A complete system of diacritical marks (damma, fataha, kasra) was
invented by Al Khaleel Ibn Ahmad Al Faraheedy (d. 786 CE).
Do You Know This Book?
By M. Tahlawi
Introduction
This booklet is for every free thinking and broadminded human being
whose goal is to find the truth. We encourage you to read this booklet
with an open mind. For a few moments, please set aside your
pre-conceived notions and take a critical look at what
is presented. It will open before you a new dimension of your role as a
human being in this universe.
When we want to talk about Islam as a way of life, it is a very
difficult task especially in the West because of several misconceptions
and stereotypes that are prevalent about Islam and Muslims.
One of the surprising facts for most non-Muslims is that Islam has over
975 million followers all over the world. Islam has a revelation, a holy
book, called the Qur'an which was revealed to the prophet Mohammed, peace
be upon him, about fourteen hundred years ago. The Qur'an is the last and
final revelation until the end of human existence on earth.
When we talk about Islam or Christianity, we should not consider some
Muslims' and Christians' wrongdoings as a way to judge Islam or
Christianity.
As far as scripture goes, let us see what Dr. Maurice Bucaille said in
his book "The Bible, the Qur'an and Science", which was
published by the American Trust Publications 1979:
"Thanks to its undisputed authenticity, the text of the Qur'an
holds a unique place among the books of Revelation, shared neither by
the Old nor the New Testament. In the first two sections of this work, a
review was made of the alterations undergone by the Old Testament and
the Gospels before they were handed down to us in the form we know
today. The same is not true for the Qur'an for the simple reason that it
was written down at the time of the prophet".
Somebody with a counter argument might ask, "How would I know that
the Qur'an is a revelation from Allah?" Do you have any
evidence?"
I have evidence that the Qur'an is a revelation from Allah and this
evidence is presented in the next few pages. When the revelation of the
Qur'an commenced in 622 A.D., it was a linguistic miracle. The Qur'an has
a challenge in it. The challenge is for anybody to produce some thing like
or similar to the Qur'an.
This challenge was present in the Qur'an in Sura
no. 17, verse no. 88 which is translated as follows:
" Say: If the whole of mankind and Jinn were together to produce
the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even
if they back up each other with help and support."
Years passed and nobody was able to meet the challenge. Later (after
several years) the challenge in the Qur'an was eased asking for anyone to
produce even ten Suras like those in it. This was in the Quran in Sura
no. 11, verse no. 13 which is translated as follows:
" or they may say, "He forged it" Say, "Bring ye
then ten Suras forged, like unto it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever
ye can, other than Allah! If ye speak the truth"
Again years passed and nobody was able to successfully meet the
challenge. Later the challenge was eased for the second time to produce
one Sura like or similar to the Suras in the Qur'an. The challenge (to
anyone) to produce one Sura was presented in the Qur'an in more than a
Sura, one of them was in Sura
no. 2, Verse no. 23 which is translated as follows:
"And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to
time to Our servant, then produce a Sura like thereunto; and call your
witnesses or helpers besides Allah, if what you say is true."
Since then, more than fourteen hundred years have passed, and nobody
has been able to meet the challenge, and nobody will, because the Qur'an
is the only existing book containing the word of Allah which no man can
match or imitate. The most eloquent people in the Arabic language spent
years going over and searching the Qur'an, trying to find any weak or
inadequate word or sentence, but they could not. They even went further,
trying to find a way to substitute a word or a sentence in the Qur'an,
hoping to convey a similar meaning as the original one, but they failed to
do so.
As a result of this, many people, especially linguists, throughout the
last fourteen hundred years believed in the Qur'an as a revelation beyond
any human capacity.
In the beginning of the modern ages, some non-Muslims argued that the
appreciation of the Arabic language has declined even among the native
speakers themselves, and that most of the non-Muslims cannot speak Arabic.
They conclude that the Qur'an will not stay till the end of the human
existence on earth as a miracle.
This is not a valid argument because there are still millions of people
all over the world who have a very good command of the Arabic language and
who can appreciate the linguistic miracle of the Qur'an. But the Qur'an
has something else for the modern ages. Some people have noticed that
there are many facts about the science of astronomy, human reproduction
and other scientific fields in the Qur'an.
Modern scientists have been amazed by the accuracy of scientific
information presented in the Quran. Some people wrote books about this
phenomenon which attracted the attention of many people in the west - both
Muslims and Non- Muslims.
One of these books is a specialized book in embryology entitled The
Developing Human by Dr. Keith L. Moore, published by W.B. Saunders,
1982. In the third edition of this book, Dr. Moore said:
"It is cited in the Koran, the holy book of the Muslims, that human
beings are produced from a mixture of secretions from the male and the
female. Several references are made to the creation of a human being
from a sperm drop and it is also suggested that the resulting organism
settles in the woman like a seed, six days after its beginning. (The
human blastocyst begins to implant about six days after fertilization.)
The Koran, (and prophet saying), also states that the sperm drop
develops 'into a clot of congealed blood' (an implanted blastocyst or a
spontaneously aborted conceptus would resemble a blood clot.) Reference
is also made to the leech-like appearance of the embryo... "
This was part of what Dr. Moore wrote in his book. Later, after more
research and study of the Qur'anic terms used to describe the development
of the embryo in the mother's womb and other related descriptions, Dr.
Moore found that the Qur'anic terms and statements are amazing in their
scientific accuracy.
Therefore, Dr. Moore decided to add a chapter to the next edition of
his book to discuss the scientific accuracy of the Qur'anic version, which
was revealed fourteen hundred years ago. In the seventh Saudi Medical
Meeting, Dr. Moore wrote a paper about human embryology in the Qur'an and
the Hadith. He said in the paper: "I was amazed at the scientific
accuracy of these statements (in the Qur'an), which were made in the 7th
century A.D."
Now the question is: if the Qur'an describes these scientific facts
with great accuracy, how could it be a human work? Let us see what Dr.
Maurice Bucaille said after he had read the Qur'an:
"My first goal was to read the Qur'an and to make a sentence by
sentence analysis of it... my approach was to pay special attention to
the description of numerous natural phenomena given in the Qur'an; the
highly accurate nature of certain details referring to them in the Book,
which was only apparent in the original, struck me by the fact that they
were in keeping with present-day ideas although a man living at the time
of Mohammed couldn't have suspected this at all...what initially strikes
the reader confronted for the first time with a text of this kind is the
sheer abundance of subjects discussed... whereas monumental errors are
to be found in the Bible I could not find a single error in the Qur'an.
I had to stop and ask myself: if a man was the author of the Qur'an how
could he have written facts in the seventh century A.D. that today are
shown to be in keeping with modern scientific knowledge?... What human
explanation can there be to this observation? In my opinion there is no
explanation; there is no special reason why an inhabitant of the Arabian
Peninsula should have had scientific knowledge on certain subjects that
was ten centuries ahead... It is an established fact that at the time of
the Qur'anic Revelation, i.e. within a period of roughly twenty three
years straddling Hegira (622 A.D.), scientific knowledge had not
progressed for centuries and the period of activity in Islamic
civilization, with its accompanying scientific upsurge, came after the
close of the Qur'anic revelation."
In addition to what Dr. Bucaille said, there are more examples from
different scientific fields other than embryology.
When I searched the Qur'an for verses which refer to scientific facts,
I found a large number of such verses. I will try to give as many examples
as the space permits.
The Qur'an states several facts about astronomy which were discovered
in the late twentieth century. One of these facts is about the expansion
of the universe. Let us see what Dr. Bucaille said about that:
"The expansion of the universe is the most imposing discovery of
modern science today. It is a firmly established concept and the only
debate centres around the way this is taking place. It was first
suggested by the general theory of relativity and is backed up by
physics in the examination of the galactic spectrum; the regular
movement towards the red section of their spectrum may be explained by
the distancing of one galaxy from another. Thus the size of the Universe
is probably constantly increasing and this increase will become bigger
the further away the galaxies are from us. The speeds at which these
celestial bodies are moving may, in the course of this perpetual
expansion, go from fractions of the speed of light to speeds faster than
this."
The following Verse of the Qur'an Sura
51, verse 47 where God is speaking, may perhaps be compared with
modern ideas;
"The heaven, we have built it with power. Verily we are expanding
it."
"Heaven" is the translation of the word "sama" and
this is exactly the extraterrestrial world that is meant. "We are
expanding it" is the translation of the plural present participle
"musi'una" of the verb "aus'a" meaning "to make
wider, more spacious, to extend, to expand".
Another example from a different scientific field is about the living
things in general which we can find in more than one verse in the Qur'an.
For example Sura
21, Verse 30 was chosen by Dr. Bucaille to present how the Qur'an
talked about these scientific facts. The Verse is translated as follows:
"Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were
joined together, then we clove them asunder and we got every living
thing out of the water. Will they then not believe?"
The notion of "getting something out of something" does not
give rise to any doubts. The phrase can equally mean that every living
thing was made of water (as its essential component) or that every
living thing originated in water. The two possible meanings are strictly
in accordance with scientific data. Life is in fact of aquatic origin
and water is the major component of all living cells. Without water,
life is not possible. When the possibility of life on another planet is
discussed, the first question is always: does it contain a sufficient
quantity of water to support life?
From the Animal Kingdom there are so many facts stated in the Qur'an.
One of these facts is about the source of the constituents of animal milk
which has been described in the Qur'an fourteen hundred years before. It
has been understood only in recent times. Let us see how Dr. Bucaille
explained that when he made comments on Sura
16, Verse 66 which is translated as follows:
"Verily, in cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink
of what is inside their bodies, coming from a conjunction between the
contents of the intestine and the blood, a milk pure and pleasant for
those who drink it."
"From a scientific point of view, physiological notions must be
called upon to grasp the meaning of this verse. The substances that
ensure the general nutrition of the body come from chemical
transformations which occur along the length of the digestive tract.
These substances come from the contents of the intestine. On arrival in
the intestine at the appropriate stage of chemical transformation, they
pass through its wall and towards the systematic circulation. This
passage is effected in two ways: either directly, by what are called the
Lymphatic vessels', or indirectly, by the portal circulation. This
conducts them first to the liver, where they undergo alterations, and
from here they then emerge to join the systematic circulation. In this
way every thing passes through the blood-stream.. The constituents of
milk are secreted by the mammary glands. These are nourished, as it
were, by the product of food digestion brought to them via the
bloodstream. Blood therefore plays the role of collector and conductor
of what has been extracted from food, and it brings nutrition to the
mammary glands, the producers of milk, as it does to any other organ.
Here the initial process which sets everything else in motion is the
bringing together of the contents of the intestine and blood at the
level of the intestinal wall itself. This very precise concept is the
result of the discoveries made in the chemistry and physiology of the
digestive system. It was totally unknown at the time of the Prophet
Mohammed and has been understood only in recent times. The discovery of
the circulation of the blood, was made by Harvey roughly ten centuries
after the Qur'anic Revelation. I consider that the existence in the
Qur'an of the verse referring to these concepts can have no human
explanation on account of the period in which they were
formulated."
The last example I would cite from Dr. Bucaille's book is what I
consider a very interesting one, because this example illustrates where
the Qur'an showed the people facts that have not even been discovered
without the help of the information given in the Qur'an. This example is
about the story of the Pharaoh and Moses which was presented in the Qur'an
in more than one Sura.
The Verses which inspire Dr. Bucaille to do the research around this
incident are in Sura
10, Verses 90 to 92, which mean as follows:
"We (Allah) took the children of Israel across the sea. Pharaoh
with his hosts pursued them in rebellion and hostility till, when the
fact of his drowning overtook him he said: I believe there is no True
God except the God in whom the Children of Israel believe. I am of those
who submit themselves to Him. (It was said to him) 'Now! Thou has
rebelled and caused depravity: This day we save thee in the body so that
thou mayest be a sign for those who come after thee' But verily, many
among mankind are heedless of Our signs."
This is what the Holy Qur'an said about the story of Moses and the
Pharaoh and the sign Allah left for the people who come after the Pharaoh
to see who has a revelation from Allah and who does not have. Let us hear
from Dr. Bucaille how he conducted research to verify this Qur'anic story:
"In June 1975, the Egyptian high authorities very kindly allowed me
to examine the parts of the Pharaoh's body that had been covered until
then. They also allowed me to take photographs... What may already be
derived from this examination is the discovery of multiple lesions of
the bones with broad lacunae, some of which may have been mortal
although it is not yet possible to ascertain whether some of them
occurred before or after the Pharaoh's death. He most probably died
either from drowning, according to the scriptural narrations, or from
very violent shocks preceding the moment when he was drowned or both at
once. The connection of these lesions with the deterioration whose
sources have been mentioned above renders the correct preservation of
the mummy of the Pharaoh somewhat problematical, unless precautionary
and restorative measures are not taken very soon. These measures should
ensure that the only concrete evidence which we still possess today
concerning the death of the Pharaoh of the Exodus and the rescue of his
body, willed by God; does not disappear with the passage of time. It is
always desirable for man to apply himself to the preservation of relics
of his history, but here we have something which goes beyond that: it is
the material presence of the mummified body of the man who knew Moses,
resisted his pleas, pursued him as he took flight and lost his life in
the process. His earthly remains were saved by the Will of God from
destruction to become a sign to man, as it is written in the Qur'an.
Those who seek among modern data for proof of the veracity of the
Holy Scriptures will find a magnificent illustration of the verses of
the Qur'an dealing with the Pharaoh's body by visiting the Royal Mummies
Room of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo! "
These are a few examples just to illustrate what I am talking about in
this booklet. There are over a hundred of these examples in several
scientific fields in the Qur'an which all have been proven to be
scientifically true, in this Book which was revealed fourteen hundred
years ago. Anybody who would like to examine more of these concepts could
read the Qur'an and find out for himself or, an interested person could
get Dr. Bucaille's book "The Bible, The Qur'an and Science"
which is available in bookstores, and check the accuracy of what he
referred to. Not only Dr. Bucaille and Dr. Moore, but many scholars have
researched these concepts and a lot of this research was presented on
September 23rd, 1985 in the conference which was held in Cairo under the
title of "The Scientific Concepts in the Qur'an."
Several papers were presented at the conference. One of the most
interesting papers was from Dr. T.V. Persuade, a professor at the
University of Manitoba, Canada, about human reproduction. Another
interesting paper was presented by Dr. Marshal Johnson Ph.D., the Director
of Daniel Baugh Institute, Philadelphia, USA, also about embryology in the
Qur'an. Dr. Johnson said at the conference that he started to use the
Qur'anic terms in teaching embryology to his students because they were
more accurate and easier to learn than the terms in textbooks.
Dr. Arthur Elson from the City University in London, UK, stated that he
was amazed by the scientific accuracy of the statements which had been
made in the Qur'an. He had no doubt in his mind that these were not human
words because these facts had just been discovered recently.
I would like to quote a Verse from the Qur'an which may sum up the
purpose of having these scientific facts in the Qur'an as signs for the
people.
The verse is from Sura
41, Verse 53 which is translated as follows:
"We (Allah ) will show them (the unbelievers) Our signs in the
farthest regions, and within their own selves until it becomes manifest
to them that this is the Truth."
What is the Quran all about?
The Quran is written in beautiful prose that continues to be marveled at
by the experts of the Arabic language. But it is not merely a literary
masterpiece.
The Quran contains scientific facts and explanations that fascinate
scientists of all fields. But it is not an encyclopedia of science.
The Quran mentions stories of people and places in the past with vivid
detail. But it is not merely a book of history.
So what is the Quran?
The Quran is a revelation from the Creator of this universe to all human
beings. Its most important message is the Unity of God - that there
is only One Supreme Being who has no partners and is not dependent on
anyone or anything. He is the Creator of everything and the whole
universe is in His control. He is the only One worthy of being worshipped.
It is impossible for the created to fully comprehend the Creator - so
the Quran makes us aware of Him by mentioning His Attributes. He is the
most Merciful, the Loving, the Majestic, the Oft-Forgiving. The name that
He has chosen for Himself is Allah.
In His infinite mercy, Allah has not left mankind to wander searching
for the correct path. He has revealed the Quran which includes a code for
all people to follow. Islam is not just a set of beliefs. It is a complete
way of life which covers all spheres of human activity - the social,
economic, political, educational as well as the spiritual. Islam enjoins
good manners for every occasion and stresses treating people, particularly
relatives and neighbors, with kindness. The family enjoys a high status in
Islam - it is viewed as the nucleus of society.
Allah has also sent messengers to guide mankind to the truth and to be
an example for others to emulate. Stories of these messengers starting
from Adam and including those of Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus, and
ending with Mohammed (may peace be upon them all) are found in the Quran.
This final revelation from Allah to mankind has been safeguarded from
any alteration. Since the Quran has been preserved in its original Arabic
it has not lost any meaning in translation to another language. Millions
of people from all parts of the world have memorized the complete Quran.
So even if all printed copies of the Quran were destroyed it would
continue to live in the hearts of these people.
What do Muslims believe?
There is only one God, Allah, who alone is worthy of being worshipped.
Mankind has been guided at various times by the messengers of Allah of
whom the most prominent were Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Mohammed. The
final message was sent to the last prophet, Mohammed, which replaces all
previous messages. None of the prophets claimed to be god or part-god -
they were human and were obedient to Allah.
Finally, I want to inform you that Islam is the universal message of
Allah to all mankind and prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is the last
and final messenger of Allah. Therefore, Allah will not accept any way of
life except Islam. He said in the Gracious Qur'an which is translated as
follows:
"And any one who chooses a way of life other than Islam, it will
not be accepted from him and in the hereafter he will be one of the
losers." (3:85)
Please save yourself by embracing Islam.
Suggested Reading
If you wish to know more about Islam you may refer to the following books:
- "Fundamentals
of Tawheed" by Abu Ameenah Bilal Phillips.
- "Towards understanding Islam" by Abul Ala Al-Moudoodi.
- "Salvation through Repentance" by Abu Ameenah Bilal
Phillips.
- "The Bible, The Qur'an and Science" by Maurice Bucaille.
- "Al-Qur'an The Miracle of Miracles" by Ahmed Deedat.
- "The
True Religion" by Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
