These polytheists believed that the assembling of armies and forming of parties to fight the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) was easier than imitating the Quran and accepting the challenge. This was the last thing they could do. Allah says: {Those who disbelieve say, “Do not listen to this Quran, but make noise [when it is recited], so that you may prevail.”} [Surat Fussilat: 26].
Neither all of the Arabs nor other nations to which the challenge was conveyed came up with something in this regard that could comfort the atheists or provide a means by which they could comfort others. Al-Alusi (may Allah have mercy upon him) says:
“None of them has uttered a word, up to this day, or mentioned a description or something described.”
Jubayr ibn Mut’im, who was not yet a Muslim then, said:
“I heard the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) recite Surat at-Tur in Maghrib Prayer. When he reached this verse: {Were they created by none, or were they the creators [of themselves]?} {Or did they create the heavens and earth? Rather, they are not certain in faith.} {Or do they possess the treasures of your Lord, or do they have full control [of everything]?} [Surat at-Tur: 35-37]. He said: ‘My heart was about to fly.’”
The Quran has amazing secrets that can reach the human soul. Just reflect on how the polytheist women crowded around the house of Abu Bakr when he recited the Quran due to being excessively fascinated and impressed by it, so much so that the men of Quraysh panicked because of that. Therefore, the Arab delegations agreed that they would not listen to the Quran and not let their families listen to it, as this was the only way to retain their disbelief.
From the inexhaustible wonders of the Noble Quran is what Dr. Abdullah Diraz (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned regarding the revelation of the verses of the Quran at various times. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) pointed out how some verses are placed in specific places in chapters while other verses are placed in other ones, and finally, each chapter appears as an independent structure. He (may Allah have mercy upon him) says:
“At the time of the revelation of the Quran, some topics in the Quran were increasingly apart from other topics, and gradually forming independent units after other verses were revealed after them. Some of them were added to some chapters, and others overlapped with others in another chapter, according to the command of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him), which he in turn received from the Holy Spirit.”