Qoran Shenakht

One of the rational evidence which confirms that the Quran is a Divine Book is Quranic verses of challenge. The present paper elaborates on Professor Misbah's view about the secret behind the different challenging verses of the Quran through recognizing the order of revelation of mentioned verses and examining the views on the secret behind the various challenges. There are three main views on the secret behind challenges: 1.a challenge concerning the type of the Quran; 2. the difference between those who are challenged and their time; 3- grading challenges from more difficult to easier. Different explanations are given for the third view which is compatible with the logical and natural process of challenging. These explanations are typically unacceptable due to their incompatibility with the traditions relating to the order of revelation of the verse or its context, or due to their inability to respond to the claim of polytheists who say all the verses of the Quran are invented. Professor Misbah holds that first the whole Quran and then a Chapter (sura), and finally ten Chapters are introduced as challenges, which, are altogether, like a complete Chapter of the Quran. This view is not only compatible with the revelation order of the verses of challenge and their Final parts and related issues and can reject polytheiests' claim, but also conforms with the characterization of "ten Chapters" as "Methlah (similar to it)" and "Moftariyyat (accusations).