QUR'AN- THE MIRACLE OF MIRACLES
Qur'an was revealed by Allah to Muhammad (PBUP) the Unlettered Prophet, not able or trained to read or write. Without going into much detail let us examine what Allah says about Muhammad (pbuh).
"Those who follow the Apostle the Unlettered Prophet...." (7:157)
"So believe in Allah and His apostle the unlettered Prophet who believed in Allah and His words: follow him that (so) ye may be guided."(7:158)
"And thou (Muhammad) wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came) nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand...." (29:48)
Allah testifies and Muslims agree that Muhammad (pbuh) was an Unlettered person,(an UMMI Prophet) - unable to read or write - clearly indicates that such a person could not have written the Glorious Book (the Qur'an), which even the most learned scholar of the Arabic language agree that they will not be able to produce a book similar to the Qur'an.
Qur'an also talks about the past Prophets, their people and the events that occurred during their times. Muhammad (PBUP) was not present at the time of Moses or Jesus and was not a witness to the events that occurred during the times of these Prophets. The following verses confirms the point.:
"Such is one of the stories of what happened unseen which We reveal by inspiration unto thee(Muhammad): nor wast thou (present) with them when they concerted their plans together in the process of weaving their plots." (12:102)
"But We raised up (new) generations and long were the ages that passed over them; but thou (Muhammad) wast not a dweller among the people of Madyan rehearsing Our Signs to them; but it is We Who send apostles (with inspiration)." (28:45)
"Nor wast thou (Muhammad) at the side of (the Mountain of) Tur when We called (to Moses) Yet (art thou sent) as a Mercy from thy Lord to give warning to a people to whom no warner had come before thee: in order that they may receive admonition." (28:46)
"We did aforetime send apostles before thee (Muhammad): of them there are some whose story We have related to thee and some whose story We have not related to thee. It was not (possible) for any apostle to bring a Sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued the matter was decided in truth and justice and there perished there and then those who stood on Falsehoods." (40:78)
But some critics and unbelievers may argue that Muhammad (pbuh) copied these events and stories from the Scriptures of the past Prophets (before the Qur'an). As Muslims we could simply rule this out by saying that how could he do that when he was an (UMMI) unable to read or write, but this argument may not be a sufficient proof (to the unbelievers) for the miraculous nature of the Qur'an. Hence, we will address this issue by presenting some logical and scientific facts.
Since the dawn of man, many Prophets have come like Abraham, Moses, Jesus (pbut) and others, and by the permission and Will of Allah, these Prophets performed many miracles to prove to their people that they were the messengers of Allah.
Moses for example (pbuh) threw his staff in front of the Pharaoh and his magicians and it became a living snake that swallowed the snakes of Pharaoh's magician. His greatest miracle was the parting of the sea. Jesus (pbuh) on the other hand cured the blind and the lepers and gave life to the dead by Allah's permission.
Muhammad (pbuh) the last messenger of Allah also performed many miracles, the greatest miracle was the revelation of the Qur'an. Qur'an will remain the Ultimate And Living Miracle for all times.
Why is Qur'an a miracle? The Qur'an has certain characteristics that make it unique and inimitable. The Qur'an has vast array of various combinations of its stipulations, across its entire text, each appearing unedited, harmoniously inserted in the text and fully consistent with one another. It is something like telling a hundred stories, part by part across a period of 23 years, with no error in the narrative.
Take for example Surah Al-Baqara (Surah 2), which was revealed over a period of almost 13 years. During this period, other Surah were being revealed concurrently. But the arrangements of the Ayah within the Surah is harmoniously inserted, unedited and yet consistent with one another with the unique choice of words. No other Arabic words whether they are in poetry, prose, the spoken or written language of or any people or even the Prophet himself can come close to the beauty, style and eloquence of the Qur'an.
No other book in the history of man has had an impact parallel to that of the Qur'an. It has moved millions of people of different cast, colour and nations, uplifted them from ignorance, brought them from the depths of darkness to light, from corruption to supreme nobility and from nomad savagery to moral civilization.
Even critic like Sale stated: "It is confusedly of the utmost elegance and purity of language, to its miracle did Muhammad chiefly appeal for the confirmation of his mission, publicly challenging the most eloquent men in Arabia - which was at that time stocked with thousands whose sole study and ambition was to exceed in elegance of style and composition - to produce a single chapter that might be compared with it. The style of Qur'an is beautiful, it is adorned with bold figures after the Eastern taste, enlivened with florid and sententious expressions and in many places, where the majesty and attributes of God are described, sublime and magnificent. (Reference - The Sublime Qur'an and Orientalism by Muhammad Khalifa).
The Qur'an has also challenged man in the field he is proud of - modern science. Fourteen hundred years ago, it revealed to a man Muhammad, (pbuh) about things that were discovered and proven only recently, for example the Embryological Development of Foetus. The following is an excerpt from Dr. K.L. Moore, Ph.D, F.I.A.C., Professor of Anatomy and Associate Dean Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. (Reference - The Developing Humans by Dr. K Moore, Saunders Company, third edition 1982).
Statements referring to human reproduction and development are scattered throughout the Qur'an. It is only recently that the scientific meaning of some of these verses has been appreciated fully. The long delay in interpreting these verses resulted mainly from inaccurate translations and commentaries and from a lack of awareness of scientific knowledge.
"He makes you in the wombs of your mothers in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness."
This statement is from Surah 39:6. We do not know when it was realized that human beings underwent development in the uterus (womb), but the first known illustration of a fetus in the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. In the 2nd century A.D., Galen described the placenta and fetal membranes in his book "On the Formation of the Foetus".
Consequently, doctors in the 7th century A.D. likely knew that the human embryo developed in the uterus. It is unlikely that they knew that it developed in stages, even though Aristotle had described the stages of development of the chick embryo in the 4th century B.C. The realization that the human embryo develops in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century.
After the microscope was discovered in the 17th century by Leeuwenhoek descriptions were made of the early stages of the chick embryo. The staging of human embryos was not described unto the 20th century. Streeter (1941) developed the first system of staging which has now been replaced by a more accurate system proposed by O'Rahilly (1972).
The three veils of darkness may refer to:
(1) the anterior abdominal wall;
(2) the uterine wall; and
(3) the amnichorionic membrane. Although there are other interpretations of this statement, the one presented here seems the most logical from an embryological point of view.
"Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest."
This statement is from Surah 23:13. The drop or "nutfah" has been interpreted as the sperm or spermatozoon, but a more meaningful interpretation would be the zygote which divides to form a blastocyst which is implanted in the uterus (a place of rest). This interpretation is supported by another verse in the Qur'an which states that a human being is created from a mixed drop. The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the sperm and the ovum (The mixed drop).
"Then We made the drop into a leech-like structure."
This statement is from Surah 23:14. The word "alaqah" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the decidua or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech . As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat.
"Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump."
This statement is also from Surah 23:14. The Arabic word "mudgah" means chewed substance or chewed lump. Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh. The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginning or primordial of the vertebrae.
"Then We made out of the chewed lump, bones, and clothed the bones in flesh"
This continuation of Surah 23:14 indicates that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm.
"Then We developed out of it another creature."
This next part of Surah 23:14 implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eight week. At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and possesses the primordia of all the internal and external organs and parts. After the eight week, the human embryo is called a fetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers.
"And He gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding."
This part of Surah 32:9 indicates that the special senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling develop in this order, which is true. The primordia of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last.
"Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly formed and partly unformed."
This part of Surah 22:5 seems to indicate that the embryo is composed of both differentiated and undifferentiated tissues. For example, when the cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones.
"And We cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term."
This next part of Surah 22:5 seems to imply that God determines which embryos will remain in the uterus until full term. It is well known that many embryos abort during the first month of development, and that only about 30% of zygotes that form, develop into fetuses that survive until birth. This verse has also been interpreted to mean that God determines whether the embryo will develop into a boy or girl.
The interpretation of the verses in the Qur'an referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century A.D., or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern Embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Qur'an related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases.
Dr. Moore concluded and I quote:
"There are other statements in the Qur'an and the sayings in the Hadith about embryology that are meaningless to me, but very likely they will make sense later when new knowledge is developed. The agreement I have found between statements in the Qur'an and sayings in the Hadith may help to close the gap between science and religion which has existed for so many years."
Another amazing miracle is worth mentioning. The Qur'an, fourteen hundred years ago clearly informed us that the body of the Pharaoh of Egypt, the one who pursued Moses and the Children of Israel, will be saved as per the following verses from the Qur'an:
"We took the Children of Israel across the sea: Pharaoh and his hosts followed them in insolence and spite. At length when overwhelmed with the flood he said: "I believe that there is no god except Him Whom the Children of Israel believe in: I am of those who submit (to Allah in Islam)." (10:90)
"(It was said to him): "Ah now! but a little while before wast thou in rebellion! and thou didst mischief (and violence)!" (10:91)
"This day shall We save thee (the Pharaoh) in thy body that thou mayest be a Sign to those who come after thee! But verily many among mankind are heedless of Our Signs!" (10:92)
Pharaoh's body was discovered by Loret in 1898 at the Thebes in the Kings' Vally. The body is preserved and is displayed in the Royal Mummies Room of the Egyptian Museum, Cairo. (Ref. Dr. Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, The Qur'an and Science). How could Muhammad (pbuh), who was not a witness to the event that took place during the time of Moses, confirm what had happened and state that the body of the Pharaoh will be saved for later generations to see as a sign from Allah.
Apart from these, the Qur'an touches on natural phenomenon to draw the attention of its audience. While many of its references are of basic universal nature, there are quite a number of statements which were far ahead of the prevalent stated of knowledge and could not have been conceived by any mortal in the seventh century world. But as it is outside the scope of this rendering to discuss, in detail, about the miraculous nature of the Qur'an, I list below some of the scientific statements to prove the point:
That the oxygen content of the air is reduced at higher altitude.
Those whom Allah (in His Plan) willeth to guide He openeth their breast to Islam; those whom He willeth to leave straying He maketh their breast close and constricted as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus doth Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe." (6:125)
That fertilisation of certain plants is done by the wind.
And We send the fecundating winds then cause the rain to descend from the sky therewith providing you with water (in abundance) though ye are not the guardians of its stores." (15:22)
That each human being has permanent individual unique finger prints.
"Nay We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." (75:4)
Deep-sea currents.
"Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with billow topped by billow topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness one above another: if a man stretches out his hand he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light there is no light!" (24:40)
Human's pain receptors are located in the skin.
"Those who reject Our Signs We shall soon cast into the fire: as often as their skins are roasted through We shall change them for fresh skins that they may taste the penalty: for Allah is Exalted in Power Wise." (4:56)
The frontal lobes of the brain are responsible for lying and sin.
"A lying sinful forelock!" (96:16)
That mountains have below their roots that extend deep into the earth's surface.
"And the mountains as pegs?" (78:7)
That mountains pin the earth's crust and prevent it from moving.
"And He has set up on the earth mountains standing firm lest it should shake with you; and rivers and roads; that ye may guide yourselves." (16:15)
That there exists a physical barrier between bodies of fresh and soft water.
"Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress: About he formation of milk in cow." (55:20)
"And verily in cattle (too) will ye find an instructive Sign. From what is within their bodies between excretions and blood We produce for your drink milk pure and agreeable to those who drink it." (16:66)
The universe was one unit in the shape of fiery gas.
"Moreover He Comprehended in His design the sky and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together) in willing obedience." (41:11)
That the universe is expanding.
"With the power and skill did We construct the Firmament: verily We are expanding it." (51:47)
That the movement of planets is governed by some law.
"It is He Who created the Night and the Day and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along each in its rounded course." (21:33)
That the reproduction of all living creatures is from water.
"Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of Creation) before We clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?" (21:30)
Are these also coincidence? No! It does not need a rocket scientist to guess the right answer. It was not possible for any mortal, no matter his grasp of prevalent knowledge - let alone the Unlettered Prophet to make such scientific statements in the seventh century. Qur'an without doubt is the Ultimate Miracle, it is the Word Of the Divine - Allah. We also believe that as science progresses to new frontiers, many more verses in the Qur'an that are mysterious now, will be understood and explained better as was the case with the verses relating to Embryological Development of Fetus in the womb
If all these do not provide sufficient proof to the Unbelievers that the Qur'an is the word of Allah, that it is the Divine Book, revealed to Muhammad (pbuh), and that it is the Miracle of Miracles than most probably nothing can. To such people this is what Allah has to say.
"As to those who reject Faith it is the same to them whether thou warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe." (2:6)
"Allah hath set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur)." (2:7)
"If We (Allah) had sent unto thee (Muhammad) a written (Message) on parchment so that they could touch it with their hands the unbelievers would have been sure to say: "This is nothing but obvious magic!" (6:7)
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