The psychological miraculousness of the Qur’an, as a relatively underexplored dimension of the miracle of this heavenly scripture, offers a novel field of inquiry through its profound impact on both individual and collective psychology. The perspective of Karen Armstrong, a prominent Western scholar of religion, who regards the Qur’an as a living and responsive text, alongside contemporary Islamic theories, creates a need for a comparative analysis of this phenomenon.
The aim of this study is to examine the psychological miraculousness of the Qur’an by comparing Armstrong’s perspective with Islamic theories, with particular emphasis on the emotional, cognitive, and existential dimensions of the Qur’anic verses. Employing a qualitative and analytical approach, the research utilizes content analysis of Armstrong’s works (A History of God and Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time) as well as Islamic sources, including Al-Mizan, Tafsir-e Nemuneh, and other authoritative and authentic exegetical and Islamic references, while analyzing a range of verses to present an interdisciplinary framework.
The findings indicate that Armstrong, drawing on verses such as “O mankind, there has come to you an admonition from your Lord” (Qur’an 10:57), views the Qur’an as a source of psychological healing and mystical experience, emphasizing verses of fear, glad tidings, and narratives, although she pays comparatively less attention to its revelatory nature. In contrast, Islamic theories, based on verses such as “Seek help through patience and prayer” (Qur’an 2:45), attribute psychological effects to divine guidance and stress resilience and social reform. The convergence of the two perspectives lies in their emphasis on meaning-making and inner transformation, while their divergence rests on their metaphysical foundations, suggesting that the two approaches can be regarded as complementary.
The originality of this article lies in integrating Western hermeneutical analyses with Islamic theology and offering a comprehensive understanding of the psychological miraculousness of the Qur’an.