“And if it had been from other than God...

”:
The numeric masterpiece of one of the Qur’an’s strongest verses of challenge
One of the boldest statements in the Holy Qur’an is a request for pondering and reflection,
and a thought-provoking challenge to all of humanity:

‫اختِلَفاَ َكثِيَا‬ ِِ ِ َِ ‫ل يَتَ َدبَُّرو َن الْ ُقْرآ َن َولَ َْو َكا َن ِم َْن ِع‬
ْ ‫ند َغ َِْي اللَّه لََو َج ُدوَاْ ف َيه‬ َ َ‫أَف‬
Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than God, they would
surely have found therein much discrepancy.

Al-Nisa’, 4:82

What if we were to analyse this statement from a numeric point of view? Is there, intact in
this very verse, a numeric miracle that confirms the accuracy of the claim it makes?

Before numerically examining this verse, we begin by considering it a bit more literally, in
order to extract from it what I like to call a mini-miracle, but a truly profound one
nevertheless.

That is, this verse claims that if the Holy Qur’an were not the exact word of God, much
“discrepancy” would have been found in it. What if someone took on a more literal
approach, and argued, quite simply, that they could find more than one “discrepancy” in it?
In other words, what if he claimed that he could find the very word “discrepancy”
somewhere else in the Qur’an, which would, somewhat peculiarly, prove this verse
incorrect?

The fact is that the Arabic equivalent of the word discrepancy in this verse is )ً‫اختِمَفا‬
ْ (, and
amazingly, the only place in the entire Holy Qur’an where this exact word is found is this
verse!

Now this may seem like an odd coincidence, but let’s take a minute to reflect. If any author
were to write a book, would he concern himself with such an intricate piece of detail,
especially since numerous forms of this word are scattered across the Holy Qur’an, but
never in this precise form? Across 6236 verses, 114 chapters and more than 600 pages of
Scripture, this word is repeated only once, in perfect harmony with the literal meaning of
the verse!

That being said, let us now study the delicate numeric system inherent in this verse, the
basis of which, as usual, is the number 7. For purposes of convenience, we will refer to it as
the “reflection verse”.
 Four essential numbers

To begin, let us derive the four main numbers associated with this verse (any any verse in
general): its chapter number, verse number, word count and letter count. This verse lies in
Surat Al-Nisa’ )Chapter: The Women(, which is chapter 4 of the Qur’an. It is the 82nd verse
of that chapter.

Now, in order to find the number of words and letters in the verse, we will separate each of
its words below and break down the letters of every word in order for readers to easily
count. We will then write the letter count of each word:

ً)‫َفً(اًؿًؽًرًآًف‬
ًَ ‫وفً(يًتًدًبًرًوًف)ًًًًًًًًًًاْلقُ ْآر‬
ًَ ‫لً(أًؼًؿًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َيتَ َدب َُّر‬
ًَ َ‫أَف‬

6 7 4

ً)‫فً(ـًف)ًًًًًًًً ِع ْنًِدً(عًفًد‬
ًْ ‫افً(ؾًاًف)ًًًًًًًًًً ِم‬
ًَ ‫ًَوً(و)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ ًْوً(ؿًو)ًًًًًًًًًً َك‬

3 2 3 2 1

ً)‫َغ ْي ًِرً(غًيًر)ًًًًًًًًًًالمَّ ًِهً(اًؿًؿًهػ ػ)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ َو َج ُدواً(ؿًوًجًدًوًا‬

6 4 3

‫اختِمفاً(اًخًتًؿًؼًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َكثِ ا‬
)‫يرً(ؾًثًيًرًا‬ ًِ ‫ِف‬
ْ ًًًًًًًًًً)‫يهً(ؼًيًهػ ػ‬

5 6 3

From the above illustration, this verse consists of 14 words and exactly 55 letters. We will
now combine these four numbers into the following arrangement, beginning, naturally, with
the chapter number, and ending with the letter count:

Letter count Word count Verse number Chapter number

55 14 82 4

The number 5514824 represents our first multiple of 7:

5514824 = 787832 x 7

Interestingly, the digit sum of the quotient, 787832, is also a multiple of 7!

7 + 8 + 7 + 8 + 3 + 2 = 35

35 = 5 x 7
 The Qur’an’s special phrases

The Holy Qur’an is host to a number of special openings; that is, unique letter combinations
found at the forefront of 29 chapters. They do not form actual words but merely groups of
letters combined together, and their full meaning has not been explained to date, as they
have continued to puzzle both Muslim and non-Muslim scholars to this day. Many
explanations of the Qur’an, however, have resorted to saying that these “special phrases”
are one of God Almighty’s Qur’anic miracles, and that the full meaning behind them is
known only to Him. Some of these phrases are one letter long, such as )‫“ (ص‬ṣād”, others
are two, three, and four letters in length, and only one consists of five letters.

More recently, a numeric explanation has been given to these letters (which can be found in
other articles). It has been shown these letters constitute a numeric miracle in the way they
are organised across various words, verses and chapters in the Holy Qur’an.

Having said that, some phrases are repeated across many chapters, the likes of )‫(ال ػػـ‬, or “Alif.
Lām. Mīm.”, which is the first verse of no less than six chapters. In total, there are 14
different special phrases (14, of course, is a multiple of 7). Also, 14 different letters make up
these special phrases, which is exactly half the number of letters in the Arabic alphabet:

‫ا ؿ ـ ص ر ؾ هػ ػ ي ع ط س ح ؽ ف‬
To demonstrate some of the beauty of these letters, we will now look for them in every
word of the reflect verse, and construct an arrangement by writing the total number of
special letters in each word:

ً)‫َفً(اًؿًؽًرًآًف‬
ًَ ‫وفً(يًتًدًبًرًوًف)ًًًًًًًًًًاْلقُ ْآر‬
ًَ ‫لً(أًؼًؿًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َيتَ َدب َُّر‬
ًَ َ‫أَف‬

6 3 3

ً)‫فً(ـًف)ًًًًًًًً ِع ْنًِدً(عًفًد‬
ًْ ‫افً(ؾًاًف)ًًًًًًًًًً ِم‬
ًَ ‫ًَوً(و)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ ًْوً(ؿًو)ًًًًًًًًًً َك‬

2 2 3 1 0

ً)‫َغ ْي ًِرً(غًيًر)ًًًًًًًًًًالمَّ ًِهً(اًؿًؿًهػ ػ)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ َو َج ُدواً(ؿًوًجًدًوًا‬

2 4 2

‫اختِمفاً(اًخًتًؿًؼًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َكثِ ا‬
)‫يرً(ؾًثًيًرًا‬ ًِ ‫ِف‬
ْ ًًًًًًًًًً)‫يهً(ؼًيًهػ ػ‬

4 3 2
The 14-digit number 43224222310633 is another multiple of 7:

43224222310633 = 6174888901519 x 7

A brilliant connection with the Qur’an’s opening verse

The opening verse of the Holy Qur’an is the following:

َ‫الرِحي ِم‬ َّ ِ‫الل‬

َّ ‫الر ْْح َِن‬ َ ‫بِ ْس َِم‬
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

This verse, commonly known as the “Basmala”, is located in a chapter considered the
greatest in the Qur’an and referred to by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as
The Mother of the Book, namely Surat Al-Fatihah (Chapter: The Opening). Other studies
have dealt with the profound numeric miracle of both the Qur’an’s opening chapter and this
opening verse, the Basmala.

Among the amazing features of the Basmala is its incredible connection with many words,
verses and chapters across the entire Qur’an. One such connection is the one it shares with
the reflection verse. In order to observe this connection, we must first extract the four
essential numbers of the Basmala.

Firstly, the Basmala is located in chapter 1 of the Qur’an, and it is the 1st verse of that
chapter. To find its exact word and letter count, we separate its words and break down its
letters as follows:

ًِ ‫الرِح‬
)‫يـً(اًؿًرًحًيًـ‬ ًِ ‫الر ْح‬
َّ ًًًًًًًً)‫مفً(اًؿًرًحًـًف‬ ًِ ًًًًًًًً)‫بِ ْسًِـً(بًسًـ‬
َّ ًًًًًًًً)‫اللً(اًؿًؿًهػ ػ‬

From the above illustration, we can infer that the Basmala is composed of 4 words and 19
letters. As was the case with the reflection verse, combining these numbers creates a
multiple of 7:

Letter count Word count Verse number Chapter number

19 4 1 1

19411 = 2773 x 7
Amazingly, we will now find out that both verses are intricately connected when we arrange
their four respective numbers together, and the basis of this remarkable connection, of
course, is the number 7.

Chapter and verse numbers

Firstly, combining the chapter and verse numbers of both verses produces the following
arrangement:

Reflection verse Basmala verse

Verse number Chapter number Verse number Chapter number

82 4 1 1

The number 551411 represents the first link between these verses:

82411 = 11773 x 7

Letter and word counts

Next, we arrange the letter and word counts of each verse:

Reflection verse Basmala verse

Letter count Word count Letter count Word count

55 14 19 4

5514194 = 787742 x 7

Word counts, verse numbers and chapter numbers

Finally, the word counts, verse numbers and chapter numbers of both verses create the
following:

Reflection verse Basmala verse

Word count Verse Chapter Word count Verse Chapter

14 82 4 4 1 1

The number 14824411 is in fact a multiple of 7 twice!

14824411 = 302539 x 7 x 7

Amazingly, had we arranged the word count, verse number and chapter number of each
verse on its own, the resulting numbers would not be multiples of 7; only by combining the
numbers of both verses do we arrive at this collection of multiples!
Having examined the link between the reflection verse and the first verse in the Qur’an,
what about the Qur’an’s last verse? Can it also be connected to the reflection verse?

A connection with the Qur’an’s final verse

The final verse in the Qur’an is the following:

ِ ‫َاْلِن َِّة ََوَالن‬

َ‫َّاس‬ ْ ‫ِم َن‬
Among Jinns and among men

Al-Nas, 6:114

As we performed with the Qur’an’s opening verse, we must find the four main numbers
associated with this final verse. It is found in chapter 114, and is the 6th and final verse of
that chapter. To find the word and letter count, we break down the verse as follows:

َّ ًًًًًًًًًً)‫فً(ـًف)ًًًًًًًًًًاْل ِجَّن ًِةً(اًؿًجًفًة)ًًًًًًًًًً ًَوً(و‬

ًِ ‫الن‬
)‫اسً(اًؿًفًاًس‬ ًَ ‫ِم‬

The above illustration tells us that the last verse in the Qur’an is composed of 4 words and
13 letters. Combining these four numbers produces a multiple of 7, just like it did with the
Basmala and the reflection verse:

Letter count Word count Verse number Chapter number

13 4 6 114

1346114 = 192302 x 7

Word counts and verse numbers

The reflection verse is verse 82 of its respective chapter, and the Qur’an’s final verse is verse
6 of its chapter, Surat Al-Nas (Chapter: Mankind):

Reflection verse Qur’an’s last verse

Word count Verse number Word count Verse number

14 82 4 6

148246 = 21178 x 7
One important point to make is that the reflection verse, of course, occurs before the
Qur’an’s final verse. Because of this, we may wish to arrange the word count and verse
number of the reflection verse before those of the last verse. In other words, what would
be the outcome if we were to simply reverse the order of the above arrangement? Let’s
find out:

Qur’an’s last verse Reflection verse

Word count Verse number Word count Verse number

4 6 14 82

The number 461482 is a multiple of 7 twice!

461482 = 9418 x 7 x 7

Another point to make is that the connections between the reflection verse and the first
verse are different to those between the reflection verse and the last verse; that is, different
combinations of word counts, letter counts, verse numbers and chapter numbers are used
in each case. If anything, this goes to show the beauty and complexity of the numeric
system of the Qur’an!

The letters of God’s name, Al-Rahman )‫(الرحمن‬

One of God Almighty’s many Arabic names, and one of the most popular, is the name “Al-
Rahman”, meaning The Most Gracious. Not only is it a frequently occurring name in the
Holy Qur’an, but an entire chapter – chapter 55 – is entitled “Al-Rahman”. Having said that,
this name consists of the following letters:

‫ف‬ ‫ا ؿ ر ح ـ‬
Having established that, the reflection verse consists of two clear parts: the first is a
provocation to reflect and consider the Qur’an with care, the second is a guarantee by the
Qur’an itself, assuring readers that this Book has only one author, namely “Al-Rahman”
Himself:

1. Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)?

َ َ‫أَف‬
َ‫ل يَتَ َدبَُّرو َن الْ ُقْرآن‬
2. Had it been from other than God, they would surely have found therein much
discrepancy.
 ‫اختِلَفاَ َكثِيَا‬ ِِ ِ َِ ‫َولَ َْو َكا َن ِم َْن ِع‬
ْ ‫ند َغ َِْي اللَّه لََو َج ُدوَاْ ف َيه‬
What if God Almighty organised the very letters of His name “Al-Rahman” in the second part
of this reflection verse, in a manner consistent with the number 7? Wouldn’t it be almost as
if God is actually confirming to us that He is not only the author of this verse and of the
Qur’an, but that He has placed a hidden watermark signature of His name in this very
statement, thereby completely verifying this fact?

To find out, let us look for the six letters of the name “Al-Rahman” in every word of this
passage, and construct an arrangement based on these findings:

ً)‫فً(ـًف)ًًًًًًًً ِع ْنًِدً(عًفًد‬
ًْ ‫افً(ؾًاًف)ًًًًًًًًًً ِم‬
ًَ ‫ًَوً(و)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ ًْوً(ؿًو)ًًًًًًًًًً َك‬

1 2 2 1 0

ً)‫َغ ْي ًِرً(غًيًر)ًًًًًًًًًًالمَّ ًِهً(اًؿًؿًهػ ػ)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ َو َج ُدواً(ؿًوًجًدًوًا‬

2 3 1

‫اختِمفاً(اًخًتًؿًؼًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َكثِ ا‬
)‫يرً(ؾًثًيًرًا‬ ًِ ‫ِف‬
ْ ًًًًًًًًًً)‫يهً(ؼًيًهػ ػ‬

2 3 0

The number 23023112210 is indeed a multiple of 7:

23023112210 = 3289016030 x 7

Accumulated numbers

One of the most captivating features of the numeric miracle is the simple technique of
accumulated numbers. That is, instead of arranging the letter count of each word into a
single number, we actually do so in accumulation. For instance, the first word in the verse
consists of 4 letters, so it is assigned that number. The second word is made up of 7 letters,
but instead of assigning it that number, we add that letter count to the previous count of 4,
hence giving this word the number 11. The third word, composed of 6 letters, is hence
given the number 17 (6+11), and so on. Let us take a look at the resulting arrangement:

ً)‫َفً(اًؿًؽًرًآًف‬
ًَ ‫وفً(يًتًدًبًرًوًف)ًًًًًًًًًًاْلقُ ْآر‬
ًَ ‫لً(أًؼًؿًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َيتَ َدب َُّر‬
ًَ َ‫أَف‬

17 11 4

ً)‫فً(ـًف)ًًًًًًًً ِع ْنًِدً(عًفًد‬
ًْ ‫افً(ؾًاًف)ًًًًًًًًًً ِم‬
ًَ ‫ًَوً(و)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ ًْوً(ؿًو)ًًًًًًًًًً َك‬
 28 25 23 20 18

ً)‫َغ ْي ًِرً(غًيًر)ًًًًًًًًًًالمَّ ًِهً(اًؿًؿًهػ ػ)ًًًًًًًًًًلَ َو َج ُدواً(ؿًوًجًدًوًا‬

41 35 31

‫اختِمفاً(اًخًتًؿًؼًا)ًًًًًًًًًً َكثِ ا‬
)‫يرً(ؾًثًيًرًا‬ ًِ ‫ِف‬
ْ ًًًًًًًًًً)‫يهً(ؼًيًهػ ػ‬

55 50 44

The resulting 27-digit number, 555044413531282523201817114, is a multiple of 7!

555044413531282523201817114 = 79292059075897503314545302 x 7

All the letters of the verse: sheer perfection!

As we already highlighted, the reflection verse is composed of 55 letters in total. But which
letter is repeated the most? And which the least? What would happen if we arranged the
repetition of each letter, from most to least repeated, into a single number? The result
would be the following arrangement:

‫ت‬ ‫ؾ‬ ‫هػ ػ‬ ‫ؼ‬ ‫د‬ ‫ر‬ ‫ي‬ ‫ف‬ ‫و‬ ‫ؿ‬ ‫أ‬
2 2 2 3 3 4 4 5 5 7 10

‫ث‬ ‫خ‬ ‫ج‬ ‫ؽ‬ ‫غ‬ ‫ع‬ ‫ـ‬ ‫ب‬

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

The 20-digit number, 11111111222334455710, is a multiple of 7!

11111111222334455710 = 1587301603190636530 x 7

Finally, there are, as is well known, many people who argue that the Prophet Muhammad
)peace be upon him( authored the Qur’an 14 centuries ago, despite the fact that history
documents the fact that he was an illiterate man who could never read or write.

But ignoring this fact and assuming he did write the Qur’an, this would mean he also wrote
this splendid verse. But if so, why at all would he want to include this verse? Just how much
knowledge, confidence and courage did he have to possess to make a claim, 1400 years ago,
not only that God was the definite author of this Book but that it is error-free as well,
without fear that this might one day be falsified at some time in the future, thus backfiring
straight at him, stripping away his status as messenger of God and erasing the credibility of
the Qur’an and the entire Muslim faith?
But even then, even if he did actually end up writing this verse, what mathematical
techniques could a man from 7th century Arabia possibly have to construct such long and
sensitive numeric arrangements, that are not only so diverse, complex and interlinked in
nature, but that all share the common feature of being flawless multiples of 7?? It is, most
certainly, an impossible feat to accomplish by any man, even in today’s 21st century, the age
of scientific innovation and digital technology. Coincidence may certainly happen once,
twice, and even several times, but it simply cannot be this consistent!

In conclusion, what can we say? The reflection verse is one of the most powerful
statements of challenge in the whole of the Qur’an, but moreover, its very letters and words
are so expertly constructed and perfected so as to produce the most intricate of
arrangements, and its exact location in the Qur’an is so precisely and carefully placed so as
to create a beautiful web of connections with other verses in the Qur’an. The result: more
than 10 perfect multiples of 7 derived from a single verse! Indeed, we can only admire God
Almighty’s wisdom when He states:

Or they may say, "He forged it," Say, "Bring ye then ten suras forged, like unto it, and call (to
your aid) whomsoever ye can, other than God!- If ye speak the truth! (13) "If then they (your
false gods) answer not your (call), know ye that this revelation is sent down (replete) with
the knowledge of God, and that there is no god but He! will ye even then submit (to Islam)?"
(14)

Hud, 11:13-14