overview of the book “critique of doubts about the holy quran” by ayatullah muḥammad hādī maʿrifat

Ayatullah muḥammad hādī maʿrifat’s naqd-i shubuhāt pīrāmūn-i qur’ān-i karīm (critique of doubts about the holy quran) provides a comprehensive defense of the quran’s divine authenticity and addresses various scholarly doubts regarding its content, cultural context, and apparent contradictions. the book is structured across five chapters, systematically tackling theological, cultural, textual, scientific, historical, and literary objections. the first chapter contrasts the quran’s reverential portrayal of prophets (a) with their often derogatory depictions in the torah, while refuting doubts surrounding specific quranic narratives, such as noah’s flood and jesus’s crucifixion. the second chapter argues that the quran transcends the cultural influences of its time, emphasizing its universal applicability and realistic teachings, particularly in addressing gender-related issues and slavery. the third chapter resolves perceived contradictions in quranic verses by analyzing linguistic and contextual nuances. the fourth chapter defends the quran’s consistency with scientific, historical, and literary realities, while the fifth underscores the realism and moral purpose of quranic stories, countering claims of their allegorical or folkloric nature. ayatullah maʿrifat’s rigorous analysis, grounded in quranic exegesis and comparative theology, offers valuable insights for scholars of islamic studies and comparative religion, affirming the quran’s divine integrity and universal significance.