Question:

An oft-repeated argument by Missionaries and those who seek to malign Islam is the issue of the authorship of the Qur’an. They ask how Suratul Fatiha can be considered God’s words when it does not start with “say” yet it contains phrases like “thee alone do we worship”. Obviously, these are not the words of God. They also cite other verses including the last verses of Suratul Baqarah. They claim that these are obviously the words of a human being and not God. I was hoping you could the definite response to quash this oft-repeated attack against muslims. Some Muslims have accepted this idea and claim that the Qur’an contains more than just the words of God, and that it contains the words of Muhammad and the angels as well. They refer to verses such as 19:64 which also does not begin with “the angels say” or something like it.

Answer:

When considering verses of the Qur’an it needs to be realized that there are words that are suppressed that give the full meaning to what is being said in a particular verse. As such the word “say” does not have to come before a shift in the personality that is speaking. One has to view the Qur’an, in some cases, as a presentation of a conversation between various personalities. Thus, the words spoken are what was said but through the words of God. The entire Qur’an is the “speech” of God and to guide people He mentions factual events that occurred and in them exists conversations or dialogs that are relevant to the guidance He wants us to follow. The word “say” is employed for several different reasons. For the most part it is a direct command of the Almighty to the Prophet to mention God’s words in reply or in stating matter-of-factly something to a certain person or group of people. Because of the dialogs mentioned before and the usage of the word “say” in different circumstances one can appreciate that several individuals speak in the Qur’an, yet it is all the word of God because He is informing us of the events; even if this would relate to quoting one or more persons.
As it regards Suratul Fatiha, it should be appreciated that in the bismillah (invocation of God’s name) there is a suppression of the command to “read out” in the name of God. The following translation should help in conveying this point:

“(Read out to them, O Prophet,) In the name of Allah, Mercy abundant, Mercy eternal.” – Al Fatiha 1:1

As for Surat Maryam there is no need for a detailed explanation as the verse of itself is clear.

“(The angels say:) ‘We descend not but by command of thy Lord: to Him belongeth what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between: and thy Lord never doth forget, -” Maryam 19:64

The suppression of the words, “the angels say” is clear because they are the ones allowed to come to earth only by God’s command. This, again, is a case where God’s word quotes the angles speaking from their own perspective.

Any argument based on such reasoning would be flawed because a story or parable can hardly ever be told if the characters can never be quoted. This criticism is also applicable to the Bible because it too quotes various characters; even Satan himself:

“You will not surely die,” the serpent said to the woman. “For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” – Genesis 3:4-5

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: ” ‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. – Matthew 4:5-6

In both of the examples above it can be seen that the quotes are Satan’s words yet no Christian will ever say that those words are not part of, as they see it, the word of God; the Bible.

I hope I have clarified the issue.
God knows best.
UIUK team
March 30, 2005