all created beings are incapable of producing a single surah like it, and Muhammad is one of them, it is known that it was sent down from Allah. He sent it down with His knowledge, not with the knowledge of any created being. Thus, whatever information it contains comes from Allah’s knowledge.

And His words:

“Say: It was sent down by the One who knows every secret in the heavens and the earth.”

This is because it contains secrets known only to Allah, demonstrating that Allah sent it down. His mention of this is sometimes used as evidence that it is true and sent down from Allah. Yet it contains accounts of the secrets of the heavens and the earth, of this world, of earlier and later generations, and of the hidden unseen, which none but Allah knows. Thus, from our knowledge that its accounts are true, we infer that it is from Allah.

Once it is established that He, exalted be He, sent it down with His knowledge, we infer from this that its accounts are true. Since these accounts convey Allah’s knowledge, the information it contains serves as evidence—whether concerning the prophets and their peoples or the Day of Resurrection and what it holds. For an account to serve as evidence, we must know its truth independently. Examples include its foretelling future events that then occurred just as it foretold; its accounts of past nations that agree with what the People of the Book possess, without any learning from them; and its disclosure of matters kept secret by those concerned, as He said:

“And when the Prophet confided something to one of his wives,”

up to His words:

“The All-Knowing, the All-Aware informed me.”

Thus, His words:

“Say: It was sent down by the One who knows every secret in the heavens and the earth,”

present its accounts as evidence. This is why He mentioned this to refute those who said that it was “a fabrication he has invented, and he was helped