—and this is something that no one who hopes to be believed by others would ever do. For anyone who seeks people’s credence would never utter such a claim, proclaim it so publicly, circulate it so widely, and consign it to everlasting record—unless he was utterly convinced, deep within himself, of its truth.

It is unimaginable that any human being could possess such certainty about a statement of this magnitude unless he knew that all created beings are incapable of refuting it. Indeed, to know that every human and every jinn, until the Day of Resurrection, is powerless to meet the challenge is itself among the greatest proofs of the Qur’an’s inimitability and, consequently, of his prophethood. Thus, for anyone who first hears these words, aware that they belong to the Qur’an he has been commanded to convey to all creation, this single fact is enough to establish that the Qur’an is inimitable.

Set aside the many other evidences of its miraculous nature—such as the total inability of all nations to rival it, despite their burning desire and relentless efforts to do so. When an act is not performed even though every motive is present, that very absence betrays a lack of capability. Since the Arabs and others possessed every incentive to counter the Qur’an, their failure proves the incapacity of all peoples to match it. This provides a second proof confirming the truth of that proclamation; and the truth of that proclamation is itself an independent sign of his prophethood, apart from the Qur’an’s inimitability. It is a manifest sign, enduring until the end of time, plain to everyone, and one of the greatest of all signs.

The Qur’an’s inimitability, then, is confirmed by multiple lines of evidence, and the facets of its miraculous nature are many