Spotlight On Islam

The Final Verdict — Following the Evidence, Not Tradition

Part 10 of the series: “Ten Evidence-Based Reasons to Doubt the Divine Origin of the Qur’an”

Introduction: Tradition vs. Evidence

For centuries, Muslims have claimed the Qur’an is the literal, preserved word of God — perfect, unaltered, and eternal. This belief is rooted in centuries of tradition, religious authority, and communal identity.

Yet, when subjected to critical scrutiny based on historical, textual, and logical evidence, the claim falters.
This final post synthesises the previous nine analyses, laying out the irrefutable logical conclusion: the Qur’an’s origins and nature are human, not divine.

1. Recap of key evidential points

Variant readings and lost verses demonstrate human transmission errors and editorial choices.
Moral and scientific errors reflect 7th-century knowledge, not perfect divine insight.
The inimitability claim is subjective and unfalsifiable, failing as proof.
The Qur’an borrows extensively from earlier scriptures and cultures, undermining claims of unique revelation.
Internal contradictions expose inconsistencies impossible in perfect divine speech.
The doctrine of abrogation admits divine inconsistency and textual revision.
The Qur’an contains explicit commands for violence that clash with universal morality.
Reliance on Hadith, compiled centuries later and often unverifiable, destabilises Qur’anic authority.
The archaeological silence and manuscript evidence reveal a text that evolved over decades, not divinely preserved from inception.

2. The core logical problem: human tradition vs. evidence

Syllogism:

Premise 1: A divine, perfect scripture must be internally consistent, preserved perfectly, and free from contradiction or revision.
Premise 2: The Qur’an contains contradictions, revisions (abrogation), textual variants, and moral errors.
Premise 3: The Qur’an relies heavily on unverifiable Hadith and shows evidence of human editing.
Premise 4: Manuscript and archaeological evidence demonstrate the text was not fixed immediately and shows variation.
Conclusion: Therefore, the Qur’an does not meet the criteria of a perfect divine scripture; it is a human product.

3. Why tradition cannot override evidence

Tradition is often resistant to change because it supports identity and power structures.
Intellectual honesty demands following evidence wherever it leads, regardless of discomfort.
Accepting tradition without critical evaluation blocks progress and truth.

4. The consequences of rejecting divine Qur’an claims

Rejecting divine authorship does not necessarily imply rejecting:

All spiritual or ethical insights found in the Qur’an.
The historical significance of Muhammad as a religious figure.
The right to critique and improve religious thought.

It means applying reason, evidence, and ethics as the ultimate standards.

5. Alternative explanations for the Qur’an’s origins

A human product of 7th-century Arabia, reflecting its culture, politics, and religious ideas.
Compiled over decades through oral and written transmission, with editorial decisions shaping its final form.
Influenced by Jewish, Christian, and Arab traditions.

6. The importance of critical scholarship

Rejecting blind faith in tradition enables honest historical inquiry.
It opens the door for meaningful interfaith dialogue based on facts.
It encourages reform and modernization grounded in reason.

7. Final reflections

“The truth is not a matter of tradition but of evidence and reason.”

Belief in the Qur’an’s divinity cannot withstand rigorous examination. The evidence overwhelmingly supports a human origin.

📚 Recommended readings

John Wansbrough, Quranic Studies (1977)
Patricia Crone, Meccan Trade and the Rise of Islam (1987)
Jonathan Brown, Hadith: Muhammad’s Legacy in the Medieval and Modern World (2009)
Angelika Neuwirth, The Qur’an and Late Antiquity (2010)
Fred Donner, Narratives of Islamic Origins (1998)