For over fourteen centuries, the Holy Quran has stood as an unmatched linguistic and spiritual miracle. Muslims believe every letter, every pause, and every grammatical structure is divinely chosen. But now, modern science is catching up to that belief.
A study published in Humanities and Social Sciences Communications—a respected journal within the prestigious Nature family—has conducted the first-ever comprehensive analysis of every single passive verb in the entire Quran. The findings are breathtaking.
The study, titled “The passive voice in the Holy Quran: an exploratory study,” analyzed over 19,000 verbs across all 114 chapters. What researchers discovered is not just grammar—it is a window into divine rhetoric, showing how the Quran uses grammatical “silence” (omitting the doer of an action) to achieve brevity, expand meaning, and emphasize the majesty of Allah.
Let’s walk through what this means for you, your faith, and your understanding of the Book that guides 1.8 billion people.
The Surprise: The Passive Is Rare, But Powerful
First, the numbers. Out of 19,356 verbs in the Quran, only 1,107 are in the passive voice. That is just 5.7% . This directly refutes earlier claims that passive and active verbs are equally common in the Quran. Instead, the Quran uses the passive sparingly—which means when it does use it, it is for a very specific, powerful reason.
Think of it like this: In a masterpiece painting, the artist doesn’t use every color equally. The rare colors are the ones that draw your eye. The Quran’s passive voice is that rare, intentional color.
The Quran’s Passive Voice by the Numbers
Category Count Percentage Key Insight Total Verbs in Quran 19,356 100% The baseline Passive Verbs 1,107 5.7% Rare, therefore significant Agent-Less Passives 1,081 97.7% The “doer” is deliberately hidden Agentive Passives (with “doer”) 26 2.3% Used only for specific emphasis Makki Chapters (Meccan) 700 passive verbs 5.8% Slightly higher use in early revelation Madani Chapters (Medinan) 407 passive verbs 5.5% Slightly lower, but still strategic
The First Great Finding: Hiding the Doer Is the Default
The most striking discovery is that 97.7% of passive verbs in the Quran have no explicit agent—meaning the sentence does not say who did the action. For example, when the Quran says, “And who believe in what has been revealed to you” (Chapter 2:4), it does not say “revealed by Allah.” Why? Because the doer is already obvious. In fact, in 70% of all passive cases, the unspoken agent is Allah Himself.
This is not a grammatical flaw. It is a rhetorical masterpiece. By omitting the doer, the Quran achieves:
- Universality: The verse applies to all times and places, not just a specific event.
- Focus: Your attention shifts from who did it to what was done and why it matters.
- Brevity: The sentence becomes concise, powerful, and easy to memorize—essential for oral transmission.
Three Main Purposes: Brevity, Emphasis, and Expansion
The researchers identified three primary functions of the passive voice, often working simultaneously.
1. Brevity and Conciseness (60% of cases): When the agent is known, the Quran deletes it to avoid verbosity. In Chapter 6:50, the Prophet is told: “I only follow what is revealed to me.” Everyone knows Allah is the revealer. Mentioning “by Allah” would be unnecessary clutter. The passive makes the speech tighter, more focused, and more elegant. This directly refutes old orientalist claims that the Quran is repetitive or redundant. On the contrary, it is surgically efficient.
2. Emphasizing the Action or Object (26.4% of cases): Sometimes, what happens is more important than who makes it happen. Consider the famous verse: “When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]” (Chapter 81:1). On the Day of Judgment, the focus is not on who wraps the sun—it is on the terrifying, awe-inspiring event itself. The passive voice here forces you to contemplate the action, not the actor. It creates a sense of inevitable, impartial divine decree.
3. Meaning Expansion (9.4% of cases): This is perhaps the most fascinating function. By deleting the agent, the Quran expands the possible meanings. Who helps? Who says? Who makes something beautiful? When the agent is hidden, your mind considers all possible agents.
Take the verse: “Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire” (Chapter 4:14). Who beautified it? Allah? Satan? The self? Society? The passive voice does not restrict—it invites you to reflect on multiple sources of temptation. This turns reading the Quran into an active, personal, and deeply reflective act. One verb can carry a universe of meaning.
The Three Great Purposes of the Passive Voice
Function Percentage Example (Chapter 2:4) Why It Matters Brevity/Conciseness 60% “…what has been revealed to you” (Agent: Allah is obvious) No wasted words; perfect for memorization Emphasis on Action/Object 26.4% “When the sun is wrapped up” (Chapter 81:1) Focuses on the event of Judgment Day, not the doer Meaning Expansion 9.4% “Beautified for people is the love…” (Chapter 4:14) Invites multiple interpretations (Allah, self, Satan, society)
Connecting to Islamic Teaching: The Divine Wisdom in Every Choice
For a Muslim, this study is not just interesting—it is affirming. It provides scientific evidence for what scholars of Balaghah (Arabic rhetoric) have known for centuries: the Quran’s grammar is not arbitrary; it is theological.
1. Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) in Grammar: The passive voice emphasizes that Allah is the ultimate, often unseen, actor. When the agent is omitted, the default assumption for a believer is divine action. This trains the mind to see Allah’s hand in everything, from revelation to the turning of the sun. The study notes that in 70% of cases, the unspoken agent is Allah or angels carrying out His command. The grammar itself points to Tawheed.
2. Adab (Reverence) and Avoiding Blame: Classical scholars said the passive is used to avoid directly ascribing ugly actions to Allah. This study partially supports that but adds nuance. It found that while the passive can be used for destruction (e.g., “they were destroyed”), the active voice is also used for destruction when Allah is the explicit subject (e.g., “We destroyed them”). The choice depends on context. However, when other beings refer to Allah, they use the passive out of reverence. In Surat Al-Jinn, the jinn say, “…whether evil is intended for those on earth…” (72:10) – they do not say “Allah intends evil.” The passive protects divine perfection. This is a profound linguistic lesson in Adab (manners) with Allah.
3. The Miracle of Inimitability (I’jaz): The study found that 22 verbs were incorrectly labeled as passive by an automated corpus. Only human, expert analysis could correct this. The Quran’s grammatical choices are so fine-tuned that even modern computational linguistics struggles to categorize them perfectly. This reinforces the Islamic belief that the Quran is beyond human imitation. No human author could maintain such a complex, multi-layered rhetorical system across 6,000+ verses over 23 years.
4. Refuting False Claims: Orientalists like Richard Bell claimed the Quran suffers from “repetition and redundancy.” This study provides direct counter-evidence. The passive voice is used specifically to avoid redundancy (e.g., not repeating “by Allah” when it is obvious). The Quran is concise by design. Every repetition is for emphasis, rhythm, or clarity—never carelessness.
What This Means for You: Reading the Quran Differently
You do not need a PhD in linguistics to benefit from this research. Here are three practical takeaways for your next reading of the Quran:
- Pause at Every Passive Verb: When you see a verb like onzila (it was revealed), yunsaroon (they will be helped), or yuqtaloona (they are killed), ask yourself: Who is the hidden doer? If it is obvious (Allah, angels), reflect on why it is hidden—often to focus you on the action itself. If it is not obvious, meditate on the multiple possibilities.
- Appreciate Brevity: Notice how much meaning is packed into a short passive sentence. The Quran is not wordy; it is dense. This is a linguistic miracle given the oral culture of 7th-century Arabia, where memorization was paramount. Every word carries weight.
- See Allah’s Mercy in Grammar: Even the passive voice is a form of mercy. By hiding the agent in some verses, Allah allows multiple valid interpretations, making the Quran relevant for every generation. By avoiding direct ascription of blame in certain contexts, Allah teaches us to speak with respect. The grammar of the Quran is a school of character.
A Final Reflection
This study is a powerful reminder that the Quran is not just a book of rules or stories. It is a living, breathing linguistic organism. Every verb tense, every vowel change, every omitted “doer” is a deliberate choice by the Creator to guide, teach, and move the heart of the reader.
The next time you hear a verse, remember: there is a reason it is said that way and not another. In the quiet omission of the agent, Allah speaks volumes. And now, modern science is beginning to hear it.
As the Quran itself says: “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Quran that you might understand.” (Chapter 12:2). Understanding includes grammar. And grammar, as this study shows, is a gateway to immeasurable depth.
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