The scientific miracles in the Holy Quran
Compiled by M. Y. M. Meeadh
Courtesy: A brief guide to understanding Islam by I. A. Ibrahim
In Islam the Quran is the literal word of almighty Allah (God) which
He revealed to His Prophet Muhammad (Sal) through the Angel Gabriel. It
was memorized by Muhammad (Sal) who then dictated it to his companions.
They in turn, memorized it, wrote it down, and reviewed it with the
Prophet Muhammad (Sal). Moreover, the Prophet Muhammad (Sal) reviewed
the Quran with the Angel Gabriel once each year and twice in the last
year of his life.
Since the Quran was revealed until this day, there has always been a
huge number of Muslims who have memorized all of the Quran, letter by
letter. Some of them have been able to memorize all of the Quran by the
age of ten. Not one letter of the Quran has been changed over the
centuries.
The Quran, which was revealed fifteen centuries ago mentioned facts
only recently discovered or proven by scientists. This proves without
doubt that the Quran must be the literal word of God revealed by Him to
the Prophet Muhammed (Sal) and that the Quran was not authored by
Muhammad (Sal) or by another human being. This also proves that Mohammad
is truly a prophet sent by God. It is beyond reason that any one
fourteen hundred years ago would have known these facts discovered or
proven only recently with the advanced equipment and sophisticated
scientific methods.
For example: the Quran on Human Embryonic Development
In the Holy Quran, God speaks about the stages of human embryonic
development.
"We created man from an extract of clay. Then, we made him as a drop
in a place if settlement, firmly fixed. Then we made drop into an "Alaqah"
(leech suspended thing and blood clot), then we made a aleqah into a
Mudzhan (chewed - like substance 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 the embryo at the alagah stage are final
similarity between the two. (Book - The developing Human moore and -
5th.ed.p-8) Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the
blood of a mother, similar to the leech which feeds on the blood of
others.
The second meaning of the word alaqah is "suspended thing" we can
observe the suspension of the embryo during the alaqah stage, in the
womb of the mother.
The third meaning of the word alaqah is "blood clot". We find that
the external appearance of the embryo and 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.
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. So the meaning of the word alaqah correspond accurately
to the description of the embryo at the alaqah stage.
The next stage mentioned in the verse is mudghah stage. The Arabic
word mudghah means, "chewed like substance." If one were to take a piece
of gum and chew it in his mouth and then compare it with the embryo at
the Mundghah stage we would conclude that the embryo at Mudghah stage
acquires the appearance of a chewed like substance because of the
semites at the back of the embryo that "some what resemble teeth marks
in a chewed substance." Hamm and Leeuwenhoek were the first scientists
to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an improved microscope
in 1677 (Sore than 1000 years after Prophet Muhammed (Sal).
They mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature
performed human being that grew when it was deposited in the female
genital tract.
1981, during the seventh medical conference in Dhammam, Saudi Arabia,
Professor Moore said, it has been a great pleasure for me to help
clarify the statements in the Quran about human development. It is clear
to me that these statements must have come to Muhammed from God or
Allah, 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 Allah"
Consequently, Professor Moore was asked the following, question. Does
this mean you believe that the Quran is the word of God? "He replied, I
find no difficulty in accepting this."
Therefore, Muslims and non-Muslims should read the Quran to find
scientific explanation of truth.
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Chalakudy - an experience par excellence
Neville A. Perera
Continued from last week
Basic amenities are all supplied. Meals to thousands are served in
the quickest possible time. Some 1,200 volunteers attend to such duties.
A reminder that "We eat to live and not the other way about" is given at
familiarisation.
The wake-up bell for the day rings at 5.30 a.m. and is followed by a
cup of black coffee. The religious services commence at 6.15 a.m. when
the continuous twittering of birds is drowned by a few thousand human
voices raised to Heaven from various locations in the vicinity, in seven
different tongues but with one single theme, "Praise the Lord,
Alleluia." Thereafter the sessions with Holy Scripture based exercises
continue till 10.00 p.m. with sufficient breaks for meals, meditation
and leisure.
Both the clergy as well as distinguished lay people from various
walks of life address the participants, pouring out their experiences. A
team of professionally trained counsellors are there to help those in
need. Organists and soloists from leading Pop Groups voluntarily take
their turn to assist with the singing. An occasional hymn in Hindi
accompanied by the vernacular drum-beat tickles a pleasant surprise in
the Sri Lankan ear. It is not difficult for one to realise that the
week-long retreat is a balm to the mind of the participant and an
experience par excellence.
The Ashram of the Divine Retreat Centre is also a home of love with
its numerous works of mercy. In a number of separate abodes it takes
care of 450 mentally ill patients, 40 elders who are bedridden or
terminally ill, 150 widows and abandoned wives, 300 children, 100 AIDS
patients and a large number of alcoholics and drug-addicts, 80% of whom
are successfully rehabilitated. All the inmates of the above categories
have expressed their pain at being rejected by their families and
society. Hence the priests, nuns, doctors and the volunteers mingle
freely with them interviewing a bond of affection and friendship. No one
indeed is sent away empty from the Ashram of Divine Retreat Centre.
Spiritual and charitable activities as these in operation makes one
wonder whether there could be any land closer to the shores of Heaven
than Chalakudy?
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Mi'raj - the super space mission
M.B.M. Mahir
This month of Rajab is significant to the Muslim Ummath mainly
because it is in this month the super space mission of Prophet Muhammed
took place. Namely Mi'raj.
Almighty Allah prepared the Prophet for this mission through physical
surgeries done on him by Angelic elements more than once. When the
Prophet was young at the age of six when he was in the care of nurse
Haleema he was operated by Angels replacing certain inner parts of his
physique. This was observed by Haleema's children who were playing with
the young Muhammed. At the age of forty before Prophethood the same
procedure was repeated for the second time and thirdly a short time
before Mi'raj, the super space mission the operational surgery was done
in order to maintain physical fitness for the journey which took place
when the Prophet was fifty two years.
That year was named the "Amul Hu'zan" the year of sorrow for the
Prophet lost his beloved wife Kadeja and his paternal uncle Abu Thalib
in this year. To console and to strengthen his feeling Almighty Allah
took him on his space mission,which turned the course of his life and
his ummath. The Holy Quran says "Glorified (and exalted) be He (Allah)
(above all that (evil) they associated with him) who took His slave (Muhammed
for a journey by night from Al-Masjid-al-Haram (at Makkah) to Al
Masjid-al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof we have blessed
in order that we might show him (Muhammed) of our Ayat (proofs,
evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All-Hearer, the
All-Seer.
Man establishing contact with outer space has been foretold in Holy
Quran almost one thousand five hundred years ago. It also says the power
generates from Allah and with His permission man can establish contacts
with the outer universe. In surah Ar Rahman, Allah says "O assembly of
jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the zones of the heavens
and the earth, then pass beyond (them)! But you will never be able to
pass them, except with authority (from Allah)! 29-33. The purpose of
this night journey called Mi'raj is to directly witness the glory and
power of Allah and to bear witness of his creations.
On the 27th of Rajab the Prophet was in the company with Angel
Jibreel proceeded from Masjidul Haram in Makkah to Masjidul Aqsa in
Jerusalem in a space commune called Al-Buraq. He led prayer with all
other Prophets assembled and ascended through the heavens meeting great
Prophets Adam, Isa and the like up to a place called "Sidrathul Munthaha"
where Jibreel the Arc Angel stopped accompanying the Prophet, as Jibreel
could not go beyond. The prophet then proceeded alone wherein he was
greeted with Salams by Allah and the Prophet in turn replied and
repeated the Salams of him and his rightful Ummath to the lord. The
prophet was shown the Heaven, the Hell, the good, the bad and the ugly
and their rewards and punishment. As a gift of this mission Allah
prescribing to inform his Ummath of "Salath" or "Prayer" five times a
day as obligatory on the Muslim Ummath.
(To be continued)
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'Adi Puram' festival of Goddess Sakti Devi
This Hindu festival of Adi Puram is celebrated in all Hindu temples
in the month called Adi, corresponding to the English months of
July-August, when the asterism Puram (Delta Leonis) is in the
ascendancy. The festival is observed to propitiate the goddess Sakti
Devi who is said to have come into this world on this occasion to bless
the people. People therefore worship her in order to secure happiness
not only for themselves but also for their loved ones.
If the festival falls on a Friday, the occasion is considered to be
highly auspicious, and the people worship the goddess in a more special
way.
It is said that there are eight Nidhis or Saktis (Forces of nature)
in the universe and they are controlled by Devi, the goddess of the
Hindus. The eight magical arts, called in Hindu mystic parlance the
Ashta Maha Siddhis, are derived from a knowledge of those forces.
They are
(1) Anima or the art of entering into a foreign body
(2) Mahima or the art of increasing the bulk of one's body,
(3) Garuna or the art of rendering small things tremendously
ponderous,
(4) Laghima or the art of lifting with ease the largest and the
heaviest substances,
(5) Prapti or the art of gaining access through a small hole to
Brahma's heaven,
(6) Prakamya or the art of transubstantiating and entering into
various worlds of tenuous matter, procuring all things needful from
these and ascertaining the localities of various substances,
(7) Isatwam the art of creating, protecting and destroying the world
as well as rendering the planets obedient to the will, and
(8) Vasitwam the art of bringing all created beings under subjection
including Indra and the various gods.
The eight Nidhis are also called by eight different names with
characteristics peculiar to each. The Nidhi called Padma is said to be
presided over by Lakshmi and people attaining this Nidhi secure prowess
and skill in warfare and also command the wealth of all mortals.
The Nidhi going by the name Mahapadma secures the command over all
precious gems in the universe. It is meant for one having yogic
tendencies in him. The Nidhi named Makara shapes the character of the
individual and secures for him success in military operations and royal
favour. The Nidhi called Kachapa brings success in all business
undertakings and makes the individual the beloved of one and all. While
the Nidhi Mukunda develops fine aesthetic instincts in the individual,
and the one called Nanda secures for him good harvest and immunity from
wants.
The Nidhi called Nila is said to lead to all sorts of enjoyments and
the one named Sanka ensures self-realization and eternal bliss. The two
Nidhis Sanka and Padma confer mundane enjoyments and heavenly bliss on
individuals.
The wealth secured by Padma Nidhi makes worldly enjoyments possible
and the yogic powers conferred by Sanka Nidhi result in bliss arising
from self-realization. As these two Nidhis control the other Nidhis,
sculptural representations of only these two Nidhis are placed at the
sides of temple entrances in southern India.
According to a myth, the goddess of the universe took a human form on
the Adi Puram day in a miraculous manner. A Vaishnava saint called
Periyalwar of Srivilliputtur had no issues. He prayed to the goddess
Lakshmi for children and she fulfilled his wish in the following manner.
Alwar was ploughing his fields one-day when he came upon a lovely female
child while turning the first furrow. Delighted at the precious find, he
hastened to his home with it. He gave it to his wife, and named it
Andal. The presiding deity of Srirangam temple, Sri Ranganath, is said
to have accepted Andal as his wife when she grew up.
The festival is observed with great eclat in the temples of Madurai,
Srivilliputtur, Tinnevelly, Vedaranyam, Negapatam, Jambukeswaram,
Tiruvadi, Kumbakonam, Tiruvadaimarudhur, Mayavaram, Srivanjiyam and
Tiruvannamalai. In the famous religious centre Chidambaram also, this
Puram festival is observed not in the month Adi (July-August), but in
the month Arpisi (November). The observance is said to be rather unique.
There is also an inscription in the west gopuram of the temple and it is
dated Saka 1517. The village called Poorappettai is mentioned in
connection with the observance of this festival as stated above.
It is noteworthy that all festivals are held only once in a year and
no festival is held twice. All the important festivals are observed
throughout the country at the same time. As the religious festivals of
the Hindus are closely connected with the movements of the stars and
planets, correct information regarding the time at which the observation
should take place is highly essential if at all the observances are to
be efficacious. Hence great stress is laid on the accuracy of the
information to be recorded in the Hindu almanacs or Panchangams by the
astronomers.
As several systems of computation have arisen with the lapse of time,
some following the heliocentric system, and some following the
geocentric system and so on, differences of opinion have also arisen
regarding the time of the observance of Hindu rites and ceremonies. But
the principle on which these observances are based is the same and we
find no differences in opinion in this regard. Further, in the
observance of most of the important religious festivals, we find no
differences of opinion among the astronomers.
The Vedas and the Agamas say that the performance of a definite
number of religious festivals is essential for the welfare of a country.
The number of such festivals varies with the different sects of Hindus.
It is recorded in the second prakara of Sri Thagaraja temple at
Tiruvarur in Tanjore that fifty-six festivals are to be observed every
year.
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50th golden jubilee of Our Lady of Remedies, Sillalai
Sillalai is a village 10 miles from the Jaffna town which will
celebrate its 50th Golden Jubilee of the new church on the August 15.
The church flag was hoisted on August 6 by the Parish Priest. Vespers
will be celebrated with Eucharist procession on August 14 in the
evening. And also the 50th jubilee feast celebrates with the procession
of the statue of our lady on August 15.
This feat is celebrated annually from generation to generation. And
also this feast awakened the anxiety of not only the people of the
village, but also the Sri Lankans as well as the foreigners. This feast
reminds of the ascension of our Lady into heaven.
The patron of Sillalai
The historical shrine of Our Lady of Remedies is situated in the
village of Sillalai in the Jaffna diocese is considered to be the oldest
church in the North and is over 400 years old.
In this beautiful church built by Rev. Fr. Daisey OMI, one can see
this same old original miraculous statue of Our Lady of Remedies adorned
with ornaments, seated on a throne with a golden crown studded with a
ruby on her head and the child Jesus on her lap. This statue has been
placed today on a beautiful carved wooden alter.
In 1554 the Portuguese missionaries came to Jaffna to propagate the
Christianity as especially to propagate Catholicism. For this purpose
they built few churches in the peninsula. They built a church at
Panadateruppu named as American mission and also they decided to present
the blessed Mary's beautiful statue which they got from the Portugal and
honoured her with great piety and devotion.
(To be continued)
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Christians of All Denominations: Unite
Christians of all denominations let's unite, unite;
Our Country's situation to bring to right.
Jesus, our Saviour, Redeemer, and king.
Ask His help and praises sing.
In Bethlehm on a cold winter night;
Born in a stable to a virgin: To lead us right,
Left His heavenly home: For our sake became poor,
Lived among men: Experienced man's sorrows and joys for sure.
His aim to lead man to Heaven above.
Preached He: showed the right path all for love.
A group of twelve fishermen selected He;
Illiterate, uneducated though they happened to be
His guidance and teaching made them fit to carry
His church on early to the end: Not tarry.
His death, Resurrection: Redeemed man from death'sin and hell
The Risen Christ onquered as the prophets did tell
The Scriptures were fulfilled as they were fore told
The light of the world we now behold
Our saviour our Redeemer His church did form
With twelve apostles on that glorious morn.
"To the worlds end with you I'll be;
This promise to Peter the Head made HE.
Two thousand years have now rolled away
The situation the world over; Let's pause and pray.
Day by day what a sight meets our eyes?
Floods, storms, earthquakes' earthslips and man's cries
A bomb here, a bomb there killings abound
Much unrest in the world over spreads around.
Perhaps the second coming of Christ is near at hand;
Thus this way be a warning to man in every land.
So deep down into our hearts let's all do peep.
And eradicate all evil that lies buried deep.
Not as a babe would he come this time
But in all glory as a king - To judge mankind bad or fine
Though we no not the day or the hour....
Let's ask god to lead us and show us by his power.
"What wonders await in that fair land
The face of our saviour, the touch of his hand
No tears, no crying, no sighs or despair
JESUS is waiting to welcome us there."
Norma Perera
Kelaniya |