11-09-2006, 05:53 PM
Bismillaha
As Salam alaikum
Correct me if I am wrong bc I am alot but I think the whole point of this thread was to point out interesting aspects of the Qur'an that would make any rational mind stop and pause. How a desert illiterate knew that mountains extended deep into the earth, how this illiterate knew the stages of microscopic embryological development, how he knew 1400 years ago what has only just been "discovered" in the Western world in the last one to two hundred years should provoke some reflection on exactly what kind of book the Qur'an is.
I do not believe (insert correction here) that anyone on this board would claim that they believe in the Qur'an solely because of the scientific aspects of it. But this aspect can serve to strengthen what already exists.
The Qur'an can be perceived by people in many different lights. Some say the most wondrous aspect of the Qur'an is the language which it uses. Some say that it is the legislation that it institutes. Some say it is the beauty of the recitation. Some say that it is the scientific discoveries which it has. Some say it is the precision by which it was preserved. All of these perceptions and more are true and entail what is the Qur'an.
A person who is not amazed by the preservation that has been verified, by the exalted level of language which cannot be emulated, by the recitation that has no equal, or by the justice it mandates is certainly not going to be impressed by scientific elements contained in the Qur'an. For to accept one perception of the Qur'an as amazing is to open the door to complete acceptance of the Qur'an's miraculous nature as a whole.
Who better knew the Arabic language than the Quraish at the time of the Prophet saws? They heard the message directly from the Messenger saws, could not bring anything close to it, but still did not believe in it. Non-muslims have also verified the authenticity of the Qur'an as being verbatim the same words as spoken by the Prophet saws. Did all of these verifiers become muslim?
Of course, our current situation will be no different. Even as more levels of the Qur'an are exposed to mankind, there will be deniers. This fact is stated in the Qur'an itself. So it is not shocking to see some non-muslims reject what seems so apparent to muslims and some non0-muslims, like Keith Moore.
"Muslims set themselves up for problems when they try to convince non-Muslims of the truth of the Qur'an by resorting to the "scientific facts" approach to the Qur'an, or by portraying the Qur'an as some kind of a history book. It is not. It is a type of literature we call "scripture" and needs to be read properly as a scripture. (Indeed, does not the Qur'an itself mention something of how to read it?)"
I must disagree with this statement. Many converts, especially from the judaic-christian background, have a difficult time transitioning from the seperation of the spiritual life and the rest of life that these traditions enhance to the basic understanding that Islam is not just religoius, emotional, or governmental, rather, it IS life. Because every element of our humanity is covered by our Islam, we need a book to completely address it all, the Qur'an. When some disbelievers are unable to understand the Qur'an and Islam in its totality, it is not the deen that is lacking. It is their misunderstanding, their blindness, their kufr-literally meaning to cover up.
Indeed the Qur'an has told us how to read it and what it covers:
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YUSUFALI: verily We have propounded for men, in this Qur'an every kind of Parable: But if thou bring to them any Sign, the Unbelievers are sure to say, "Ye do nothing but talk vanities."
PICKTHAL: Verily We have coined for mankind in this Qur'an all kinds of similitudes; and indeed if thou camest unto them with a miracle, those who disbelieve would verily exclaim: Ye are but tricksters!
SHAKIR: And certainly We have set forth for men every kind of example in this Quran; and if you should bring them a communication, those who disbelieve would certainly say: You are naught but false claimants.
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YUSUFALI: Thus does Allah seal up the hearts of those who understand not.
PICKTHAL: Thus doth Allah seal the hearts of those who know not.
SHAKIR: Thus does Allah set a seal on the hearts of those who do not know.
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YUSUFALI: So patiently persevere: for verily the promise of Allah is true: nor let those shake thy firmness, who have (themselves) no certainty of faith.
PICKTHAL: So have patience (O Muhammad)! Allah's promise is the very truth, and let not those who have no certainty make thee impatient.
SHAKIR: Therefore be patient; surely the promise of Allah is true and let not those who have no certainty hold you in light estimation."
If I am correct, Alhamdulillah. If I am wrong, Astaghfirullah
As Salam alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatu