Orientalists' Objections on the Challenges of the Qur'an in the Context of Coherence and Structure

Abstract

The Holy Qur’an is the primary source of Islam and the foundation of religious and cultural life. Believers regard it as the divine word of God, the complete guide for human guidance, and the greatest miracle of the Prophethood of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This sacred book not only provides the basis for beliefs and rituals but also offers a comprehensive charter for human welfare, moral purification, social justice, and spiritual elevation. The preservation and miraculous nature of the Qur’an have always remained a subject of deep reflection for scholars and researchers across generations. Within the rich Islamic scholarly tradition, extensive work has been carried out for centuries on the Qur’an’s coherence, eloquence, stylistic features, miraculous nature, and thematic harmony.However, alongside this vast corpus of Islamic knowledge, a prominent aspect of Western Orientalist scholarship has been to raise intellectual and critical objections against the Qur’an. Orientalists have questioned the Qur’an’s coherence, literary style, and structural composition from various perspectives. Among their claims is the assertion that the Qur’an lacks narrative continuity, its themes appear disconnected, and the arrangement of verses and chapters is illogical. While some of these objections stem from academic analysis, many are influenced by bias, intellectual one-sidedness, or a lack of understanding of the internal spirit of Islamic sciences.Specifically, in the context of coherence and structure, the issues raised by Orientalists often ignore the classical Islamic tradition of Qur’anic understanding—principles such as the "Nazm al-Qur’an" (coherent order of the Qur’an), interpretation in light of context, and the depths of Qur’anic eloquence. These objections are typically based on a superficial reading of the text, disregarding the inner connectivity, thematic progression, and stylistic wisdom that are, in fact, central to understanding the Qur’an.

Keywords: Orientalists’, Objections, Challenges, Coherence, Comprehensive, Progression