al-Mujiza al-Kubra al-Quran
- Author died
- 1394 AH
- Editions
- Dār al-Fikr al-ʿArabī
al-Mu‘jiza al-Kubra al-Qur’an (The Greatest Miracle: The Qur’an) is a comprehensive treatise on Quranic sciences and the inimitability (i‘jaz) of the Quran by the Egyptian Islamic scholar Muhammad Abu Zahra (1316–1394 AH / 1898–1974 CE).
Scope and Content
The work investigates key topics within the sciences of the Quran (ulum al-Qur'an), tracing the history of the sacred text and analyzing the diverse dimensions of its miraculous nature. Its subject matter encompasses:
- The revelation of the Quran and the wisdom behind its gradual descent (tanjim).
- The Meccan and Medinan classifications of verses and chapters.
- The preservation, writing, and compilation of the text during the prophetic era and under the caliphate of Uthman ibn Affan, alongside the narration of the seven textual variants (al-ahruf al-sab‘a).
- The arrangement of verses and chapters, Quranic recitation variants (qira'at), calligraphic orthography (rasm), and translation into other languages.
- Methods of exegesis (tafsir), including discussions on opinion-based interpretation (tafsir bi-l-ra'y).
- Quranic argumentation (jadal), rhetorical devices, and the legal status of chanting or musical recitation.
Approach to Inimitability
In analyzing the inimitability of the Quran, Abu Zahra maintains that every dimension of the text is miraculous, emphasizing the melodic resonance of its letters, the harmonious cohesion between words, and its overall structural composition (nazm). He examines historical receptions of the text, refutes the theological doctrine of sarfa—the notion that humanity was merely divinely prevented from producing a comparable work rather than inherently unable to match its eloquence—and details rhetorical aspects such as brevity (ijaz), structural conciseness, metaphor, and rhyme clauses (fawasil).
The author also highlights the narrative eloquence of Quranic stories—such as those of Abraham and Moses—demonstrating how thematic repetition serves purposeful renewal rather than redundant restatement. In addition to literary features, the book emphasizes legislative and ethical inimitability, presenting the Quran’s legal and social guidance as an enduring model for reforming human life.
Publication
The book was published in Cairo in a single volume by Dar al-Fikr al-Arabi.
Answer updated