Why do people debate whether the Qur'an is a Divinely Inspired Book?

Answer 1

Answer 1 (Non-Muslim Answer )

There is really only one reason why Muslims argue that the Qur'an is a Divinely Inspired Book. That is because they believe, as part of the religion, that it is and they hope that others will come to their point of view through discussing this. However, the opposition to the claim is not completely united. There are several reasons why Non-Muslims debate whether or not the Qur'an is a Divinely Inspired Book:

1) Human Rights Abuses: There are numerous human rights abuses that occur all accross the Islamic World. The Qur'an has a number of verses that incite hatred towards religions other than Islam and demagogues use them in Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and numerous other countries to do egregious harm to minorities. They then claim that the Divinity of the Qur'an allows them to invoke those passages that give them sanction over the Human Rights of Non-Muslims. If the Qur'an's Divinity is disproved, it will weaken the argument made by these vile demagogues. This is exactly what happened when the Christian Bible was taken apart by critics: the diminution of Christian Human Rights Abuses.

There are tolerant verses in the Qur'an as well, but unfortunately, the political establishment in almost every Muslim-majority country outside of Europe or the Former Soviet Union explicitly chooses to dwell on the negative verses. European and former Soviet Muslim-majority countries have very strong secular institutions.

2) Falsity of non-Islamic Religions: If the Qur'an were a Divine Holy Book, it would mean that Islam is the only acceptable religion in the world and people would be compelled to throw away their own religions. Most people do not want to do this because they believe as firmly in their customs and beliefs as Muslims believe in their religious beliefs.

The Qur'an explicitly considers Judaism and Christianity to be altered religions because of alterations to their scriptures (Q: 1:7, 3:78) and therefore incorrect. It considers all Dharmic religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, etc.) to be false idolatrous religions (Q: 2:256, 4:48). It considers all Animist and Polytheistic religions (African Folk Religion, Shenism, Shintoism, Voodoo, etc.) to be false idolatrous religions (Q: 2:256, 4:48). Finally, all post-Islamic Religions (Baha'i, Druze, Alawite, Ahmadiyya - debated, etc.) would be false religions because Mohammed is the Seal of the Prophets (Q: 33:40).

3) Qur'an's Inconsistencies with the Bible: The Qur'an disagrees with the Bible on several key points, most obviously Jesus's Divinity/Humanity. Muslims chalk the differences up to Christian alterations of the original revelation. Christians chalk the differences up Mohammed's personal alterations and fuzzy memory.

4) Honest Belief: Some Non-Muslims argue about whether the Qur'an is a Divine Holy Book because they honestly believe that it is not. This could be from the Atheist perspective that they do not recognize the concept of Divinity or it could be that the contents of the Qur'an do not resonate with them.

5) Bad Science: Qur'anic Science is bad science. If God had revealed the Qur'an we should expect, at minimum, no scientific errors and, to prove that it was Divine, we should expect ground-breaking information presented incontrovertibly. The Qur'an asserts many scientific claims that are untrue, such as: the idea that mountains hold the earth firm like tent pegs instead of plate tectonics (Q: 78:6-7), that the sky/heaven is a protected ceiling instead of a slowly thinning layer of gasses (Q: 21:32), that the Sun orbits the Earth like the moon (Q: 21:23), that two bodies of water will form a barrier instead of noting that the contents of the two bodies of water will diffuse (Q: 25:53), etc.

6) Assist Liberal Muslims: There are Muslims like Irshad Manji, Tarek Fatah, and Tawfik Hamid who are trying to create a new Liberal form of Islam. One of the best catalysts to developing liberal religious groups is the criticism of religious scripture. Many non-Muslims want to assist in the creation of these Liberal forms of Islam because they are more tolerant, more modern, and better in their treatment of both Muslim adherents and Non-Muslim neighbors.

7) Part of a Plot to Deceive Believers: While most non-Muslims do not debate the Qur'an on these grounds, the Qur'an puts forward this explanation as if it is the sure-fire reason for those who disagree. According to this belief, the non-Muslim is well-aware thate Qur'an is true and therefore, he maliciously acts to cause the Muslim to disbelieve because he is envious. See the Qur'anic quote below:

Q: 2:209: (Sahih International): Many of the People of the Scripture [Jews and Christians] wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them. So pardon and overlook until Allah delivers His command. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.

Answer 2 (Muslim perspective) I wonder why non Muslims bother themselves if Qur'an is a divinity holy book or not although they are not Muslims and in any case they don't believe in Islam or prophet Muhammad. However, I invite them to give proofs that the Bible and or the Torah are God holy books and that they were not altered in some of their parts (although Muslims believe in the divinity of the Bible and Torah). Refer to related question below on the proofs that Qur'an is God revealed holy book although Muslims don't care if non Muslims believe in the divinity of Qur'an or don't believe.