I. The Power of Language in Revelation
Language is not a neutral vessel—it is the architecture of meaning. Every revelation speaks through the form and beauty of its chosen tongue. The Qur’an’s Arabic, the Torah’s Hebrew, the Bible’s Aramaic and Greek—all bear witness to divine communication through human expression. In each, the power of language determines both authenticity and accessibility.
“Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.”
For Muslims, revelation is not merely about message but medium: the uncreated Word of God expressed in perfect linguistic form. The Qur’an’s eloquence is part of its miracle, a sign that no translation can replicate its full majesty.
II. The Book of Mormon and the Question of Translation
Joseph Smith claimed to have translated The Book of Mormon from “Reformed Egyptian,” a language unknown to history or linguistics. The translation, according to his testimony, was achieved through divine inspiration using seer stones and not through linguistic knowledge. Yet, no record of the source language remains—no tablets, no manuscripts, no inscriptions to verify its existence.
“Say, ‘Produce your proof, if you should be truthful.”
The absence of any verifiable source places the Book of Mormon in a unique category—neither original revelation nor conventional translation. It becomes, by necessity, a text without linguistic lineage. This makes it theologically distinct from the Qur’an, which preserves both divine origin and human transmission in their entirety.
III. Translation, Transmission, and Trust
Throughout history, translation has been the bridge between revelation and readership. The Bible’s transmission across languages brought both blessing and burden—the blessing of accessibility and the burden of inconsistency. Each linguistic shift introduces interpretation, and with it, potential alteration.
“None can change His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.”
In contrast, the Qur’an has been preserved in its original Arabic for over fourteen centuries. While translations exist, they are understood only as explanations of meaning—not replacements of the Word itself. The Arabic text remains the unaltered measure of revelation.
IV. Theological Implications of Translation
Translation is not neutral theology; it shapes doctrine through the translator’s understanding. The Book of Mormon’s English form reflects 19th-century idioms, rhythms, and biblical imitation. Its tone is deeply influenced by the King James Bible, suggesting more reproduction than revelation. By contrast, the Qur’an’s unmatched linguistic precision conveys theological depth beyond translation.
“And if all mankind and the jinn gathered to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like of it.”
This challenge is both literary and metaphysical. It implies that divine language is not subject to imitation because it carries divine essence—an eternal communication that no translation can capture.
V. Reflection
The measure of a revelation is inseparable from its medium. The Book of Mormon, dependent on an invisible source, cannot demonstrate divine authorship through linguistic evidence. The Qur’an, revealed in a known and preserved language, continues to bear its own proof within its words.
“It is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.”
Thus, while one scripture claims inspiration through translation, the other stands as revelation through preservation. One depends on faith in a translator; the other rests on faith in God’s unchanging Word.