自人类在这颗星球上诞生以来，人类便一直试图理解自然、自身在创造之中的位置，以及生命本身的目的。在跨越数个世纪、涵盖多种文明的求真历程中，有组织的宗教塑造了人类的生活，并在很大程度上决定了历史的走向。有些宗教以文字经典为基础，其信徒宣称这些经典是受神启示的；另一些宗教则仅依靠人类的经验。

Ever since the dawn of human life on this planet, Man has always tried to understand Nature, his own place in the scheme of Creation and the purpose of Life itself. In this quest for Truth, spanning many centuries and diverse civilizations, organized religion has shaped human life and, to a large extent, has determined the course of history. While some religions have been based on written text, claimed by their followers to be divinely inspired, others have relied solely on human experience.

《古兰经》是伊斯兰信仰的主要来源。穆斯林信徒相信，它完全源自神圣的启示。穆斯林还相信，它包含了为全人类所作的指引。由于《古兰经》的讯息被认为适用于一切时代，它理应与每一个时代相关。但《古兰经》能否经受这一检验呢？

Al-Qur’an, the main source of the Islamic faith, is a book believed by its followers, the Muslims, to be completely of Divine origin. Muslims also believe that it contains guidance for all humankind. Since the message of the Qur’an is believed to be for all times, it should be relevant to every age. But does the Qur’an pass this test?

在本小册子中，我打算依据已确立的科学发现，对穆斯林关于《古兰经》神圣起源的信仰作一番客观的分析。

In this booklet, I intend to give an objective analysis of the Muslim belief regarding the Divine origin of the Qur’an, particularly in the light of established scientific discoveries.

在世界文明的历史上，曾有一段时期，“奇迹”——或者说被认为是奇迹的事物——凌驾于人类的理性与逻辑之上。当然，“奇迹”的通常定义很简单：任何发生在正常生活进程之外、而人类无法作出解释的事情。

There was a time, in the history of world civilization, when ‘miracles’, or what were perceived to be miracles, took precedence over human reason and logic. Of course, the normal defination of ‘miracle’ is simply, anything that takes place out of the normal course of life and for which humankind has no explanation.

然而,在接受某事为奇迹之前,我们必须谨慎。1993年,印度孟买的《印度时报》报道称,一位名叫"Baba Pilot"的"圣人"声称自己在一个水池中连续三天三夜潜伏于水下。然而,当记者要求检查他声称完成"奇迹壮举"所在的水池底部时,他拒绝让他们这样做。他反驳道:怎样才能检查一位诞下孩子的母亲的子宫呢?

However, we must be careful before accepting something as a miracle. In 1993, ‘The Times of India’, Mumbai, reported that ‘a saint’ by the name ‘Baba Pilot’ claimed to have stayed continuously submerged under water in a tank for three consecutive days and nights. However, when reporters wanted to examine the bottom of the tank of water in which he claimed to have performed his ‘miraculous feat’, he refused to let them do so. He argued by asking as to how one could examine the womb of a mother that gives birth to a child.

显然，这位"圣人"有什么要隐瞒的！他的说法不过是一种噱头，只为博取关注。

Obviously the ‘saint’ had something to conceal! His claim was a gimmick simply to gain publicity.

真正具有一点理性思维的现代人，绝不会接受这样的"奇迹"。如果这类虚假的奇迹是神性的考验，那么我们就得把所有以精妙戏法和幻术闻名于世的魔术师都视为真正的神人了！一部自称源自神圣的书，实际上就是在宣称自身是一桩奇迹。这样的主张，在任何时代都应当能够依照该时代的标准轻易得到验证。穆斯林相信，《古兰经》是神的最后、最终的启示，是奇迹中的奇迹，是作为对人类的慈悯而降下的。

Surely, no modern person with even the slightest inkling towards rational thinking would accept such a ‘miracle’. If such false miracles are the tests of divinity, then we would have to accept all world famous magicians known for their ingenious magical tricks and illusions, as genuine God-men! A book, claiming to be of Divine origin, is in effect, claiming to be a miracle. Such a claim should be easily verifiable in any age, according to the standards of that age. Muslims believe, that the Qur’an is the last and final revelation of God, the miracle of miracles, revealed as a mercy to mankind.

让我们因此来考察这一信仰的真实性。

Let us therefore investigate the veracity of this belief.

文学和诗歌一直是人类表达与创造力的工具，在所有文化中都是如此。

Literature and poetry have been instruments of human expression and creativity, in all cultures.

世界也曾见证过一个时代，那时文学与诗歌占据着骄傲的地位，正如如今科学与技术所享有的地位一般。

The world also witnessed an age when literature and poetry occupied pride of position, similar to that now enjoyed by science and technology.

即使是非穆斯林学者也同意，《古兰经》是阿拉伯文学中的无上之作，是地球上最优秀的阿拉伯文学。《古兰经》向全人类提出挑战，要求他们创作出与它相仿的作品：

Even non-Muslim scholars agree that the Qur’an is Arabic literature par excellence – that it is the best Arabic literature on the face of the earth. The Qur’an challenges mankind to produce the likes of it:

“而如果你们对我们陆续启示给我们仆人的经文有所怀疑，那么你们就去拿出一章与之相似的章节来；如果你们说的是真话，就召集你们的见证人或助手（如果你们有的话），去除真主之外的他们来帮助你们。”

“And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to Our servant, then produce a Surah like thereunto; and call your witnesses or helpers (if there are any) besides Allah, if your (doubts) are true.

“但如果你们做不到——而你们确实做不到——那就当畏惧那以人和石头为燃料的火狱，它是为那些否认信仰的人预备的。”[《古兰经》2:23-24]

“But if ye cannot – and of a surety you cannot – then fear the Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones – which is prepared for those who reject Faith.” [Al-Qur’an 2:23-24]1

《古兰经》的挑战在于：要求人们创作出一章与其中各章相似的经文。这一挑战在《古兰经》中多次重复。

The challenge of the Qur’an, is to produce a single Surah (chapter) like the Surahs it contains. The same challenge is repeated in the Qur’an several times.

至今仍无人能够完成这一挑战：创作出一章经文，在美妙、修辞、深度与含义上，至少能与《古兰经》的某一章略有相似。

The challenge to produce a Surah, which, in beauty, eloquence, depth and meaning is at least somewhat similar to a Qur’anic Surah remains unmet to this day.

然而，一个现代理性的人，绝不会接受一部宗教经典，哪怕它用最优美的诗化语言宣称世界是平的。这是因为我们生活在一个以人类理性、逻辑和科学为首要价值的时代。很少有人会因为《古兰经》极其优美的语言，就将其视为神圣起源的证明。任何自称是神圣启示的经典，也必须凭借其自身的理性与逻辑而被人接受。

A modern rational man, however, would never accept a religious scripture which says, in the best possible poetic language, that the world is flat. This is because we live in an age, where human reason, logic and science are given primacy. Not many would accept the Qur’an’s extraordinarily beautiful language, as proof of its Divine origin. Any scripture claiming to be a divine revelation must also be acceptable on the strength of its own reason and logic.