When the Quran Speaks

The Quran is God’s revelation to mankind. Numerous times in the Quran, it addresses the people in the first person. This cannot be the Muhammad because if it was the Muhammad, it would start with “say” ( qul / قُلْ ). Below are some examples of these occurrences.

Example #1

[11:1] A.L.R. This is a scripture whose verses have been perfected, then elucidated.* It comes from a Most Wise, Most Cognizant.

 الٓر كِتَـٰبٌ أُحْكِمَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥ ثُمَّ فُصِّلَتْ مِن لَّدُنْ حَكِيمٍ خَبِيرٍ

[11:2] Proclaiming: “You shall not worship except GOD. I come to you from Him as a warner, as well as a bearer of good news.

 أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّا ٱللَّهَ إِنَّنِى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ وَبَشِيرٌ

1	allā	أَلَّا	That “Not
2	taʿbudū	تَعْبُدُوٓا۟	you [all] worship
3	illā	إِلَّا	except
4	l-laha	ٱللَّهَ	God.
5	innanī	إِنَّنِى	Indeed, I am
6	lakum	لَكُم	to you [all]
7	min’hu	مِّنْهُ	from Him
8	nadhīrun	نَذِيرٌ	a warner
9	wabashīrun	وَبَشِيرٌ	and a bearer of good news.”

[11:3] “You shall seek your Lord’s forgiveness, then repent to Him. He will then bless you generously for a predetermined period, and bestow His grace upon those who deserve it. If you turn away, then I fear for you the retribution of an awesome day.”

وَأَنِ ٱسْتَغْفِرُوا۟ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَيْهِ يُمَتِّعْكُم مَّتَـٰعًا حَسَنًا إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَيُؤْتِ كُلَّ ذِى فَضْلٍ فَضْلَهُۥ وَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَإِنِّىٓ أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ عَذَابَ يَوْمٍ كَبِيرٍ

18	wa-in	وَإِن	But if
19	tawallaw	تَوَلَّوْا۟	you [all] turn away
20	fa-innī	فَإِنِّىٓ	then indeed, I
21	akhāfu	أَخَافُ	[I] fear
22	ʿalaykum	عَلَيْكُمْ	for you [all]
23	ʿadhāba	عَذَابَ	(the) retribution (of)
24	yawmin	يَوْمٍ	a day.
25	kabīrin	كَبِيرٍ	great / awesome.

Example #2

[51:50] You shall escape to GOD. I am sent by Him to you as a manifest warner.

 فَفِرُّوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ إِنِّى لَكُم مِّنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

1	fafirrū	فَفِرُّوٓا۟	So flee [you all]
2	ilā	إِلَى	to
3	l-lahi	ٱللَّهِ	God,
4	innī	إِنِّى	indeed, I am
5	lakum	لَكُم	to you [all]
6	min’hu	مِّنْهُ	from Him
7	nadhīrun	نَذِيرٌ	a warner
8	mubīnun	مُّبِينٌ	clear / manifest.

Example #3

[6:104] Enlightenments have come to you from your Lord. As for those who can see, they do so for their own good, and those who turn blind, do so to their own detriment. I am not your guardian.

(١٠٤) قَدْ جَآءَكُم بَصَآئِرُ مِن رَّبِّكُمْ فَمَنْ أَبْصَرَ فَلِنَفْسِهِۦ وَمَنْ عَمِىَ فَعَلَيْهَا وَمَآ أَنَا۠ عَلَيْكُم بِحَفِيظٍ

12	wamā	وَمَآ	and not
13	anā	أَنَا۠	I am
14	ʿalaykum	عَلَيْكُم	over you [all]
15	biḥafīẓin	بِحَفِيظٍ	ever a guardian.

Example #4

In this example, the Quran is referencing itself as a messenger.

[65:10] GOD has prepared for them severe retribution. Therefore, you shall reverence GOD, O you who possess intelligence and believed. GOD has sent down to you a message—*

 أَعَدَّ ٱللَّهُ لَهُمْ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا فَٱتَّقُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ يَـٰٓأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ قَدْ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَيْكُمْ ذِكْرًا

[65:11] a messenger* who recites to you GOD’s revelations, clearly, to lead those who believe and work righteousness out of the darkness into the light. Anyone who believes in GOD and leads a righteous life, He will admit him into gardens with flowing streams; they abide therein forever. GOD will generously reward him.

رَّسُولًا يَتْلُوا۟ عَلَيْكُمْ ءَايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ مُبَيِّنَـٰتٍ لِّيُخْرِجَ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ وَيَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا يُدْخِلْهُ جَنَّـٰتٍ تَجْرِى مِن تَحْتِهَا ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرُ خَـٰلِدِينَ فِيهَآ أَبَدًا قَدْ أَحْسَنَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُۥ رِزْقًا

Other examples in the Quran can be found in the following verses: 43:29 and 27:91. Some may question how a book can acheive such things, but the Quran informs us that He can make everything speak.

[41:21] They will say to their skins, “Why did you bear witness against us?” They will reply, “GOD made us speak up; He is the One who causes everything to speak. He is the One who created you the first time, and now you have been returned to Him.”

(٢١) وَقَالُوا۟ لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا قَالُوٓا۟ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ