Analysis of the Miracle of the Quran Based on the Theory of Sarfah from Sayyid Murtada’s Viewpoint

The theory of Sarfah (i.e. the external interference of God in order to prohibit the confrontation of the opponents from enmity against the Qur’an), is one of the most controversial aspects of the miracle of the Quran, the highest reputation of which among the former Shiite scholars is associated with Sayyid Murtada. In this article, the theory of Sarfah is approved and the views concerning this theory are studied and criticized based on their motives of science and power; and the Qur’an is compared with the miracles of the other prophets not only as just the divine word but also as a deed of God. The descriptive and analytic analysis reveals that in order to prove that the Qur’an is a miracle, one can consider it in “the realm of the divine knowledge and power”; furthermore, other aspects of the miracle of the Qur’an can be added including the literary, scientific, numerical, historical, metaphysical, and epistemological aspects. Following this, a new approach can be taken to answer the questions concerning the theory of Sarfah, including miraculousness of the Sarfah itself rather than the Qur’an, descent of the Qur’an by means of vulgar phrases rather than the eloquent ones, tendency of all the Arabs to Islam, etc.

Keywords: miracle of Quran, characteristics of Quran, theory of Sarfah, divine science and power, Sayyid Murtada

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* M.A student of the Qur'anic sciences, the faculty of the faculty of Qur’an-teacher training, Mashhad (corresponding author)

** Faculty member of the faculty of Qur’an-teacher training, Mashhad