Max Shimba Ministries: THE QUR’AN IS NOT THE WORD OF ALLAH NOR OF GOD

Monday, December 8, 2025

THE QUR’AN IS NOT THE WORD OF ALLAH NOR OF GOD

THE QUR’AN IS NOT THE WORD OF ALLAH NOR OF GOD
By Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute

Date: Thursday, August 6, 2015

Introduction

This is one of the most critical theological questions that should challenge every Muslim to examine the origin, structure, and nature of the Qur’an. Muslims worldwide commonly assert that “the Qur’an is the pure word of Allah.” However, when one examines the Qur’an critically and contextually, a profound contradiction emerges. Many voices other than Allah are found speaking within the Qur’an itself. This raises a series of important theological questions:

If Allah is the sole author of the Qur’an, why do we hear other entities — such as Satan, Mary, the angels, and prophets — speaking directly in the text?
Why does Allah require the help of Jibril (Gabriel) to deliver His message if He is omnipotent and omnipresent?
Can the Qur’an still be called “the Word of Allah” when it contains the words of multiple beings?

Let us now explore the internal evidence from the Qur’an itself.

1. Satan Speaks in the Qur’an

Surah Al-Hijr 15:39: “[Iblis] said: My Lord! Because You have put me in the wrong, I will make [evil] fair-seeming to them on the earth, and I will mislead them all.”

Here, we clearly see Satan speaking in the Qur’an. The verse does not record Allah’s words, but the direct speech of Satan. Therefore, this statement cannot be considered divine revelation from Allah’s mouth.

Question:
If Allah alone speaks in the Qur’an, how is it that Satan’s direct words are recorded within the same text? Does this mean the Qur’an is partially composed of Satan’s speech?

2. Prophet Zakaria Speaks in the Qur’an

Surah Maryam 19:4: “He (Zakaria) said: My Lord! Indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with white, but never have I been disappointed in my supplication to You, my Lord.”

Here, Prophet Zakaria is speaking. His personal prayer is being quoted directly. This indicates that the Qur’an contains not only the words of Allah but also the prayers and dialogues of human beings.

Question:
If the Qur’an is purely Allah’s word, why does it include the personal expressions and emotions of a prophet?

3. Mary (Maryam) Speaks in the Qur’an

Surah Maryam 19:18: “She (Mary) said: Indeed, I seek refuge in the Most Merciful from you, if you should be fearing of Allah.”

Mary, the mother of Jesus (Isa), is here shown speaking in her own voice. Are we to assume that Mary’s speech is Allah’s word?

Question:
Has Mary become divine by virtue of her words being included in the Qur’an? If not, then whose word is this truly?

4. The Angels Speak in the Qur’an

Surah Maryam 19:21: “He (the angel) said: Thus [it will be]; your Lord says, ‘It is easy for Me, and We will make him a sign to the people and a mercy from Us. And it is a matter already decreed.’”

Here again, the speaker is not Allah but an angel—identified in Islamic tradition as Jibril (Gabriel). This demonstrates that even the angel’s words are recorded as part of the Qur’an.

Question:
If Allah’s word is perfect and self-sufficient, why must it include the words of His creation?

5. Jesus (Isa) Speaks in the Qur’an

Surah Maryam 19:36: “And indeed, Allah is my Lord and your Lord, so worship Him. That is a straight path.”

Here, Jesus himself is speaking. This verse records Jesus’ direct declaration. If this is “the word of Allah,” then Allah is quoting Isa verbatim — meaning that Isa’s words are embedded within Allah’s alleged word.

Question:
Does this not demonstrate that the Qur’an contains the voices of men, angels, and even Satan — rather than the exclusive speech of Allah?

6. Other Human Speakers in the Qur’an

The Qur’an also records the words of Pharaoh (Surah Ash-Shu‘ara 26:29), Abraham (Surah Al-An‘am 6:79), Noah (Surah Hud 11:37), and the people of various nations. This mixture of divine narration and creaturely dialogue makes it impossible to claim the Qur’an is entirely the speech of Allah.

For example:

Surah Al-A‘raf 7:12: “[Allah] said: What prevented you (O Iblis) from prostrating when I commanded you?” [Iblis] said: I am better than him. You created me from fire and created him from clay.”

Here we again have Allah and Satan conversing — a dialogue involving multiple speakers.

The Problem of Mediation: Why Does Allah Need Jibril?

Muslims claim that Allah is All-Powerful and All-Knowing. Yet, according to Islamic theology, Allah never spoke directly to Muhammad; instead, He sent Jibril (Gabriel) as a messenger to deliver His revelation (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:97).

Critical Question:
If Allah is omnipresent and omnipotent, why did He need a helper (Jibril) to convey His message? Could Allah not communicate directly, as He allegedly spoke directly to Moses in the Torah (Surah An-Nisa 4:164)?

This theological inconsistency raises doubts about the divine origin of the Qur’an and the necessity of intermediaries in delivering revelation.

7. A Mixture of Voices

The Qur’an contains conversations between:

Allah and angels
Allah and prophets
Prophets and their people
Satan and Allah
Human beings among themselves

This multiplicity of speakers makes the Qur’an a compilation of dialogues, not a single monologue from Allah. In literary analysis, such a composition is called polyphonic — having many voices. Therefore, it cannot logically or theologically be described as the “pure word of Allah.”

Conclusion and Challenge

Therefore, the central question remains:

Who is the real speaker in the Qur’an?
Is the Qur’an truly the Word of Allah, or is it a collection of multiple voices?
If Allah needs Jibril to speak, does that not suggest limitation rather than omnipotence?
Why does the Qur’an contain the words of Satan, humans, and angels?

Until Muslims can answer these questions academically and scripturally, the claim that “the Qur’an is the direct word of Allah” remains theologically inconsistent.

We invite our Muslim brothers and sisters to examine this matter sincerely and to seek the truth found in Jesus Christ, the Living Word of God (John 1:1; John 14:6).

References

The Qur’an: Surah Al-Hijr 15:39; Surah Maryam 19:4, 18, 21, 36; Surah Ash-Shu‘ara 26:29; Surah Al-A‘raf 7:12; Surah Al-Baqarah 2:97; Surah An-Nisa 4:164.
The Bible: John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
John 14:6 – “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth, and the life.”
Academic Source: W. Montgomery Watt, Muhammad: Prophet and Statesman (Oxford University Press, 1961).
Theological Reference: William St. Clair Tisdall, The Sources of the Qur’an (T&T Clark, 1905).

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba

Shimba Theological Institute
Max Shimba Ministries
"Come to Jesus, the Living Word of Life." ✝️