Many different kinds of argument are found in the as in all religious texts. One of the interesting features of the book is that it often refers to arguments and reasonings that are to be taken to indicate the truth of the book. There is frequent observation in the Book that the verses of the chapters, the suras, are called ayat, and an aya (sing.) is a sign. The verses are called signs because they are taken to be indications of the truth of the book, by contrast, say, with verses of the Torah that are on occasion historical accounts or family genealogy, or a poetic invocation of the greatness of God. Of course, these verses also may be regarded as parts of an argument, but they do seem to be more distantly related to argumentation than much of the that constantly calls on its readers and hearers to reflect, ponder and consider what they are hearing or reading.
Critics of the have taken seriously its claim to constitute itself the proofs of its veracity, and have tried to pull these proofs to pieces. One very strong claim that the Book makes is that it is itself miraculous in structure. This claim is actually very complex and could mean a host of different things, but one interpretation that Muslims sometimes adopt is that if we examine the text then we will have to conclude, if we are fairminded, that it could only have come about miraculously. This is a plausible account of the miraculousness claim, especially as many converts to Islam become Muslim after hearing the Book recited or after coming across it in some other way. They hear the Book, or read it perhaps in a non-Arabic version, and it strikes them as true. It has this effect on them because it appears to them that the language is peerless and could come only from God, or perhaps they are impressed with the arguments in the Book. Many Muslims, it.........
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