Qur'anic Exegesis & Analysis Via The Lens Of Modern Science

"World languages have changed throughout the ages that no expert in any modern language is able to understand its ancient form without the aid of a dictionary. There have been two main causes language alteration-upheavals in the social order of a nation and the development of a language's literature. Over the centuries these factors have been at work in Arabic, just as in other languages. The difference is that they have not been able to change the structure of the Arabic language.The Arabic that is spoken today is the same as that which was current (spoken) in Mecca when the Qur'an was revealed." --- Maulana Wahiduddin Khan in his, "The Qur'an- An Abiding Wonder".

Miracle of Numbers in the Holy Qur'an
Numerous books and articles have been written that discuss the numerical relationship of various words that appear in the Quran. No conclusive inference should be drawn from these numerical relationships. However, it is so unique that it adds a new dimension to the miraculous nature of the Qur'an. Following are a few examples of numerical symmetry in the Qur'an.

1-The Qur'an states that there are seven heavens. This description appears in the Qur'an only in seven Suras or chapters.

2-The Qur'an states that the number of months prescribed by Allah is twelve. The Arabic word for months is Shahar. The word Shahar appears in the Quran only twelve times.

3-The Arabic word for Eman means faith. The opposite of this word is Kufur, that means denial. The word Eman appears in the Qur'an a total of 17 times. Surprisingly, the word Kufur also appears in the Qur'an 17 times. Moreover, the word Emanun appears in the Qur'an 17 times. Moreover, the word Emanun appears in the Qur'an 8 times and the word Kufrun also appears in the Qur'an 8 times.

4-The Arabic word Maliaka means angels, and the word Shaitan refers to devil. The two words in their attributes and their roles are opposite to each other. The Qur'an has used the word Malaika a total of 68 times. Surprisingly the word Shaitan also appears in the Qur'an a total of 68 times.

5-The Arabic word Dunya means the world, and the word Akhira means the world hereafter. The word Dunya appears in the Qur'an a total of 115 times. The word Akhira also appears in the Qur'an total of 115 times.

Yearly movement of the earth
"You see the mountains and think them firmly fixed, but they drift away as the clouds do, such is the work of Allah, who perfected all things." --- Q-27:88

Analysis: This verse of the Qur'an reveals, by way of mentioning the drifting of mountains like clouds, that the earth itself moves. The earth is stated to have acquired its present shape and position some five billion years ago, when the universe was about 10 billion years old. It is 8000 miles in diameter and is located 93 million miles away from the sun.

It is now established that the earth revolves around the sun. Scientists have also calculated the speed of this revolution. The earth revolves around the sun at an average speed of 6,000 miles per hours along with the moon and takes nearly 365 days, 6 hours, 46 minutes and 48 seconds of one complete revolution around the sun.

This gives the alteration of seasons on yearly basis. At the time the Qur'an was revealed, it was believed that the sun moves, while the earth stand still. Copernicus, in the sixteenth century, was the first to show that the earth also moves. The Qur'an revealed this fact much earlier in human history.

Daily Rotation Of The Earth
"He (Allah) draws the night as a veil over the day, each seeking the other in hurried succession." --- Q-7:54

"It is He(Allah) who…draws the night as a veil over the day, Behold! Verily in these things are signs for those who ponder." --- Q-13:3

"And a sign for them is the night, we withdraw from it the (light of) day, and behold they are plunged in darkness." --- Q-36:37

"…He winds the night over the day and He winds the day over the night…"--- Q-39:5

Analysis: Astronomers have now learned that the earth is subjected to two different kinds of movements; One is its annual revolution around the sun, which changes in weather. The other is its diurnal rotation along its own axis, which brings changes of day and night.

The Qur'an makes distinct and separate reference to these movements. The verse 27:88 quoted earlier refers to the annual rotation of the earth. The above cited verse described the alternation of days and nights. These verses thus refer to the diurnal rotation of the earth along its own axis. The axis of the earth is inclined twenty three and half degrees towards the plane of its orbit.

It has now been calculated that the earth completes on rotation about its axis 23 hours and 56 minutes. Due to this rotation, when on half of the earth faces the sun, the other half is in darkness. This gives the alternation of day and night in 24 hour cycle. In such facts, as stated by the Qur'an, there are signs for those who ponder. So, with this message, one should ponder and determine whether the Qur'an was compiled by Muhammad (PBUH) or revealed to him by Allah, the Exalted and Wise.

Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz, is the Research & Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Media & Peace Initiatives Inc. New York, Author of three books; “Paradise Under Mothers’ Feet”, "Not good without God" & “Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism”. He tutors in Arabic & Islamic Studies in New York, [email protected]

References: 160 Mysteries & Miracles of the Qur'an, by Dr. Mazhar Kazi.

Al-Qur'an the Miracle of miracles, by Ahmed Deedat.