The Qur’an An Abiding Wonder
The Qur’an —The Prophet’s Miracle
~ 93 ~
stands above all works of men,’ he said. ‘What, has
the Qur’an expressed this idea more eloquently?’
Finkle enquired. ‘We are like little children
compared to the Qur’an,’ Gilani told him. Amazed,
Finkle asked what was in the Qur’an. Gilani recited
this verse from Surah
Qaf:
‘On that Day We will ask
Hell: ‘Are you full?’ And Hell will answer: ‘Are
there any more?’ (50:30) Finkle was startled on
hearing this verse. Amazed at the supreme
eloquence of the Qur’an, he openly admitted defeat.
‘You were right, quite right,’ he said, ‘I
unreservedly concede defeat.’ ‘For you to
acknowledge the truth,’ Gilani replied, ‘is nothing
strange, for you are a man of letters, well aware of
the importance of style in language.’ This particular
Orientalist was fluent in English, German, Hebrew
and Arabic, and had spent all his life studying the
literature of these languages. (Sheikh al-Tantawi
al-Jauhari,
Al-Jawahir fi Tafseer Al-Qur’an Al-Kareem,
Vol. 23, pp. 111-12).
