EXAMPLES OF MISINTERPRETATION OF THE QUR'AN
Wine-drinking in Heaven
One of the topics unwise people portray as a contradiction
is how wine is served in Heaven when it is forbidden in this world. The
verse that they use to make their claim reads:
An image of the Garden which is promised to those
who have fear for God: in it there are rivers of water which will never
spoil and rivers of milk whose taste will never change and rivers of wine,
delightful to all who drink it, and rivers of honey of undiluted purity;
in it they will have fruit of every kind and forgiveness from their Lord.
Is that like those who will be in the Fire timelessly, for ever, with
boiling water to drink which lacerates their bowels? (Surah Muhammad:
15)
As previously explained, this type of error of perception
occurs when one is prejudiced, deliberately perverse, unable to reason,
and has not grasped the Qur'an as a whole. Now, let us examine why such
a thoughtless claim is illogical and baseless from several angles:
First of all, we are able to see that there is a difference
between the drink served in Heaven and the one of this world from the
following verse:
With goblets, (shining) beakers, and cups (filled)
out of clear-flowing fountains: No after-ache will they receive therefrom,
nor will they suffer intoxication. (Surat al-Waqi'ah: 18-19)
As can be seen, the drinks served in Heaven do not have
any of the negative effects and attributes that alcoholic drinks in this
world do. As mentioned in the verse, they do not cause headaches or confuse
the mind. This means that even though they give pleasure, they do not
in any way cause drunkenness or illness. So there is not the least inconsistency
in such a drink being offered in Heaven.
Alcoholic drinks in this world, on the other hand, have
always been portrayed in the Qur'an together with their many damaging
and harmful attributes. Some of the verses that describe the destructive
and negative nature of alcoholic drinks in this world are:
You who have faith! Wine and gambling, stone altars
and divining arrows are filth from the handiwork of Satan. Avoid them
completely so that hopefully you will be successful. Satan wants to stir
up enmity and hatred between you by means of wine and gambling, and to
debar you from remembrance of God and from prayer. Will you not then give
them up? (Surat al-Ma'idah: 90-91)
They will ask you about wine and gambling. Say,
'There is great sin in both of them and also certain benefits for mankind.
But the sin in them is greater than the benefit.' (Surat al-Baqarah: 219)
Obviously, it cannot be expected that characteristics
of drinks that are forbidden in this world could exist in Heavenly ones.
As God describes the Heavenly drinks, He emphasizes once more that they
do not contain the harmful attributes of those in this world:
... a cup from a flowing spring passing round among
them, as white as driven snow, delicious to those who drink, which has
no headache in it and does not leave them stupefied. (Surat as-Saffat:
45-47)
The logic of anyone who sees this topic as a contradiction
when God has made it all so clear must be seriously doubted. It is one
of the Qur'an's miracles that when a person approaches it with ignorance
and ulterior motives, he will be incapable of understanding even the most
obvious of topics. God describes the case of such a person in one of His
verses:
No self can have faith except with God's permission.
He places a blight on those who do not use their intellect. (Surah Yunus:
100)
Secondly, in the Arabic text of the Qur'an the word
"hamr", which stands for the word wine and all alcoholic drinks
as we know them, is only mentioned in the above verse number 15 from Surah
Muhammad as a drink served in Heaven. In all the other verses of the Qur'an
the word "sharab" is used for heavenly drinks, and means any
type of drink in Arabic. In some English translations, the word sharab
is translated as wine, whereas in Arabic it originates from the word "sherebe"
and can be used to mean any non-alcoholic drink as well. One of the Qur'anic
verses in which this word is mentioned where it means any drink is:
Where they will recline, calling for plentiful
fruit and drink (sharab) ... (Surah Sad: 51)
They will wear green garments of fine silk and
rich brocade. They will be adorned with silver bracelets. And their Lord
will give them to drink of a pure draught (sharab) to drink. (Surat al-Insan:
21)
Another Incorrect Interpretation on the Subject
of Wine
It is stated in verse 67 of Surat an-Nahl "And from the fruit
of the date-palm and the grape-vine you derive both intoxicants and wholesome
provision."
Some people of limited understanding assume that this
verse praises wine and say that it is contradictory for a forbidden drink
to be praised. First of all, if you take a good look, you can see that
there is no such praise in the verse. The praise is rather of "the
fruit of the date-palm and the grape-vine" which provide people with
wholesome nourishment. The intoxicants mentioned in the first part of
the verse are what people distill from these components and cause drunkenness,
which have already been mentioned in many parts of the Qur'an as harmful
and wrong. If anyone manages to reach the conclusion that this verse is
praising or encouraging drunkenness, then either that person has an ulterior
motive or else he is simply displaying an immense error in understanding
and opinion.
This verse draws attention to one very significant fact;
any food given as sustenance by God, can, if so desired, be used in a
positive and beneficial way or can be abused to serve harmful ends. In
the same way, depending on the intent, a given blessing can be used for
good or ill, and can be used for lawful (halal) or unlawful (haram) ends.
Here, this basic fact of this world, which is a testing ground, is made
clear in the controversy over grapes and wine. The grape, a sustenance
filled with healthy, nurturing and delicious qualities can be distilled
into a truly harmful substance with permanent and negative effects. The
same principle is true of other offerings from God such as property, money,
beauty, intelligence, office, position, power and dominion. It is possible
to use these in a manner that will please God or for harmful and destructive
purposes to displease Him.
As seen, God can transform any offering, for various reasons, into different
creations. He can make this clear in a single verse with the same superior
Wisdom. Those who are able to reason will see the logic in God's verses
and understand them. Moreover, the continuation of the verse "There
is certainly a Sign in that for people who reason." (Surat an-Nahl:
67) sheds further light on this subject.
In short, when the verse is read with consciousness
and attention, it can be seen that it is not contradictory at all. The
deniers' attempt to find contradiction in such obvious subjects clearly
shows their desperate situation in the face of the Qur'an.
The Claim that "Pork Produced Under the Strict
Hygienic Surroundings of Today May Be Consumed"
Pork had many harmful qualities if consumed during the
time of the Qur'an, and indeed still does. First of all the pig, no matter
how hygienic the surroundings where it is raised, is still an animal that
consumes its own excrement. The metabolism of the pig produces many antibodies
in comparison to other animals, both because it feeds on its own excrement
and because of its biological make-up. Moreover, its metabolism produces
large amounts of growth hormones compared to those of other animals and
human beings. Naturally, these antibodies and growth hormones make their
way to the pig's muscles during circulation and accumulate there. In addition,
pork contains large amounts of cholesterol and lipids. As a result, it
has been scientifically proven that all these excessive antibodies, hormones,
cholesterol and lipids present in pork pose a threat to human health.
Today in countries such as the U.S.A. and Germany, where
pork is popular, obesity has become a widespread problem. Anyone whose
diet includes pork will be exposed to large amounts of growth hormone,
and as a result he will initially put on excess weight and then his body
will continue to become deformed and disfigured.
Another harmful subject pork often contains is the trichina,
a small parasitic worm. This particular parasite affects the heart muscles
when it enters the body and represents a fatal risk. Even though it may
be possible, with today's technology, to diagnose those pigs infected
with this parasite, that was not the case until recently. In the past,
therefore, people always faced the danger of such a fatal infection.
As can be seen, the wisdom behind the prohibition of
pork in Islam is apparent. In Islam, a definite and deep-rooted measure
has been taken against the consumption of pork, which, under all conditions,
remains a health-risk and becomes fatal unless produced under supervision.
However, there is an important point to remember. It
is not essential for something to be unhealthy or harmful to human beings
in order for it to be prohibited. This is a subject that escapes many
people and is often used by those with ulterior motives to take advantage
of people's lack of knowledge and confuse them. That is to say, the ignorant
claims they make along the lines of "Now why is this or that prohibited
in the Qur'an? There is nothing wrong with it!" are a result of not
thinking or realizing the wisdom and aim of the Qur'anic commandments.
Unwise people often perceive notions through an incredibly narrow and
limited lens; consequently, they never see the causes and the logic behind
them within the bigger picture.
God can prohibit anything, for many different reasons.
He can also prohibit something not harmful in order to test those who
truly fear Him, love and obey Him as well as to expose the pretenders.
Moreover, something can be prohibited for purposes of punishment or warning,
or simply for the remembrance of blessings and as a means for people to
show their gratitude.
God has also prohibited, in the Qur'an, the consumption
of any animal that has been consecrated to something other than God.
He has only forbidden you carrion, blood and pork
and what has been consecrated to other than God. But anyone who is forced
to eat it – without desiring it or going to excess in it – commits no
crime. God is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Baqarah: 173)
It is obvious that eating the meat of an animal that
has not been consecrated to God does not threaten our health. However,
if one of two oxen grazing in the same field has been consecrated to God
its consumption would be "lawful" (halal), conversely, if the
other one is consecrated to something other than God then its consumption
would be "unlawful" (haram). One of the reasons for this commandment
is to provide a means of testing people.
For instance, the prohibition imposed on the Jews in
the past "not to work on the Sabbath" (Saturday) was meant to
test them, and this is stated in the Qur'an:
Ask them about the town which was by the sea when
they broke the Sabbath – when their fish came to them near the surface
on their Sabbath day but did not come on the days which were not their
Sabbath. In this way We put them to the test because they were deviators.
(Surat al-A'raf: 163)
This prohibition about working on Saturdays that was
imposed on the Jews in the past was not asked of Muslims. This shows that
the ban was not imposed because of any social threat or because the fish
which swarmed towards the city that day were in any way hazardous, but
was simply to put the Jews to the test. Additionally, the same verse states
that they disobeyed the ban and so failed the test. This prohibition served
to exhibit the weaknesses in that nation's faith and fear of God.
A similar prohibition stated in the Qur'an carries a
similar purpose and is a means of assessment of true believers:
You who have faith! God will test you with game
animals which come within the reach of your hands and spears, so that
God will know those who fear Him in the Unseen. Anyone who oversteps the
limits after this will have a painful punishment. You who have faith!
Do not kill game while you are forbidden (this while on Pilgrimage). If
one of you kills any deliberately, the reprisal for it is a livestock
animal equivalent to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you,
a sacrifice to reach the Ka'ba, or expiation by feeding the poor, or fasting
commensurate with that, so that he may taste the evil consequences of
what he did. God has pardoned all that took place in the past; but if
anyone does it again God will take revenge on him. God is Almighty, Exactor
of Revenge. Anything you catch in the sea is lawful for you, and all food
from it, for your enjoyment and that of travellers, but land game is forbidden
you while you are under taboo (in Pilgrimage). Heed God, Him to whom you
will be gathered." (Surat al-Ma'idah: 94-96)
The purpose of this ban has been clearly stated in the
verse "... so that God will know those who fear Him in the Unseen."
The ease with which the hands and spear reach their target is part of
the test.
Another purpose behind this testing of nations is to
punish them when they display misbehavior or perversity and to remind
them to repent and go back to the right path. Some of the bans placed
on the Jews in the past are examples of this:
We made unlawful for the Jews every animal with
an undivided hoof, and in respect of cattle and sheep, We made their fat
unlawful for them, except what is attached to their backs or guts or mixed
up with bone. That is how We repaid them for their insolence. And We certainly
speak the truth. (Surat al-An'am: 146)
We can conclude that there is deep wisdom in the prohibition
of the things that God has declared to be unlawful. If we were to limit
this reason to something being harmful or unhealthy it would be due to
the lack of proper knowledge and comprehension of the Qur'an.
There is also more than one cause for the ban on pork.
There is no doubt that pork has always been hazardous to human health
until the present day. That definite measures against the risk in question,
discovered by medical equipment and biological tests in our day, were
taken in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago, a time when people were entirely
uninformed about concepts such as microbes, bacteria, trichina, hormones
or antibodies, is one of the miracles of this Divine Book. It is known
today that, even after all the inspections and precautions taken during
the production of pork, it still is physically unfit for human consumption,
and is a type of meat that creates health hazards in human beings. Nonetheless,
the production of pork is cost-effective and this is one of the reasons
why it is so popular worldwide. This tempting factor, we may notice, somewhat
resembles the flow of the fish during the Sabbath of the Jews. When there
are so many edible and delicious sources of meat such as lambs, sheep,
chickens, cows, countless varieties of birds, animals of prey and many
more, to covet pork meat when it is forbidden by God would be considered
a purposeful act.
Since the Qur'an is valid until the Day of Judgment,
any form of pork consumption, other than the extraordinary situations
stated in the Qur'an, is forbidden until then. If after a hundred years
pork is completely treated of any health hazards, to avoid consuming it
would still be a form of worship for true believers. Then, the question
of whether to eat it or not will again be a trial for those mindless objectors.
Seeing the Anecdotes in the Qur'an as Fables
One important element in the Qur'anic style is that
it explains various subjects through examples or comparisons. These are
often from the lives of previous prophets/messengers or events that occurred
before the Qur'an's revelation. Therefore, these types of Qur'anic anecdotes
display many warnings, examples, signs and messages to people.
The Qur'an conveys the ignorant words of those who are
unable to realize this holy wisdom:
When Our Signs are recited to them, they say,
'We have already heard all this. If we wanted, we could say the same thing.
This is nothing but the myths of previous peoples.' (Surat al-Anfal: 31)
When they are asked, 'What has your Lord sent
down?' they say, 'Myths and legends of previous peoples.' (Surat an-Nahl:
24)
The unwise regard these anecdotes as myths and legends,
even though they contain considerable enlightening information and examples
for true believers. God explains every possible event and the laws of
all times by giving examples or illustrations from the lives of past prophets
and nations.
Obviously, to provide historical information is not
the only aim of these Qur'anic anecdotes or examples. They contain numerous
holy aims too. We can list a few of them thus:
- To display the laws of God that have existed since
the creation of the universe and govern believers as well as non-believers.
- To explain and prepare the believers of all times
for any events, tests, or hardships they might experience, such as how
they should behave and react, the type of spirit and conscience they should
display, the behavior and manner they should demonstrate towards God;
namely to show the believers the right path in every subject.
- To increase the enthusiasm of true believers.
- To invite the defiant to the right path and to remind
those who do not accept this invitation of the consequences of their actions.
- To deliver the delightful news to the followers of
the Qur'an about the beautiful end that awaits them in this world and
the next.
Evidently, those who lack the intelligence and the sense
to perceive such things will assume the Qur'an to be a storybook and will
not see the hidden wisdom in the Qur'anic anecdotes. The state of these
judgmental and insensible people who are deaf to any explanation or advice,
is mentioned in a Qur'anic verse:
Some of them listen to you but We have placed covers
on their hearts, preventing them from understanding it, and heaviness
in their ears. Though they see every Sign, they still have no faith, so
that when they come to you, disputing with you, those who are disbelievers
say, 'This is nothing but the myths of previous peoples!' (Surat al-An'am:
25)
People like that do not pose any threat to Islam or
the Qur'an with their actions. No matter how much they try to cause harm
to the Qur'an and to turn or hold others back from their religion, they
do no more than damage themselves without even realizing it. This fact
is stated in the continuation of the previous verse:
They keep others from it and avoid it themselves.
They are only destroying themselves but they are not aware of it... (Surat
al-An'am: 26)
When they finally do realize the errors of their ways
it is of no use, as they are too late and there is no way to repair the
damage:
If only you could see when they are standing before
the Fire and saying, 'Oh! If only we could be sent back again, we would
not deny the Signs of our Lord and we would be among the believers'!.
(Surat al-An'am: 27)
The Assumption That the Qur'an is a Copy or Imitation of Other Holy Books
The Qur'an is the only divine book that God has sent to all of mankind
as a warning as well as guidance, and is valid until the Day of Judgment.
Mankind has altered the other holy books that were sent before the Qur'an.
However, God has protected the Qur'an. This fact is mentioned in verse
9 of Surat al-Hijr "It is We Who have sent down the Reminder and
We Who will preserve it.."
Another of the unsound claims widely spread by the unwise
is that the Prophet Muhammad was inspired by the Bible (the Torah and
the Gospel) and afterwards wrote the Qur'an. At the root of this totally
imaginary and baseless claim lie some similarities that exist between
the Qur'an and the Bible.
It is quite natural for such similarities to exist because,
ultimately (if we were to remove the altered parts of the Torah and the
Gospel) they all contain the words of God and their message is one and
the same. The main subjects, such as the presence of God, His oneness,
His attributes, belief in the Hereafter, the characteristics of believers,
hypocrites and those who deny Him, the lives of previous nations, guidance,
prohibitions, and moral values, are universal facts and will stay unaltered
throughout time. Consequently, it is no surprise that these topics mentioned
in the previous holy books are similar and parallel to those in the Qur'an.
Actually, there is no claim in the Qur'an that Islam is a very distinct
religion. The similarities are stated in the Qur'anic verses as well:
It (The Qur'an) is certainly in the scriptures
of the previous peoples. Is it not indeed a Sign for them that the scholars
of the tribe of Israel have knowledge of it? (Surat ash-Shu'ara : 196-197)
What is in the heavens and in the earth belongs
to God. We have instructed those given the Book before you and you yourselves,
to have fear of God. (Surat an-Nisa': 131)
What's more, it is stated in the Qur'an that it confirms
the original, unaltered Torah and the Gospel:
And We have sent down the Book to you (O Muhammad)
with truth, confirming and conserving the previous Books. So judge between
them by what God has sent down and do not follow their whims and desires
deviating from the Truth that has come to you. We have appointed a law
and a practice for every one of you… (Surat al-Ma'idah: 48)
The quality of confirming
its predecessors is not unique to the Qur'an, but has been given to all
the divine books. The Gospel that was sent to the Prophet Jesus confirmed
its predecessor the Torah that was revealed to the Prophet Moses. This
reality is stated in the Qur'an:
And We sent Jesus son of Maryam following in their
footsteps, confirming the Torah that came before him. We gave him the
Gospel containing guidance and light, confirming the Torah that came before
it, and as guidance and admonition for those who do their duty. (Surat
al-Ma'idah: 46)
This is a law of God and of course applies to the Qur'an
as well. Some of the subjects in common with the other divine books have
been mentioned in the Qur'an. The beginning of Hajj (Pilgrimage) with
the Prophet Abraham in verses 26 and 27 of Surat al-Hajj, the existence
of obligatory daily prayers and giving alms before the time of our Prophet
in verses 72 and 73 of Surat al-Anbiya', and the good behavior asked of
all the messengers in verse 51 of Surat al-Mu'minun all reflect these
common points.
"And We located the position of the House
for Abraham: 'Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for
those who circle it, and those who stand and bow and prostrate. Announce
the Pilgrimage to mankind. They will come to you on foot and on every
sort of lean animal, coming by every distant road."(Surat al-Hajj:
26-27)
And in addition to that We gave him Isaac and Jacob
and made both of them true believers. We made them leaders, guiding by
Our command, and revealed to them how to do good actions and establish
prayer and pay alms, and they worshipped Us. (Surat al-Anbiya': 72-73)
Messengers, eat of the good things and act rightly.
I most certainly know what you do." (Surat al-Mu'minun: 51)
We may conclude that there are similar beliefs between
the Qur'an and the other divine books, and that this is not only natural
but logical. Therefore, the presence of these similarities does not in
any way show that our Prophet wrote the Qur'an. In fact, quite the opposite;
it further emphasizes the truth that the books of all Divine religions
come from one source, God. This is a reality stated by the Qur'an and
confirmed by reason as well as logic.
God has revealed in His verses that the Qur'an is the
book of truth sent by Him and the condition of those who do not believe
in this truth.
And this Qur'an is not such as could ever be invented
in despite of God; but it is a confirmation of that which was before it
and an exposition of that which is decreed for mankind - This Qur'an could
never have been devised by any besides God. Rather it is confirmation
of what came before it and an elucidation of the Book which contains no
doubt from the Lord of all the worlds. Do they say, 'He has invented it'?
Say: 'Then produce a chapter like it and call on anyone you can besides
God if you are telling the truth.' No, the fact is that they have denied
something which their knowledge does not embrace and the meaning of which
has not yet reached them. In the same way those before them also denied
the truth. See the final fate of the wrongdoers! (Surah Yunus: 37-39)
Moreover, there is another dimension to this subject.
The Prophet Muhammad was not someone who collected information and researched
either the Torah or the Gospel in his lifetime. The Prophet's fellow tribesmen
closely witnessed the fact that he never actually read, wrote, worked
on or researched any of these books. No one ever had any doubt concerning
this point. Furthermore, this characteristic of the Prophet that was so
well known by the disbelievers was used in the Qur'an as evidence against
them:
You never recited any Book before it nor did you
write one down with your right hand. If you had, the purveyors of falsehood
would have voiced their doubts… (Surat al-'Ankabut: 48)
The term "Ummi", which refers to a person
who has no knowledge of the previous divine books and is not a member
of these religions, is used in the Qur'an for the Prophet Muhammad to
emphasize his attribute. The verse is:
Those who follow the Messenger, the Ummi, whom they
find written down with them in the Torah and the Gospel...." (Surat
al-A'raf: 157)
The context in which the term "Ummi" is used
to refer to those who are not Christians or Jews can be seen in the verse:
If they argue with you, say, 'I have submitted myself
completely to God, and so have all who follow me.' Say to those given
the Book and those who have no Book (the Ummi), 'Have you become Muslim?'
If they become Muslim, they have been guided. If they turn away, you are
only responsible for transmission. God sees His servants. (Surat Al 'Imran:
20)
As we can deduce from this verse, the term "Ummi"
is used to refer to people other than those who have been sent books.
So it becomes clear that the term is not used in the Qur'an with its classical
form to imply the "illiterate".
Incompatibilities and Differences
We have so far explained the logic behind the similarities
that exist between the Qur'an and the other altered books. However, when
a person pays enough attention he will realize that there are many more
incompatibilities and differences between them. In addition to the existing
resemblances, the Qur'an's dissimilarity with the altered portions of
the other divine books and how it corrects these changes is evidence that
it is, word for word, a Holy Book.
Since the previous divine books have gone through extensive
man-made changes and have lost much of their original divine message,
they contain conflicting references and logic, and are at times the direct
opposite of what is contained in the Qur'an. There are also many variations
in their anecdotes compared to Qur'anic ones.
These books have been changed in content and logic as
well as style and composition; hence they have been turned into mystical
religious history texts rather than divine books. For instance, the first
book of the Torah, Genesis, tells the story of Children of Israel from
the beginning of creation until the death of the Prophet Joseph. This
style of historic expression is dominant in all the other books of the
Torah as well.
In the same way, the initial parts of the four official
Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) contain the life of the Prophet
Jesus as their main topic. The main subject of all of these four Gospels
is his life, words and actions.
In contrast, the Qur'an is very different in style.
There is an open invitation to religion right from the start with Surat
al-Fatihah. Overall, the main subject in the Qur'an is declaring God to
be free of imperfection and ordering believers to avoid idolatry in order
to surrender themselves only to God.
Today, in the altered version of the Torah, many imperfections
and human attributes have been ascribed to God (God is surely beyond these).
For example, the anecdote of the Prophet Noah contains a great deal of
far-fetched nonsense about God's attributes. Human qualities such as feeling
tired or regretful, serenity, and many more it is not appropriate to mention
here have been ascribed to God. Again, the Torah has greatly slandered
God when it describes Him as a human-like entity that walks, fights, and
feels anger. (God is surely beyond that)
This is the reason why there are clear warnings in the
Qur'an against such slanders and lies by the Jews. One such accusation
is that God (who is surely beyond that) is parsimonious.
The Jews say, 'God's hand is chained.' Their hands
are chained and they are cursed for what they say! No! Both His hands
are open wide and He gives however He wills. (Surat al-Ma'idah: 64)
On the whole, the Qur'an differs again from the Torah
since it does not just talk about a single nation but of all civilizations,
their rise and fall, as well as holding those whom it has been revealed
to responsible for following its verses. These qualities make it unique
and universal. Since the other books have been changed by people throughout
history and have lost their originality, they no longer possess these
qualities. Some of the basic principles of Christianity that are mentioned
in the Bible, which is claimed to be a source of the Qur'an have been
openly rejected by the Qur'an. The most important one is that which assumes
Prophet Jesus to be the son of God. This belief has been appraised in
the Qur'an as a lie against God.
They say, 'The All-Merciful has a son.' They have
devised a monstrous thing. The heavens are all but rent apart and the
earth split open and the mountains brought crashing down, at their ascription
of a son to the All-Merciful! It is not fitting for the All-Merciful to
have a son. There is no one in the heavens and earth who will not come
to the All-Merciful as a slave… (Surah Maryam: 88-93)
Another such claim the Qur'an entirely opposes is the
crucifixion of the Prophet Jesus by the Jews. In the Qur'an, it is stated
that the Jews did not kill Jesus, but that is how it was made to look,
and it is added that God raised him up to Himself.
In conclusion, if we make a general comparison we will
see that the important truth the Qur'an guides human beings toward is
the Oneness of God, that there is no other deity but He and His purity
from any defects or negative attributes. These important facts are repeated
in each Qur'anic anecdote, information and verse. In the same manner,
each Qur'anic anecdote carries guidance, warning and information.
All of these prove that the Qur'an is a divine revelation.
The Misconception That Scientic Information In the
Qur'an Originates from Ancient Civilizations
We must also mention another irrational claim some people
make about the Qur'an. In the previous section we saw that the scientific
information in the Qur'an were made ahead of the knowledge available at
that time. Those who oppose this obvious fact argue, in an effort to disguise
this miracle from others, that the Prophet Muhammad gathered this information
after being inspired by the advanced civilizations of the time.
According to this claim, our Prophet took information
about such concepts as astronomy, embryology and medicine from ancient
civilizations. For example, they allege that he found the data on astronomy
from the Sumerians and that on medicine from papyrus collections belonging
to the ancient Egyptians and recorded them in the Qur'an.
The invalidity of this assumption is visible from several
standpoints. It is in particular known that the Prophet Muhammad never
carried out such research during his life. No one has so far declared
otherwise. Furthermore, it is well known that the Prophet had no knowledge
of these civilizations' languages, either.
Again, anyone who wished to perform such research in
that period would have had to go through a lot of difficulties. Obviously,
7th century Arabia did not contain any of our contemporary research tools
such as large libraries, the press, bookstores or the Internet. Even with
today's technology it is not an easy task to research ancient Egyptian
documents on embryology. The establishment of this civilization dates
back to some 5,000 years ago. The number of written sources that have
survived to our time is very limited, and furthermore not all of them
have been translated. In addition, it is imperative to have a detailed
knowledge of history in order to evaluate and fully understand these translations.
In short, such a study will be exceedingly difficult, even under the easier
conditions of our time.
Moreover, there is no reason to think that the information we have inherited
from ancient civilizations is totally correct and sound. Incorrect information,
superstitions and twisted beliefs were common in those ancient societies.
If, as the unwise claim, the scientific contents of the Qur'an had been
gathered from the cultures of ancient civilizations, then they should
have contained the same errors or inconsistencies. However, the Qur'an
is free of all such things. Modern science has proven that all scientific
Quranic verses are 100 percent accurate. This reality is further emphasized
in the verse, "Will they not ponder the Qur'an? If it had been
from other than God, they would have found many inconsistencies in it."
(Surat an-Nisa': 82)
This is why the argument that the Prophet Muhammad gathered
the contents of the scientific Qur'anic verses from the resources of other
civilizations is totally groundless, just like all the other claims. The
existence of people who do make such claims and the reply that should
be given to them is stated in the verse:
Those who are disbelievers say, 'This is nothing
but a lie he has invented and other people have helped him to do it. They
have brought injustice and falsehood.' They say, 'It is myths of previous
peoples which he has had transcribed and which are read out to him in
the morning and the evening.' Say: 'The One Who sent it down is He Who
knows all hidden secrets in the heavens and earth. He is Ever-Forgiving,
Most Merciful.' (Surat al-Furqan: 4-6)
The Delusion That the Qur'an was Revealed to the
Arabs Alone
These defiant people promote yet another means by which
they try to separate and distance others from the Qur'an. That is the
claim that the Qur'an was revealed to the Arabs alone, and that they are
the only people who have to follow it. Anyone who has read the Qur'an
even once will realize how groundless and ridiculous this suggestion is.
Many Qur'anic verses emphasize the fact that the Prophet
Muhammad was a messenger sent for all mankind and that everyone is responsible
of obeying the commandments of the Qur'an until the Day of Judgment. We
will quote from a few such verses here, and they should be more than enough
to make our point:
We only sent you for the whole of mankind, bringing
good news and giving warning. But most of mankind do not know it. (Surah
Saba': 28)
Say: 'Mankind! I am the Messenger of God to you
all, of Him to whom the kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs.' (Surat
al-A'raf : 158)
Those who protest, trying to confuse uninformed people
and cause disturbances, will base their claim on the Qur'anic verse stated
below:
We have not sent any Messenger except with the language
of his people so he can make things clear to them. God misguides anyone
He wills and guides anyone He wills. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.
(Surah Ibrahim: 4)
The verse is crystal clear. The messenger will speak
the same language as the nation he has been sent to. This has always been
the case throughout history. Only such people can report the revelation
of God to the public around them completely and perfectly. This is why
the book revealed to the messenger will be of the same language as that
of the messenger himself and his nation. There could be nothing more natural.
However, objectors argue this point in order to refrain
from religion, no matter what. Their perverse mentality has been clarified
in the Qur'an:
If We had made it a Qur'an in a foreign tongue they
would have said, 'Why have its Signs not been made plain? What! A foreign
language for an Arab?' Say: 'It is guidance and healing for people who
have faith. Those who do not have faith have heaviness in their ears and
for them it is blindness. Such people are being called from a very distant
place.' (Surah Fussilat: 44)
It is imperative to form such unity between the prophet,
his nation and the book he presents in order to convey the divine revelation
to mankind completely and perfectly, as well as to prevent the occurrence
of any communication problems that would hinder the establishment of sound
foundations for religion. Evidently, this does not suggest anything to
the effect that other nations will not be held accountable for the Qur'an.
The meaning and the commandments of the Qur'an can easily be interpreted
and explained in any language. As a matter of fact, that is exactly what
has taken place. This condition is not in anyway a hindrance to learning
or applying religion.
The Misinterpretation of the Term "We,"
Which God Uses in Reference to Himself
God uses the term "We" to refer to Himself
in many parts of the Qur'an. Some examples of these verses can be given:
We gave Moses the Book and sent a succession of
Messengers after him. We gave Jesus, son of Maryam, the Clear Signs and
reinforced him with the Purest Spirit. Why then, whenever a Messenger
came to you with something your lower selves did not desire, did you grow
arrogant, and deny some of them and murder others?! (Surat al-Baqarah:
87)
Who would deliberately renounce the religion of
Abraham except someone who reveals himself to be a fool? We chose him
in the world and in the hereafter he will be one of the true believers.
(Surat al-Baqarah: 130)
The unwise assume the term "We," which God
uses in reference to Himself in the Qur'an to be a plural form, and suggest
that the use of this word contradicts the fact that there is no other
deity but God. They believe they have made a very significant discovery.
In fact, the explanation of this misinterpretation, resulting from a very
superficial and ignorant approach, is quite simple. In Arabic, the pronoun
"We" is not only used as a plural form, but is also applied
to accentuate greatness, grandeur, majesty, glory, high rank and position
in the singular as well. The term "We" used for God is applied
in this context.
The mentality with which the term "We" is
used in Arabic also applies to the polite use of the plural form of the
pronoun "you" to refer to one person in French and some other
foreign languages.
The core and most significant message of the Qur'an
is that there is no other deity but God, and that He alone must be obeyed.
The fact that there is no other deity than God is stressed in various
Qur'anic verses, such as:
This is the true account: there is no other deity
besides God. God – He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.(Surat Al 'Imran:
62)
... There is no deity except God, the One, the
All-Conquering. (Surah Sad: 65)
Know then that there is no deity except God and
ask forgiveness for your wrongdoing, and for the men and women who believe.
God knows both your activity and your repose. (Surah Muhammad: 19)
It becomes apparent that the term "We" used
in reference to God Himself in various parts of the Qur'an is not applied
in the plural form but is intended to portray magnificence, respect and
holiness.
In fact, one does not necessarily have to be aware of
this special use of the term in Arabic to grasp its purpose. Anyone with
the least power of reasoning can appreciate the delicacy behind the term.
The conditions of those who perceive this as a contradiction or defiance
present a vivid picture of the level of their intelligence and understanding
and the aptitude they display.
Failing to Understand the Examples Given in the
Qur'an
The Qur'an is a book that only careful, thinking and
sincere people can truly understand. Those without these qualities, namely
people who are unaware and incapable of reasoning and have ulterior motives,
can never comprehend the Qur'an nor discover its mysteries and finer points.
This is also true of the examples given in the Qur'an which offer guidance
and instructions. One Qur'anic verse describes how sceptics are unable
to grasp the examples in the Qur'an and, furthermore, how these examples
can lead them to become misguided.
God is not ashamed to make an example of a gnat
or of an even smaller thing. As for those who have faith, they know it
is the truth from their Lord. But as for those who are disbelievers, they
say, 'What does God mean by this example?' He misguides many by it and
guides many by it. But He only misguides the deviators. (Surat al-Baqarah:
26)
A believer can easily grasp that the example of the gnat mentioned in
the verse is a means of proving the superiority of God's power. This tiny
insect, only about a centimeter long, is an example of God's perfect and
unique creation. It contains systems, mechanisms and a structure far more
complex than that of any advanced technological equipment or computers.
It has survived down to our own time and has remained unchanged ever since
its creation. God gives this miraculous creature as an example in the
Qur'an to emphasize the supremacy of His Creation. True believers can
deduce from this example that even a single gnat opens the gateway to
feeling and understanding the endless knowledge and power of God. However,
those unwise sceptical unbelievers, instead of learning to perceive every
creature around them with the same appreciative eyes, will still be asking
in wonder, "What does God mean by this example?"
Failing to Understand the Repetitions in the Qur'an
The repetitions in the Qur'an are the source of further
confusion for the unwise who cannot understand the rationale behind them.
In certain parts of the Qur'an some subjects and verses are repeated.
Constant reference is made in different Qur'anic anecdotes, examples,
and suggestions to the principles of religion, such as the existence and
oneness of God, resignation, concession, the importance of praising God,
the temporary nature of this world, gratitude and spending one's life
on the path of God. There are even instances when a verse is repeated
word for word in another place in the Qur'an.
This has many plausible motives. In order to engrave
essential subjects in the minds and hearts of people, they are repeated
at every opportunity. Furthermore, every aspect of these vital subjects
becomes easier to comprehend if they are covered in different examples
and anecdotes.
One of the well-known repetitions in the Qur'an is the verse "Then
which of the favours of your Lord will you deny?" in Surat ar-Rahman.
This verse is mentioned among the 78 verses of this Surah 31 times. This
is a very wise repetition that provides the vital atmosphere to put people
into a grateful and meditative state rather than remaining indifferent
as they consider how the beauties of Heaven listed by God are truly magnificent
favors and blessings. The respectful admiration and grandeur present in
the heart of the believer strengthens with each reiteration of the verse.
In this way, the desired feeling is delivered to the heart of the sincere
and conscientious believer in the best possible manner.
Failing to Understand the Style of the Qur'an (The
prayers of the believers, the words of the angels….)
Every Qur'anic verse is an example of the endless Wisdom
of God, and so every subject it contains has been explained in the most
substantial and perfect style. In some parts a subject is explained in
a most thorough and detailed manner whereas, in other parts, it has been
made understandable with a short and simple approach. For example, in
some Qur'anic verses, the statements or prayers of believers, angels or
other third parties are conveyed directly without any prior introduction.
True believers can easily grasp the reason why these statements were conveyed
in such a manner.
However, this style of the Qur'an is difficult to understand
for those with limited powers of contemplation. They assume that since
the Qur'an consists of God's words, then the fact that it contains the
statements of others is paradoxical. Nevertheless, these words serve as
examples and admonitions to true believers. The one who conveys these
statements mentioned in the Qur'an is God. Thus, they are all His words.
For instance, the last four verses of Surat al-Fatihah
are the prayers of the believers.
You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight
Path, the Path of those You have blessed, not of those with anger on them,
nor of the misguided. (Surat al-Fatihah: 4-7)
In this way, God has notified the believers of the style
they should adopt while praying right from the start. There is no introductory
statement at the beginning of this prayer along the lines of "Pray
as mentioned below," because the situation is quite obvious. Another
such example is the prayer that is mentioned in the last verse of Surat
al-Baqarah:
God does not impose on any self any more than it
can stand. For it is what it has earned; against it, what it has merited.
Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake! Our Lord,
do not place on us a load like the one You placed on those before us!
Our Lord, do not place on us a load we have not the strength to bear!
And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our Master,
so help us against the people of the disbelievers. (Surat al-Baqarah:
286)
Anyone who is sensible enough can easily see that God
is conveying a sample prayer pattern to true believers through these verses,
and will thus pray accordingly. Conversely, the unwise can never see the
real nature of such verses and will come to be guided by Satan.
The Subject of Creation in Six Days
It is stated in various parts of the Qur'an that the
universe was created in six days. Particular attention is often drawn
to one section however, where the number of days in the separate verses
mentioning the different stages of creation adds up to 8. Those who are
unable to grasp the evident logic behind these verses assume them to conflict
with all the other Qur'anic verses, which state the creation to have occurred
in six days. These verses are as follows:
Say: 'Do you reject Him Who created the earth in
two days, and make others equal to Him? That is the Lord of all the worlds.'
He placed firmly embedded mountains on it, towering over it, and blessed
it and measured out its nourishment in it, laid out for those who seek
it – all in four days. Then He turned to heaven when it was smoke and
said to it and to the earth, 'Come willingly or unwillingly.' They both
said, 'We come willingly.' In two days He determined them as seven heavens
and revealed, in every heaven, its own mandate. We adorned the lowest
heaven with lamps and guarded it. That is the decree of the Almighty,
the All-Knowing. (Surah Fussilat: 9-12)
If the days mentioned in the above verses are calculated,
they add up to 8. Whereas it is stated in verse 3 of Surah Yunus and others
that the Earth, the skies and everything in between were created in 6
days. This situation could appear incomprehensible to a superficial reader
who refuses to use his mind and logic or to pay close attention. Those
who approach the Qur'an to try to discover faults and contradictions frequently
cite the above verse.
Yet, if a person concentrates and uses wisdom he can
readily see that there is absolutely no paradox at all. If we pay attention
to the periods of time stated in the verses we can reach the following
calculations:
- It took four days from the time the universe was started
until the sustenance had been made ready, or rather the necessary environment
for living things was suitable, along with the creation of plants and
animals.
- The beginning of
this period, namely the shaping of the Earth along with the universe,
or in short the creation of the world, took the initial two of these four
days. So, these two days are not a separate time frame from those first
four days. They are, to be more precise, the first two days of the four
days mentioned in the next verse.
- In the 11th and 12th verses state that the sky was
formed in 2 days. In conclusion, they add up to 6 days.
In short, the verses explain the separate time frames
for each of the events that take place within the six days of creation.
It is imperative to clarify the point that the term
"day" mentioned in these verses is not used to refer to a 24
hour-day but instead to indicate the different periods and phases.
The Speculation About the Name "Haman"
Those who keep themselves occupied by looking for inconsistencies
in the Qur'an refer to a man named "Haman" who is mentioned
in the Qur'anic verses as one of Pharaoh's men.
In the Torah, the name Haman is not used when the life
of the Prophet Moses is quoted. On the other hand, it is mentioned in
the Gospel to refer to a helper of the Babylonian king who lived 1,100
years after the Prophet Moses and persecuted the Jews.
Those who claim that the Prophet Muhammad wrote the
Qur'an in the light of the Torah and the Gospel also put forth the sophistry
that he copied some of the subjects in the Qur'an wrongly.
The ridiculousness of this claim became obvious 200
years ago when the Egyptian hieroglyphs were deciphered and the name "Haman"
was discovered.
Until then it had not been possible to read any of the
writings or tablets written in ancient Egyptian. The ancient Egyptian
language and hieroglyphs had been present for many thousands of years.
However, with the spread of Christianity and its cultural influences during
the second and third centuries AD the ancient Egyptians forgot their religion
as well as the language, and the use of hieroglyphs came to a gradual
stop. The year 394 AD is the last known time when a hieroglyph was used.
Afterwards this language was forgotten, leaving nobody who could read
and understand it. Until some 200 years ago.
The ancient Egyptian language was deciphered in 1799
with the discovery of a tablet dated to 196 BC called the "Rosetta
Stone". The unique nature of this tablet came from the fact that
it was written in three different forms of writing; hieroglyphics, demotic
(a simplified form of ancient Egyptian hieratic writing) and Greek. The
ancient Egyptian dialect was decoded with the help of the Greek version.
A Frenchman named Jean-Françoise Champollion completed the deciphering
of the whole tablet. In this way, a forgotten language and the history
that it contained came back to life. This discovery made it possible to
research ancient Egyptian civilization, their beliefs and social life.
It also made it possible to acquire the vital piece
of information we are now discussing. The name "Haman" was in
fact mentioned in old Egyptian tablets. It was mentioned on a monument
which now stands in the Hof Museum in Vienna, and in which the closeness
of Haman to the Pharaoh was emphasized. (Walter Wreszinski, Ägyptische Inschriften
aus dem K.K. Hof Museum in Wien, 1906, J. C. Hinrichs' sche Buchhandlung)
The dictionary "The People in the New Kingdom" refers to Haman
as "the head of the quarry workers". (Hermanne Ranke, Die Ägyptischen
Personennamen, Verzeichnis der Namen, Verlag Von J J Augustin in Glückstadt,
Band I, 1935. Band II, 1952)
This discovery brought to light a truly astonishing
fact. Haman was, contrary to what those who opposed the Qur'an claimed,
really a man who had lived in Egypt during the Prophet Moses' time and
furthermore, just as stated in the Qur'an, he was close to the Pharaoh
and dealt with construction of sorts.
As a matter of fact, the Qur'anic verse that conveys
how the Pharaoh requested Haman to build a tower is in perfect unison
with this archaeological finding:
Pharaoh said, 'Council, I do not know of any other
god for you apart from me. Haman, kindle a fire for me over the clay and
build me a lofty tower so that perhaps I may be able to climb up to Moses'
god! I consider him a blatant liar.' (Surat al-Qasas: 38)
In conclusion, the discovery of the name Haman on ancient
Egyptian tablets discredited another claim made by those who strive to
find inconsistencies in the Qur'anic verses. Furthermore, the undeniable
truth that the Qur'an is revealed by God is once again proven without
any doubt as the Qur'an miraculously conveyed historical information that
could not have been found and deciphered in the Prophet's time.
The Speculation About Noah's Flood
The subject of Noah's flood is one of many that the
deniers are unable to rationalize, and so oppose. People who deny that
it ever happened argue that it was technically impossible for a worldwide
flood to have occurred. They go on to say that since the Qur'an relates
such an event, it cannot be the word of God.
Nonetheless, such claims are not valid in the case of
the holy Qur'an, given that it is the only holy book revealed by God that
has stayed unaltered. Moreover, the mention of the Flood in the Qur'an
is handled very differently when compared to the Torah and other cultures.
In the altered Torah, the flood is stated to have been
universal and to have covered the whole world. The Qur'an, on the other
hand, makes no reference to the flood being universal. In fact, just the
opposite is true, as the verses explain that the flood was not worldwide
but regional, and that only the nation denying the Prophet Noah was punished.
The Prophet Noah was sent to his own nation only, just
as Prophet Hud was sent to the people of 'Ad (Surah Hud: 50), and the
Prophet Salih was sent to the Thamud (Surah Hud: 61) and the flood destroyed
only his people.
We sent Noah to his people: 'I am a clear warner
to you. Worship none but God. I fear for you the punishment of a painful
day.' (Surah Hud: 25-26)
Those who were destroyed were those who denied and insisted
on opposing the revelations of the Prophet Noah. The Qur'anic verses that
deal with that subject leave no room for any argument:
But they denied him so We rescued him and those
with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They
were a blind people. (Surat al-A'raf: 64)
So We rescued him and those with him by mercy
from Us, and We cut off the last remnant of those who denied Our Signs
and were not believers. (Surat al-A'raf : 72)
We can see the Qur'an states that only the people of
the Prophet Noah were destroyed, and not the whole world. When the Qur'anic
verses are so obvious, to argue that the flood of Noah mentioned in the
Qur'an was universal has no other aim than to confuse and trick the uninformed.
The fact that the logical deficiencies and superstitions
that exist in the altered, story and myth-filled Torah and the Gospel
do not exist in the Qur'an, but that corrected and factual versions do,
is yet another piece of evidence that it was sent by God.
It is not possible for the Qur'an to refer to the flood
as a universal event for yet another reason; God states that a nation
will not perish unless it has been sent a messenger. Destruction will
take place if the people in question have been sent a messenger to warn
and guide them, but they reject him. This is related in Surat al-Qasas:
Your Lord would never destroy any cities without
first sending to the chief of them a Messenger to recite Our Signs to
them. We would never destroy any cities unless their inhabitants were
wrongdoers. (Surat al-Qasas: 59)
Yet another verse states: "Whoever is guided is only guided to
his own good. Whoever is misguided is only misguided to his detriment.
No burden-bearer can bear another's burden. We never punish until We have
sent a Messenger." (Surat al-Isra': 15)
As can be deduced from the above verses, it is against
the laws of God to destroy a nation before sending it a messenger. The
Prophet Noah was only sent to his people to remind them. For this reason,
God destroyed only the Prophet Noah's people, and not the other nations
that had yet to receive messengers.
The other subject of debate regarding the flood is whether
the waters rose high enough to cover all the peaks and mountains in the
region. The Qur'an maintains that the ship rested on the "Judi"
after the flood. The term "Judi" is taken to indicate a particular
mountain, but in Arabic it actually means "A high point or place".
So we can make out from the Qur'an that the flood did not swallow the
whole world and all the mountains, as the altered Torah tells us, but
rather covered a particular region.
Moreover, archaeological excavations carried out in the regions thought
to have been affected by the flood have revealed that it was not a universal
event covering the whole world, but instead a regional catastrophe that
covered a wide section of Mesopotamia. (For more information, see Perished
Nations by Harun Yahya)
|