—a further testimony to its truth—although it was revealed to an unlettered man who neither read nor wrote and who had never, at any time in his life, studied the sciences of the ancients or the chronicles of former peoples. Yet, all of a sudden, people found him receiving revelation that related beneficial accounts—narratives meant for reflection—concerning the nations and their prophets, what transpired between them, and how Allah delivered the believers and destroyed the unbelievers, all expressed in words that no human being could ever match for all eternity.

At times a story is told briefly, with consummate clarity and eloquence; at other times it is unfolded in detail—yet nothing is sweeter, clearer, or loftier than its presentation. It is as though the reciter or listener were witnessing the events themselves, present at them and seeing them with his own eyes.

As the Most High says:
“You were not at the side of the Mount when We called out; but We bestowed this as a mercy from your Lord, that you might warn a people to whom no warner came before you, so that they may take heed.” [Al-Qasas: 46]

And He says:
“That is of the news of the unseen We reveal to you. You were not with them when they cast their lots with their pens as to which of them should be Mary’s guardian, nor were you with them when they disputed.” [Āl ʿImrān: 44]

He also says in Sūrat Yūsuf:
“That is of the news of the unseen We reveal to you. You were not with them when they plotted their plan while they were scheming. (102) Yet most people—even though you strive—will not believe. (103) And you ask of them no reward for it; it is nothing but a reminder to the worlds.” [Yūsuf: 102–104]

Until the end of the sūrah where He says:
“Indeed, in their stories there is a lesson for people of sound understanding. It is not a narration invented, but a confirmation of what came before it, a detailed explanation of all things, and guidance and mercy for a people who believe.” [Yūsuf: 111]

The Exalted also says:
“They say, ‘Why does he not bring us a sign from his Lord?’ Has there not come to them clear evidence of what is in the former scriptures?” [Ṭā Hā: 133]

And He says:
“Say, ‘Tell me: if it is from Allah and you disbelieve in it, who is more astray than one who is in deep dissension?’ (52) We shall show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Does it not suffice that your Lord is Witness over all things?” [Fussilat: 52–53]

Allah, Mighty and Majestic, promised that He would make manifest the signs of the Qur’an and its truth, and the truth of what it contains, by creating signs in the horizons that attest to this Book, and within the souls of those who deny it—signs that constitute decisive proof against them—until they become certain that it has been sent down from Allah upon the tongue of the truthful Messenger.

He then pointed them to an independent proof, saying:
“Does it not suffice that your Lord is Witness over all things?” [Fussilat: 53]

That is, awareness that Allah encompasses this affair is sufficient to establish the veracity of the one who conveys it; for had he fabricated anything about Allah, the latter would have hastened to inflict upon him a severe punishment, as explained earlier.

Moreover, this Qur’an foretells future events exactly as they later occurred, and the same is true of the Prophetic ḥadīths, as we have demonstrated in our Tafsīr and as we shall mention regarding the battles and tribulations, such as His saying: “There will be among you…”