THE PERFECTION
OF THE QUR'AN
FROM THE LITERARY ASPECT
THE
INIMITABILITY OF THE QUR'AN
COMMENTS
ABOUT THE QUR'AN FROM VARIOUS SCHOLARS
A SELECTION
OF OTHER STATEMENTS REGARDING THE QUR'AN
THE INIMITABILITY OF THE QUR'AN
We
have so far considered the miraculous characteristics of the Qur'an from
the scientific and historical points of view. In addition to these, the
Qur'an also possesses an astounding, inimitable style from the literary
perspective.
It first needs to be stated that the exposition in the Qur'an addresses
all human groupings from all ages. No matter what the reader's education
and cultural level, the Qur'an is written in a clear, comprehensible language
which can be understood by everyone. In one verse, Allah reveals the following
about the Qur'an:
We have made the Qur'an easy to remember… (Qur'an,
54:22)
Despite having such an easily comprehensible style, it has never been
possible to imitate the Qur'an from any point of view. Some of the verses
in which Allah draws attention to the inimitable nature of the Qur'an
are:
If you have doubts about what We have sent down to
Our servant, produce another sura equal to it, and call your witnesses,
besides Allah, if you are telling the truth. (Qur'an, 2:23)
Do they say, "He has invented it"? Say: "Then produce
a sura like it and call on anyone you can besides Allah if you are telling
the truth." (Qur'an, 10:38)
One of the reasons that the Qur'an is described as miraculous stems from
the fact that, as emphasized in the verses above, nothing like it can
ever be written by human endeavour: The greater the scale of that impossibility,
the greater the size of the miracle which we see before our very eyes.
Therefore, the fact that the style of the Qur'an has been incapable of
imitation by even one out of the billions of people down the centuries
is one of the proofs of its miraculous nature. In his book, The Construction
of the Bible and the Qur'an, F. F. Arbuthnot makes the following
comment about the Qur'an:
From the literary point of view, the Koran is regarded
as a specimen of the purest Arabic, written on half poetry and half
prose. It has been said that in some cases grammarians have adopted
their rules to agree with certain phrases and expressions used in it,
and that though several attempts have been made to produce a work equal
to it as far elegant writing is concerned, none has as yet succeeded.245
The words employed in the Qur'an are exceedingly special, both in terms
of meaning and also of fluency and effect of style. However, those who
are unwilling to believe that the Qur'an is a holy book in which Allah
has revealed His commandments and prohibitions, have come up with a variety
of excuses as to why they should not follow it. They have attempted to
take refuge from its beauty by turning to denial. Allah reveals the following
about the deniers' descriptions of the Qur'an:
We did not teach him poetry nor would it be right for
him. It is simply a reminder and a clear Qur'an so that you may warn
those who are truly alive and so that the Word may be carried out against
the disbelievers. (Qur'an, 36:69-70)
The Superior Nature of the Rhyming Scheme in the
Qur'an
Prof. Adel M. A. Abbas' book, Science Miracles
|
Another of the elements which make the Qur'an inimitable stems from its
literary structure. Despite being in Arabic, the Qur'an bears no similarity
to the forms used in Arabic literature.
The rhyming system in the Qur'an is known as "rhymed prose" and linguists
describe the use of this rhyme in the Qur'an as a miracle. In his book
Science Miracles, a work prepared to demonstrate that the Qur'an
is a linguistic miracle, the well-known British scientist Professor Adel
M. A. Abbas carried out a wide-ranging study of the letters and rhyming
scheme used in the Qur'an by means of graphics and diagrams. Some rather
striking facts were established in this book with regard to the rhyming
system in the Qur'an.
As we know, 29 Suras in the Qur'an begin with one or more symbolic letters.
These letters are known as "muqatta'ah-letters" or "initial letters."
Fourteen of the 29 letters in Arabic comprise these initial letters: Qaf,
Sad, Ta, Ha, Ya, Sin, Alif, Lam, Mim, Kaf, 'Ayn, Nun, Ra, Ha.
Of these letters, when we look at the use of the letter "Nun" in Surat
al-Qalam we see rhyming with the letter "Nun" in 88.8% of the verses.
84.6% of Surat ash-Shu'ara', 90.32% of Surat an-Naml and 92.05% of Surat
al-Qasas are rhymed with "Nun."
When applying these studies to the whole Qur'an, 50.08% is rhymed with
the letter "Nun." To put it another way, more than half the verses in
the Qur'an end with the letter "Nun." In no literary work of comparable
length has it been possible to rhyme with a single sound in more than
half the text. This applies to all languages, not just to Arabic.
Distribution of verses ending with the letter "Nun" from those suras
beginning with initial letters:
Verse number |
Name of Sura |
Number of letter “Nun” |
|
|
|
2 |
al-Baqara |
196 |
3 |
al ‘Imran |
121 |
7 |
al-A‘raf |
193 |
10 |
Yunus |
98 |
11 |
Hud |
56 |
12 |
Yusuf |
93 |
13 |
ar-Ra‘d |
5 |
14 |
Ýbrahim |
6 |
15 |
al-Hijr |
81 |
19 |
Maryam |
5 |
20 |
Ta Ha |
0 |
26 |
ash-Shu‘ara’ |
192 |
27 |
an-Naml |
84 |
28 |
al-Qasas |
81 |
29 |
al-‘Ankabut |
59 |
30 |
ar-Rum |
54 |
31 |
Luqman |
7 |
32 |
as-Sajda |
27 |
36 |
Ya Sin |
71 |
38 |
Sâd |
18 |
40 |
Ghafir |
32 |
41 |
Fussilat |
30 |
42 |
ash-Shura |
6 |
43 |
az-Zukhruf |
78 |
44 |
ad-Dukhan |
44 |
45 |
al-Ghashiyya |
30 |
46 |
al-Ahqaf |
26 |
50 |
Qaf |
0 |
68 |
al-Qalam |
42 |
The above table shows the distribution of verses ending with the letter
“Nun” in those Suras beginning with initial (symbolic)
letters. |
When a general examination of the rhyme scheme in the
Qur'an is made, we see that around 80% of the rhymes consist of just three
sounds (n, m, a) consisting of the letters Alif, Mim, Ya and Nun.246
Excluding the letter "Nun," 30% of the verses are rhymed with "Mim," "Alif"
or "Ya."
The four most frequently employed sounds in rhymes:
Letter |
|
|
|
|
Total |
Sounds |
a |
a |
m |
n |
|
Verse number |
949 |
246 |
666 |
3123 |
4984 |
Proportion (%) |
15.22 |
3.94 |
10.68 |
50.03 |
79.92 |
The above table shows the proportional distribution of the four letters
comprising 79.92% of the rhyme system in the Qur’an. |
The following verses are just a few of the many examples of rhymes using
these four letters.
Surat al-Muminun |
1. Qad aflaha almu/minoona
2. Allatheena hum fee salatihim khashiAAoona
3. Waallatheena hum AAani allaghwi muAAridoona
4. Waallatheena hum lilzzakati faAAiloona
5. Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona
6. ... aw ma malakat aymanuhum fa-innahum ghayru maloomeena
7. ... faola-ika humu alAAadoona
8. Waallatheena hum li-amanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona
9. Waallatheena hum AAala salawatihim yuhafithoona
10. Ola-ika humu alwarithoona
11. ... hum feeha khalidoona
12. Walaqad khalaqna al-insana min sulalatin min teenin
13. Thumma jaAAalnahu nutfatan fee qararin makeenin
14. ... fatabaraka Allahu ahsanu alkhaliqeena
15. Thumma innakum baAAda thalika lamayyitoona
16. Thumma innakum yawma alqiyamati tubAAathoona
17. ... wama kunna AAani alkhalqi ghafileena
|
Surat
an-Nahl
1. ... wataAAala AAamma yushrikoona
2. ... annahu la ilaha illa ana faittaqooni
3. ... taAAala AAamma yushrikoona
4. ... fa-itha huwa khaseemun mubeenun
5. ... wamanafiAAu waminha ta-kuloona
6. Walakum feeha jamalun heena tureehoona waheena tasrahoona
|
Surat
al-An'am
1. ... thumma allatheena kafaroo birabbihim yaAAdiloona
2. ... thumma antum tamtaroona
3. ... wayaAAlamu ma taksiboona
4. ... illa kanoo AAanha muAArideena
5. ... fasawfa ya/teehim anbao ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
6. ... waansha/na min baAAdihim qarnan akhareena
7. ... in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun
8. ... thumma la yuntharoona
9. ... walalabasna AAalayhim ma yalbisoona
10. ... ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
|
Surat
ar-Rum
6. ... walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaAAlamoona
7. ... wahum AAani al-akhirati hum ghafiloona
8. ... wa-inna katheeran mina alnnasi biliqa-i rabbihim lakafiroona
9. ... walakin kanoo anfusahum yathlimoona
10. ... an kaththaboo bi-ayati Allahi wakanoo biha yastahzi-oona
11. ... thumma ilayhi turjaAAoona
12. ... yublisu almujrimoona
13. ... wakanoo bishuraka-ihim kafireena
14. Wayawma taqoomu alssaAAatu yawma-ithin yatafarraqoona
15. ... fahum fee rawdatin yuhbaroona
|
Surah
Yunus
26. ... ola-ika as-habu aljannati hum feeha khalidoona
27. ... ola-ika as-habu alnnari hum feeha khalidoona
28. ... waqala shurakaohum ma kuntum iyyana taAAbudoona
29. ... in kunna AAan AAibadatikum laghafileena
30. ... wadalla AAanhum ma kanoo yaftaroona
31. ... faqul afala tattaqoona
32. ... faanna tusrafoona
33. ... annahum la yu/minoona
34. ... faanna tu/fakoona
|
Surat
al-‘Ankabut
6. ... inna Allaha laghaniyyun AAani alAAalameena
7. ... walanajziyannahum ahsana allathee kanoo yaAAmaloona
8. ... faonabbi-okum bima kuntum taAAmaloona
9. ... lanudkhilannahum fee alssaliheena
10. ... awa laysa Allahu bi-aAAlama bima fee sudoori alAAalameena
11. ... walayaAAlamanna almunafiqeena
12. ... innahum lakathiboona
13. ... walayus-alunna yawma alqiyamati AAamma kanoo yaftaroona
14. ... faakhathahumu alttoofanu wahum thalimoona
|
Surat
an-Naml
12. ... innahum kanoo qawman fasiqeena
13. ... hatha sihrun mubeenun
14. ... faonthur kayfa kana AAaqibatu almufsideena
15. ... min AAibadihi almu/mineena
16. ... inna hatha lahuwa alfadlu almubeenu
17. ... fahum yoozaAAoona
18. ... sulaymanu wajunooduhu wahum la yashAAuroona
19. ... waadkhilnee birahmatika fee AAibadika alssaliheena
|
Surat
an-Nisa’
23. ... inna Allaha kana ghafooran raheeman
24. ... inna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeeman
25. ... waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun
26. ... waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun
27. ... an tameeloo maylan AAatheeman
|
Surat
al-Ma’ida
22. ... fa-in yakhrujoo minha fa-inna dakhiloona
23. ... fatawakkaloo in kuntum mu/mineena
24. ... inna hahuna qaAAidoona
25. ... faofruq baynana wabayna alqawmi alfasiqeena
26. ... fala ta/sa AAala alqawmi alfasiqeena
27. ... qala innama yataqabbalu Allahu mina almuttaqeena
28. ... innee akhafu Allaha rabba alAAalameena
29. ... wathalika jazao alththalimeena
30. ... faqatalahu faasbaha mina alkhasireena
31. ... faasbaha mina alnnadimeena
|
Surat
al-A'raf
2. ... wathikra lilmu/mineena
3. ... qaleelan ma tathakkaroona
4. ... fajaaha ba/suna bayatan aw hum qa-iloona
5. ... ith jaahum ba/suna illa an qaloo inna kunna thalimeena
6. ... walanas-alanna almursaleena
7. ... wama kunna gha-ibeena
8. ... faola-ika humu almuflihoona
9. ... bima kanoo bi-ayatina yathlimoona
10. ... qaleelan ma tashkuroona
11. ... lam yakun mina alssajideena
|
Surat
at-Tawba
7. ... inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena
8. ... waaktharuhum fasiqoona
9. ... innahum saa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona
10. ... waola-ika humu almuAAtadoona
11. ... wanufassilu al-ayati liqawmin yaAAlamoona
12. ... laAAallahum yantahoona
13. ... ahaqqu an takhshawhu in kuntum mu/mineena
14. ... wayashfi sudoora qawmin mu/mineena
|
Surat
al-Baqara
62. ... wala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona
63. ... waothkuroo ma feehi laAAallakum tattaqoona
64. ... lakuntum mina alkhasireena
65. ... faqulna lahum koonoo qiradatan khasi-eena
66. ... wamawAAithatan lilmuttaqeena
67. ... aAAoothu biAllahi an akoona mina aljahileena
68. ... faifAAaloo ma tu/maroona
69. ... baqaratun safrao faqiAAun lawnuha tasurru alnnathireena
|
Surat
al ‘Imran
130. ... waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoona
131. Waittaqoo alnnara allatee oAAiddat lilkafireena
132. ... laAAallakum turhamoona
133. ... oAAiddat lilmuttaqeena
134. ... waAllahu yuhibbu almuhsineena
135. ... walam yusirroo AAala ma faAAaloo wahum yaAAlamoona
136. ... waniAAma ajru alAAamileena
137. ... faonthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena
138. ... wamawAAithatun lilmuttaqeena
139. ... waantumu al-aAAlawna in kuntum mu/mineena
140. ... waAllahu la yuhibbu alththalimeena
|
Surat
al-Anbiya’
5. ... falya/tina bi-ayatin kama orsila al-awwaloona
6. ... afahum yu/minoona
7. ... in kuntum la taAAlamoona
8. ... wama kanoo khalideena
9. ... waahlakna almusrifeena
10. ... afala taAAqiloona
11. ... waansha/na baAAdaha qawman akhareena
12. ... hum minha yarkudoona
|
Surat
an-Nur
47. ... wama ola-ika bialmu/mineena
48. ... fareequn minhum muAAridoona
49. Wa-in yakun lahumu alhaqqu ya/too ilayhi muthAAineena
50. ... bal ola-ika humu alththalimoona
51. ... waola-ika humu almuflihoona
52. ... faola-ika humu alfa-izoona
53. ... inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloona
54. ... wama AAala alrrasooli illa albalaghu almubeena
55. ... faola-ika humu alfasiqoona
|
Surat
al-Hijr
5. ... wama yasta/khiroona
6. ... innaka lamajnoonun
7. ... in kunta mina alssadiqeena
8. ... wama kanoo ithan munthareena
9. ... wa-inna lahu lahafithoona
10. Walaqad arsalna min qablika fee shiyaAAi al-awwaleena
11. ... kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona
12. Kathalika naslukuhu fee quloobi almujrimeena
13. ... waqad khalat sunnatu al-awwaleena
14. ... feehi yaAArujoona
15. ... nahnu qawmun mashooroona
|
The formation of rhymed prose with just two or three sounds in a poem
of 200-300 lines may give that work an important quality, sufficient for
it to be described as a masterpiece by literary critics today. However,
bearing in mind the length of the Qur'an, the information it contains
and its wise exposition, the extraordinary manner in which its rhymed
prose system is used becomes even clearer and more beautiful. The Qur'an
indeed contains an ocean of information relating to a wide variety of
subjects. They include: religious and moral guidance, lessons from the
lives of the peoples of the past, the message of the Prophets and Messengers
of Allah, the physical sciences and historical accounts of important events.
But all of this, although wonderful in itself, is delivered with the most
fantastic literary rhythm and excellence. It is simply not possible for
so much rhymed prose by use of so few sounds in the Qur'an, with its varied
and knowledgeable subject matter, to be achieved by human endeavour. From
that point of view, it is not surprising that Arab linguists describe
the Qur'an as "very definitely inimitable."
COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUR'AN FROM VARIOUS SCHOLARS
Some Comments on the Literary Excellence and Inimitability
of the Qur'an
...
the Meccans still demanded of him a miracle, and with remarkable boldness
and self confidence Mohammad appealed as a supreme confirmation of his
mission to the Koran itself. Like all Arabs they were the connoisseurs
of language and rhetoric. Well, then if the Koran were his own composition
other men could rival it. Let them produce ten verses like it. If they
could not (and it is obvious that they could not), them let them accept
the Koran as an outstanding evident miracle.247
(The well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb of the University of Oxford)
As
a literary monument the Koran thus stands by itself, a production unique
to the Arabic literature, having neither forerunners nor successors in
its own idiom. Muslims of all ages are united in proclaiming the inimitability
not only of its contents but also of its style.248
(Well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb)
The
influence of the Koran on the development of Arabic Literature has been
incalculable, and exerted in many directions. Its ideas, its language,
its rhymes pervade all subsequent literary works in greater or less measure.
Its specific linguistic features were not emulated, either in the chancery
prose of the next century or in the later prose writings, but it was at
least partly due to the flexibility imparted by the Koran to the High
Arabic idiom that the former could be so rapidly developed and adjusted
to the new needs of the imperial government and an expanding society.249
(Well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb)
Whenever
[Prophet] Muhammad [saas] was asked a miracle, as a proof of the authenticity
of his mission, he quoted the composition of the Qur'an and its incomparable
excellence as proof of its divine origin. And, in fact, even for those
who are non-Muslims nothing is more marvellous than its language with
such apprehensible plenitude and a grasping sonority… The ampleness of
its syllables with a grandiose cadence and with a remarkable rhythm have
been of much moment in the conversion of the most hostile and the most
sceptic.250 (From Paul Casanova's article,
"L'Enseignement de I'Arabe au College de France" [The Arab Teaching
at the College of France])
It
[the Qur'an] is a literal revelation of Allah, dictated to [Prophet] Muhammad
[saas] by Gabriel, perfect in every letter. It is an ever-present miracle
witnessing to itself and to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas], the Prophet of
Allah. Its miraculous quality resides partly in its style, so perfect
and lofty that neither men nor Jinn could produce a single chapter
to compare with its briefest chapter, and partly in its content of teachings,
prophecies about the future, and amazingly accurate information such as
[Prophet] Muhammad [saas] could never have gathered of his own accord.251
(From Harry Gaylord Dorman's book, Towards Understanding Islam)
All
those who are acquainted with the Qur'an in Arabic agree in praising the
beauty of this religious book; its grandeur of form is so sublime that
no translation into any European language can allow us to appreciate it.252
(From Edward Montet's Traduction Francaise du Coran [French Translation
of the Qur'an])
The
Qur'an in its original Arabic dress has a seductive beauty and charm of
its own Couched in concise and exalted style, its brief pregnant sentences,
often rhymed, possess an expressive force and explosive energy which it
is extremely difficult to convey by literal word for word translation.253
(From John Naish's book, The Wisdom of the Qur'an)
The
Koran is universally allowed to be written with the utmost elegance and
purity of language, in the dialect of Koreish, the most noble and polite
of all Arabians… The style of the Qur'an is generally beautiful and fluent,…
and in many places, specifically where the majesty and attributes of God
are described, sublime and magnificent… He succeeded so well, and so strangely
captivated the minds of his audience, that several of his opponents thought
it the effect of witchcraft and enchantment.254
(From George Sale's book, The Koran: The Preliminary Discourse)
A
miracle of purity of style of wisdom and of truth.255
(From Rev. R. Bosworth Smith's book, Mohammed and Mohammadanism)
It
[the Qur'an] has a rhythm of peculiar beauty and a cadence that charms
the ear. Many Christian Arabs speak of its style with warm admiration,
and most Arabists acknowledge its excellence… indeed it may be affirmed
that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both
in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it.256
(From Alfred Guillaume's book, Islam)
Some Comments on the Divine Nature of the Qur'an
and Its Effect on People
On
the whole we find in it a collection of wisdom which can be adopted by
the most intelligent of men, the greatest of philosophers and the most
skilful of politicians… But there is another proof of the Divinity of
the Qur'an; it is the fact that it has been preserved intact through the
ages since the time of its Revelation till the present day… Read and reread
by the Muslim world, this book does not rouse in the faithful any weariness,
it rather, through repetition, is more loved every day. It gives rise
to a profound feeling of awe and respect in the one who reads it or listens
to it… Therefore, above all, what caused the great and rapid diffusion
of Islam was through the fact that this Book… was the book of Allah…257
(From Laura Veccia Vaglieri's book, Apologie de I'Islamisme)
The
Koran abounds in excellent moral suggestions and precepts, its composition
is so fragmentary that we cannot turn to a single page without finding
maxims of which all men must approve. This fragmentary construction yields
texts, and mottoes, and rules complete in themselves, suitable for common
men in any of the incidents of life.258
(From John William Draper's book, A History of the Intellectual Development
of Europe)
It
must be acknowledged, too, that the Koran deserves the highest praise
for its conceptions of the Divine nature in reference to the attributes
of Power, knowledge and universal Providence and Unity-that its belief
and trust in the one Allah of Heaven and Earth is deep and fervent-and
that… it embodies much of the noble and deep moral earnestness, and sententious
oracular wisdom, and has proved that there are elements in it on which
mighty nations and conquering… Empires can be built up.259
(From the preface of The Koran, translated from the Arabic by
Rev. J. M. Rodwell)
Here,
therefore, its merits as a literary production should perhaps not be measured
by some preconceived maxims of subjective and aesthetic taste, but by
the effects which it produced in [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] contemporaries
and fellow countrymen. If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the
hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic
elements into one compact and well-organized body, animated by ideas far
beyond those which had until now ruled the Arabian mind, then its eloquence
was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage
tribes…260 (A statement
of Dr. Steingass, quoted in T. P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam)
In
making the present attempt… to produce something which might be accepted
as echoing however faintly the sublime rhetoric of the Arabic Koran, I
have been at pains to study the intricate and richly varied rhythms which-apart
from the message itself-constitute the Koran's undeniable claim to rank
amongst the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind… This very characteristic
feature-"that inimitable symphony," as the believing Pickthall described
his Holy Book…-has been almost totally ignored by previous translators;
it is therefore not surprising that what they have wrought sounds dull
and flat indeed in comparison with the splendidly decorated original.261
(From Arthur J. Arberry's book, The Koran Interpreted)
A
totally objective examination of it [the Qur'an] in the light of the modern
knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has
been already noted on repeated occasions. It makes us deem it quite unthinkable
for a man of [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] time to have been the author
of such statements on account of the state of knowledge in his day. Such
considerations are part of what gives the Qur'anic Revelation its unique
place, and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide
an explanation which calls solely upon materialistic reasoning.262
(Dr. Maurice Bucaille, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University
of Paris)
…
[T]he Qur'an has invariably kept its place as the fundamental starting
point… A creed so precise, … so accessible to the ordinary understanding
might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvellous power
of winning its way into the consciences of men.263
(Edward Montet, a French intellectual)
...
We have a book absolutely unique in its origin, in its preservation… on
the Substantial authority of which no one has ever been able to cast a
serious doubt.264 (From
Rev. Bosworth Smith's book, Muhammad and Muhammadanism)
…
the Qur'an is explicit in the support of the freedom of conscience.265
(From James Michener's article, "Islam: The Misunderstood Religion")
Sense
of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I
read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic
but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole
world.266 (From a lecture
on "The Ideals of Islam" quoted in the book Speeches and Writings
of Sarojini Naidu)
We
must not be surprised to find the Qur'an the fountainhead of the sciences.
Every subject connected with heaven or earth, human life, commerce and
various trades are occasionally touched upon, and this gave rise to the
production of numerous monographs forming commentaries on parts of the
holy book. In this way the Qur'an was responsible for great discussions,
and to it was indirectly due to the marvellous development of all branches
of science in the Muslim world… This again not only affected the Arabs
but also induced Jewish philosophers to treat metaphysical and religious
questions after Arab methods. Finally, the way in which Christian scholasticism
was fertilised by Arabian theosophy need not be further discussed.
Spiritual
activity once aroused within Islamic bounds was not confined to theological
speculations alone. Acquaintance with the philosophical, mathematical,
astronomical and medical writings of the Greeks led to the pursuance of
these studies. In the descriptive revelations [Prophet] Muhammad [saas]
repeatedly calls attention to the movement of the heavenly bodies, as
parts of the miracles of Allah forced into the service of man and therefore
not to be worshipped. How successfully Moslem people of all races pursued
the study of astronomy is shown by the fact that for centuries they were
its principal supporters. Even now many Arabic names of stars and technical
terms are in use. Medieval astronomers in Europe were pupils of the Arabs.
In
the same manner the Qur'an gave an impetus to medical studies and recommended
the contemplation and study of Nature in general.267
(From Prof. Hartwig Hirschfeld's book, New Researches into the Composition
and Exegesis of the Qur'an)
The
Koran admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious
books of the world. Though the youngest of the epoch-making works belonging
to this class of literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderful
effect which it has produced on large masses of men. It has created an
all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. It first
transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula
into a nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious
organizations of the Muhammadan world which are one of the great forces
with which Europe and the East have to reckon today.268
(From G. Margoliouth's introduction to The Koran, translated
from the Arabic by Rev. J. M. Rodwell)
However
often we turn to it [the Qur'an]…, it soon attracts, astounds, and in
the end enforces our reverence… Its style, in accordance with its contents
and aim is stern, grand, terrible-ever and anon truly sublime-Thus this
book will go on exercising through all ages a most potent influence.269
(A saying of Goethe quoted in T. P. Hughes' book, Dictionary of Islam)
SOME SCIENTISTS' COMMENTS REGARDING THE QUR'AN
…
There are too many accuracies [in the Qur'an] and, like Dr. Moore, I have
no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation
which led him to these statements.270
(Dr. T. V. N. Persaud, Professor of Anatomy, Pediatrics and Child Health,
Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba)
…
It follows, I think, that not only there is no conflict between genetics
and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation
to some of the traditional scientific approaches, that there exist statements
in the Quran shown centuries later to be valid, which support knowledge
in the Quran having been derived from God.271
(Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular
and Human Genetics)
As
a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see.
I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand
the words that are translated to me from the Quran. As I gave the example
before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew
today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were
described… So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine
intervention was involved in what he [Prophet Muhammad (saas)] was able
to write.272 (Dr. E. Marshall
Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas
Jefferson University)
In
a relatively few aayahs [Quranic verses] is contained a rather
comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling
of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record
of human development, such as classification, terminology, and description,
existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this description antedates
by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic
and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature.273
(Gerald C. Goeringer, Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at Georgetown
University)
It
has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'an
about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must
have come to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] from God, or Allah, because most
of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This
proves to me that [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] must have been a messenger
of God, or Allah.274 (Dr.
Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology,
University of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several
medical textbooks)
...
Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous
process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system
of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the
Qur'an and Sunnah. The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms
with present embryological knowledge.275
(Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell
Biology, University of Toronto)
The
intensive studies of the Qur'an and Hadith in the last four years have
revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it
was recorded in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'an
cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century...
276 (Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus,
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto)
I
think it is almost impossible that he [Prophet Muhammad (saas)] could
have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because
scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated
and advanced technological methods that this is the case… Somebody who
did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not,
I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that
the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions
that we have discussed here.277
(Alfred Kroner, Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University
of Mainz, Germany. One of the world's most famous geologists)
If
you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being
made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation
of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements
made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific
methods... And that many of the statements made in there at that time
could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position
to prove what [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] said 1400 years ago.278
(Alfred Kroner, Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University
of Mainz, Germany)
I
say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'an,
and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the
universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small
part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the
sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'an and
by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation
of the universe.279 (Professor
Yushidi Kusan, Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan)
Certainly,
I would like to leave it at that, that what we have seen is remarkable,
it may or may not admit of scientific explanation, there may well have
to be something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience
to account for the writings that we have seen.280
(Professor Armstrong, Professor of Astronomy serving with NASA)
It
is difficult to imagine that this type of knowledge was existing at that
time, around 1400 years back. May be some of the things they have simple
idea about, but to describe those things in great detail is very difficult.
So this is definitely not simple human knowledge. A normal human being
cannot explain this phenomenon in that much detail. So, I thought the
information must have come from a supernatural source.281
(Prof. Dorja Rao, Professor of Marine Geology at King Abdulaziz University,
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)
…
I believe that everything mentioned in the Qur'an 1400 years ago is true
and can be proven by scientific methods… This must be by inspiration from
God, or Allah, Who knows all science. Thus, I believe that this is the
time to say: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger
of Allah."282 (Prof. Tejatat
Tejasen, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University
of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand)
The
Qur'an came several centuries ago, confirming what we discovered. This
indicates that the Qur'an is the word of God.283
(Prof. Joly Sumson, Professor in Gynecology and Obstetrics)
It
[the Qur'an] discusses the past, the recent period, and the future. I
do not know the cultural level of the people in the period of [Prophet]
Muhammad [saas] and I do not know their scientific level. If it is as
we know about the low scientific level in this ancient period, and the
absence of technology, then there is no doubt that what we are reading
nowadays in the Qur'an is a light from God. He inspired it in [Prophet]
Muhammad [saas]. I had made research into the early history of civilization
in the Middle East in order to know if there was such perfect information
as this. If there was no other information like the Qur'anic information
in that ancient period, this strengthens the faith that God sent [Prophet]
Muhammad [Prophet]; He sent to him a little amount from His large science,
which we have discovered only in recent time. We are hoping for continuous
dialogue in the subject of science with the Qur'an in the field of geology.284
(Prof. Palmar, one of the major scientists in geology in the USA)
After
a discussion about the function of mountains for the fixing of the earth:
I believe that this [the Qur'an's information] is very
very strange, it is nearly impossible, I believe truly that if what you
are saying is right, thus, this book [the Qur'an] is very valuable to
be noticed, I agree with you.285
(Professor Syawda, a Japanese scientist famous in Japan and internationally
in the field of oceanic geology.)
A SELECTION OF OTHER STATEMENTS REGARDING THE QUR'AN
Everything
made so much sense. This is the beauty of the Qur'an; it asks you to reflect
and reason... When I read the Qur'an further, it talked about prayer,
kindness and charity. I was not a Muslim yet, but I felt the only answer
for me was the Qur'an and Allah had sent it to me.286
(Yusuf Islam [Cat Stevens], former British pop star)
I
am not a Muslim in the usual sense, though I hope I am a "Muslim" as "one
surrendered to God," but I believe that embedded in the Quran and other
expressions of the Islamic vision are vast stores of divine truth from
which I and other occidentals have still much to learn, and "Islam is
certainly a strong contender for the supplying of the basic framework
of the one religion of the future."287
(From the book Islam and Christianity Today)
The
essential and definite element of my conversion to Islam was the Qur'an.
I began to study it before my conversion with the critical spirit of a
Western intellectual... There are certain verses of this book, the Qur'an,
revealed more than thirteen centuries ago, which teach exactly the same
notions as the most modern scientific researches do. This definitely converted
me.288 (Ali Selman Benoist,
France, Doctor of Medicine)
I
have read the Sacred Scriptures of every religion; nowhere have I found
what I encountered in Islam: perfection. The Holy Qur'an, compared to
any other scripture I have read, is like the Sun compared to that of a
match. I firmly believe that anybody who reads the Word of Allah with
a mind that is not completely closed to Truth, will become a Muslim.289
(Saifuddin Dirk Walter Mosig)
The
strength of the Koran is that a Muslim, or anyone, can open it to any
page and get a message dealing with life's meaning.290
(The well-known theologian John Esposito)
I hope the time is not far off when I shall be able
to unite all the wise and educated men of all the countries and establish
a uniform regime based on the principles of Qur'an which alone are true
and which alone can lead men to happiness.291
(French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte)
Tony Blair: "Qur'an Inspired Me"
The British Prime Minister
Tony Blair says that he has read the whole Qur'an three times. In his
statements, he often mentioned his admiration for the Qur'an's moral teaching.
On March 29, 2000, the BBC reported on Blair's admiration for the Qur'an
in a feature entitled "Blair: Qur'an Inspired Me." He was reported to
have said that Islam was a good and peaceful religion, that he owned two
copies of the Qur'an, and that he was quite inspired by it:
If you read the Koran, it is so clear… the concept
of love and fellowship as the guiding spirits of humanity.292
Two or three days before the 9/11 attacks, the British
newspaper The Mail on Sunday published an article in which Blair
said that former US president Bill Clinton's daughter Chelsea had given
him a copy of the Qur'an as a gift, that he had begun to read it and that
it given him courage in times of difficulty.293
After the attacks, Blair once again said in an interview on Al-Jazeera
television that had read the Qur'an. He also added:
I read the message of the Koran, insofar as it can
be translated. And I read about Islam and I enjoy doing that. And I
think that I have learned things about the Koran that I never knew before
and I think a lot of Christians would be interested.294
Time magazine described Blair as "long-time
student of the Koran" in one article about him.295
A speech by Bill Clinton which described how influenced
he was by the Qur'an
In
his last year in the White House, former US President Bill Clinton received
a number of Muslims during Ramadan. At the meeting, which began with a
reading from the Qur'an, Clinton used verses from the Qur'an in his own
address and frequently stated his interest in Islam:
And I thought it was particularly moving that Imam
read the passage from the Koran that said that Allah created nations
and tribes that we might know one another, not that we might despise
one another. There's a wonderful passage in the Hebrew Torah, which
warns people never to turn aside the stranger, for it is like turning
aside the most high God. And the Christian Bible says that people should
love their neighbor as themselves. But it's quite wonderful to say that
Allah created the nations and tribes that they might know one another
better... Let me say, also, that there is much that the world can learn
from Islam. It is now practiced by one of every four people on Earth.
Americans are learning more in our schools and universities. Indeed,
I remember that our daughter took a course on Islamic history in high
school and read large portions of the Koran, and came home at night
and educated her parents about it, and later asked us questions about
it... So I ask you again to rededicate yourselves in this coming year
to making sure that others in this country truly understand and appreciate
the faith you embrace, its practices, its beliefs, its precepts and
its inclusive humanity... The Koran also teaches, in addition, to the
fact that we should do unto others as we wish to have done to us, and
reject for others what we would reject for ourselves, but we should
also make a commitment to live in peace…296
George W. Bush:
"It's
[the Qur'an is] a very thoughtful gift."
On 26 September 2001, President George W. Bush held a substantive meeting
with American Muslim leaders, and said that "the teachings of Islam are
the teachings of peace and good." During this meeting, Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi,
President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), presented a
copy of the Holy Qur'an to President Bush. During a brief press conference
after the meeting, the President expressed his pleasure saying:
And I want to thank you very much for the-the gift
you gave me, Imam, the Koran. It's a very thoughtful gift. I say, "Thank
you very much for the gift." He said, "It's the best gift I could give
you, Mr. President." I appreciate that very much.297
On September 17, 2001, President Bush visited
the Washington Islam Center mosque, one of the oldest in the United States.
In his speech, he emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and that
the terrorist attacks of 9/11 have nothing to do with the teachings of
Islam or the sincere Muslims of the world, all of whom deplore terrorism.
Bush stated that those who inflict harm on innocent and civilian Muslims
are just as in the wrong as those who carry out terrorist attacks. At
this crowded meeting, covered live by a large number of domestic and international
television stations, President Bush read the following verse from the
Qur'an:298
"In the long run, evil in the extreme will be the end
of those who do evil. For that they rejected the signs of Allah and
held them up to ridicule." (Qur'an, 30:10)
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