Muslims do not view the Qur'an as literature because they believed it to be the direct Word of God, and therefore it is not subject to literary evaluation. The language of the Qur'an is considered to be inimitable, reaching the pinnacle of eloquence in Arabic. Thus, the Qur'an sets the standard for Arabic literary expression. It even includes the challenge to produce verses like it—a challenge that has never been met. Among the most-beautiful and best-known passages are "The Verse of Light, and the verses (or ayat), that follow it.

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree an Olive neither of the...