The Great Quran Thickness Illusion

Ever wondered why the Qur’an looks so impressively thick? Is it because it’s overflowing with profound, soul-stirring wisdom? Not quite. It’s actually a masterclass in book-padding. Let’s unpack this.

First, the Arabic script is enormous. Each letter practically shouts at you from the page. Then, they space out the lines so generously you could comfortably park a camel caravan between them. What could easily fit on a single page of normal print now balloons into five.

But wait — it gets better. Every page is printed in two languages: Arabic on one side and a translation on the other. Not for your convenience, mind you, but to bulk up the volume. Then come the endless footnotes and commentaries from modern scholars explaining what each verse “really means” — usually by circling around the same vague ideas again and again, like a director’s cut of a ten-minute short film stretched into a four-hour ordeal.

And don’t forget the obsessive ritual of adding “PBUH” or “SAW” after every mention of Muhammad, like a broken record. These constant add-ons aren’t in the original text — just more filler to weigh down the pages.

As for the paper? It’s not your average book stock. No, it’s thick, glossy, almost cardboard-like, making every page feel heavier than necessary. The entire production is designed to give the illusion of grand substance.

Now, imagine stripping away all the fluff: no oversized Arabic, no double columns, no redundant commentary, no endless PBUHs, and swapping in thin, Bible-style paper. The mighty Qur’an would shrink down shockingly fast — in fact, it’d probably end up smaller than the Book of Psalms or Isaiah alone.

And yet, Muslims confidently claim this slender, repetitious booklet somehow “completes” the Bible. In truth, it barely competes. A slim collection padded with formatting tricks and repeated phrases can’t replace the depth and richness of a divine library like Scripture.

The fact is, the thickness of the Qur’an isn’t evidence of heavenly wisdom — it’s the handiwork of human inflation, dressed up to look like more than it is.