The Qur'an Scientific indications of authenticity
Let us primarily consider some of the verses in the Qur’an that deal with human reproduction.
The Qur’an states:
"Was man not a small quantity of sperm which has been poured out? After that he was something that clings. Then Allah fashioned him in due proportion and harmoniously" [EMQ 75:37-38]
After the egg is fertilized, (roughly the sixth day after conception) it implants in the uterine mucosa.
"We fashioned the thing which clings into a lump of chewed flesh and We fashioned the chewed flesh into bones and We clothed the bones with intact flesh" [EMQ 23:14]
As the embryo evolves following implantation, it does literally look like chewed flesh. Following this, osseous tissue and bones appear in the embryo, which are subsequently enveloped by muscle. The two types of flesh are given different names in the Qur’an; chewed flesh is called mudrat while the second, intact flesh is described by the word lahm which indeed describes accurately the appearance of a muscle.
The Qur’an also says:
"From a small quantity of liquid Allah fashioned him (i.e. man) in due proportion and ordained his fate" [EMQ 80:19]
We know from modern embryology that a sperm can carry either an X or Y chromosome. If the sperm that fertilizes the egg carries an X chromosome, the resulting child will be a female, whereas if the fertilizing sperm carries a Y chromosome the offspring will be male. Therefore the sex of an individual is determined at fertilization. We must surely admit that there is a striking conformity between the statement in the Qur’an concerning a fate ordained at this stage, and our knowledge of sex determination at the moment of fertilization. All these statements agree with today’s embryological observations.
But how could Muhammad (saw) have known so many details of embryology 1400 years ago?
The only answer can be that he was truly the Messenger of Allah, to whom the Word of Allah, the All-Knower, was revealed.
Muslims regard the Qur’an as the word of the Creator. The first and foremost facts that can be concluded about the Qur’an is that it was conveyed to mankind in Arabic by Muhammad (saw) about 1,400 years ago.
Rationally there are only four possibilities for the authorship of the Qur’an. These are:
(a) The non-Arabs
(b) Muhammad (saw)
(c) The Arabs
(d)The Creator
(A) Could the Qur’an be the work of non-Arabs?
As we know, the Qur’an was revealed in Arabic. The Arabic used in the Qur’an is of a very high standard, as all Arab theologians, Muslim and non-Muslim, would agree. Because of the mastery of the language, it is inconceivable that the Qur’an could be the work of a non-Arab. It would be absolutely impossible for a non-Arab to even capture a fraction of its depth of language. Thus the Qur’an could not have been authored by non-Arabs.
(b) Could the Qur’an be the work of Muhammad (saw)?
Muhammad (saw) himself was an Arab. If it is proved that the Arabs could not have authored it, this would also apply to Muhammad (saw).
The wording of revelation received by Muhammad (saw) are in separate books called the Hadith. When compared with the Qur’an we find no similarity whatsoever in linguistic style. This is the case even when in one sitting he would utter a revealed verse and then say something other than a revealed verse. A man may be capable of changing his style of speech for a day, a week, a month, but can anyone consistently change his style of speech for 23 years? (The length of time over which the Qur’an was revealed). Also we know that the Qur’an was not revealed in chapters, but in verses. There are 114 chapters in the Qur’an and over 6000 verses. It is practically impossible for a man to follow on to some verses after many years of saying other verses in the same linguistic style.
(c) Could the Qur’an be the work of the Arabs?
To this question we find that the Qur’an lays down challenges:
"... Or they may say ‘He forged it.’ Say ‘Bring then ten chapters forged like it, and call (to your aid) whomsoever you can, other than Allah, if you speak the truth’" [EMQ 11:13]
Mockingly, then this challenge to produce was reduced.
"And if you are in doubt as to what we have revealed from time to time to our servant then produce a chapter like thereunto; And call your witnesses or helpers beside Allah if your doubts are true" [EMQ 2:23]
"Or do they say, ‘he forged it’ Say, ‘Bring then a chapter like unto it and call to your aid anyone you can besides Allah if you speak the truth!’" [EMQ 10:38]
The smallest chapter in the Qur’an consists of just three verses, but to achieve the quality of the language was never going to be an easy task as any Arab, Muslim or non-Muslim will tell you. It has been over 1400 years since the Qur’an was revealed, and not a single person, Muslim or non-Muslim, has been able to meet the challenge to produce a single chapter like the Qur’an. Therefore the Qur’an could not have been written by Arabs.
Therefore, if we rule out the non-Arabs, the Arabs and thus Muhammad (saw) as authors of the Qur'an, we are left with our conclusion. The Creator is responsible for conveying the Qur’an to mankind via his messenger Muhammad (saw).
The ultimate proof that the Qur’an is the word of Allah (SWT) is this challenge that is laid down by the Qur’an.
However there are also indications of the authenticity of the Qur’an. They are as follows.
Scientific indications of the authenticity of the Qur'an.
Primarily let us consider some of the verses in the Qur’an that deal with human reproduction. The Qur’an states:
"Was man not a small quantity of sperm which has been poured out? After that he was something which clings. Then Allah fashioned him in due proportion and harmoniously" [EMQ 75:37-38]
After the egg is fertilized, (roughly the sixth day after conception) it implants in the uterine mucosa. It is a modern embryological fact that, anatomically speaking, the egg is indeed something which clings to the uterine mucosa.
"We fashioned the thing which clings into a lump of chewed flesh and We fashioned the chewed flesh into bones and We clothed the bones with intact flesh" [EMQ 23:14]
As the embryo evolves following implantation, it does literally look like chewed flesh. Following this, osseous tissue and bones appear in the embryo, which are subsequently enveloped by muscle. The two types of flesh are given different names in the Qur’an; chewed flesh is called mudrat while the second, intact flesh is described by the word lahm which indeed describes accurately the appearance of muscle.
The Qur’an also says:
"From a small quantity of liquid Allah fashioned him (i.e. man) in due proportion and ordained his fate" [EMQ 80:19]
We know from modern embryology that a sperm can carry either an X or a Y chromosome. If the sperm which fertilizes the egg carries an X chromosome, the resulting child will be a female, whereas if the fertilizing sperm carries a Y chromosome the offspring will be male. Therefore the sex of an individual is determined at fertilization. We must surely admit that there is a striking conformity between the statement in the Qur’an concerning a fate ordained at this stage, and our knowledge of sex determination at the moment of fertilization. All these statements agree with today’s embryological observations. But how could Muhammad (saw) have known so many details of embryology? There are other examples too such as the preservation of the body of the pharaoh. A verse of the Qur’an says:
"This day we save you in your body so that you may be a sign for those who come after you. But verily, many among mankind are heedless of our signs." [EMQ 10:92]
The mummified body of Merneptah, son of Ramesses II was discovered by Loret in 1898 and still can be seen today preserved in a museum in Egypt. Nowhere in any other scripture, does it mention the preservation of Pharaoh’s body.
It follows that since the Creator, Allah (swt) has created man, life and the universe, therer must have been a purpose for the creation and a means, i.e. systems by which to achieve it. (see "The Existence of God" leaflet)
The obvious questions that proceed are:
- How does man perceive the purpose, rules and regulations, given by the Creator, by which he is to govern and understand his life?
- In what form are these set of rules and regulations received by man?
Clearly, either man communicates with that Creator or that Creator communicates with us to explain our existence. Man, however is limited and unable to comprehend or perceive the unlimited and as such cannot communicate with the Creator. This obvious fact means that the communication had to come form the Creator.
Throughout history there have been Messengers and Prophets, men sent from the Creator, bringing laws or revelation on how man should conduct his life. They were given miracles which proved to mankind that they were bringing revelation. A miracle is something which goes against the laws of nature and sets a challenge which no one else can meet. For example, the Prophet Musa (Moses) had a stick which parted the Red Sea. Prophet Isa (Jesus) had the ability to cure the sick by just touching them.
But how do we know these Messengers existed? The miracles performed by the above Prophets were only miracles for that specific period of time. Ho do we know that they are not just legends or fables? They are not proof for us. So what miracle do we have right now to convince us and guide us through our lives?
There are many texts available today claiming divine status form God. But is the guidance contained in them in its original form and is it applicable to all situations at all time? Any text claiming to be divine must not contain contradictions, discrepencies or adulterations, since this would question the perfection of God and the validity of the text.
I we apply this 'acid test' to these 'divine texts' we find that none except the Qur'an fulfil the above criteria. Many religions contain aspects of the same truth (since Messengers have come to each nation) but this truth has been tampered with by man.
Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the Word of God. They believe that it is complete, i.e. it provides answers for all of life's affairs and that it has kept its authenticity, i.e. nothing has been removed or added to it by any man since it was revealed. But as we could not believe int the Creator, Allah (swt), until we became intellectually convinced, similarly the 'divine' message must be examined and proved. There needs to exist a rational proof for the validity of the text, not a blind emotional argument.
The Qur'an was revealed to Muhammad (saw). At the time it was revealed, the pagan Arabs were deeply into poetry. It was an indication of nobility in society. {People used to go into the desert for days just to write poetry. The Arabic language has great fluidity and depth of expression, so it was held in high esteem by the Arabs.
So we need to consider the authorship of the Qur'an. The Qur'an can only be the vork of one of the following:
- Non-Arab
- Arab
- Muhammad (saw)
- The Creator, Allah (swt)
Firstly it is important to point out that the Qur'an was revealed in Arabic. Because of the high standard of Arabic used in the Qur'an, indeed its very excellence and mastery of the language, it is definitely not from the non-Arab. It is well known that an non-Arab aged 16, called Jabr, was charged with conspiring with Muhammad (saw) in writing the Qur'an. But Allah (swt) replied to these allegation:
"And We know well what they say: only man teaches him. The speech of him they falsely hint to is notable foreign while this is Arabic, pure and clear." [EMQ Al Nahl:103]
Now one would turn to the Arabs for the authorship of the Qur'an, having dismissed the theory that a non-Arab could have written it as being ridiculous. One of the disbelieving Arab poets at the time, Walid Ibn AL-Mughira said after hearing the Qur'an, "None of you is more conversant than I with peotry, melodious hymns and songs, and by God never did I hear anything similar to what he says. It is so sweet and graceful that it remains at the summit with nothing to surpass it".
People who disbelieved the divine authenticity of the Qur'an wre sent revelation challenging them to bring forth any similar writing:
"…They may say, 'He forged it' Say, 'Bring ye then ten surahs (chapters) forged like unto it and call (to your aid) whomever ye can other than God if ye speak the truth." [EMQ Al-Hud:13]
And when the Arabs failed to meet this challenge, they were challenged once more:
"And if ye are in doubt as to what We have revealed from time to time to our servent then produce a chapter like there unto and call your witnesses or helper (if there are any)besides God if your doubts are true." [EMQ Al-Baqara:23]
"Or do they say, 'He forged it?' Say 'Bring then a chapter like unto it and call (to your aid) anyone you can besides God if ye speak the truth'" [EMQ Al-Yunus:38]
They tried to bring the like of the Qur'an but they failed. This was a humiliating defeat for the Arabs who prided themselves on their mastery of the Arabic language. And this challenge has remained until this day for everyone both Muslim and non-Muslim and both the Arab and the non-Arab. Clearly it is not the speech of an Arab, let alone a non-Arab.
The Qur'anic challenge is unique because the Creator pushes man to use his ability to undermine the authenticity of the Qur'an. Such a profound, yet simple challenge. Imagine, throughout the history of Islam, all her enemies simply needed to defeat this challenge to destroy the whole basis of Islam. Yet not one non-Muslim Arab or non-Arab has been able to do this even though the tools of the Arabic language are at their disposal.
It is also inconceivable that the Qur'an is the speech of Muhammad (saw). After all he is one of the Arabs. Also, whatever level of genius people may assign to him, he is still a human being and an Arab. Since the Arab themselves failed to bring the like of the Qur'an, this equally applies to Muhammad (saw). He could not bring the like of it, thus, it is not from him. It is important to point out that none of the Arabs who despised him (saw), particularly at the time, that were most acquainted with the styles of the Arabic speech ever claimed that the Qua'an was Muhammad (saw)'s speech or even similar to him. Moreover it is clearly documented that Muhammad (saw) was illiterate, i.e. he could neither read nor write. |In fact his illiteracy is proof in itself.
Also the traditions (Ahadith) of Muhammad (saw) are completely different to the linguistic style of the Qur'an. This is the case even though Muhammad (saw) would utter the revealed Qur'anic verse and say the tradition at one sitting. How could a man have maintained such completely different styles for 23 years! Strangely, people could imitate the style of Muhammad's (saw) speech but not that of the Qur'an1 We have established that the Qur'an could not have originated from a non-Arab, an Arab or Muhammad (saw). This leaves us with its only real source, the Creator, Allah (swt). He (swt) says:
"Do they not ponder about the Qur'an? If it had not come from God they would surely have found therein much contradictions" [EMQ Al-Nisaa:82]
To this day Muslim and non-Muslim scholars have not been able to find any contradition or mistake in the Qur'an.
Also, if one was to compare letter by letter a copy of the Qur'an published today to one of the first copies of the Qur'an available then one would find that not a single letter has been omitted or added. Copies of the Qur'an dating to the first century of Islam can be found in Istanbul and Tashkent.
Furthermore, the meaning of the Qur'an has become a proof, in that it foretold events and explained issues which man had yet to discover. For example, the science of embryology is merely 30 years old. Certainly 1400 years ago there were no microscopes let alone ultrasound. Yet the Qur'an goes into depth about how life starts, the paring of gametes, the dividing of cells, the forming of the three body layers and the developing of organs.
What they said about the Qur'an:
"The above observations makes they hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad as the author of the Qur'an untenable. How could a man, from being illiterate become the most important author, in terms of literary merits, in the whole truths of a scientific nature that no other human being could possibly have developed at that time, all this without once making the slightest error in his pronouncement on the subject.
Muarice Bucaille -- 'The Bible, the Qur'an and Science'
"The Qur'an is the ground work of Islam. Its authority is absolute in all matters of religion, ethics and science, equally as in matter of religion….The Qur'an is supreme and musch tendency is so plain as to admit no question, even among contending sectaries."
Sir William Muir -- 'The Life of Muhammad'
"The Koran… has created an all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. It first transformed a number of heterogenous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula into nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create a vast politico-religious organisations of Muhammadan world which are one of the greatest forces with which Europe and the East have to reckon today."
G. Margolouth -- Introduction to J.M.Rodwell's 'The Koran'
"There is probably in the world no other book which has remained twelve centuries with so pure a text" -- Sir William Muir
Muhammad (saw) was the first to commit the Revelation to memory after Jibraeel (as) conveyed it to him.
The Messenger Muhammad (saw) then declared the revelation and instructed the companions to memorise it. According to Imam Sayuti (Al-Itqan) 20 companions memorised the revelation including the Khulafa Rashideen (the rightly guided Khalifs).
The Qur’an was not only transmitted orally but was also written down during the lifetime of the Messenger (saw). An example of this is when Umar bin Khattab
(ra) converted to Islam, he wanted to see the leaves his sister was reading from (Ibn Hisham P.156). Ibn Umar narrated that Muhammad (saw) said; "Do not take the Qur’an on a journey with you, for I am afraid lest it should fall into the hands of the enemy." (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol 4, No. 233). This indicates that the Qur’an was a written document.
The order and arrangement was well known to the Muslims due to daily recitation of the Qur’an in their prayers.
There are 3 ahadith in Bukhari indicating that the angel Jibraeel (as) used to recite the whole Qur’an with the Messenger (saw) once a year in Ramadan, but recited it twice in the year he died (Vol 6: No. 518, 519, 520.)
The Revelation after the Messenger (saw) was available both orally and written down on various materials. Its internal order was known to the Muslims and strictly observed by them.
At the battle of Yamama, in the time of Abu Bakr (ra), a number of Muslims who had memorised the Qur’an were killed. Abu Bakr (ra) instructed Zaid bin Thabit to collect the Quar’an that was written and also from those who had memorised it. The Qur’an was collected by mutawatir (multiple) transmission.
The compiled Qur’an was kept by Abu Bakr (ra) until he died, then by Umar bin Khattab (ra), and when he died he gave it to his daughter Hafsa (ra) for safekeeing. Various companions such as Abdullah ibn Masud, Ubay bin Ka’b and Ibn Abbas (ra) had their own Masahif (collected pages).
During the Khilafah of Uthman (ra) differences in reading the Qur’an led to disputes and after consultation with the companions, Uthman had a standard copy prepared by Zaid bin Thabit, Abdullah bin Zubair, Said bin Al Asn and Abdul-Rahman bin Harith bin Hisham. Copies were made and distributed, and it is this Qur’an which is found anywhere in the world today. Two of these original copies can still be found in the Topkapi museum in Istanbul and in Tashkent.
