The Qur’an is miraculous in the sense that it is has been proven to be above the ability of man to recreate something like it.
The Glorious Qur’an is the miraculous word of Allah revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in the Arabic language via Gabriel, the Angel of revelation also known as the Holy Spirit (16:102). These miraculous words were recorded in a book that was transmitted by “Tawatur”. This means that it was memorized to the letter as well as having written it down by hundreds of memorizers. Then, they passed it by memory and in writing to the next generation of thousands of memorizers. These thousands of memorizers passed it (hand written as well as by exact memory) to the next generation of hundreds of thousands of memorizers and so on.
This system guaranteed the preservation of Allah’s revelation and its transmission exactly as revealed to the Prophet. Because of this comprehensive familiarity each generation had of it, no one ever doubted one word of its authenticity.
The recitation of the Qur’an is rewarded and is considered an act of worship, rather than reading the text of the Hadiths of the Prophet (peace be upon him). This is because they are the actual words of Allah while the Hadith is the guidance of Allah in the words of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
When we talk about a miracle, we are referring to an extraordinary event or action which bypasses the laws of nature or ability of man. The Glorious Qur’an is miraculous in the sense that it is has been proven to be above the ability of man to recreate something like it, hence it is inimitable. In addition to that, it contains many scientific facts that were detailed centuries before man had any knowledge about them. It includes many fulfilled prophecies that were proven true, as well as historic facts.
Allah supported each of His Messengers with miracles in order to make people believe that they are Prophets chosen by Almighty Allah. These miracles were usually concerning something known to the people.
The Prophet Muhammad’s people were very famous for their eloquence in the Arabic language, especially poetry. Therefore, the Holy Qur’an (which is considered prose) was Prophet Muhammad’s main miracle to his people. Nevertheless, there were other physical miracles like the famous splitting of the moon mentioned in Surat Al-Qamar (55:1) as well as many others narrated in authentic Hadiths. In no less than three places, the Qur’an challenges the Arabs and all mankind to produce something similar to it. Until now, many people have tried so. Yet, the result has been failure in each case.
Almighty Allah challenges them saying:
Say: If mankind and jinn were together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like therefore, even if they helped one another. (Qur’an 17: 88)
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was an illiterate man (see 7:157) who came with the most sublime and eloquent book, to the extent that he was able to convince thousands of Arabs upon hearing a few verses from the Qur’an. Then, it would change these people one-hundred and eighty degrees. For example; The Arab society was polytheistic but the Qur’an taught them monotheism, the Arab society was generally without law or policy but the Qur’an taught them how to follow a detailed specific code of law and outlined consequences for breaking them, the Arabs were about 90% illiterate and the first verse revealed was “Read! In the name of your Lord” and within 50 years of its being revealed the literacy rate of Arabs was more than 50%.
There have been ridiculously false claims that Islam is just the result of a mixture of Judeo-Christian beliefs that praise old Arab practices. First of all, the Jewish tradition says that Jesus was a false Messiah, Prophets committed major sins and that Allah rested after creation. The Qur’an holds that Jesus was the blessed Messiah, that Prophets never committed a major sin and that Allah did not rest after creating the universe. Christian theology says that Allah is a trinity, that Jesus is divine, and that there is no need for the law. The Qur’an says that Allah is not a triune Allah but purely One, that Jesus is no more than a blessed Prophet of Allah who was created by Allah, and that the law was and always will be the base for our code of life. The Arabs gambled a lot and consumed alcohol and the Qur’an specifically outlawed these things. The Arabs were highly superstitious and the Qur’an taught that everything happens by the will of Allah. The Arabs were very tribal people with no law or order and the Qur’an unified all of these warring tribes as Muslims under the law of Allah and we can go on and on. This Qur’an went against the fabric of the Arab society and single handedly convinced the whole of Arabia to conform to its standard within 22 years. This is a miracle. Allah says:
And if you are in doubt concerning that which We have sent down to Our servant (Muhammad), then produce a Surah (Chapter) of the like thereof and call your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful. But if you do can’t, and you will never do it, then fear the Fire whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers. (Qur’an 2:23-24)
In fact, no one was and will never be able to meet this particular challenge.
The people of Jesus (peace be upon him) were evolved in medicine; so Jesus’ miracles were of a medical nature. By Allah’s Help, Jesus healed the blind and the lepers by touching them, even more than that he brought forth the dead. Allah, the Almighty, says:
And Allah will say (on the day of judgment). O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember My favor to you and to your mother when I supported you with Gabriel so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and remember when I taught you the Torah and the Gospel, as well as the prophetic wisdom in order for you to explain it to the them. Then by my permission you made a figure like unto a bird out of clay, and by My Permission you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed the lepers and those born blind and by My Permission you brought forth the dead. And remember when I restrained the Children of Israel from you (when they resolved to kill you) as you came unto them with clear proofs, and the disbelievers among them said: This is nothing but evident magic. (Qur’an 5:110)
Magic was widespread among old Egyptians; so Allah sent Moses to them and supported him with miracles that nullified their magic. There are many verses in the Qur’an that mention Moses’ miracles.
Then [Moses] threw his stick and it became a manifest serpent. And he drew out his hand, and it was white for the beholders. (Qur’an 7:107-108)