafsīr (exegesis), principles of interpretation, and doctrines such as naskh (gradual legal abrogation) to explain and harmonize verses that seem to differ thequran.love thequran.love. Yet, scholars are human – their understandings can diverge, and interpretative traditions sometimes preserve conflicting opinions on the Qur’an’s meanings. This raises a crucial question: What should a sincere student of the Qur’an do when faced not with a Qur’anic contradiction, but with contradictions among scholars’ interpretations of the Qur’an?

This article argues that pursuing a coherent understanding of the Qur’an requires the courage and discernment to set aside contradictory scholarly views, no matter how venerable the source, and return to the scripture’s clear guidance. In the following sections, we will: (1) review Qur’anic affirmations of its own consistency and clarity, (2) discuss how early Muslim authorities stressed the importance of holistic reflection to resolve apparent tensions, and (3) outline why blind adherence to inherited interpretations can impede one’s ability to see the Qur’an’s unified message. Throughout, we will anchor the discussion in Qur’anic verses and authoritative statements, emphasizing that “God’s word is truth, not to be doubted,” whereas “people’s words (or understandings) are what differ.”thequran.love

The Qur’an: A Book Beyond Doubt and Free of Contradiction

The Quranic text characterizes itself with superlative clarity and consistency. In addition to the foundational verse in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:2) that there is “no doubt” in this Book legacy.quran.com, numerous other passages reinforce the notion that the revelation is perfectly reliable and unerring. For instance, Surah Al-Kahf opens by praising God “who has sent down to His servant the Book and has not placed in it any crookedness” quran.com. In the next verse, the Qur’an is described as “upright” or straight (qayyim) quran.com, indicating that it is perfectly just and correct – having no deviations that would lead one astray. Likewise, Surah Az-Zumar (39:28) calls the Qur’an “an Arabic Qur’an, without any deviance (crookedness), so that they might become righteous” legacy.quran.com. The consistent theme is that God’s word contains no distortions or errors; it is a “straight path” guiding to truth.

Such statements about the Qur’an’s flawless nature segue into the explicit challenge articulated in Surah An-Nisa (4:82) quoted above. Classical commentators explain that this verse is telling doubters: if the Qur’an were a human product (or a composite of multiple authors), over the 23 years of its revelation one would expect discrepancies, contradictions in doctrine or legal rulings, revisions of ideas, and other signs of human limitation thequran.love thequran.love. Instead, the scripture presents a remarkably consistent worldview and a cohesive moral and theological system, despite being revealed piecemeal in response to varied circumstances. The coherence of its meanings and the harmony of its laws convinced early Muslims of its divine origin. As the 9th-century exegete Imam al-Ṭabarī explains, “if they examine the Book of Allah they would realize that what you (O Muhammad) have brought them is from their Lord because of the coherence of its meanings and the harmony of its rulings, with each part of the Qur’an confirming and supporting the truth of the other parts” thequran.love. He goes on to say that if it were from other than God, “its rulings would have differed and its meanings contradicted, and some of it would point out the corruption of other parts”, but “no such disharmony exists”, so the only conclusion is that it is entirely from Allah thequran.love.

This understanding was not lost on the earliest Muslim scholars. Al-Ṭabarī, in the same discussion, cites the traditionist Qatādah (d. 736 CE) who succinctly remarked: “Allah’s speech does not contradict itself; it is truth in which there is no falsehood. But people’s speech does contradict itself.” thequran.love. Another early commentator, Ibn Zayd, echoed that the Qur’an “does not negate some parts with others, nor cancel out itself”, asserting that any perceived discrepancy is only due to “the deficiency of people’s understanding” thequran.love. These statements encapsulate a core tenet: the Qur’an’s internal unity is absolute, whereas human expressions and interpretations are prone to inconsistency.

Indeed, the Qur’an repeatedly calls on readers to reflect deeply on its verses precisely to appreciate this unity. The rhetorical question “Do they not then contemplate the Qur’an?” appears multiple times (e.g. Q.4:82, Q.47:24), urging that true understanding comes from sustained reflection (tadabbur). Surah Muḥammad (47:24) pointedly asks: “Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an, or are there locks upon their hearts?”legacy.quran.com, suggesting that failure to perceive the Qur’an’s coherence is a kind of spiritual malady – a locked heart. In Surah Ṣād (38:29), God describes the revelation as a “blessed Book which We have sent down to you, [O Prophet], so that they may contemplate its verses, and so that those of understanding may be reminded.” quran.com. The emphasis is on contemplation: one must ponder the verses in relation to one another, not in isolation. Modern scholars observe that the Qur’an “is permeated through and through with a uniform outlook and attitude”, which becomes evident when one reads it holistically thequran.love. In fact, the Qur’an characterizes itself as “the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration” corpus.quran.com – its messages repeat and resemble each other, creating a reinforcing pattern rather than contradictions. The unity of truth in the Qur’an is such that its parts explain and bolster one another, a feature described in Surah Az-Zumar (39:23) where “Allah has sent down the best discourse, a Book [with parts] resembling each other, consistent (mutashābihan)…” corpus.quran.com.

To be “beyond doubt” is thus not only a theological virtue of the Qur’an but also a directive for readers: the more one trusts in the Qur’an’s coherence and dives deeper into its study, the more any initial doubts or confusions fade away. “You will find it free of all contradiction”, as one commentary summarizes, and “therefore, there is absolutely no question or any doubt about the authority and authenticity of this Glorious Scripture.” islamawakened.com. This does not mean readers will never find verses that puzzle them or seem in tension; however, it means such dilemmas have resolutions if approached correctly. The Qur’an promises guidance for the reverent mind, not confusion. As the verse cited above from Surah Al-Baqarah implies, “no doubt” remains if the reader is among those humble enough to be “mindful of God” and receive its guidance islamawakened.com. The task, then, is to reconcile verses and meanings into a coherent whole, trusting that any real contradiction is impossible given the source.

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