Can a camel climb a tree? The inimitability and uniqueness of the Quran

ByShaykh Haytham Tamim

Surah Hud is a Makki surah, revealed during a time when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the early believers were facing intense pressure and rejection. The Quraysh, who prided themselves on their eloquence and mastery of the Arabic language, began questioning the very foundation of the message: 

Was this Quran truly divine, or was it fabricated? 

Was Muhammad (peace be upon him) a true messenger of God, or a liar?

Allah responds to these doubts in Surah Hud:

 أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ ٱفۡتَرَىٰهُۖ قُلۡ فَأۡتُواْ بِعَشۡرِ سُوَرٖ مِّثۡلِهِۦ مُفۡتَرَيَٰتٖ وَٱدۡعُواْ مَنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُم مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ صَٰدِقِينَ 

Or do they say, ‘He invented it’? Say, ‘Then bring ten surahs like it, fabricated, and call upon whoever you can besides Allah, if you are truthful.’   (Surat Hud, 11:13)

The gradual nature of the challenge

The challenge to the Quraysh was gradual, giving them multiple chances to respond. When the Prophet (peace be upon him) first began reciting the Quran, the Quraysh were stunned. How could a man who was unlettered, who had never composed poetry, produce such eloquent, powerful verses?

They—the masters of Arabic, celebrated for their poetry and rhetoric—felt upstaged. Yet despite their pride, they could not match the Quran. Allah then posed the challenge again, even more comprehensively, in Surah Al-Isra:

 قُل لَّئِنِ ٱجۡتَمَعَتِ ٱلۡإِنسُ وَٱلۡجِنُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَأۡتُواْ بِمِثۡلِ هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لَا يَأۡتُونَ بِمِثۡلِهِۦ وَلَوۡ كَانَ بَعۡضُهُمۡ لِبَعۡضٖ ظَهِيرٗا 

Say: If all mankind and the jinn came together to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce its like, even if they helped one another. (Surat al-Isra, 17:88)

In essence, Allah was saying: If you claim the Quran is man-made, then prove it.

As the Arabic proverb goes: 

“If you claim that a camel can climb a tree, then show us—here is the camel, and here is the tree.” 

Until then, it’s just an empty claim.

A challenge they could not meet

First, they were challenged to produce something like it, then ten surahs, and they were even allowed to bring any helpers they wanted—tribes, poets, jinn, idols, anything. But they couldn’t.

فَإِلَّمۡ یَسۡتَجِیبُوا۟ لَكُمۡ فَٱعۡلَمُوۤا۟ أَنَّمَاۤ أُنزِلَ بِعِلۡمِ ٱللَّهِ وَأَن لَّاۤ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَۖ فَهَلۡ أَنتُم مُّسۡلِمُونَ﴿ ١٤

But if they do not respond to you, know that it was sent down with Allah’s knowledge and that there is no god but He, so will you then become Muslims?  (12:14)

Then the challenge was reduced—just produce one surah like it. Still, they failed. Even Musaylima the Liar tried to imitate the Quran with his own verses—but his words were so ridiculous and hollow that even his followers were embarrassed.

A clear sign of divine origin

Allah made it clear:  If they are unable to meet this challenge—and they never will—then know that this Qur’an is from Allah.

The Quraysh’s arrogance led them to reject the message despite its clarity. They chose disbelief, and as a result, they led themselves to destruction.

Why the Quran was revealed to the Arabs

Allah chose to reveal the Quran in Arabic to the people most skilled in that language, the Quraysh, to establish beyond doubt that its origin could not be human. And He chose Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who was illiterate, from amongst their midst, to emphasise that his knowledge was divinely revealed, not acquired.

Desires lead to misguidance

When people begin to follow their whims and desires, ignoring the guidance of Allah, they stray from the truth and endanger their souls.

We ask Allah to make us people of the Quran, those who submit wholeheartedly, and to bless us with the ability to taste the sweetness of His words and live by them. Ameen.

Delivered by Shaykh Haytham Tamim on 25th Ramadan 2025.

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