The Quran: The Word of God or the Word of Muhammad?

The Quran, the holy text of Muslims, is it divine or prophetic? Was the Quran revealed to the Prophet Muhammad? Did the Prophet Muhammad see the Quran in dreams and visions? What is revelation, and how can we justify and define God's communication with humanity? In this week's taboo discussion, Hassan Yousefi Eshkevari, a religious scholar, and Soroush Dabbagh, a researcher in philosophy and religion, debate these questions. Mr. Eshkevari begins the program by asking whether the Quran is divine or prophetic. He states that the prevailing belief among Muslims has been that the Quran is a divine word revealed to Muhammad, despite some ambiguities in this traditional view. Dabbagh counters by discussing the implications of calling the Quran prophetic, suggesting it lacks a sacred origin. He references contemporary religious thinkers who have explored the nature of revelation, emphasizing that the language of the Quran is human and that the experience of revelation is complex. Eshkevari responds by discussing the historical context of faith in Muhammad and the nature of revelation, asserting that the Quran is both divine and historical. The discussion raises questions about the nature of divine communication and the human experience of revelation, ultimately reflecting on the challenges of understanding the Quran's origins in a modern context.