Scientific Errors in the Quran

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Scientific Errors in the Qur'an

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Muslims believe that the Qur'anQur'an contains a message from an all-powerful, all-knowing, contains a message from an all-powerful, all-knowing, infallible being If this is true then it shoul! not contain an"

infallible being If this is true then it shoul! not contain an" errors, mistakeserrors, mistakes,, or information or information that contra!icts known facts about the universe If even one error e#ists in the te#t of

that contra!icts known facts about the universe If even one error e#ists in the te#t of IslamIslam''ss hol" book then the claims of !ivine authorship an! infallibilit" are not true $n ob%ective hol" book then the claims of !ivine authorship an! infallibilit" are not true $n ob%ective evaluation of the Qur&an shows that it contains numerous

evaluation of the Qur&an shows that it contains numerous scientificscientific an! historical errors an! it an! historical errors an! it reflects a pre-scientific, 

reflects a pre-scientific, thth_{centur" view of the natural worl!}_{centur" view of the natural worl!}

(ome apologists will contest these numerous scientific errors in the Qur'an b" appealing to (ome apologists will contest these numerous scientific errors in the Qur'an b" appealing to metaphor, alternative meanings, or

metaphor, alternative meanings, or phenomenological phenomenological interpretations of the te#t )ven if we interpretations of the te#t )ven if we suppose that alternative e#planations were possible in ever" case, the wor!ing an! content of suppose that alternative e#planations were possible in ever" case, the wor!ing an! content of the Qur'anic verses often mimic the popular m"tholog" an! unscientific misconceptions of the Qur'anic verses often mimic the popular m"tholog" an! unscientific misconceptions of the time in which the" were recor!e! *he author of the Qur&an makes no clear or

the time in which the" were recor!e! *he author of the Qur&an makes no clear or

unambiguous statements that !ifferentiate his un!erstan!ing of the natural worl! from the unambiguous statements that !ifferentiate his un!erstan!ing of the natural worl! from the common folklore of the people living in the 

common folklore of the people living in the thth_{centur" If the Qur&an was !elivere! b" an all-}_{centur" If the Qur&an was !elivere! b" an}

all- powerful, all-knowing being then he wo

powerful, all-knowing being then he woul! have been able to foresee how such ambigul! have been able to foresee how such ambiguousuous an! mislea!ing statements woul! be un!erstoo! b" future generations an! the !oubts an! an! mislea!ing statements woul! be un!erstoo! b" future generations an! the !oubts an! confusions the" woul! cause *his alone shoul! be reason to re%ect an" claims to its !ivine confusions the" woul! cause *his alone shoul! be reason to re%ect an" claims to its !ivine authorship authorship

Astronomy

Geocentricism

Main $rticle: eocentrism an! the Qur'an

*he Qur'an mentions numerous times that the sun an! the moon travel in an orbit, but !oes not mention once that the earth !oes too *his is consistent with a earth-centere! Egeocentric view of the cosmos that places a motionless earth at the center of the universe an! all

Gheavenl" bo!iesG travel aroun! the earth *his was the prevailing un!erstan!ing of the universe prior to the +5th_{centur" when opernicus helpe! e#plain an! populariBe a}

sun-centere! Eheliocentric view of the universe

$n! the (un runs his course for a perio! !etermine! for him: that is the !ecree of E8im the )#alte! in Might, the $ll-@nowing

Qur'an 05:07

It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor !oth the night outstrip the !a" *he" float in an orbit

Qur'an 05:2;

(ome apologists tr" to e#plain awa" the Qur'anic !escription of the sun moving in an orbit as a reference to our sun orbiting the black hole at the center of the milk" wa" gala#" *his is an $! hoc h"pothesis an! nothing from the te#t implies that the sun is orbiting an"thing other than the earth If the author ha! knowle!ge of the sun orbiting a black hole then it is

conspicuous that he never mentions it e#plicitl" nor in an" wa" !ifferentiates the sun's orbit from that of the moon

In the Qur'an, the moon an! the sun orbit the earth together *here is no !istinction ma!e between the moon, which actuall" revolves aroun! the earth, an! the sun which onl" appears

to revolve aroun! the earth when in fact the suns movement through the sk" is a pro!uct of the rotation of the earth aroun! its a#is

>" the (un an! his Eglorious splen!ourH >" the Moon as she follows himH Qur'an 9+:+--+

$n! 8e it is Who create! the night an! the !a", an! the sun an! the moon *he" float along in an orbit

Qur'an +:00

$n! maketh the sun an! the moon, constant in their courses, to be of service unto "ou, an! hath ma!e of service unto "ou the night an! the !a"

Qur'an +2:00

*he author of the Qur'an emphasiBes that the earth is fi#e! in place an! motionless 8e is clearl" unaware that the earth is not onl" revolving aroun! the sun, but also spinning on its own a#is

eril" $llah grasps the heavens an! the earth lest they move awa" from their places, an! if the" were to move awa" from their places, there is not one that coul! grasp them after 8im

*rul", 8e is )ver Most Forbearing, ?ft Forgiving Qur'an 03:2+

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It is o! who ma!e for "ou the earth a fixed place an! heaven for an e!ificeH $n! 8e shape! "ou, an! shape! "ou well, an! provi!e! "ou with the goo! things *hat then is o!, "our 4or!, so blesse! be o!, the 4or! of all >eing

Qur'an 2;:52

Setting and Rising Place of the Sun Main $rticle: Flat )arth an! the Qur'an

*he Qur'an assumes a flat earth which has a fi#e! place where the sun sets an! a fi#e! place where the sun rises again (ince the earth is a rotating sphere, the sun !oesn't set in an"

particular place an! "ou can never travel to Gthe spotG where the sun sets nor a place where it risesH the sun appears to set or rise on the horiBon no mater where "ou are on the planet In these verses, the author propagates a popular legen! from the 5th centur" of a man name! 1hul-Qarna"n who visits the places where the sun sets an! risesH here he fin!s the sun going !own into a mu!!" spring an! later rising on a tribe with no coverings

*ill, when he reache! the setting-place of the sun, he foun! it setting in a mu!!" spring, an! foun! a people thereabout We sai!: ? 1hu'l-Qarne"n )ither punish or show them kin!ness Qur'an +7:75

*ill, when he reache! the rising-place of the sun, he foun! it rising on a people for whom We ha! appointe! no shelter therefrom

Qur'an +7:9;

(ome Muslim $pologists have come up with creative interpretations of these verses to sa" that 1hul-Qrna"n onl" travele! until he reache! Gthe westG or to a spot Gat the timeG when the sun set an! not the GplaceG where the sun set 6nfortunatel", these alternative interpretations are severel" un!ermine! b" the conte#t an! $rabic wor!s use! in these verses, which instea! point to a ph"sical location $gain, we must ask wh" an all-knowing being woul! use such

mislea!ing verses that mimic the misconceptions an! legen!s prevalent at the time if one of these alternative e#planations is correct

Stars are Missiles Shot at evils

Main $rticle: Mistranslations of Qur'an 5:3

*he author of the Qur'an !oes not seem to know the !ifference between stars Egiant balls of gas thousan!s of times larger than the earth an! meteorites which are small rock" masses of !ebris which brighten up after entering the earth's atmosphere Man" ancient people confuse! the two, as meteorites look like stars that are streaking across the sk"H this is wh" there were often calle! shooting stars or falling stars In the following verse, the Qur'an claims that $llah uses stars as missiles to war! awa" !evils *his repeats a common $rab m"th at the time the Qur'an was first recite!

$n! veril" We have beautifie! the worl!'s heaven with stars<lamps, an! We have ma!e them missiles for the !evils, an! for them We have prepare! the !oom of flame

Qur'an 5:3

)#cept such as snatch awa" something b" stealth, an! the" are pursue! b" a flaming fire, of piercing brightness

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Moon is !urther from the Earth than the Stars Main $rticle: $ Qur&anic 6n!erstan!ing of the 6niverse

*he Qur'an claims that the moon is locate! in the mi!!le of the universe an! stars are in the nearest<lowest part of the universe *he nearest star to our solar s"stem is 22 light "ears E2#+;+0_{km awa" an! over +;; million times further awa" then the moon learl" the}

Qur'anic author has no i!ea that the vast ma%orit" of stars in the night sk" are billions upon billions of light-"ears awa"

(ee "e not how $llah has create! the seven heavens one above another,

'$n! ma!e the moon a light in their midst, an! ma!e the sun as a Elorious 4amp Qur'an +:+3-+5

(urel" We have a!orne! the nearest heaven with an a!ornment, the stars Qur'an 0:5

Moon Emits "ight

*he moon !oes not emit its own light but simpl" reflects light coming from the (un *he $rabic wor! for reflecte! EinKikaas !oes not appear in this Qur'anic verse that sa"s the Moon is a GlightG It instea! uses the wor! G=oorG which is use! to !enote an entit" that emits light $n! hath ma!e the moon a light therein, an! ma!e the sun a lampL

Qur'an +:+5

*he wor! G=oorG is also use! in these verse to show that $llah is the GlightG of the universe learl" the author is not impl"ing that $llah reflects light from another source but is the source of the light

$llah is the 4ight of the heavens an! the earth *he /arable of 8is 4ight is as if there were a =iche an! within it a 4amp: the 4amp enclose! in lass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: 4it from a blesse! *ree, an ?live, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touche! it: 4ight upon 4ight $llah !oth gui!e whom 8e will to 8is 4ight: $llah !oth set forth /arables for men: an! $llah !oth know all things

Qur'an 2:03

Moon #as Split in $#o

Main $rticle: Moon (plit Miracle

*he Qur'an an! 8a!ith claim that the moon was miraculousl" split into two pieces an! then, presumabl", put back together again *here is absolutel" no scientific evi!ence whatsoever

that the moon has ever been split into two (ince the moon is visible to half the planet at an" given time, we shoul! e#pect to see numerous accounts from !ifferent parts of the worl! attesting to this event if it actuall" happene! *he .omans, reeks, )g"ptians, /ersians, hinese an! In!ians ha! avi! astronomers who shoul! have seen this event an! recor!e! it in their histories *he absence of historical recor! from other civiliBations, contemporar" to Muhamma!, is a strong in!ication that this event never happene!

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*he hour !rew nigh an! the moon !i! ren! asun!er Qur'an 32:+-0

=arrate! $nas: G*hat the Meccan people reAueste! $llah's $postle to show them a miracle, an! so he showe! them the splitting of the moonG

(ahih >ukhari 2:35:70+

Seven Planets in the %niverse

Main $rticle: $ Qur&anic 6n!erstan!ing of the 6niverse

*his verse claims there are seven planets 8owever, accor!ing to astronomers, there are eight or!inar" planets an! five !warf planets, which leaves the gran! total at thirteen in our solar s"stem Mo!ern astronom" also has foun! hun!re!s of other planets in other solar s"stems an! osmologists estimate that hun!re! of billions of stars an! planets e#ist in the universe *he author of the Qur'an singling out such a small number of celestial ob%ects onl" reaffirms his ignorance of the makeup of the universe

$llah is 8e Who create! seven Firmaments an! of the earth a similar num&er *hrough the

mi!st of them Eall !escen!s 8is omman!: that "e ma" know that $llah has power over all things, an! that $llah comprehen!s, all things in E8is @nowle!ge

Qur'an 53:+

*he paternal cousin of Muhamma! an! conspicuous e#pert on tafsir Einterpretation of the Qur'an writes that $llah means that all  planets are flat planets

$llah is 8e who create!  heavens one above the other like a !ome, an! of the )arths, the like thereof,  planets but they are flat

*afsir Ibn-$bass Seven eavens

Main $rticle: $ Qur&anic 6n!erstan!ing of the 6niverse

*he universe consists of hun!re!s of billions of gala#ies, each with hun!re!s of billions of stars *here is no such thing as seven la"ers to the universe *his m"th of seven heavens was a common i!ea prevalent in the Mi!!le )ast !uring the time when the Qur'an was first

recite!

(ee "e not how $llah has create! the seven heavens one above another Qur'an +:+3

*here are onl" 3 not  principal la"ers to the )arth's atmosphere, an! likewise onl" 3 not  ma%or la"ers to the )arth itself

$llah is 8e Who create! seven heavens, an! of the earth the like of themH the !ecree

continues to !escen! among them, that "ou ma" know that $llah has power over all things an! that $llah in!ee! encompasses all things in E8is knowle!ge

Qur'an 53:+

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Main $rticle: Qur'an, 8a!ith an! (cholars:reation

*he earth first forme! aroun! 9 billion "ears after the >ig >ang *he Qur'an, however, repeats the prevailing mi!!le eastern m"th that the earth an! universe were forme! in si# !a"s

We create! the heavens an! the earth an! all between them in (i# 1a"s, nor !i! an" sense of weariness touch 6s

Qur'an 3;:07

Muslim apologists tr" an! rescue the Qur'an b" pointing to an alternative meaning of the $rabic wor! '"awm' which t"picall" means '!a"' but can sometimes mean 'time perio!'

8owever the pre!ominant meaning of the wor! is !a" an! when a specific number is use!, in this case si#, the wor! almost alwa"s means a literal 2-hour !a" $gain, nothing in the

conte#t of the verses, nor the Qur'an in general, suggests the universe or earth were forme! over long time perio!s It woul! have been trivial for an all-knowing !iet" to simpl" state that the universe was first forme! over +07 billion "ears ago 8owever, this information is

conspicuousl" missing

Earth Created &efore Stars

*he author of the Qur'an is also unaware that the elements in the )arth's crust an! core were first forme! in stars Mo!ern science has propose! that all the elements that make up the earth E?#"gen, =itrogen, arbon, Iron, etc was originall" forme! b" nucleos"nthesis in stars an! then e#pelle! into the universe when those stars supernova Det the Qur'an !escribes the earth being forme! before the stars an! from GsmokeG or material that pre-!ates stars $ll rock" an! gaseous planets in the universe were forme! in a similar manner to the earth an! the Qur'an singling out the earth onl" further highlights the authors ignorance of the histor" of the formation of celestial ob%ects

8e it is Who create! for "ou all that is in the earth *hen turne! 8e to the heaven, an! fashione! it as seven heavens $n! 8e is knower of all things

Qur'an :9

1o not the 6nbelievers see that the heavens an! the earth were %oine! together Eas one unit of creation, before we clove them asun!erL We ma!e from water ever" living thing Will the" not then believeL

Qur'an +:0;

Moreover 8e comprehen!e! in 8is !esign the sk", an! it ha! been Eas smoke: 8e sai! to it an! to the earth: Gome "e together, willingl" or unwillingl"G *he" sai!: GWe !o come Etogether, in willing obe!ienceG

Qur'an 2+:++

Sun is a !lat is(

*his verse suggests that the (un is flat an! can be fol!e! up *he (un appears as a flat !isc from the perspective of a person on earth, but the sun is in fact almost a perfect sphere *he verse implies the authors ignorance of this fact

When the sun Ewith its spacious light is fol!e! up Qur'an 7+:+

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S(y is a $ent)ome

$ common m"th at the time of the Quran's composition was that the sk" or heavens were hel! up with pillars Man" >e!ouin people living in $rabia imagine! the sk" as a large tent covering, similar to the tents the" use! *he author repeats this m"th b" !escribing the sk" as being Graise!G above the earth

It is 8e Who ma!e the )arth a couch for "ou, an! the sk" a !ome Qur'an :

$llah is 8e Who raise! the heavens without an" pillars that "e can see Qur'an +0:

S(y Guards the Earth

$steroi!s an! meteorites have penetrate! the atmosphere an! hit the earth throughout the course of histor" *his inclu!es the massive meteorite that hit near the Ducatn /eninsula 53 million "ears which kille! off numerous species inclu!ing most !inosaurs *here is no

guar!ian, whatsoever, that prevents these t"pes of events form happening

$n! We have ma!e the heavens as a canop" well guar!e!: "et !o the" turn awa" from the (igns which these things Epoint to

Qur'an +:0

S(y is Made of Solid Material

What, have the" not behel! heaven above them, how We have built it, an! !ecke! it out fair,

and it has no crac(sL $n! the earth -- We stretche! it forth, an! cast on it firm mountains,

an! We cause! to grow therein of ever" %o"ous kin! Qur'an 3;:5

S(y can !all o#n on People

*he Qur'an author thought that the sk" is like a ceiling that can fall on someone while the earth can swallow someone too *his is obviousl" impossible as the earth's atmosphere is simpl" ma!e of gas

(ee the" not what is before them an! behin! them, of the sk" an! the earthL If We wishe!, We coul! cause the earth to swallow them up, or cause a piece of the sk" to fall upon them eril" in this is a (ign for ever" !evotee that turns to $llah Ein repentance

Qur'an 02:9

*gnorance of the +orth and South Poles Main $rticle: *he .ama!an /ole /ara!o#

In polar regions, the longevit" of !a" an! night var" !uring summer an! winter Muhamma! !i!n't know about this an! he onl" repeate! earlier geocentric i!eas

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It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor !oth the night outstrip the !a" *he" float each in an orbit

Qur'an 05:2;

,iology

Evolution

*he Qur'an presupposes a creationist view of life on earth Its un!erstan!ing of the histor" of human life is incompatible with the overwhelming scientific evi!ence that humans have evolve! from prior life forms, over the course of millions of "ears, through natural selection N+O While some Muslims accept the theor" of evolution, most re%ect it in favor of a

creationist worl! view ?pinion polls show that the ma%orit" of Muslims agree Islam an! evolution are not compatible

uman Creation from Clay

Main $rticle: reation of 8umans from la"

*he Qur&an state that humans were create! instantaneousl" from mu! or cla" *here is no in!ication that the author is aware of the evolution of human life over millions of "ears nor our common ancestr" with apes an! primates

We create! man from soun!ing cla", from mu! mol!e! into shapeH Qur'an +3:5

*o 8im is !ue the primal origin of the heavens an! the earth: When 8e !ecreeth a matter, 8e saith to it: G>e,G an! it is

Qur'an :++

!irst umans- Adam and Eve

*he Qur&an an! 8a!ith contains stories concerning the 'first humans' an! how all people are !escen!e! from these two earliest ancestors It states that humans were create! in a gar!en Epara!ise an! then brought to earth full" forme! *his view of the origins of human life is clearl" contra!icte! b" the numerous fossils of pre-homosapien species that live! on earth for millions of "ears before mo!ern humans first evolve!NO

G8e it is Who create! "ou from a single being, an! of the same Ekin! !i! 8e make his mate,G Qur'an :+79

=arrate! $bu 8uraira: $llah 's $postle sai!, G*reat women nicel", for a #omen is created from a ri&, an! the most curve! portion of the rib is its upper portion, so, if "ou shoul! tr" to

straighten it, it will break, but if "ou leave it as it is, it will remain crooke! (o treat women nicel"G

(ahih >ukhari 2:33:327

(ome Muslim apologists will claim the view of two ancestral Pparents is consistent with recent scientific fin!ings that show a common female an! male ancestor of all mo!ern

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humans *he" often e#ploit the confusion cause! b" scientists referring to these genetic ancestors as Mitochon!rial )ve an! D-chromosomal $!am *hese two in!ivi!uals bear little resemblance to the Quranic account as the" are simpl" the last common male an! female ancestors of ever"one alive to!a", not of all humans in histor" *he Qur'an clearl" states )ve was create! later than $!am, however Mitochon!rial )ve live! some 3;,;;; to 7;,;;; "ears earlier than D-chromosomal $!amN0O enetic evi!ence overwhelmingl" in!icates that humans !iverge! from earlier species as a population, not a single couple N2O

umans Created in Paradise and then ,rought to Earth

*he author of the Qur'an e#plicitl" states that humans were first create! outsi!e of the earth an! then onl" later sent !own to live on the planet after being e#pelle! from para!ise We have no evi!ence that humans ever live! in a terrestrial or e#tra-terrestrial para!ise In fact, all evi!ence points to primitive humanoi!s living in caves for tens of thousan!s of "ears before settling into more permanent !wellings N3O

G*hen !i! (atan make them slip from the Egar!en, an! get them out of the state Eof felicit" in which the" ha! been We sai!: 'et "e !own, all E"e people, with enmit" between

"ourselves ?n earth #ill &e your d#elling.place an! "our means of livelihoo! - for a time'

Qur'an :05

$bu 8uraira reporte! $llah's Messenger Ema" peace be upon him as sa"ing: *he best !a" on which the sun has risen is !riday/ on it Adam #as created, on it he was ma!e to enter

/ara!ise, on it he was e#pelle! from it (ahih Muslim 2:+735

Em&ryology

Main $rticle: )mbr"olog" in the Qur'an

*he Qur'an an! 8a!ith contain statements about bo!il" flui!s an! the stages of !evelopment of the human embr"o Man" of these !escriptions are vague an! unscientific Most bare a striking resemblance to similar !escriptions foun! in the Jewish *almu! an! the i!eas of ancient reeks, inclu!ing their errors

Sperm 0riginates ,et#een the ,ac(&one and Ri&s

Main $rticle: Qur'an an! (emen /ro!uction

*he Qur'an states, incorrectl", that semen originates from a spot between the backbone an! ribs *o!a" we know sperm comes from the testicles which is not between the spine an! ribs but in the pelvic region

8e is create! from a !rop emitte!- /rocee!ing from &et#een the &ac(&one and the ri&s

Qur'an 75:5-

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Main $rticle: reek an! Jewish I!eas about .epro!uction in the Quran an! 8a!ith

*he author of the Qur'an !escribes the formation of a human embr"o from flui!s emanating from both men an! woman *his reflects the contemporar", but incorrect, view that the embr"o is initiall" forme! out of semen store! in the womb In fact, semen is the vehicle for the sperm cells, one of which fuses with a woman's ovum in her fallopian tube, an! the resulting cell !ivi!es an! travels back into the womb for implantation

1i! We not create "ou from a li1uid disdainedL $n! We place! it in a firm lo!ging For a

known e#tent Qur'an :;-

From what thing !oth 8e create himL From a drop of seed 8e createth him an! proportioneth him

Qur'an 7;:+7-+9

eril" We create! Man from a drop of mingled sperm Nnutfatin amsha%inO, in or!er to tr"

him: (o We gave him Ethe gifts, of 8earing an! (ight Qur'an 5:

+o Mention of !emale 0vum

*he Qur'an's author !i! not mention the role of the ovum in human repro!uction an! appears to have no knowle!ge of it *his verse fails to mention the important role of the female egg, or ovum, pla"s in the repro!uction of humankin! It implies that repro!uction is cause! simpl" b" the male semen *he human ovum is ver" small, though visible to the human e"e, an! it's purpose wasn't un!erstoo! in the th centur" $gain, we are left won!ering wh" an all-knowing !eit" woul! omit such information

8e is create! from a !rop emitte! Qur'an 3:23

umans Created from a Clot of ,lood

Main $rticle: )mbr"olog" in Islamic (cripture

*he Qur'an an! 8a!ith !epict that humans are forme! from a clot of bloo! *here was never a stage in embr"onic !evelopment where humans are forme! into a clot of bloo! *his

!escription is likel" influence! b" an unscientific an! primitive un!erstan!ing of human repro!uction base! on observations from an earl"-term miscarriage an! a woman's menstrual c"cle

reate! man, out of a Emere clot of congeale! bloo!: Qur'an 95:

=arrate! '$b!ullah bin Mus'u!: P$llah's $postle, the true an! trul" inspire! sai!, GE*he matter of the reation of a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in fort" !a"s, an! then he becomes a clot of thic( &lood for a similar period, an! then a piece of

flesh for a similar perio! (ahih >ukhari 2:32:20;

(15)

urrent technolog", such as sonograms, has enable! !octors an! e#pecting parents to learn the gen!er of a bab" while still in the womb *here are also se# selection techniAues an! clinics that allow a couple to pre!etermine the se# of their chil!

eril" the knowle!ge of the 8our is #ith Allah 3alone4 It is 8e Who sen!s !own rain, an! 8e Who knows what is in the wombs =or !oes an" one know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: =or !oes an" one know in what lan! he is to !ie eril" with $llah is full

knowle!ge an! 8e is acAuainte! Ewith all things Qur'an 0+:02

All 0rganisms are Created in Pairs

Main $rticle: Qur'anic laim of )ver"thing reate! in /airs

=ot ever" creature procreates or repro!uces through male an! female se#ual relationship *he whiptail liBar! in the 6( (outhwest, Me#ico, an! (outh $merica, is an all-females species which repro!uces b" parthenogenesis iruses repro!uce using a host's 1=$ an! are neither female nor male >acteria repro!uce b" cell !ivision Fungus can repro!uce either se#uall" or ase#uall" Man" species of plants also repro!uce either ase#uall" or through pollination $n! of every thing We have create! pairs: *hat "e ma" receive instruction

Qur'an 3+:29

5om& has $hree "ayers

Main $rticle: reek an! Jewish I!eas about .epro!uction in the Qur'an an! 8a!ith

*he wor! butun ERST means bell"<ab!omen<mi!riff, though some translators like to use the more specific wor! GwombG *here are man" more la"ers in the human bo!" such as the en!ometrium, m"ometrium, perimetrium, peritoneum, besi!es the cervi# uteri, corpus uteri, ab!omen Ewith walls, an! placenta Ewith la"ers *he i!ea of three membranes aroun! the fetus Echorion, allantois, an! amnion was taught b" the highl" influential reek ph"sician, alen It is likel" that the Quranic author is simpl" repeating this erroneous i!ea

8e create! "ou Eall from a single person: then create!, of like nature, his mateH an! he sent !own for "ou eight hea! of cattle in pairs: 8e makes "ou, in the wombs of "our mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of dar(ness such is $llah, "our 4or! an! herisher:

to 8im belongs Eall !ominion *here is no go! but 8e: then how are "e turne! awa" Efrom "our true entreL

Qur'an 09:5

,ones are !ormed &efore !lesh Main $rticle: )mbr"olog" in the Qur'an

*he Qur'an e#plains that the bones of a human embr"o are forme! first an! then covere! up with flesh Mo!ern scientific stu!ies an! research have shown that the bones an! muscles of a !eveloping fetus are forme! simultaneousl"

(16)

*hen We ma!e the sperm into a clot of congeale! bloo!H then of that clot We ma!e a Efoetus lumpH then we ma!e out of that lump bones then Enot an! clothe! the bones with fleshH then we !evelope! out of it another creature (o blesse! be $llah, the best to create

Qur'an 0:+2

Source and Purity of Mil( Main $rticle: Qur'an an! Milk

*he Qur'an states that milk is pro!uce!, in the bo!", somewhere between e#cretions an! bloo! *he mammar" glan!s, where milk is pro!uce! an! store!, are nowhere near the

intestines which is where e#crement is store! Man" kin!s of cattle an! goat milk nee!s processing or pasteuriBation before the" can safel" be consume!H the milk is often infecte!

with bacteria an! other micro-organisms $ significant number of humans are lactose intolerant an! unable to !igest milk without e#periencing ab!ominal bloating an! cramps, flatulence, !iarrhea, nausea, or vomiting *his makes the Qur'anic claim that milk is 'pure' an! 'agreeable' to those who !rink it !ubious

$n! veril" in cattle Etoo will "e fin! an instructive sign From what is within their bo!ies

&et#een excretions and &lood, We pro!uce, for "our !rink, milk, pure and agreea&le to

those who !rink it Qur'an +5:55

Geology and Meteorology

$he Earth is !lat

Main $rticle: Flat )arth an! the Qur'an

!acing $o#ard Mecca

*he Qur'an tells all Muslims to face in the !irection of Mecca when the" pra" 8owever, this woul! onl" be possible on a flat )arth because it is not possible to bow !own towar!s the !irection of Mecca when "ou are on the opposite si!e of the earth *he author here

presupposes a small worl!, local to $rabia, that is flat ?nl" in that worl! view can people ever"where face Mecca

From whencesoever *hou startest forth, turn *h" face in the !irection of the sacre! MosAueH that is in!ee! the truth from the 4or! $n! $llah is not unmin!ful of what "e !o

Qur'an :+29

Earth is Spread 0ut and !lat

*he author of the Qur'an mentions to his au!ience that the earth is 'sprea! out' an! la"e! flat like a carpet sprea! on the groun!

$n! at the )arth, how it is sprea! outL Qur'an 77:;

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*he Qur'anic commentator al-Jalala"n in his *asfir agrees with this un!erstan!ing of the verse sa"ing that most scholars at his time agree that the earth is flat an! not spherical

$n! the earth, how it was lai! out flatL, an! thus infer from this the power of o!, e#alte! be 8e, an! 8is ?nenessL *he commencing with the Nmention ofO camels is because the" are closer in contact with it Nthe earthO than an" other NanimalO $s for 8is wor!s sutihat, 'lai! out flat', this on a literal rea!ing suggests that the earth is flat6 #hich is the opinion of most of

the scholars of the Nreveale!O 4aw, an! not a sphere as astronomers 3ahl al.hay'a4 have it,

even if this NlatterO !oes not contra!ict an" of the pillars of the 4aw *afsir al-Jalala"n

Earth is "i(e a Couch

*he earth is !escribe! as a couch, flat an! lai! out for people to la" upon

Who has ma!e the earth "our couch, an! the heavens "our !omeH an! sent !own rain from the heavensH an! brought forth therewith Fruits for "our sustenanceH then set not up rivals unto $llah when "e know Ethe truth

Qur'an :

Ibn-@athir in his *afsir agrees with this interpretation that the earth is flat an! comfortable like a be!

who has ma!e the earth as flat an! comfortable as a be! an! place! upon it mountains stan!ing firm E*afsir Ibn @athir E/art +

Ibn-@athir

Earth is "i(e a Carpet

*he earth is !escribe! like a carpet, completel" flat an! sprea! out on the groun! an! not rolle! up for storage

8e Who has, ma!e for "ou the earth li(e a carpet spread outH has enable! "ou to go about

therein b" roa!s Ean! channelsH Qur'an ;:30

8e Who has, ma!e for "ou the earth li(e a carpet spread outH has enable! "ou to go about therein b" roa!s Ean! channelsH an! has sent !own water from the sk"G With it have We pro!uce! !iverse pairs of plants each separate from the others

Qur'an 20:+;

Earth is a 5ide Plain

*he author of the Qur'an sees the earth as a wi!e plain or e#panse *his is often likene! to a flat be!, as some translators put it $gain, the author seems unaware of the curvature of the earth or the fact that it is a sphere

8ave We not ma!e the earth as a wi!e e#panse, Qur'an 7:5

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*he Qur'an !escribes a time in the future when mountains will be remove! leaving the earth smooth an! level *his !escription assumes the earth is alrea!" flat an! level with onl" the mountains giving it shape *he author here appears to have no knowle!ge that the earth is curve! an! not level

?ne 1a" We shall remove the mountains, an! thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, an! We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out an" one of them

Qur'an +7:2

*he" ask thee concerning the Mountains: sa" GM" 4or! will uproot them an! scatter them as !ustH 8e will leave them as plains smooth and levelH =othing crooke! or curve! wilt thou

see in their place Qur'an ;:+;3

Earth has Seven Atmospheric "ayers Main $rticle: )arth Ma!e of (even 4a"ers

(ome Muslim commentators an! apologists believe the Qur'an !escribes the la"ers of the earth's atmosphere when it refers to the firmament an! it's likeness on earth 8owever, scientists have !etermine! that there are five principal la"ers in the atmosphere an! not seven

$llah is 8e Who reate! seven firmaments an! of the earth a similar num&er *hrough the

mi!st of them Eall !escen!s 8is comman!: that "e ma" know that $llah has power over all things, an! that $llah comprehen!s all things In E8is @nowle!geG

Qur'an 53:+

$he Earth does not Rotate

*he author of the Qur'an repeats a common view of the th_{centur" that the earth was a fi#e!}

an! un-moving ob%ect with the stars, sun, an! moon revolving aroun! it *he author appears to be unaware that the earth is rotating aroun! its a#is an! moving through space aroun! the sun

Is not 8e Ebetter than "our go!s Who has ma!e the earth as a fixed a&ode, an! has place! rivers in its mi!st, an! has place! firm mountains therein, an! has set a barrier between the two seas Eof salt an! sweet water Is there an" ilah Ego! with $llahL =a", but most of them know not

Qur'an :5+

EIs not 8e Who has ma!e the earth as a fi#e! abo!e, meaning, sta&le and stationary6 so

that it does not move or convulse, because if it were to !o so, it woul! not be a goo! place

for people to live on >ut b" 8is grace an! merc", 8e has ma!e it smooth an! calm, an! it is not shaken or move!

*he omman! to praise $llah an! sen! >lessings on 8is Messengers *afsir Ibn @athir

Permanent ,arrier &et#een !resh and Salt 5ater Main $rticle: Meeting of Fresh an! (alt Water in the Quran

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When a fresh water river flows into the sea or ocean, there is a transition region in between *his transition region is calle! an estuar" where the fresh water remains temporaril"

separate! from the salt water 8owever, this separation is not absolute Ethus cannot be

!escribe! as a GbarrierG, is not permanent, an! the !ifferent salinit" levels between the two bo!ies of water eventuall" homogeniBe *he Qur'an however erroneousl" sa"s that the

seperation between the two t"pes of water is absolute an! permanent

It is 8e Who has let free the two bo!ies of flowing water: ?ne palatable an! sweet, an! the other salt an! bitterH "et has 8e ma!e a barrier between them, a partition that is for&idden to &e passed

Qur'an 3:30

Mountains Prevent Earth1ua(es Main $rticle: *he Qur'an an! Mountains

Mo!ern geolog" has !iscovere! that large plates in the crust of the earth are responsible for the formation of mountains alle! /late tectonic these massive plates meet an! the pressure between them pushes up the crust forming mountains but also causing earthAuakes an! faults

the Qur'an propagates the i!ea that mountains are crucial in stabiliBing the earth when, in fact, the earth woul! be much more stable an! have less earthAuakes if mountains !i! not e#it $n! 8e has set up on the earth mountains stan!ing firm, lest it shoul! shake with "ouH an! rivers an! roa!sH that "e ma" gui!e "ourselves

Qur'an +5:+3

Mountains Cast into the Earth

Mountains are usuall" forme! through the movement of lithosphere plates *he" were not thrown !own into the earth

$n! 8e hath cast into the earth firm hills that it Auake not with "ou, an! streams an! roa!s that "e ma" fin! a wa"

Qur'an +5:+3

Chest Contracts #ith Altitude

Main $rticle: Qur'an 1escribes $ltitu!e (ickness

*his verse sa"s that "our chest cavit" gets smaller with higher altitu!e when in realit" the opposite is true

*hose whom $llah Ein 8is plan willeth to gui!e,- 8e openeth their breast to IslamH those whom 8e willeth to leave stra"ing,- 8e maketh their breast close an! constricte!, as if the" ha! to climb up to the skies: thus !oth $llah Eheap the penalt" on those who refuse to believe

Qur'an 5:+3

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Main $rticle: $cci!ents an! =atural 1isasters in the Muslim Worl!

(ome of the highest !eath tolls from natural !isasters in the last !eca!e were in Muslim countries In fact, natural !isasters !o not !ifferentiate between Muslim or non-Muslim nations nor are the" controlle! b" a !ivine being )arth Auakes are e#tremel" common along tectonic fault lines an! are not a punishment for human behavior but the b"pro!uct of natural forces *he Qur'anic author perpetuates an unscientific un!erstan!ing of his phenomena in there verses

1o then those who !evise evil Eplots feel secure that $llah will not cause the earth to

swallow them up, or that the Wrath will not seiBe them from !irections the" little perceiveL Qur'an +5:23

>ut the" !enie! him, an! the !rea!ful earthAuake took them, an! morning foun! them prostrate in their !welling place

Qur'an 9:0

urricanes and ,li77ards are a Punishment from God Main $rticle: $cci!ents an! =atural 1isasters in the Muslim Worl!

*wo of the !ea!liest bliBBar!s in histor" happene! in Muslim countries 8owever, the Qur'an regar!s those natural !isasters as violent punishment from o! Weather patterns follow pre!ictable patterns an! are not controlle! b" a !ivine being

1o "e then feel secure that 8e will not cause "ou to be swallowe! up beneath the earth when "e are on lan!, or that 8e will not sen! against "ou a violent torna!o Ewith showers of stones so that "e shall fin! no one to carr" out "our affairs for "ou

Qur'an +:57

Rain#ater is Pure

*he Qur'an sa"s rainwater is pure, though in some in!ustrial areas rainwater can contain significant amounts of pollution an! aci!it" alle! aci! rain this t"pe of rain causes harmful effects on plants, aAuatic animals an! buil!ings

$n! 8e it is Who sen!s the win!s as goo! news before 8is merc"H an! We sen! !own pure water from the clou!,

Qur'an 3:27

+o Evaporation in 5ater Cycle Main $rticle: Water "cle in the Qur'an

)ver" verse about rain in the Qur'an implies that rain comes either !irectl" from the sk" or from $llah 8owever evaporation of water into the air is conspicuousl" never mentione! *hat sen!s !own Efrom time to time rain from the sk" in !ue measureH- an! We raise to life therewith a lan! that is !ea!H even so will "e be raise! Efrom the !ea!

(21)

ail Comes from Mountains in the S(y

8ail forms in cumulonimbus clou!s when super-coole! water !roplets freeBe 8owever, the Qur'an mistakenl" ascribe! the formation of hail to invisible mountains in the sk"

(eest thou not that $llah makes the clou!s move gentl", then %oins them together, then makes them into a heapL - then wilt thou see rain issue forth from their mi!st $n! e sends do#n

from the s(y mountain masses 3of clouds4 #herein is hail 8e strikes therewith whom 8e

pleases an! 8e turns it awa" from whom 8e pleases, the vivi! flash of 8is lightning well-nigh blin!s the sight

Qur'an 2:20

$hunder is an Angel

*he Qur'anic author was superstitious about thun!er an! imagine! this natural phenomena as an angel

$n! the thun!er !eclares 8is glor" with 8is praise, an! the angels too for awe of 8imH an! 8e sen!s the thun!erbolts an! smites with them whom 8e pleases, "et the" !ispute

concerning $llah, an! 8e is might" in prowess Qur'an +0:+0

Muslim sources, which e#plain this verse clearl", in!icate that the author of the Qur'an believe! that thun!er was not an impersonal natural phenomenon, but an angel:

E*he thun!er h"mneth 8is praise b" 8is comman!H it is an angelH it is also sai!: it is the

voice of the sk" Ean! Eso !o the angels an! also the angels h"mn 8is praise Efor awe of 8im the angels have awe towar!s $llah E8e launcheth the thun!er bolts ie fire Ean! smiteth with them whom 8e will 8e !estro"s b" means of fire whoever 8e will, referring here to Ca"! Ibn Qa"s whom $llah !estro"e! b" fire, along with his frien! U$mir Ibn al-*ufa"l who was kille! as a result of being stabbe! in his waist Ewhile the" !ispute Ein !oubt concerning $llah while the" !ispute with Muhamma! Epbuh concerning the .eligion of $llah, Ean! 8e is might" in wrath 8is chastisement is severe

*afsir Ibn-$bbas

8oology

,ees Eat !ruit

>ees fee! on nectar an! pollen 8owever, the Qur'an relates that bees consume fruit $n! th" 4or! taught the >ee to buil! its cells in hills, on trees, an! in Emen's habitationsH

$hen to eat of all the fruits 3of the earth4, an! fin! with skill the spacious paths of its 4or!:

there issues from within their bo!ies a !rink of var"ing colors, wherein is healing for men: veril" in this is a (ign for those who give thought

Qur'an +5:57-59

(22)

$nts t"picall" communicate with each other using pheromone which are a chemical signal While scientists have also !iscovere! that ants make some noises, nothing has ever in!icate! that the brains of ants coul! pro!uce such comple# communication as is !epicte! in the

Quranic stor" of (olomon an! the ants 8owever, the Qur'an tells us that not onl" !oes an ant warn his fellow ants of the approach of a large arm" of humans, but it recogniBes one of the humans as (olomon 8ow an ant coul! even see that far or have known the i!entif" of (olomon is never e#plaine! *his account of a talking ant is clearl" a legen! an! not scientific

$t length, when the" came to a Elowl" valle" of ants, one of the ants sai!: G? "e ants, get into "our habitations, lest (olomon an! his hosts crush "ou Eun!er foot without knowing itG Qur'an :+7

orses Created as $ransportation

It took thousan!s of "ears of !omestication an! cross-bree!ing before horses were

!omesticate! appro#imatel" 2,;;; "ears ago in )ast )urope an! entral $sia /rior to this, horses were wil! animals though the Qur'an neglects to mention this important fact )ven to!a" feral horses are !escen!ants of once !omesticate! horses that aren't tame! or use! for human transportation

$n! E8e has create! horses, mules, an! !onke"s, for "ou to ri!e an! use for showH an! 8e has create! Eother things of which "e have no knowle!ge

Qur'an +5:7

,ird !light is a Miracle

*o!a", engineers an! scientists are well aware of the aero!"namic properties of a bir!'s wing It functions b" creating a !ifference in the air pressure between the lower an! upper part of the wing an! this creates lift that pushes the bir! upwar! *he wings of bir!s evolve! over millions of "ears to acAuire this feature *he author of the Qur'an, however, is unaware of these scientific !etails an! sa"s that 'nothing' hol!s up the bir! e#cept the miraculous power of $llah

1o the" not look at the bir!s, hel! poise! in the mi!st of Ethe air an! the sk"L =othing hol!s them up but Ethe power of $llah eril" in this are signs for those who believe

Qur'an +5:9

Classification of Creatures

*he Qur'an observes that creatures of the !esert move using their bellies Esnake or two legs Ehuman or four legs Ecows, goats, etc 8owever, the author fails to inclu!e insects such as millipe!es that have a thousan! legs

$n! $llah has create! every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their belliesH some that walk on two legsH an! some that walk on four $llah creates what 8e wills

for veril" $llah has power over all things Qur'an 2:23

(23)

0nly Eight $ypes of Cattle

While the Qur'an states that there are eight kin!s of cattle, In fact there are more than a !oBen kin!s of cattle *he wor! GcattleG in 09:5 is al-ana'ami, meaning pasturing Eie graBing

animals *he wor! aBwa%in EGkin!sG in the translation of 09:5 below generall" means mate or member of a pair Qur'an 5:+20-+22 clarifies that these refer to male an! female pairs of sheep, goats, o#es an! camels *his neglects other t"pes of cattle from the regions outsi!e of $rabia such as rein!eer, which are important to people in northern latitu!es

8e create! "ou from one being, then from that Ebeing 8e ma!e its mateH an! 8e hath provi!e! for "ou of cattle eight (inds 8e create! "ou in the wombs of "our mothers,

creation after creation, in a threefol! gloom (uch is $llah, "our 4or! 8is is the (overeignt" *here is no $llah save 8im 8ow then are "e turne! awa"

Qur'an 09:5

,irth efects and *mperfections

*he author of the Qur'an states that there are no flaws in an"thing *he author fails to mention the numerous !efects an! imperfections in all species

Who hath create! seven heavens in harmon" *hou EMuhamma! canst see no fault in the >eneficent ?ne's creationH then look again: anst thou see an" flawL

Qur'an 5:0

Poisonous Sea "ife is Edi&le

$ number of sea creatures are !ea!l" an! fatal to humans if consume! *his inclu!es the puffer fish, poison !art frong, marble! cone snail, blue ringe! octopus an! stonefish *he

Qur'an, however, makes no prohibition against eating these t"pes of animals even though it goes into length" !etail forbi!!ing the consumption of pigs, which are safe for humans to eat 4awful to "ou is the pursuit of water-game an! its use for foo!,- for the benefit of "ourselves an! those who travelH but forbi!!en is the pursuit of lan!-gameH- as long as "e are in the sacre! precincts or in pilgrim garb $n! fear $llah, to Whom "e shall be gathere! back Qur'an 3:95

,irds !ight Elephants

>ir!s an! elephants !on't fight each other In fact, $frican elephants an! bir!s have a

s"mbiotic relationship where the bir!s eat bugs an! lice off of elephants N5O *he Qur'an here !epicts a fanciful stor" of bir!s being !irecte! to attack elephants an! their ri!ers !uring a battle

(ees thou not how $llah !ealt with the companions of the elephantsL 1i! 8e not make their plan into misgui!anceL $n! he sent against them flights of bir!s

Qur'an +;3:+-0 Sinful Animals

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$ccor!ing to the Qur'an, all animals will be %u!ge! for their sins *his !espite the fact that animals are not as self-aware as humans an! operate almost e#clusivel" on instinct

*here is not an animal Ethat lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but Eforms part of communities like "ou =othing have we omitte! from the >ook, an! the" Eall shall be gathere! to their 4or! in the en!

Qur'an 5:07

istory

5all of *ron &et#een $#o Mountains Main $rticle: 1hul-Qarna"n

*he author of the Qur'an repeats a legen!ar" hristian stor" of $le#an!er the reat as a great king who helps a tribe of people buil! a massive wall of iron between two mountains )ven with satellites an! near universal e#ploration of the worl!, no archaeologist has ever foun! even a trace of such a massive structure

G>ring me blocks of ironG $t length, when he ha! filled up the space &et#een the t#o

steep mountain.sides, 8e sai!, G>low Ewith "our bellowsG *hen, when he ha! ma!e it Ere!

as fire, he sai!: G>ring me, that I ma" pour over it, molten lea!G *hus were the" ma!e powerless to scale it or to !ig through it

Qur'an +7:95-9

Christians 5orship Mary as Part of the $rinity

hristians have never worshipe! Mar" as part of the *rinit" *he author of the Qur'an seems to be mistaken in his un!erstan!ing of the !octrine of the *rinit" an! the theolog" of

hristians throughout histor"

$n! behol! $llah will sa": G? Jesus the son of Mar" 1i!st thou sa" unto men, worship me an! m" mother as go!s in !erogation of $llah'LG 8e will sa": Glor" to *hee never coul! I sa" what I ha! no right Eto sa" 8a! I sai! such a thing, thou woul!st in!ee! have known it *hou knowest what is in m" heart, *hou I know not what is in *hine For *hou knowest in full all that is hi!!en

Qur'an 3:++5

+oah's Ar( holds Every Species

*he legen! of =oah an! the $rk states that two of each kin! of animal was place! on an ark 8owever, there are over a hun!re! thousan! species of animals inclu!ing penguins, polar bears, koala bears, an! kangaroos that live sprea! across the entire planet an! in !ifferent

climates an! reAuiring specialiBe! !iets *here is no wa" such an event coul! have occurre! $t length, behol! there came ?ur comman!, an! the fountains of the earth gushe! forth We sai!: G)mbark therein, of each kin! two, male an! female, an! "our famil" - e#cept those

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against whom the wor! has alrea!" gone forth,- an! the >elieversG but onl" a few believe! with him

Qur'an ++:2;

Pharaoh or Pharaohs

eographicall", the optic lan! of )g"pt was a!%acent to $rabia *hus, most $rabs were aware of the preservation metho! applie! b" the ancient )g"ptian to their /haraohs *here were so man" /haraohs ranging from numerous !"nasties, man" of them were preserve! intact >ut the Qur'an merel" narrate! one /haraoh that was preserve!

*his !a" shall We save thee in the bo!", that thou ma"est be a sign to those who come after thee but veril", man" among mankin! are hee!less of ?ur (ignsG

Qur'an +;:9

9e#s call E7ra the Son of God

8istoricall", Ju!aism has been a strict form of monotheism >ut the author of the Qur'an accuses Jews of pol"theism b" stating that the" call 6Bair E)Bra the son of o! in the same wa" that hristians see Jesus as the son of o! *he author of the Qur'an seems to be

unaware of the !ifferent theological implications of these two terms between Ju!aism an! hristianit"

*he Jews call '6Bair a son of $llah, an! the hristians call hrist the son of $llah *hat is a sa"ing from their mouthH Ein this the" but imitate what the unbelievers of ol! use! to sa" $llah's curse be on them: how the" are !elu!e! awa" from the *ruth

Qur'an 9:0;

Supernatural estruction of Cities

*he Qur'an author thought that outsi!e the vicinit" of $rabia there were cities an! tribes !estro"e! b" o! 8e acAuire! this information through hearsa" from $rabian folklore as well as Jewish an! hristian legen!s *hose cities an! tribes probabl" were !estro"e! b" natural !isasters, famine, wars, migration or neglect

1o the" not travel through the earth an! see what was the )n! of those before themL *he" were more numerous than these an! superior in strength an! in the traces Ethe" have left in the lan!: Det all that the" accomplishe! was of no profit to them

Qur'an 2;:7

umans can Sleep for $hree undred :ears

*he ol!est verifie! human life has been a little over +; "ears 8umans cannot live without foo! an! water for more than a few !a"s 8owever, the Qur'an incorporate! a m"th from the 3th_{centur" legen!s of the (even (leepers of )phesus who sleep in a cave for over 0;; "ears}

an! then miraculousl" awaken in perfect health *here is no historical evi!ence that this ever happene! or coul! even been scientificall" possible

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Qur'an +7:++

umans can "ive for a $housand :ears

*he ol!est verifie! human life has been a little over +; "ears >ase! on fossil recor!s an! testing on human remains, anthropologists have conclu!e! that human life spans are

increasing, not !ecreasing =evertheless, the Qur'an repeats the unsubstantiate! m"th that =oah live! for almost +,;;; "ears

We Eonce sent =oah to his people, an! he tarrie! among them a thousand years less fifty:

but the 1eluge overwhelme! them while the" Epersiste! in sin Qur'an 9:+2

+on.Existent Mos1ue in 9erusalem

Muslims claim that $l-$Asa mosAue is mentione! in the Qur'an as the furthest mosAue, even though there was obviousl" no mosAue in Jerusalem !uring Muhamma!'s time

lor" to E$llah Who !i! take 8is servant for a Journe" b" night from the (acre! MosAue to the farthest MosAue, whose precincts We !i! bless,- in or!er that We might show him some of ?ur (igns: for 8e is the ?ne Who heareth an! seeth Eall things

Qur'an +:+

Sociology

!asting and Prayer Re1uirements at the Poles Main $rticle: *he .ama!an /ole /ara!o#

Muhamma! was apparentl" unfamiliar with polar regions in which there are si# months without sunlight an! si# months perpetual night !uring winter an! summer *he Qur'an claims that Muslims shoul! fast from sunrise till sunset, however this is arguabl" not observable b" an"one living in the polar regions

then complete "our fast *ill the night appearsH Qur'an :+7

$ similar issue e#ists for the five !ail" pra"ers $n"one living in the polar region woul! not be able to make a sunset or sunrise pra"er all "ear roun!

)stablish regular pra"ers - at the sun's !ecline till the !arkness of the night, an! the morning pra"er an! rea!ing: for the pra"er an! rea!ing in the morning carr" their testimon"

Qur'an +:7

People are Protected in Mecca Main $rticle: 8a%%

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*he Qur'an claims $llah has ma!e Mecca an! the @a'aba a place of safet" 8owever,

historicall" it has been attacke! an! seen battles numerous times Juha"man al-?ta"bi, $b!-$llah ibn al-Cuba"r, an! $bu *ahir al-Janabi kille! thousan!s of Muslim pilgrims in Mecca Moreover, DaBi! >in Muawi"a sent an arm" battalion to attack Mecca an! !esecrate! the @a'aba *he universal safet" of people in Mecca has no historical evi!ence supporting it .emember We ma!e the 8ouse a place of assembl" for men an! a place of safetyH an! take

"e the station of $braham as a place of pra"erH an! We covenante! with $braham an! Isma'il, that the" shoul! sanctif" M" 8ouse for those who compass it roun!, or use it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves Etherein in pra"er

Qur'an :+3

$llah ma!e the 2a'&a6 the Sacred ouse6 an asylum of security for men, as also the

(acre! Months, the animals for offerings, an! the garlan!s that mark them: *hat "e ma" know that $llah hath knowle!ge of what is in the heavens an! on earth an! that $llah is well acAuainte! with all things

Qur'an 3:9

+on.Muslims are eaf6 um&6 and ,lind Main $rticle: ol!en $ge

*he Qur'an calls non-believers G!eaf !umb an! blin!G 8owever all the technolog", me!icine, an! scientific a!vancements in the Muslim worl! are almost e#clusivel" purchase! from the non-Muslim countries omputers, television, space travel, helicopters, me!ia pla"ers,

nuclear bombs, cameras, satellites, birth control pills, vaccinations, telephones, ra!ios, light bulbs, microchips, games consoles, refrigerators, microwaves, plastic, aluminium, #-ra"s,

antibiotics, heart-transplants, the internet etc, were all invente! b" non-Muslims 1eaf, !umb, an! blin!, the" will not return Eto the path

Qur'an :+7

All Animals "ive in Communities

(ome animals such as the %aguar, leopar!, an! pan!a are well known for being solitar" creatures, rarel" meeting in pairs an! onl" to mate *he" !o not live in communities an! routinel" fight each other over territor"

*here is not an animal Ethat lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, &ut 3forms

part of4 communities li(e you =othing have we omitte! from the >ook, an! the" Eall shall

be gathere! to their 4or! in the en! Qur'an 5:07

Re1uirement to "earn in Ara&ic

*here are over 3,;;; languages an! !ialects in the worl!, with less than 2V of the worl!'s population being native $rabic speakers 8owever, it is incumbent upon Muslims to pra" in

$rabic, recite the Qur'an in $rabic, an! un!erstan! commentaries an! the tra!itions of

Muhamme! in $rabic We are left won!ering wh" an all-knowing being woul! not provi!e a more efficient wa" to sen! his message to all people on earth an! wh" he !oes not account for the immense !iversit" of languages

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We have ma!e it a Qur'an in $rabic, that "e ma" be able to un!erstan! Ean! learn wis!om Qur'an 20:0

Myths and "egendary $ales

umans $ransformed into Apes

*he Qur'an recor!s a miraculous event where (abbath breakers are transforme! into apes *his account seems to be a mere legen! an! has no basis in scientific fact

$n! well "e knew those amongst "ou who transgresse! in the matter of the (abbath: We sai! to them: G>e "e apes, !espise! an! re%ecte!G

Qur'an :53

$ri&e $rapped ,ehind a 5all Main $rticle: 1hul-Qarna"n

*he stor" of 1hul-Qarna"n sa"s that a tribe is trappe! behin! a massive wall of Iron

$ccor!ing to the Qur'an, these two beast tribes conceale! themselves behin! this metal wall an! will onl" be let free on the !a" of Ju!gement ?bviousl", no such wall has ever been foun! nor is there a tribe somewhere on earth trappe! behin! it

6ntil the og an! Magog Epeople are let through Etheir barrier, an! the" swiftl" swarm from ever" hill

Qur'an +:95

Supernatural !ood

Main $rticle: /arallelism >etween the Qur'an an! Ju!eo-hristian (criptures

*he Qur'an repeats a legen!ar" stor" of Mar" receiving foo! sent !own from heaven *here have never been an" scientificall" verifie! accounts of full" cooke! foo! falling from the sk" Jesus, son of Mar", sai!: ? $llah, 4or! of us Send do#n for us a ta&le spread #ith food

from heaven6 that it may &e a feast for us, for the first of us an! for the last of us, an! a

sign from *hee ive us sustenance, for *hou art the >est of (ustainers Qur'an 3:++3

A Stic( $ransforms into a Serpent

Main $rticle: /arallelism >etween the Qur'an an! Ju!eo-hristian (criptures

*he Quran repeats ancient Jewish m"ths about Moses turning his staff into a snake *hen EMoses threw his ro!, an! behol! it was a serpent, plain Efor all to see Qur'an :+;

Scientific Errors in the Quran