Qur'anic scientific errors
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Qur'anic scientific errors occur when a verse, approached from a literalist perspective, states something about reality that's fundamentally flawed. Qur'anic scientific errors are external errors (errors in relating the Qur'an to the external world), not internal errors.
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[edit] Astronomy
[edit] Location of the moon
The Qur'an is explicit about where the stars are:
- "Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and We decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower," (Qur'an 41:12).
- "Who hath created seven heavens in harmony [commonly translated as "in layers"]. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any rifts ? Then look again and yet again, thy sight will return unto thee weakened and made dim. And verily We have beautified the world's heaven [the heaven closest to the Earth] with lamps [also known as "stars"], and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame," (Qur'an 67:3-5).
The Qur'an further explains where the moon is:
- "See ye not how Allah hath created seven heavens in harmony, And hath made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp ?" (Qur'an 71:15-16).
Since the lowest heaven contains the stars, this is a problem. The moon is, at minimum, the same distance from earth as the stars are; at worst, the moon is farther from Earth than the stars. Either way, this is a wildly incorrect statement.
See also:
[edit] Geology
[edit] Flat earth
The Earth's not flat. The Qur'an both states and strongly implies that it is.
See also:
[edit] "Spread out"
The Qur'an frequently describes the earth as "spread out", often comparing it to a "carpet". Unless you have some kind of freaky 3D carpet, that's pretty flat.
- "And the earth have We spread out, and placed therein firm hills, and caused each seemly thing to grow therein," (Qur'an 15:19).
- "He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky." With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others." (Qur'an 20:53, Yusuf Ali).
- "(Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way);" (Qur'an 43:10, Yusuf Ali).
- "And the earth — We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)" (Qur'an 50:7, Yusuf Ali).
- "And the earth have We laid out, how gracious is the Spreader (thereof)!" (Qur'an 51:48).
- "And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out)," (Qur'an 71:19, Yusuf Ali).
- "Have We not made the earth an expanse, And the high hills bulwarks?" (Qur'an 78:7).
- "And after that He spread the earth, And produced therefrom the water thereof and the pasture thereof, And He made fast the hills, A provision for you and for your cattle," (Qur'an 79:30-33).
- "And the earth, how it is spread?" (Qur'an 88:20).
- "And the earth and Him Who spread it, And a soul and Him Who perfected it And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it," (Qur'an 91:6-8).
[edit] Sun sets in a muddy spring
The Qur'an states that Muhammad traveled to where the sun sets and to where the sun rises. This is impossible on a spherical earth, since there is no specific place where the sun goes "down". Furthermore, the Qur'an is stating that the sun literally goes into muddy water when it "sets".
- "Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. .... Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom." (Qur'an 18:86-90).
[edit] Facing the Ka'aba during prayer
“”"We have seen the turning of thy face to heaven (for guidance, O Muhammad). And now verily We shall make thee turn (in prayer) toward a qiblah[wp] which is dear to thee. So turn thy face toward the Inviolable Place of Worship, and ye (O Muslims), wheresoever ye may be, turn your faces (when ye pray) toward it. Lo! Those who have received the Scripture know that (this revelation) is the Truth from their Lord. And Allah is not unaware of what they do."
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| —Qur'an 2:144 |
According to the Qur'an, Muslims must pray while facing the Ka'aba. If we interpret "facing the Ka'aba" either as "pointing your front side in the direction of the shortest path to the Ka'aba" or as "pointing your front side in such a way that you would walk directly towards Mecca",[1] then praying while "facing" the Ka'aba is difficult on a spherical earth and much easier on a flat earth. Three examples make this clear:
- First, (top) for any place out of direct sight of the Ka'aba, any prayer that isn't facing into ground will face towards space rather than the Ka'aba.
- Second, (bottom-left) assuming that prayer does follow the curvature of the Earth, even when you "face" the Ka'aba you are blasphemously praying with your face and backside simultaneously aimed at the Ka'aba.
- Third, (bottom-right) assuming that prayer does follow the curvature of the Earth, there is one point exactly opposite the Ka'aba where any direction is "facing" Mecca; consequently, there is no one "correct" direction. (Or, perhaps at that spot all directions are the "correct" one.)
However, Muslims have pointed out that this interpretation is a bit of a stretch.[2] If you're asked to face a particular direction on earth, it's commonly understood (then, as now) as the shortest distance via travel on the Earth's surface. There's no textual support for Muhammad using anything other than the common meaning, for "facing" meaning a direct line through the Earth, or anything similarly far-fetched. This interpretation of the Qur'an is thus based on unjustified exegesis.
[edit] Meteorology
[edit] The sky is solid
Numerous Qur'anic verses state or imply that the sky is solid:
- "Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and We decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower," (Qur'an 41:12). This verse implies that the "nether heaven" is impenetrable.
- "Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any rifts ?" (Qur'an 67:3). This verse implies that there are no holes or cracks in the heavens; it's impossible for space to have holes or cracks (in the classical sense), unless space is solid, like a dome over the Earth.
- "And We have built above you seven strong (heavens), And have made (therein) a shinning lamp (sun)," (Qur'an 78:12-13). This verse states that the heavens are strong; it is difficult for "nothing" to be strong. Perhaps, instead, the Qur'anic heavens are actually physical objects.
This is despite claims that the Qur'an predicts space travel.
[edit] See also
- Problems with biblical inerrancy
- Qur'an
- RationalWiki:Annotated Qur'an
- Qur'anic scientific foreknowledge
- Qur'anic contradictions
- List of actions prohibited by the Qur'an
[edit] External links
- "Scientific Errors in the Qur'an" by WikiIslam
- "Erroneous Science and Contradictions in the Quran" by Syed Mirza
[edit] Footnotes
| Articles about the Qur'an | |
|---|---|
| Suras: | The Ant • The Cow • The Elevated Places • The Family Of Imran • Women (sura) • |
| Analysis: | Annotated Qur'an • List of actions prohibited by the Qur'an • Qur'anic contradictions • Qur'anic scientific foreknowledge • |
| Other: | Allah • Burqa • Dhimmi • Hadith • Halal • Houri • Jihad • John the Baptist • Satanic Verses • Sharia • Taqiyya • |