scientific miracles of the qur'an

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Scientific Miracles of the Qur’ān _________________________________________________________ 706 Scientific Miracles of the Qur’ān The Qur’ān is not a book of Science, Philosophy, Geology, History, etc - It is revelation from God as guidance for Mankind. However, if experts from any of the human sciences were to read it, they would conclude beyond doubt, that the words of the Qur’ān are not from any human being but from God Almighty. The field of Science is no different. The Qur’ān contains countless scientific facts which were unknown to man even a hundred years ago, and considering it was revealed four- teen hundred years ago, clearly/absolutely proves its divine origin. The Qur’ān on the Origin of the Universe The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke’ (i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition). 1907 This is one of the undisputed principles of standard modern cosmolo- gy. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’ (see figures 1 and 2). The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. God has said in the Qur’ān: “Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke...” Qur’ān 41:11 Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one con- 1907 Weinberg, The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of the Universe, pp. 94-105. Figure 1: A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebu- la), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.) Figure 2: The Lagoon nebula is a cloud of gas and dust, about 60 light years in diameter. It is excited by the ultraviolet radiation of the hot stars that have recently formed within its bulk. (Horizons, Exploring the Universe, Seeds, plate 9, from Association of Univer- sities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.)

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Page 1: Scientific miracles of the qur'an

Scientific Miracles of the Qur’ān _________________________________________________________

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Scientific Miracles of the Qur’ān

The Qur’ān is not a book of Science, Philosophy, Geology, History, etc - It is revelation from God as guidance for Mankind. However, if experts from any of the human sciences were to read it, they would conclude beyond doubt, that the words of the Qur’ān are not from any human being but from God Almighty. The field of Science is no different. The Qur’ān contains countless scientific facts which were unknown to man even a hundred years ago, and considering it was revealed four-teen hundred years ago, clearly/absolutely proves its divine origin.

The Qur’ān on the Origin of the Universe The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoretical, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke’ (i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition).1907 This is one of the undisputed principles of standard modern cosmolo-gy. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’ (see figures 1 and 2).

The illuminating stars we see at night were, just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. God has said in the Qur’ān:

“Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke...” Qur’ān 41:11

Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one con-

1907 Weinberg, The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of the Universe, pp. 94-105.

Figure 1: A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (nebu-la), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.)

Figure 2: The Lagoon nebula is a cloud of gas and dust, about 60 light years in diameter. It is excited by the ultraviolet radiation of the hot stars that have recently formed within its bulk. (Horizons, Exploring the Universe, Seeds, plate 9, from Association of Univer-sities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.)

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nected entity. Then out of this homogeneous ‘smoke,’ they formed and separated from each other. God has said in the Qur’ān:

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?”

Qur’ān 21:30 We know that our world, the sun and the stars did not come about immediately after the primeval explosion. For the universe was in a gaseous state before the formation of the stars. This gaseous state was initially made of hydrogen and helium. Condensation and compression shaped the pla-nets, the earth, the sun and the stars that were but products of the gaseous state. The discovery of these phenomena has been rendered possible thanks to successive findings as a result of observa-tions and theoretical developments. The knowledge of all contemporary communities during the time of the Prophet would not suffice for the assertion that the universe had once been in a gaseous state. The Prophet himself did not claim to be the author of the statements in the Qur’ān as it often reminded, declaring that he is simply a messenger of God.

“That is from the news of the unseen which We reveal to you, [O Muhammad]. You knew it not, neither you nor your people, before this. So be patient; indeed, the [best] outcome is for the righteous.”

Qur’ān 11: 49 Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists from Johannes Gutenberg University in Germany. He said: “Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case….Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, that the earth and the heavens had the same origin.” 1908 The Qur’ān on the ‘Big Bang Theory’

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a [ratq] joined entity, and We [fataqa] separated them….Then will they not believe?”

Qur’ān 21:30

1908 Stated by Dr. Alfred in This is the Truth (videotape). To view this visit www.Islām-guide.com/truth.htm

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The word ‘ratq’ translated as ‘sewn to’ means ‘mixed in each, blended’ in Arabic. It is used to refer to two different substances that make up a whole. The phrase ‘fataqa’ is ‘unstitched’ and implies that something comes into being by tearing apart or destroying the structure of things that are sewn to one another. In the verse, heaven and earth are at first subject to the status of ‘ratq.’ They are separated (fataqa) with one coming out of the other. Intriguingly, when we think about the first moments of the ‘Big Bang’ we see that the entire matter of the universe collected at one single point. In other words, everything including ‘the heavens and earth’ which were not created yet were in an interwoven and inseparable condition. Then, this point exploded violently, causing its matter to disunite. The ‘Big Bang’ theory holds that about 20,000,000,000 years ago the universe began with the ex-plosive expansion of a single, extremely condensed state of matter. The Nobel Prize for science in 1977 was awarded for this discovery, whereas it was stated by the Qur’ān centruries before. The Qur’ān on the Expanding Universe

“And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.”

Qur’ān 51: 47

It was only after the development of the radio telescope in 1937 that the expansion of the universe was observed and established. While observing the sky with a telescope, Edwin Hubble, the Amer-ican astronomer, discovered that the stars and galaxies were constantly moving away from each other. This discovery is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of astronomy. During these observations, Hubble established that the stars emit a light that turns redder according to their dis-tance. That is because according to the known laws of physics, light heading towards a point of observa-tion turns violet, and light moving away from that point assumes a more reddish hue. During his observations, Hubble noted a tendency towards the colour red in the light emitted by stars. In short, the stars were moving further and further away, all the time. The stars and galaxies were not

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only moving away from us, but also from each other. A universe where everything constantly moves away from everything else implied a constantly expanding universe. The Qur’ān on the Orbital Movement of the Sun and the Moon “And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly

bodies] in an [falak] orbit are [yasbahoon] swimming.” Qur’ān 21: 33

“It is not allowable [i.e., possible] for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night over-

take the day, but each, in an [falak] orbit, is [yasbahoon] swimming.” Qur’ān 36: 40

The Arabic words used in these verses are falak and yasbahoon which can be translated as ‘sphere or orbit’ and ‘swimming.’ This concept of the movement of the sun and the moon and the other pla-nets is in perfect harmony with recent discovery. It is inconceivable that an Arab, living centuries ago in the most primitive part of the world, could have rightly used such a specific term to describe the movements of planets without divine guidance. It should be noted that the discovery of the orbital movement of all celestial bodies was due to the invention of telescopes. The Qur’ān on Duality in Creation

“Exalted is He who created all pairs - from what the earth grows and from them-selves and from that which they do not know.”

Qur’ān 36: 36 This Qur’ānic verse outlines the fact that all creatures, whether living beings or solid matter, are created in pairs. It refers to everything that was created. Amazingly, the outstanding truth and ge-nerality of this and similar verses came to be gradually realized, and more so recently, during 14 centuries since the Qur’ān was first revealed in a primitive world. Millions of animal species discovered, classified and investigated only during the last two centuries, were found to be invariably in "pairs," male and female. Electron microscopy has clarified that all living creatures, however minute, are in pairs. The smallest microbes, viruses, and bacteria have their counterpart antibodies.

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Take for example DNA – it is made up of thousands of different genes, and genes are made up of base pairs. These "base pairs" are made of two paired up nucleotides. In order to form a base pair, we need to pair up specific nucleotides. Each type of nucleotide has a spe-cific shape, so only certain combinations fit. The sequence, composition, and orientation of these "pairs" of nucleotides control the genetic information carried by the DNA. A chromo-some consists of different types of protein bound tightly with a single DNA molecule chain.

The DNA is a large long (up to 1 meter long) amino acid chain. It consists of a "pair" of spiral strands, connected with steps. Each step consists of a "pair" of chemical components, so-called nucleotides. There are 4 nucleotides. Adenine, Thymine, Guanine and Cytosine represented respectively by the letters A,T,G and C. Due to their shapes only A and T or G and C fit into one another.

Base Pairs [A-T, G-C] (billions of these matching pairs) ---> Genes (thousands of these) --> DNA --> Chromosomes -->

Nucleotides --> Nucleus (the ‘brain’ of the cell).1909 All life systems including plant, animal, and human consist of different types of cells. A cell consists of a nucleus surrounded with cytoplasm which is usually enclosed, within a cell wall. The cell nucleus, carries the chromosomes that control all the cell functions. All cells of a particular organism have exactly the same number of chromosomes; the number varies widely between different species. Proteins are formed from various combinations of amino acids. Specifically, 20 types of amino acid are used in different combinations to form more than a million types of protein, present in a human being. Every type of amino acid can exist in either of a pair of structures (right-handed isomer or left-handed isomer), with opposite pola-rized light rotation direction. The same applies to the proteins formed thereof.

1909 International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium (2004). “Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome”. Nature 431 (7011): 931–45.

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The wide variety of creatures including living species, solid matter, liquids, and gases are marvelous combinations of the same list of building blocks: atoms. These basic units, were long known to consist of a "pair" of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by negative electrons. The nucleus consists of protons that carry the positive charge, together with neutrons. Even the neutral neu-trons have their counterpart, the anti-neutrons. Later advances in nuclear physics has demonstrated that each of these particles is, in effect, a complex structure of much smaller nuclear particles. Over 200 of such elementary particles are now known. At the atomic level, atoms can, literally, ionize i.e. either lose or gain electrons to form positive ca-tions or negative anions. "Pairs" of cations/anions combine to produce the wide variety of chemi-cal (inorganic) compounds. This is one of the conclusions made by British physicist Paul Dirac, winner for Nobel Prize for Physics in 1933. His finding, known as "parity," revealed the duality known as matter and anti-matter. Another example of duality in creation is plants. Botanists only discovered that there is a gender distinction in plants some 100 years ago. Yet, the fact that plants are created in pairs was revealed in the verses of the Qur’ān 1,400 years ago. It was only after the discovery of microscopes that human beings knew that plants have male organs (stamens) and female organs (ovaries) and that the wind, together with other factors, carries the pollen from one type to the opposite one so that reproduction can take place. Every animal species of the wide animal kingdom reproduce sexually. Sexual reproduction results from the combination of a female ovum and a male sperm. The formation of this zygote "pair" is the starting point in the reproduction cycle. The sperms, in turn are of "two" kinds, the first carries the hereditary male characteristics, while the other carries the female ones. Flowering plants, of which more than 250,000 have been discovered so far, also reproduce sexually. They have both female (ovaries containing eggs) and male (stamens carrying pollens); either combined in the same flower or in different flowers. In the latter case, fertilization occurs when pollens are transferred by wind or insects to an adjacent flower. Non-flowering plants, on the other hand, amounting to 150,000 species, reproduce in a double-stage cycle of sexual and asexual reproduction. Yet, the asexual reproduction stage is essentially a process of breaking up the DNA "pair" of strands into two; followed by each of which re-forming its complementary strand. Thus, a new "pair" of identical DNA molecules results in the cell, just before it divides into a "pair" of identical cells. The same applies to the asexual reproduction of bacteria. Each bacterium consists of a single cell, the smallest biological unit able to function independently. A single bacterium reproduces the same way explained above, i.e. by splitting into a pair of identic-al cells. As we have seen, cell division occurs through the process of DNA replication, in which the two strands of the DNA molecules are separated; and each strand re-synthesizes a complementary strand to itself. So, "asexual" reproduction of bacteria involves the DNA "pair" of strands splitting and reformation into a new "pair" of cells.

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The Qur’ān on the Origin of Life in Water

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?”

Qur’ān 21:30 The origin of life is now such a basic scientific fact that it is accepted without hesitation. This could lessen one’s appreciation for these verses. Yet it must be borne in mind that the Arabian peninsula is a desert land without a single lake or river, these verses describe something unimaginable to those at the time of Prophet Muhammad. A point to note - animals in dry regions have been created with mechanisms to protect their meta-bolisms from water loss and to ensure maximum benefit from water use. If water loss takes place in the body for any reason, and if that loss is not made good, death will result in a few days. The Qur’ān on Seas and Rivers Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity, and density.1910 For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about 1000 meters with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics. The Mediterranean water stabilizes at this depth1911 (see figure 1).

Figure 1: The Mediterranean sea water as it enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that distinguishes between them. Temperatures

are in degrees Celsius (C°). (Marine Geology, Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in these seas, they do not mix or trans-gress this barrier. The Qur’ān mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:

1910 Davis, Principles of Oceanography, pp. 92-93. 1911 Ibid 93.

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“He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.”

Qur’ān 55:19-20 But when the Qur’ān speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the exis-tence of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. God has said in the Qur’ān:

“And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas, one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition.”

Qur’ān 25:53 One may ask, why did the Qur’ān mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas? Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situa-tion is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discov-ered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.”1912 This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water (see figure 2).

Figure 2: Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand ‰) in an estuary. We can see here the

partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water.1913 This information has been discovered only recently, using advanced equipment to measure tem-perature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference be-tween the two seas that meet, rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the division of water in estuaries into the three kinds: fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation). God has said in the Qur’ān:

“Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it….”

Qur’ān 24:40

1912 Gross, Oceanography, p. 242. 1913 Thurman, Introductory Oceanography, pp. 300-301.

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This verse mentions the darkness found in deep seas and oceans, where if a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it. The darkness in deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 me-ters and below. At this depth, there is almost no light (see figure 3). Below a depth of 1000 meters there is no light at all.1914 Human beings are not able to dive more than forty meters without the aid of submarines or special equipment. Human beings cannot survive unaided in the deep dark part of the oceans, such as at a depth of 200 meters.

Scientists have recently discovered this darkness by means of special equipment and submarines that have enabled them to dive into the depths of the oceans. We can also understand from the following sentences in the previous verse, “...in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds....,” that the deep wa-ters of seas and oceans are covered by waves, and above these waves are other waves. It is clear that the second set of waves are the surface waves that we see, because the verse mentions that above the second waves there are clouds. But what about the first waves? Scientists have recently discovered that there are internal waves which “occur on density interfaces between layers of dif-ferent densities.”1915 (see figure 4).

The internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break,

1914 Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27. 1915 Gross, Oceanography, p. 205.

Figure 3: Between 3 and 30 percent of the sunlight is reflected at the sea sur-face. Then almost all of the seven colors of the light spectrum are absorbed one after another in the first 200 meters, except the blue light. (Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27.)

Figure 4: Internal waves at interface be-tween two layers of water of different den-sities. One is dense (the lower one), the other one is less dense (the upper one).

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just like surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location.1916 Miracle of Iron

Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Qur’ān. In the chapter known Al-Hadeed, meaning Iron, we are informed:

“And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that God may make evident those who support Him and His mes-sengers unseen. Indeed, God is Powerful and Exalted in Might.”

Qur’ān 57:25 The word “anzalna,” translated as “sent down” and used for iron in the verse, could be thought of having a metaphorical meaning to explain that iron has been given to benefit people. But, when we take into consideration the literal meaning of the word, which is, being physically sent down from the sky, as this word usage had not been employed in the Qur’ān except literally, like the descend-ing of the rain or revelation, we realize that this verse implies a very significant scientific miracle. Because, modern astronomical findings have disclosed that the iron found in our world has come from giant stars in outer space.1917 Not only the iron on earth, but also the iron in the entire Solar System, comes from outer space, since the temperature in the Sun is inadequate for the formation of iron. The sun has a surface temperature of 6,000 degrees Celsius, and a core temperature of approximately 20 million degrees. Iron can only be produced in much larger stars than the Sun, where the temperature reaches a few hundred million degrees. When the amount of iron exceeds a certain level in a star, the star can no longer accommodate it, and it eventually explodes in what is called a "nova" or a "supernova." These explosions make it possible for iron to be given off into space. One scientific source provides the following information on this subject: “There is also evidence for older supernova events: Enhanced levels of iron-60 in deep-sea sediments have been interpreted as indications that a supernova explosion occurred within 90 light-years of the sun about 5 million years ago. 60 is a radioactive isotope of iron, formed in supernova explosions, which decays with a half life of 1.5 million years. An enhanced presence of this isotope in a geologic layer indicates the recent nucleosynthesis of elements nearby in space and their subsequent trans-port to the earth (perhaps as part of dust grains).”1918 All this shows that iron did not form on the Earth, but was carried from Supernovas, and was "sent down," as stated in the verse. It is clear that this fact could not have been known in the 7th century, when the Qur’ān was revealed. Nevertheless, this fact is related in the Qur’ān, the Word of God, Who encompasses all things in His infinite knowledge. The fact that the verse specifically mentions iron is quite astounding, considering that these discoveries were made at the end of the 20th century. In his book Nature’s Destiny, the well-known microbiologist Michael Denton em-phasizes the importance of iron: 1916 Oceanography, Gross, p. 205.

1917 Kazi, Dr. Mazhar U. 130 Evident Miracles in the Qur’ān, p. 110-111;

1918 Frisch, Priscilla, The Galactic Environment of the Sun, American Scientist, January-February 2000.

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“Of all the metals there is none more essential to life than iron. It is the accumulation of iron in the center of a star which triggers a supernova explosion and the subsequent scattering of the vital atoms of life throughout the cosmos. It was the drawing by gravity of iron atoms to the center of the primeval earth that generated the heat which caused the initial chemical differentiation of the earth, the out-gassing of the early atmosphere, and ultimately the formation of the hydrosphere. It is molten iron in the center of the earth which, acting like a gigantic dynamo, generates the earth’s magnetic field, which in turn creates the Van Allen radiation belts that shield the earth’s surface from destructive high-energy-penetrating cosmic radiation and preserve the crucial ozone layer from cosmic ray destruction…Without the iron atom, there would be no carbon-based life in the cosmos; no supernova, no heating of the primitive earth, no atmosphere or hydrosphere. There would be no protective magnetic field, no Van Allen radiation belts, no ozone layer, no metal to make hemoglobin [in human blood], no metal to tame the reactivity of oxygen, and no oxidative metabolism…The intriguing and intimate relationship between life and iron, between the red color of blood and the dying of some distant star, not only indicates the relevance of metals to biology but also the bio-centricity of the cos-mos…”1919 This account clearly indicates the importance of the iron atom. The fact that particular attention is drawn to iron in the Qur’ān also emphasizes the importance of the element.

Zaghloul El-Naggar, professor of earth science and geology, has an interesting theory. He con-cludes that the Qur’ānic account of the celestial origin of iron is coupled by another miraculous aspect which is represented by the fact that the number of both the Qur’ānic chapter on iron and

1919 Denton, Michael J., Nature’s Destiny, p.198.

“And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that God may make evident those who support Him and His messengers un-seen. Indeed, God is Powerful and Exalted in Might.”

Qur’ān 57:25

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of the verse that mentions this element in the same chapter precisely correspond to both the atom-ic weight (55.847 or roughly 56) and the atomic number (26) of iron, respectively. Indeed the number of Surah al-Hadeed (the Qur’ānic Chapter on Iron) is "57" and the number of the verse is "25,” but the Qur’ān in its text separates its introduction (Surat Al-Fātihah or the Opening) from the rest of the Book, and considers the "Basmalah" (In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful) as a Qur’ānic verse at the beginning of this Sūrah (Al-Fātihah) and of every other Qur’ānic Sūrah where it is mentioned. Taking this Qur’ānic direction into consideration, the number of Surah al-Hadeed becomes "56" which is the closest figure to the atomic weight of the most abundant iron isotope (55.847), and the number of the verse becomes "26" which is the exact atomic number of iron. The existence of an iron isotope with the atomic weight of 57 also fits very well with the current numbering of the chapter on iron in the Glorious Qur’ān. [God knows better] The Qur’ān on Mountains The book entitled ‘Earth’ is a basic reference textbook in many universities around the world. One of its two authors is Professor Emeritus Frank Press. He was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter, and for 12 years was the President of the National Academy of Sciences, Washington, DC. His book says that mountains have underlying roots.1920 These roots are deeply embedded in the ground, thus, mountains have a shape like a peg (see figures 1, 2 and 3).

Figure 1: Mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground.1921

Figure 2: Schematic section. The mountains, like pegs, have deep roots embedded in the ground.1922

1920 Press, E.F., Earth, p. 435. 1921 Ibid, p. 413.

1922 Cailleux, Anatomy of the Earth, p. 220.

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Figure 3: Another illustration shows how the mountains are peg-like in shape, due to their deep roots.1923

This is how the Qur’ān has described mountains. God has said in the Qur’ān: “Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes (pegs)?”

Qur’ān 78: 6-7 Modern earth sciences have proven that mountains have deep roots under the surface of the ground (see figure 3) and that these roots can reach several times their elevations above the surface of the ground.1924 So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word ‘peg,’ since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The history of science tells us that the theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in the latter half of the nineteenth century.1925 Mountains also play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth.1926 They hinder the shak-ing of the earth. God has said in the Qur’ān:

“And He has cast [fi] into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided.”

Qur’ān 16: 15 Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics holds that mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to be understood in the framework of plate tectonics since the late 1960’s.1927 Could anyone during the time of the Prophet Muhammad have known of the true shape of moun-tains? Could anyone imagine that the solid massive mountain which he sees before him actually extends deep into the earth and has a root, as scientists assert? A large number of books of geolo-gy, when discussing mountains, only describe that part which is above the surface of the earth. This is because these books were not written by specialists in geology. However, modern geology has confirmed the truth of the Qur’ānic verses.

1923 Tarbuck and Lutgens, Earth Science, p. 158. 1924 Naggar, El-, The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Qur’ān, p. 5. 1925 Ibid, p.5. 1926 Ibid p.44 -45. 1927 Ibid p.5.

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The Qur’ān on Human Embryonic Development In the Holy Qur’ān, God speaks about the stages of man’s embryonic development: “And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop [nutfah] in a firm lodging [i.e., womb]. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot [alaqah], and We made the clot [alaqah] into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into anoth- er creation. So blessed is God, the best of creators.” Qur’ān 23:12-14 Nutfah and Manii The Nutfah literally means ‘a [single] drop’ of fluid whereas Manii means ‘semen.’ In the Qur’ān and Hadith, Nutfah is used in three different but interwoven connotations:

1. The Male Nutfah 2. The Female Nutfah 3. Nutfah Amshaj – mixed or mingled Male and Female Nutfah

In the male context, the Nutfah is a single particle from the Manii when it is ejaculated – i.e. a single cell [sperm] from amongst the 200-300 million sperm cells. The word Nutfah was mentioned twelve different times in the Qur’ān and the word Manii was mentioned thrice. The Male Nutfah

“Does man think that he will be left neglected? Had he not been a sperm [nutfah] from semen [manii] emitted? Then he was a clinging clot [alaqah], and [God] created [his form] and proportioned [him]. And made of him two mates, the male and the female. Is not that [Creator] Able to give life to the dead?” Qur’ān 75:36-40 “And that He creates the two mates - the male and female - From a sperm-drop [nutfah] when it is emitted.”

Qur’ān 53:45-46 In these ayats, there are a lot of facts that require careful consideration. We know the sex of the new born is determined by the male - it is definitively stated that the male and female are fashioned from a sperm-drop from the semen that has been ejaculated. We know that the sex of the new

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born is determined by the sperm which will fertilize the ovum. If the sperm carrying an X chromo-some fertilizes an ovum [which always contains an X chromosome], the offspring will be a girl, while if the fertilizing sperm contains a Y chromosome, the offspring will be a boy. The Qur’ān has stated this fact 1400 years ago, before anybody knew anything about X and Y chromosomes. The Female Nutfah

The Female Nutfah [ovum] per se is not mentioned explicitly in the Qur’ān but is inferred in the term Nutfah Amshaj – i.e. mingled from both male and female. However, it is clearly stated in the hadith from the Prophet. A Jew came to the Prophet and asked, ‘O Muhammad. Tell me from what thing man is created.’ The Prophet said, ‘O Jew. From both Male and Female Nutfah man is created.’ [Musnad Ahmad] This is a very astonishing revelation, as it is only recently that we came to know that both male and female cells [sperm and ovum] join together to form the human zygote – a fact not known before the 19th century. The Role of Genes

‘From what substance did He create him? From a sperm-drop [nutfah] He created him and destined [qadr] for him.’

Qur’ān 80:18-19 In a single Male Nutfah [sperm cell], which measures 60 microns [1 micron = 1/1000 mm], there are 23 Chromosomes – long spiral double strand helix. They contain the genes which determine every type of characteristics the body has like hair colour, skin type, etc.

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Hence, it is within this Nutfah that God has determined and destined all the physical characterisitics that an individual has. It is amazing that the description of these realities are so accurately stated by God in the Qur’ān. The Prophet said, ‘God has or-dained an angel that accompanies the different stages of develepment of the Nutfah. The Alaqa, the Mudgha and in every stage he asks God, ‘O God, what to do next?’ If God determines its full develop-ment, the angel asks, ‘Is it a boy or a girl? Happy or unhappy, his livelih-ood and his life span. All is written [determined] while he is in mother’s womb.’ [Bukhari] Alaqah

“And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop [nutfah] in a firm lodging [womb]. Then We made the sperm-drop [nutfah] into a clinging clot [alaqah], and We made the clot [alaqah] into a lump [of flesh - mudghah], and We made [from] the lump [mudghah], bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is God, the best of creators.”

Qur’ān 23:12-14

Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.

In comparing a leech to an embryo in the

alaqah stage, we find similarity between the two as we can see in figure 1. Also, the emb-ryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of others.

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Figure 1: Drawings illustrating the similarities in appearance between a leech and a human embryo at the alaqah stage.1928

X-ray of alaqah on day 23

The second meaning of the word alaqah is “suspended thing.” This is what we can see above the suspension of the embryo, during the alaqah stage, in the womb of the mother.

Figure 2: We can see in this diagram the suspension of an embryo during the

alaqah stage in the womb (uterus) of the mother.1929

1928 Leech drawing taken from Moore, K., Human Development as Described in the Qur’ān and Sunnah, p. 37 and p.73, Hickman, Integrated Principles of Zoology.

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Figure 3: In this photomicrograph, we can see the suspension of an embryo (marked B) during the alaqah stage (about 15 days old) in the womb of the mother. The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6 mm.1930

The third meaning of the word alaqah is “blood clot.” We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage (see figure 4). Also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week. Thus, the embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.

Figure 4: Diagram of the primitive cardiovascular system in an embryo during the alaqah stage. The external appearance of the embryo and its sacs is similar to that of a blood clot, due to the presence of relatively large

amounts of blood present in the embryo.1931 So the three meanings of the word alaqah correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah stage.

1929 Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed., p. 66. 1930 Moore, The Developing Human, Moore, 3rd ed., p. 66, from Histology, Leeson and Leeson. 1931 Moore, The Developing Human, Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.

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Mudghah The next stage mentioned in the verse is the mudghah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one were to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would conclude that the embryo at the mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teeth-marks in a chewed substance.”1932 (see figures 5 and 6).

Figure 5: Top left photograph of an embryo at the mudghah stage (28 days old). The embryo at this stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance, because the somites at the back of the embryo somewhat

resemble teeth marks in a chewed substance. The actual size of the embryo is 4 mm.1933

1932 Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed., p. 8. 1933 Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed., p. 82 – from Professor Hideo Nishimura, Kyoto Universi-ty, Japan.

Figure 6: When comparing the ap-pearance of an embryo at the mudghah stage with a piece of gum that has been chewed, we find similarity be-tween the two. A. Drawing of an embryo at the mudghah stage. We can see here the somites at the back of the embryo that look like teeth marks. ( Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed., p. 79.) B. Photograph of a piece of gum that has been chewed.

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How could Prophet Muhammad, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, have possibly known all this 1400 years ago, when scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time? Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an improved micro-scope in 1677 (more than 1000 years after Prophet Muhammad). They mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature preformed human being that grew when it was deposited in the female genital tract.1934 Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore is one of the world’s most prominent scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology and is the author of the book entitled ‘The Developing Human’, which has been translated into eight languages. This book is a scientific reference work and was chosen by a special committee in the United States as the best book authored by one person. Dr. Keith Moore is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. There, he was Associate Dean of Basic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and for 8 years was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy. In 1984, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian As-sociation of Anatomists. He has directed many international associations, such as the Canadian and American Association of Anatomists and the Council of the Union of Biological Sciences. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Moore said: “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur’ān about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.”1935 Consequently, Professor Moore was asked the following question: “Does this mean that you believe that the Qur’ān is the word of God?” He replied: “I find no difficulty in accepting this.”1936 During one conference, Professor Moore stated: “....Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Qur’ān and Sunnah (what Muhammad, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, said, did, or approved of). The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge. The intensive studies of the Qur’ān and hadeeth (reliably transmitted reports by the Prophet Muhammad’s companions of what he said, did, or approved of) in the last four years have revealed a system for classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D. Although Aristotle, the founder of the science of embryology, realized that chick embryos developed in stages from his studies of hen’s eggs in the fourth century B.C., he did not give any details about these stages. As far as it is known from the history of embryology, little was known about the staging and classification of human embryos until the twentieth century. For this reason, the descriptions of the human embryo in the Qur’ān cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century. The only reasonable conclusion is: these descriptions were revealed to Muhammad from God. He could not have known such details because he was an illiterate man with absolutely no scientific training.”1937

1934 Moore and Persaud, The Developing Human, 5th ed., p. 9. 1935 Professor Moore stated this in This is the Truth (videotape). To view this and more extracts from him visit www.Islām-guide.com/truth.htm 1936 Ibid 1937 This is the Truth - www.Islām-guide.com/truth.htm

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Scientists Acceptance of the Miracles of the Qur’ān The following are some comments of scientists on the scientific miracles in the Holy Qur’ān. All of these comments have been taken from the videotape entitled This is the Truth.1938 Dr. T. V. N. Persaud is Professor of Anatomy, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, he was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is well-known in his field. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. In 1991, he received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Qur’ān which he has researched, he stated the following: “The way it was explained to me is that Muhammad was a very ordinary man. He could not read, didn’t know [how] to write. In fact, he was an illiterate. And we’re talking about twelve [actually about fourteen] hundred years ago. You have someone illiterate making profound pronounce-ments and statements and that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.” Professor Persaud has included some Qur’ānic verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, in some of his books. He has also presented these verses and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad at several conferences. Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson is the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pro-fessor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at the Bay-lor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. Formerly, he was Professor of Ob-Gyn and the Chairman of the Department of Ob-Gyn at the University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee, USA. He was also the President of the American Fertility Society. He has received many awards, including the Association of Professors of Obstetrics and Gynecology Public Recognition Award in 1992. Professor Simpson studied the following two sayings of the Prophet Muhammad: “In every one of you, all components of your creation are collected together in your mother’s womb by forty days...’ 1939 “If forty-two nights have passed over the embryo, God sends an angel to it, who shapes it and creates its hearing, vision, skin, flesh, and bones....” 1940 He studied these two sayings of the Prophet Muhammad extensively, noting that the first forty days constitute a clearly distinguishable stage of embryo-genesis. He was particularly impressed by the absolute precision and accuracy of those sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. Then, during one conference, he gave the following opinion:

1938 Video clips available online on www.Islāmreligion.com/articles/219/ 1939 Bukhari, Hadith no. 3208. 1940 Muslim, Hadith no. 2645.

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“So that the two hadeeths (the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) that have been noted provide us with a specific timetable for the main embryological development before forty days. Again, the point has been made, I think, repeatedly by other speakers this morning: these hadeeths could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available [at] the time of their writing . . . . It follows, I think, that not only is there no conflict between genetics and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific ap-proaches, that there exist statements in the Qur’ān shown centuries later to be valid, which support knowledge in the Qur’ān having been derived from God.” Dr. E. Marshall Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. There, for 22 years he was Profes-sor of Anatomy, the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy, and the Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute. He was also the President of the Teratology Society. He has authored more than 200 publications. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Johnson said in the presentation of his research paper: “Summary: The Qur’ān describes not only the development of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing ma-jor events recognized by contemporary science.” Also he said: “As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can under-stand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur’ān. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were de-scribed. I see no evidence for the fact to refute the concept that this individual, Muhammad, had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the con-cept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write.”1941 Dr. William W. Hay is a well-known marine scientist. He is Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA. He was formerly the Dean of the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. Af-ter a discussion with Professor Hay about the Qur’ān’s mention of recently discovered facts on seas, he said: “I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Qur’ān, and I have no way of knowing where they would come from, but I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and that this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages.” And when he was asked about the source of the Qur’ān, he replied: “Well, I would think it must be the divine being.” Dr. Gerald C. Goeringer is Course Director and Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at the Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Goeringer stated the following in the presentation of his research paper:

1941 The Prophet Muhammad was illiterate. He could not read nor write, but he dictated the Qur’ān to his Com-panions and commanded some of them to write it down.

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“In a relatively few aayahs (Qur’ānic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development, such as classification, terminology, and description, existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature.” Dr. Yoshihide Kozai is Professor Emeritus at Tokyo University, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan, and was the Director of the National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan. He said: “I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in [the] Qur’ān, and for us the mod-ern astronomers have been studying very small pieces of the universe. We’ve concentrated our efforts for understanding of [a] very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts [of] the sky without thinking [about the] whole universe. So, by reading [the] Qur’ān and by answering the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe.” Professor Tejatat Tejasen is the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Chiang Mai Uni-versity, Chiang Mai, Thailand. Previously, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the same university. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Tejasen stood up and said: “During the last three years, I became interested in the Qur’ān . . . . From my study and what I have learned from this conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in the Qur’ān fourteen hundred years ago must be the truth, that can be proved by the scientific means. Since the Prophet Muhammad could neither read nor write, Muhammad must be a messenger who relayed this truth, which was revealed to him as an enlightenment by the one who is eligible [as the] crea-tor. This creator must be God. Therefore, I think this is the time to say La ilaha illa Allah, there is no diety to worship except God, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, Muhammad is Messenger (Prophet) of Allah (God). Lastly, I must congratulate for the excellent and highly successful arrangement for this conference . . . . I have gained not only from the scientific point of view and religious point of view but also the great chance of meeting many well-known scientists and making many new friends among the participants. The most precious thing of all that I have gained by coming to this place is La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadur rasoolu Allah, and to have become a Muslim.” After all these examples we have seen about the scientific miracles in the Holy Qur’ān and all these scientists’ comments on this, let us ask ourselves these questions: Could it be a coincidence that all this recently discovered scientific information from different fields was mentioned in the Qur’ān, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago? Could this Qur’ān have been authored by Muhammad, may the blessing and mercy of God be upon him, or by any other human being? The only answer is that the Qur’ān is the word of God, revealed by Him.

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Miracles Performed

Apart from the greatest miracle given to him, the Qur’ān, the Prophet performed many physi-cal miracles witnessed by his contemporaries numbering in hundreds, and in some cases thou-sands. The miracle reports have reached us by a reliable and strong methods of transmission unmatched in world history – the hadith. It is as if the miracles were performed in front of our eyes. These miracles were witnessed by thousands of believers and skeptics, following which portions of the Qur’ān were revealed mentioning the supernatural events. The Qur’ān made some miracles eternal by etching them in the conscious of the believers. The ancient detractors would simply remain silent when these verses were recited. Through these events, the believers grew more certain of the truth of Prophet Muhammad and the Qur’ān. The Prophet Muhammad, through prayer or invoking blessings from God, was seen bringing milk to the udders of dry sheep, transforming camels virtually too weary to walk into the fast-est and most energetic of the bunch, transforming a stick of wood into a sword for soldier whose sword had broken [Ukashah ibn Mihsan at the Battle of Badr], and feeding and water-ing the masses from miniscule quantities. Scores of hungry poor were fed from a bowl of milk which appeared sufficient for only one. An entire army numbering more than a thousand were fed from a measure of flour and pot of meat so small as to be thought sufficient for only ten persons at the ‘Battle of the Trench,’ after which the flour and the meat seemed undiminished. So much was left over that a gift of food was made to the neighbour of the house in which the meal was prepared. Another army of 1,400, headed for the Battle of Tabuk, was fed from a few handfuls of mixed foodstuffs, over which the Prophet invoked blessings, and the increase was sufficient to fill not only the stomachs of the army, but their depleted saddlebags as well. Evil spirits [Jinn] were exorcised, the broken leg of Abdullah ibn Ateeq and the war-wounded leg of Salama ibn Aqwa were healed on the spot [each on separate occasions], the bleeding wound of al-Harith ibn Aws cauterized and healed instantly, the poisonous sting of Abu Bakr’s foot quieted, and the vision of a blind man restored. On a separate occasion, Qatadah ibn an-Nu’man was wounded, in the Battle of Badr, so severely that his eye prolapsed into his cheek. His companions wanted to cut off the remaining attachments, but the Prophet supplicated over the eye, replaced it, and from that day on Qatadah could not tell which was the injured eye and which was not. When called to wrestle Rukanah, an unbeaten champion, the Prophet won miraculously. Mere-ly touching Rukanah on the shoulder, he fell down, defeated. In rematch, the miracle was re-peated. A third challenge brought the same result. When asked to call for rain, he did, and rain fell. When requested to feed the people his suppli-cations brought sustenance, from where, the people did not know. When interceding as a hea-ler, wounds and injuries disappeared.

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In short, the prayers and supplications of the Prophet brought relief and blessings to the be-lievers. And yet, whether being stoned on Ta’if, starved at Makkah, beaten in front of the Ka’bah, or humiliated a amidst his tribe and loved ones, the Prophet’s example appears to have been one of facing personal trials, of which there was an abundance, by relying upon internal patience to calling for divine intervention.1942 Splitting of the Moon: A Miracle

“The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two]. And if they see a sign

[i.e., miracle], they turn away and say, “Passing magic.” Qur’ān 54:1-2

During the time of the Prophet, the pagans of Makkah had asked Prophet Muhammad for a miracle. In response, the Prophet split the moon, one part remaining over the mountain and the other part disappearing behind it [the mountain]. However, the pagans said, ‘Muhammad has enchanted us, but he cannot bewitch the world; so let us wait for people to come from the neighbouring parts of the land and hear what they have to say.’ Historical Evidence A skeptic might ask, do we have any independent historical evidence to suggest the moon was ever split? After all, people around the world should have seen this marvelous event and rec-orded it. The answer to this question is twofold. First, people around the world could not have seen it as it would have been daytime, late night, or early morning many parts of the world. The following table will give the reader some idea of corresponding world times to 9:00 pm Makkah time:

Country Time

Makkah 9:00 pm

India 11:30 pm

Perth 2:00 am

Reykjavik 6:00 pm

Washington D.C. 2:00 pm

Rio de Janeiro 3:00 pm

Tokyo 3:00 am

Beijing 2:00 am

1942

Edited from, The First and Final Commandment, Dr. Laurence B. Brown.

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A pre-renovation picture of the Cheraman Juma Masjid, India’s oldest mosque dating back to 629 CE.

Also, it is not likely that a large number of people in lands close by would be observing the moon at the exact same time. They had no reason to. Even if some one did, it does not nec-essarily mean people believed him and kept a written record of it, especially when many civili-zations at that time did not preserve their own history in writing. Second, we actually have an independent, and quite amazing, historical corroboration of the event from an Indian king of that time. Kerala is a state of India. The state stretches for 360 miles along the Malabar Coast on the southwestern side of the Indian peninsula. King Chakrawati Farmas of Malabar was a Chera king, Cheraman perumal of Kodungallure. He is recorded to have seen the moon split. The incident is documented in a manuscript kept at the India Office Library, London, reference number: Arabic, 2807, 152-173. A group of Muslim merchant’s passing by Malabar on their way to China spoke to the king about how God had supported the Arabian prophet with the miracle of splitting of the moon. The shocked king said he had seen it with his own eyes as well, deputized his son, and left for Arabia to meet the Prophet in person. The Malabari king met the Prophet, and bore the two testimonies of faith, learned the basics of faith, but passed away on his way back and was buried in the port city of Zafar, Yemen. It is said that the contingent, led by a Muslim, Malik bin Dinar, continued to Kodungallure, the Chera capital, and built the first, and India’s oldest, mosque in the area in 629 CE which exists today. The news of his accepting Islam reached Kerala where people accepted Islam. The people of Lakshadweep and the Moplas [Mapillais] from the Calicut province of Kerala are converts from those days. The king was also considered a ‘com-panion’ – a term used for a person who met the Prophet and died as a Muslim – his name regis-tered in the mega-compendiums chronicling the Prophet’s companions. Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, a companion of Prophet Muhammad, states: “The Indian king gifted the Prophet with a jar of gin-ger. The companions ate it piece by piece. I took a bite as well.” Moon Split – Visible Today Dr. Zaghloul El-Naggar, professor of earth science and geology, recalls, ‘[firstly] the Indian and Chinese calendars have recorded the incident of the splitting of the moon…. While I was giving a lecture at the Faculty of Medicine at Cardiff University, in Wales, a Muslim asked me a question about the verses....about the splitting of the moon, and whether it is considered as one of the scientific signs which are mentioned in the Qur’ān and whether there is any scientif-

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A rocky streak [gap] is clearly shown across the moon surface

ic evidence discovered to explain this incident. My answer was that this incident is considered one of the most tangible miracles, which took place to support the Prophet when he was chal-lenged by the polytheists and disbelievers of Quraish, showing them this miracle to prove that he is a Messenger of God. Anyway, miracles take place as unusual incidents that break all regu-lar laws of nature. Therefore, conventional science is unable to explain how miracles take place, and if they were not mentioned in the Qur’ān and in the Sunnah of the Prophet we would not have been obliged to believe in them…When I finished my speech, a British man from the audience named Dawud Musa Pidcock…asked to add something to my answer. He said: “It is these verses, at the beginning of Surah al-Qamar that made me embrace Islam in the late seventies.” This occurred while he was doing extensive research in comparative reli-gion, and one of the Muslims gave him a copy of translation of the meanings of the Qur’ān. When he opened this copy for the first time, he came across Surat al-Qamar, and he read the verses at the beginning of the surah, and could not believe that the moon had split into two distinct parts and they were rejoined, so he closed the copy of the translation and kept it aside.’ In 1978 Mr. Pidcock was destined by God’s Will to watch a program on BBC, where the host was talking with three American space scientists and accusing the USA of over spending and wasting millions of dollars on space projects while millions of people were in a state of poverty here on Earth. The scientist responded, “We were studying the moon surface to examine the extent of similarities with the Earth’s surface...we were astonished to find a belt of melted rocks that cuts across the sur-face and deep into the core of the moon. This in-formation was promptly given to our geologists, where they were shocked by their findings and stated that this phenomenon could never happen unless the moon at one time was split and brought back together and the surface rocky belt is the re-sulting collision at the moment of this occur-rence.” Mr. Pidcock went on to say, “When I heard this, I jumped off my chair , and said this is a mi-racle which took place fourteen hundred years ago to support Muhammad and the Qur’ān nar-rates it in such a detailed way. After this long period and during the age of science and tech-nology, God employs people (non-Muslims) who spent all this money for nothing but to prove that this miracle had actually happened. Then, I said to myself, this must be the true religion, and I went back to the translation of the meanings of the Qur’ān, reading it eagerly. It was these verses at the opening of Surah al-Qamar that lie behind my…[conversion] to Islam.”