I have a friend who denies that the Quran is miraculous and claims that Allaah The Exalted is unjust. Now he is almost an atheist. Please advise me, what should I do to save this young man?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

The Quran is miraculous and inimitable. This is a proven fact that is as obvious as the sun. When the Arabs belied what Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was sent with, Allaah The Exalted challenged them to produce the like of the whole Quran, yet they failed. Then He challenged them to produce the like of only 10 chapters of the Quran and they failed. Finally, He challenged them to produce even the like of only one chapter, and they also failed. After that He said that they would never be able to produce the like of the Quran, not even if all mankind were to cooperate in the endeavor. Since the time the Quran was revealed and until now, it has never been heard of that anyone has written anything similar to the Quran. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."}[Quran 17: 88]

Commenting on this verse and other similar verses, Ibn Katheer mentioned that the sending down of the Quran to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is the greatest of miracles, due to its inimitable composition with which Allaah The Exalted challenged humans and Jinn, so that they would realize that they could not produce the like of it. Although they were qualified enough to try, thanks to their eloquence and purity of language and their opposition to the Quran, they failed to do so.  Therefore, Allaah challenged them to produce even the likes of 10 chapters of the Quran, but they failed. Finally, He challenged them to produce the likes of only one verse, yet they also failed and became aware of their incapability to do so and that no one could do it. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Say, "If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Quran, they could not produce the like of it, even if they were to each other assistants."}[Quran 17: 88] This is one of the verses that were revealed in Makkah. In another Makkan verse from the chapter of At-Toor, Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Or do they say, "He has made it up?" Rather, they do not believe. Then let them produce a statement like it, if they should be truthful.}[Quran 52: 33-34]  Ibn Katheer added that Allaah The Exalted asked them to produce the likes of the Quran if they were correct that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, had made it up himself. Allaah wanted them to think that if Muhammad was a human like themselves, then they could imitate him and produce the like of the Quran. In the chapter of Al-Baqarah, a chapter that was revealed in Madeenah, Allaah The Exalted repeated the challenge again and Said (what means): {And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allaah, if you should be truthful. but if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.}[Quran 2: 23-24] In other verses He Says (what means):

·        {Or do they say, "He invented it"? Say, "Then bring ten chapters like it that have been invented and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allaah, if you should be truthful." And if they do not respond to you - then know that the Quran was revealed with the knowledge of Allaah and that there is no deity except Him. Then, would you [not] be Muslims?}[Quran 11: 13-14]

·        {And it was not [possible] for this Quran to be produced by other than Allaah, but [it is] a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Book, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds. or do they say [about the Prophet], "He invented it?" Say, "Then bring forth a chapter like it and call upon [for assistance] whomever you can besides Allaah, if you should be truthful."  Rather, they have denied that which they encompass not in knowledge and whose interpretation has not yet come to them. Thus did those before them deny. Then observe how was the end of the wrongdoers.}[Quran 10: 37-39]

According to the indication of the aforementioned verses, Allaah The Exalted clarified that creatures are incapable of taking the challenge and producing the likes of the Quran, the likes of 10 chapters or even the likes of only one chapter, and, further, they will not be able to do so in the future. Referring to this, Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {But if you do not - and you will never be able to...} Allaah The Exalted mentions that they could never do this - neither in the past nor in the future. This was another challenge, Allaah clearly stated without doubt that the Quran would never be imitated or challenged with anything similar to it for eternity. Until this day, no one has been able to take the challenge and no one will ever be able to.

Had the Quran been authored by Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, as they used to claim, he would not have dared them to produce the like of it, so that he could not have been exposed to everyone, especially since it had been known that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was indeed the wisest and most perfect of all men. Since the time of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and until this day, no one has been able to come up with the likes of one of the verses of the Quran. Definitely, no one will be able to, because the Quran is the Words of the Lord of the Worlds, to whom no one is similar.  His Essence, Attributes and Actions are unique to Him Alone.  Thus, how can the words of the created ever be similar to the Words of the Creator?

As for the malicious allegation that Allaah The Exalted is unjust, Allaah The Almighty is Exalted above what wrongdoers say. Both the Sharee'ah and logic prove that Allaah The Exalted is most Just. Anyone who believes otherwise is a follower of the accursed Satan. Referring to this, Shaykhul-Islam, Ibn Taymiyyah mentioned that a person who denies the Justice of Allaah and His Wisdom is similar to the accursed Satan. Allaah The Exalted mentioned that Satan denied His Wisdom, opposed Him and followed  his own whims when he said, according to the verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {[Iblees] said, "My Lord, because You have put me in error, I will surely make [disobedience] attractive to them on earth, and I will mislead them all.}[Quran 15: 39]

Allaah The Exalted is the Just and the Judge who does not do injustice to mankind in anything, yet it is mankind who does injustice to itself. In this regard Allaah The Exalted Says about Himself (what means):

·        {And your Lord does injustice to no one.}[Quran 18: 49]

·        {Indeed, Allaah does not do injustice, [even] as much as an atom's weight.}[Quran 4: 40]

Moreover, in the Qudsi (Sacred) Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that his Lord Said: “My servant, I have prohibited injustice for Myself and made it prohibited for you, so do not do injustice to one another....” [Muslim]

On the other hand, Allaah The Exalted made it obligatory for rulers to judge justly between people. Referring to this, Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Indeed, Allaah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice. Excellent is that which Allaah instructs you. Indeed, Allaah is ever Hearing and Seeing.}[Quran 4: 58] Then He revealed the Sharee'ah, whose essence is justice and mercy. In this regard Ibn Al-Qayyim mentioned that the Sharee'ah is based on considering the interests and needs of the servants in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.

As for effective means to help rescue this young man, one of the most important ones is to supplicate to Allaah The Exalted to guide him and also to talk with him further, teach him - if he is ignorant - and argue with him in a good manner, especially if he is influenced by atheistic ideas. Advise him and try to soften his heart by reminding him of the verses of Allaah The Exalted. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {Call to the way of your Lord with wisdom and good instruction, and argue with them in a way that is best. Indeed, your Lord is most knowing of who has strayed from His way, and He is most knowing of who is [rightly] guided.}[Quran 16: 125]

Furthermore, it is your obligation to give him useful audio materials and books and to exert your utmost efforts to find him a righteous companion who may be the cause behind his guidance. Referring to this it was reported the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that a man often follows the same way of his friends and he advised a Muslim to be careful with whom he chooses for friendship. [Ahmad, Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Al-Haakim (Al-Haakim and Ath-Thahabi: Saheeh (Authentic))]

On the other hand, you must also discuss with him the issues of the inimitability of the Quran and the justice of Allaah, according to the facts that we have stated above and according to what was mentioned by the scholars of Tafseer (Quranic exegesis) regarding the interpretation of the verses mentioned above. However, if you are not qualified enough to argue with him, we advise you to use the help of a qualified Muslim, so that you may not be influenced by his doubts.

Allaah Knows best.