Comments about the Qur'an from various Scholars

Some Comments on the Literary Excellence and Inimitability of the Qur'an

... the Meccans still demanded of him a miracle, and with remarkable boldness and self confidence Mohammad appealed as a supreme confirmation of his mission to the Koran itself. Like all Arabs they were the connoisseurs of language and rhetoric. Well, then if the Koran were his own composition other men could rival it. Let them produce ten verses like it. If they could not (and it is obvious that they could not), them let them accept the Koran as an outstanding evident miracle.[1] (The well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb of the University of Oxford)

As a literary monument the Koran thus stands by itself, a production unique to the Arabic literature, having neither forerunners nor successors in its own idiom. Muslims of all ages are united in proclaiming the inimitability not only of its contents but also of its style.[2] (Well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb)

The influence of the Koran on the development of Arabic Literature has been incalculable, and exerted in many directions. Its ideas, its language, its rhymes pervade all subsequent literary works in greater or less measure. Its specific linguistic features were not emulated, either in the chancery prose of the next century or in the later prose writings, but it was at least partly due to the flexibility imparted by the Koran to the High Arabic idiom that the former could be so rapidly developed and adjusted to the new needs of the imperial government and an expanding society.[3] (Well-known Arabist Hamilton Gibb)

Whenever [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] was asked a miracle, as a proof of the authenticity of his mission, he quoted the composition of the Qur'an and its incomparable excellence as proof of its divine origin. And, in fact, even for those who are non-Muslims nothing is more marvellous than its language with such apprehensible plenitude and a grasping sonority… The ampleness of its syllables with a grandiose cadence and with a remarkable rhythm have been of much moment in the conversion of the most hostile and the most sceptic.[4] (From Paul Casanova's article, "L'Enseignement de I'Arabe au College de France" [The Arab Teaching at the College of France])

It [the Qur'an] is a literal revelation of Allah, dictated to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] by Gabriel, perfect in every letter. It is an ever-present miracle witnessing to itself and to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas], the Prophet of Allah. Its miraculous quality resides partly in its style, so perfect and lofty that neither men nor Jinn could produce a single chapter to compare with its briefest chapter, and partly in its content of teachings, prophecies about the future, and amazingly accurate information such as [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] could never have gathered of his own accord.[5] (From Harry Gaylord Dorman's book, Towards Understanding Islam)

All those who are acquainted with the Qur'an in Arabic agree in praising the beauty of this religious book; its grandeur of form is so sublime that no translation into any European language can allow us to appreciate it.[6] (From Edward Montet's Traduction Francaise du Coran [French Translation of the Qur'an])

The Qur'an in its original Arabic dress has a seductive beauty and charm of its own Couched in concise and exalted style, its brief pregnant sentences, often rhymed, possess an expressive force and explosive energy which it is extremely difficult to convey by literal word for word translation.[7] (From John Naish's book, The Wisdom of the Qur'an)

The Koran is universally allowed to be written with the utmost elegance and purity of language, in the dialect of Koreish, the most noble and polite of all Arabians… The style of the Qur'an is generally beautiful and fluent,… and in many places, specifically where the majesty and attributes of God are described, sublime and magnificent… He succeeded so well, and so strangely captivated the minds of his audience, that several of his opponents thought it the effect of witchcraft and enchantment.[8] (From George Sale's book, The Koran: The Preliminary Discourse)

A miracle of purity of style of wisdom and of truth.[9] (From Rev. R. Bosworth Smith's book, Mohammed and Mohammadanism)

It [the Qur'an] has a rhythm of peculiar beauty and a cadence that charms the ear. Many Christian Arabs speak of its style with warm admiration, and most Arabists acknowledge its excellence… indeed it may be affirmed that within the literature of the Arabs, wide and fecund as it is both in poetry and in elevated prose, there is nothing to compare with it.[10] (From Alfred Guillaume's book, Islam)

Some Comments on the Divine Nature of the Qur'an and Its Effect on People

On the whole we find in it a collection of wisdom which can be adopted by the most intelligent of men, the greatest of philosophers and the most skilful of politicians… But there is another proof of the Divinity of the Qur'an; it is the fact that it has been preserved intact through the ages since the time of its Revelation till the present day… Read and reread by the Muslim world, this book does not rouse in the faithful any weariness, it rather, through repetition, is more loved every day. It gives rise to a profound feeling of awe and respect in the one who reads it or listens to it… Therefore, above all, what caused the great and rapid diffusion of Islam was through the fact that this Book… was the book of Allah…[11] (From Laura Veccia Vaglieri's book, Apologie de I'Islamisme)

The Koran abounds in excellent moral suggestions and precepts, its composition is so fragmentary that we cannot turn to a single page without finding maxims of which all men must approve. This fragmentary construction yields texts, and mottoes, and rules complete in themselves, suitable for common men in any of the incidents of life.[12] (From John William Draper's book, A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe)

It must be acknowledged, too, that the Koran deserves the highest praise for its conceptions of the Divine nature in reference to the attributes of Power, knowledge and universal Providence and Unity-that its belief and trust in the one Allah of Heaven and Earth is deep and fervent-and that… it embodies much of the noble and deep moral earnestness, and sententious oracular wisdom, and has proved that there are elements in it on which mighty nations and conquering… Empires can be built up.[13] (From the preface of The Koran, translated from the Arabic by Rev. J. M. Rodwell)

Here, therefore, its merits as a literary production should perhaps not be measured by some preconceived maxims of subjective and aesthetic taste, but by the effects which it produced in [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] contemporaries and fellow countrymen. If it spoke so powerfully and convincingly to the hearts of his hearers as to weld hitherto centrifugal and antagonistic elements into one compact and well-organized body, animated by ideas far beyond those which had until now ruled the Arabian mind, then its eloquence was perfect, simply because it created a civilized nation out of savage tribes…[14] (A statement of Dr. Steingass, quoted in T. P. Hughes' Dictionary of Islam)

In making the present attempt… to produce something which might be accepted as echoing however faintly the sublime rhetoric of the Arabic Koran, I have been at pains to study the intricate and richly varied rhythms which-apart from the message itself-constitute the Koran's undeniable claim to rank amongst the greatest literary masterpieces of mankind… This very characteristic feature-"that inimitable symphony," as the believing Pickthall described his Holy Book…-has been almost totally ignored by previous translators; it is therefore not surprising that what they have wrought sounds dull and flat indeed in comparison with the splendidly decorated original.[15] (From Arthur J. Arberry's book, The Koran Interpreted)

A totally objective examination of it [the Qur'an] in the light of the modern knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has been already noted on repeated occasions. It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a man of [Prophet] Muhammad's [saas] time to have been the author of such statements on account of the state of knowledge in his day. Such considerations are part of what gives the Qur'anic Revelation its unique place, and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide an explanation which calls solely upon materialistic reasoning.[16] (Dr. Maurice Bucaille, former chief of the Surgical Clinic, University of Paris)

… [T]he Qur'an has invariably kept its place as the fundamental starting point… A creed so precise, … so accessible to the ordinary understanding might be expected to possess and does indeed possess a marvellous power of winning its way into the consciences of men.[17] (Edward Montet, a French intellectual)

... We have a book absolutely unique in its origin, in its preservation… on the Substantial authority of which no one has ever been able to cast a serious doubt.[18] (From Rev. Bosworth Smith's book, Muhammad and Muhammadanism)

… the Qur'an is explicit in the support of the freedom of conscience.[19] (From James Michener's article, "Islam: The Misunderstood Religion")

Sense of justice is one of the most wonderful ideals of Islam, because as I read in the Qur'an I find those dynamic principles of life, not mystic but practical ethics for the daily conduct of life suited to the whole world.[20] (From a lecture on "The Ideals of Islam" quoted in the book Speeches and Writings of Sarojini Naidu)

We must not be surprised to find the Qur'an the fountainhead of the sciences. Every subject connected with heaven or earth, human life, commerce and various trades are occasionally touched upon, and this gave rise to the production of numerous monographs forming commentaries on parts of the holy book. In this way the Qur'an was responsible for great discussions, and to it was indirectly due to the marvellous development of all branches of science in the Muslim world… This again not only affected the Arabs but also induced Jewish philosophers to treat metaphysical and religious questions after Arab methods. Finally, the way in which Christian scholasticism was fertilised by Arabian theosophy need not be further discussed.

Spiritual activity once aroused within Islamic bounds was not confined to theological speculations alone. Acquaintance with the philosophical, mathematical, astronomical and medical writings of the Greeks led to the pursuance of these studies. In the descriptive revelations [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] repeatedly calls attention to the movement of the heavenly bodies, as parts of the miracles of Allah forced into the service of man and therefore not to be worshipped. How successfully Moslem people of all races pursued the study of astronomy is shown by the fact that for centuries they were its principal supporters. Even now many Arabic names of stars and technical terms are in use. Medieval astronomers in Europe were pupils of the Arabs.

In the same manner the Qur'an gave an impetus to medical studies and recommended the contemplation and study of Nature in general.[21] (From Prof. Hartwig Hirschfeld's book, New Researches into the Composition and Exegesis of the Qur'an)

The Koran admittedly occupies an important position among the great religious books of the world. Though the youngest of the epoch-making works belonging to this class of literature, it yields to hardly any in the wonderful effect which it has produced on large masses of men. It has created an all but new phase of human thought and a fresh type of character. It first transformed a number of heterogeneous desert tribes of the Arabian peninsula into a nation of heroes, and then proceeded to create the vast politico-religious organizations of the Muhammadan world which are one of the great forces with which Europe and the East have to reckon today.[22] (From G. Margoliouth's introduction to The Koran, translated from the Arabic by Rev. J. M. Rodwell)

However often we turn to it [the Qur'an]…, it soon attracts, astounds, and in the end enforces our reverence… Its style, in accordance with its contents and aim is stern, grand, terrible-ever and anon truly sublime-Thus this book will go on exercising through all ages a most potent influence.[23] (A saying of Goethe quoted in T. P. Hughes' book, Dictionary of Islam)

SOME SCIENTISTS' COMMENTS REGARDING THE QUR'AN

… There are too many accuracies [in the Qur'an] and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.[24] (Dr. T. V. N. Persaud, Professor of Anatomy, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obstetrics, Gynecology, Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba)

… It follows, I think, that not only there is no conflict between genetics and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches, that there exist statements in the Quran shown centuries later to be valid, which support knowledge in the Quran having been derived from God.[25] (Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Molecular and Human Genetics)

As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and developmental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Quran. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were described… So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he [Prophet Muhammad (saas)] was able to write.[26] (Dr. E. Marshall Johnson, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University)

In a relatively few aayahs [Quranic verses] is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development, such as classification, terminology, and description, existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this description antedates by many centuries the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature.[27] (Gerald C. Goeringer, Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at Georgetown University)

It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'an about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] from God, or Allah, because most of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] must have been a messenger of God, or Allah.[28] (Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto. Distinguished embryologist and the author of several medical textbooks)

... Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Qur'an and Sunnah. The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and conforms with present embryological knowledge.[29] (Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto)

The intensive studies of the Qur'an and Hadith in the last four years have revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D... the descriptions in the Qur'an cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century... [30] (Dr. Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Toronto)

I think it is almost impossible that he [Prophet Muhammad (saas)] could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years with very complicated and advanced technological methods that this is the case… Somebody who did not know something about nuclear physics 1400 years ago could not, I think, be in a position to find out from his own mind for instance that the earth and the heavens had the same origin, or many others of the questions that we have discussed here.[31] (Alfred Kroner, Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany. One of the world's most famous geologists)

If you combine all these and you combine all these statements that are being made in the Qur'an in terms that relate to the earth and the formation of the earth and science in general, you can basically say that statements made there in many ways are true, they can now be confirmed by scientific methods... And that many of the statements made in there at that time could not be proven, but that modern scientific methods are now in a position to prove what [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] said 1400 years ago.[32] (Alfred Kroner, Professor of the Department of Geosciences, University of Mainz, Germany)

I say, I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in Qur'an, and for us modern astronomers have been studying very small piece of the universe. We have concentrated our efforts for understanding of very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts of the sky without thinking about the whole universe. So by reading Qur'an and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe.[33] (Professor Yushidi Kusan, Director of the Tokyo Observatory, Tokyo, Japan)

Certainly, I would like to leave it at that, that what we have seen is remarkable, it may or may not admit of scientific explanation, there may well have to be something beyond what we understand as ordinary human experience to account for the writings that we have seen.[34] (Professor Armstrong, Professor of Astronomy serving with NASA)

It is difficult to imagine that this type of knowledge was existing at that time, around 1400 years back. May be some of the things they have simple idea about, but to describe those things in great detail is very difficult. So this is definitely not simple human knowledge. A normal human being cannot explain this phenomenon in that much detail. So, I thought the information must have come from a supernatural source.[35] (Prof. Dorja Rao, Professor of Marine Geology at King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia)

… I believe that everything mentioned in the Qur'an 1400 years ago is true and can be proven by scientific methods… This must be by inspiration from God, or Allah, Who knows all science. Thus, I believe that this is the time to say: "There is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."[36] (Prof. Tejatat Tejasen, Head of the Department of Anatomy and Embryology, University of Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand)

The Qur'an came several centuries ago, confirming what we discovered. This indicates that the Qur'an is the word of God.283 (Prof. Joly Sumson, Professor in Gynecology and Obstetrics)

It [the Qur'an] discusses the past, the recent period, and the future. I do not know the cultural level of the people in the period of [Prophet] Muhammad [saas] and I do not know their scientific level. If it is as we know about the low scientific level in this ancient period, and the absence of technology, then there is no doubt that what we are reading nowadays in the Qur'an is a light from God. He inspired it in [Prophet] Muhammad [saas]. I had made research into the early history of civilization in the Middle East in order to know if there was such perfect information as this. If there was no other information like the Qur'anic information in that ancient period, this strengthens the faith that God sent [Prophet] Muhammad [Prophet]; He sent to him a little amount from His large science, which we have discovered only in recent time. We are hoping for continuous dialogue in the subject of science with the Qur'an in the field of geology.[37] (Prof. Palmar, one of the major scientists in geology in the USA)

After a discussion about the function of mountains for the fixing of the earth:

I believe that this [the Qur'an's information] is very very strange, it is nearly impossible, I believe truly that if what you are saying is right, thus, this book [the Qur'an] is very valuable to be noticed, I agree with you.[38] (Professor Syawda, a Japanese scientist famous in Japan and internationally in the field of oceanic geology.)

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The Inimitability of the Qur'an

We have so far considered the miraculous characteristics of the Qur'an from the scientific and historical points of view. In addition to these, the Qur'an also possesses an astounding, inimitable style from the literary perspective.
It first needs to be stated that the exposition in the Qur'an addresses all human groupings from all ages. No matter what the reader's education and cultural level, the Qur'an is written in a clear, comprehensible language which can be understood by everyone. In one verse, Allah reveals the following about the Qur'an:

We have made the Qur'an easy to remember… (Qur'an, 54:22)

Despite having such an easily comprehensible style, it has never been possible to imitate the Qur'an from any point of view. Some of the verses in which Allah draws attention to the inimitable nature of the Qur'an are:

If you have doubts about what We have sent down to Our servant, produce another sura equal to it, and call your witnesses, besides Allah, if you are telling the truth. (Qur'an, 2:23)

Do they say, "He has invented it"? Say: "Then produce a sura like it and call on anyone you can besides Allah if you are telling the truth." (Qur'an, 10:38)

One of the reasons that the Qur'an is described as miraculous stems from the fact that, as emphasized in the verses above, nothing like it can ever be written by human endeavour: The greater the scale of that impossibility, the greater the size of the miracle which we see before our very eyes. Therefore, the fact that the style of the Qur'an has been incapable of imitation by even one out of the billions of people down the centuries is one of the proofs of its miraculous nature. In his book, The Construction of the Bible and the Qur'an, F. F. Arbuthnot makes the following comment about the Qur'an:

From the literary point of view, the Koran is regarded as a specimen of the purest Arabic, written on half poetry and half prose. It has been said that in some cases grammarians have adopted their rules to agree with certain phrases and expressions used in it, and that though several attempts have been made to produce a work equal to it as far elegant writing is concerned, none has as yet succeeded.[1]

The words employed in the Qur'an are exceedingly special, both in terms of meaning and also of fluency and effect of style. However, those who are unwilling to believe that the Qur'an is a holy book in which Allah has revealed His commandments and prohibitions, have come up with a variety of excuses as to why they should not follow it. They have attempted to take refuge from its beauty by turning to denial. Allah reveals the following about the deniers' descriptions of the Qur'an:

We did not teach him poetry nor would it be right for him. It is simply a reminder and a clear Qur'an so that you may warn those who are truly alive and so that the Word may be carried out against the disbelievers. (Qur'an, 36:69-70)

The Superior Nature of the Rhyming Scheme in the Qur'an

Another of the elements which make the Qur'an inimitable stems from its literary structure. Despite being in Arabic, the Qur'an bears no similarity to the forms used in Arabic literature.

The rhyming system in the Qur'an is known as "rhymed prose" and linguists describe the use of this rhyme in the Qur'an as a miracle. In his book Science Miracles, a work prepared to demonstrate that the Qur'an is a linguistic miracle, the well-known British scientist Professor Adel M. A. Abbas carried out a wide-ranging study of the letters and rhyming scheme used in the Qur'an by means of graphics and diagrams. Some rather striking facts were established in this book with regard to the rhyming system in the Qur'an.

As we know, 29 Suras in the Qur'an begin with one or more symbolic letters. These letters are known as "muqatta'ah-letters" or "initial letters." Fourteen of the 29 letters in Arabic comprise these initial letters: Qaf, Sad, Ta, Ha, Ya, Sin, Alif, Lam, Mim, Kaf, 'Ayn, Nun, Ra, Ha.

Of these letters, when we look at the use of the letter "Nun" in Surat al-Qalam we see rhyming with the letter "Nun" in 88.8% of the verses. 84.6% of Surat ash-Shu'ara', 90.32% of Surat an-Naml and 92.05% of Surat al-Qasas are rhymed with "Nun."

When applying these studies to the whole Qur'an, 50.08% is rhymed with the letter "Nun." To put it another way, more than half the verses in the Qur'an end with the letter "Nun." In no literary work of comparable length has it been possible to rhyme with a single sound in more than half the text. This applies to all languages, not just to Arabic.

Distribution of verses ending with the letter "Nun" from those suras beginning with initial letters:

Verse number	Name of Sura	Number of letter “Nun”
2	al-Baqara	196
3	al ‘Imran	121
7	al-A‘raf	193
10	Yunus	98
11	Hud	56
12	Yusuf	93
13	ar-Ra‘d	5
14	İbrahim	6
15	al-Hijr	81
19	Maryam	5
20	Ta Ha	0
26	ash-Shu‘ara’	192
27	an-Naml	84
28	al-Qasas	81
29	al-‘Ankabut	59
30	ar-Rum	54
31	Luqman	7
32	as-Sajda	27
36	Ya Sin	71
38	Sâd	18
40	Ghafir	32
41	Fussilat	30
42	ash-Shura	6
43	az-Zukhruf	78
44	ad-Dukhan	44
45	al-Ghashiyya	30
46	al-Ahqaf	26
50	Qaf	0
68	al-Qalam	42
The above table shows the distribution of verses ending with the letter “Nun” in those Suras beginning with initial (symbolic) letters.

When a general examination of the rhyme scheme in the Qur'an is made, we see that around 80% of the rhymes consist of just three sounds (n, m, a) consisting of the letters Alif, Mim, Ya and Nun.[2] Excluding the letter "Nun," 30% of the verses are rhymed with "Mim," "Alif" or "Ya."

The four most frequently employed sounds in rhymes:

Letter					Total
Sounds	a	a	m	n
Verse number	949	246	666	3123	4984
Proportion (%)	15.22	3.94	10.68	50.03	79.92
The above table shows the proportional distribution of the four letters comprising 79.92% of the rhyme system in the Qur’an.

The following verses are just a few of the many examples of rhymes using these four letters.

Surat al-Muminun

1. Qad aflaha almu/minoona 2. Allatheena hum fee salatihim khashiAAoona 3. Waallatheena hum AAani allaghwi muAAridoona 4. Waallatheena hum lilzzakati faAAiloona 5. Waallatheena hum lifuroojihim hafithoona 6. ... aw ma malakat aymanuhum fa-innahum ghayru maloomeena 7. ... faola-ika humu alAAadoona 8. Waallatheena hum li-amanatihim waAAahdihim raAAoona 9. Waallatheena hum AAala salawatihim yuhafithoona 10. Ola-ika humu alwarithoona 11. ... hum feeha khalidoona 12. Walaqad khalaqna al-insana min sulalatin min teenin 13. Thumma jaAAalnahu nutfatan fee qararin makeenin 14. ... fatabaraka Allahu ahsanu alkhaliqeena 15. Thumma innakum baAAda thalika lamayyitoona 16. Thumma innakum yawma alqiyamati tubAAathoona 17. ... wama kunna AAani alkhalqi ghafileena

Surat an-Nahl 1. ... wataAAala AAamma yushrikoona 2. ... annahu la ilaha illa ana faittaqooni 3. ... taAAala AAamma yushrikoona 4. ... fa-itha huwa khaseemun mubeenun 5. ... wamanafiAAu waminha ta-kuloona 6. Walakum feeha jamalun heena tureehoona waheena tasrahoona

Surat al-An'am 1. ... thumma allatheena kafaroo birabbihim yaAAdiloona 2. ... thumma antum tamtaroona 3. ... wayaAAlamu ma taksiboona 4. ... illa kanoo AAanha muAArideena 5. ... fasawfa ya/teehim anbao ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona 6. ... waansha/na min baAAdihim qarnan akhareena 7. ... in hatha illa sihrun mubeenun 8. ... thumma la yuntharoona 9. ... walalabasna AAalayhim ma yalbisoona 10. ... ma kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona

Surat ar-Rum 6. ... walakinna akthara alnnasi la yaAAlamoona 7. ... wahum AAani al-akhirati hum ghafiloona 8. ... wa-inna katheeran mina alnnasi biliqa-i rabbihim lakafiroona 9. ... walakin kanoo anfusahum yathlimoona 10. ... an kaththaboo bi-ayati Allahi wakanoo biha yastahzi-oona 11. ... thumma ilayhi turjaAAoona 12. ... yublisu almujrimoona 13. ... wakanoo bishuraka-ihim kafireena 14. Wayawma taqoomu alssaAAatu yawma-ithin yatafarraqoona 15. ... fahum fee rawdatin yuhbaroona

Surah Yunus 26. ... ola-ika as-habu aljannati hum feeha khalidoona 27. ... ola-ika as-habu alnnari hum feeha khalidoona 28. ... waqala shurakaohum ma kuntum iyyana taAAbudoona 29. ... in kunna AAan AAibadatikum laghafileena 30. ... wadalla AAanhum ma kanoo yaftaroona 31. ... faqul afala tattaqoona 32. ... faanna tusrafoona 33. ... annahum la yu/minoona 34. ... faanna tu/fakoona

Surat al-‘Ankabut 6. ... inna Allaha laghaniyyun AAani alAAalameena 7. ... walanajziyannahum ahsana allathee kanoo yaAAmaloona 8. ... faonabbi-okum bima kuntum taAAmaloona 9. ... lanudkhilannahum fee alssaliheena 10. ... awa laysa Allahu bi-aAAlama bima fee sudoori alAAalameena 11. ... walayaAAlamanna almunafiqeena 12. ... innahum lakathiboona 13. ... walayus-alunna yawma alqiyamati AAamma kanoo yaftaroona 14. ... faakhathahumu alttoofanu wahum thalimoona

Surat an-Naml 12. ... innahum kanoo qawman fasiqeena 13. ... hatha sihrun mubeenun 14. ... faonthur kayfa kana AAaqibatu almufsideena 15. ... min AAibadihi almu/mineena 16. ... inna hatha lahuwa alfadlu almubeenu 17. ... fahum yoozaAAoona 18. ... sulaymanu wajunooduhu wahum la yashAAuroona 19. ... waadkhilnee birahmatika fee AAibadika alssaliheena

Surat an-Nisa’ 23. ... inna Allaha kana ghafooran raheeman 24. ... inna Allaha kana AAaleeman hakeeman 25. ... waAllahu ghafoorun raheemun 26. ... waAllahu AAaleemun hakeemun 27. ... an tameeloo maylan AAatheeman

Surat al-Ma’ida 22. ... fa-in yakhrujoo minha fa-inna dakhiloona 23. ... fatawakkaloo in kuntum mu/mineena 24. ... inna hahuna qaAAidoona 25. ... faofruq baynana wabayna alqawmi alfasiqeena 26. ... fala ta/sa AAala alqawmi alfasiqeena 27. ... qala innama yataqabbalu Allahu mina almuttaqeena 28. ... innee akhafu Allaha rabba alAAalameena 29. ... wathalika jazao alththalimeena 30. ... faqatalahu faasbaha mina alkhasireena 31. ... faasbaha mina alnnadimeena

Surat al-A'raf 2. ... wathikra lilmu/mineena 3. ... qaleelan ma tathakkaroona 4. ... fajaaha ba/suna bayatan aw hum qa-iloona 5. ... ith jaahum ba/suna illa an qaloo inna kunna thalimeena 6. ... walanas-alanna almursaleena 7. ... wama kunna gha-ibeena 8. ... faola-ika humu almuflihoona 9. ... bima kanoo bi-ayatina yathlimoona 10. ... qaleelan ma tashkuroona 11. ... lam yakun mina alssajideena

Surat at-Tawba 7. ... inna Allaha yuhibbu almuttaqeena 8. ... waaktharuhum fasiqoona 9. ... innahum saa ma kanoo yaAAmaloona 10. ... waola-ika humu almuAAtadoona 11. ... wanufassilu al-ayati liqawmin yaAAlamoona 12. ... laAAallahum yantahoona 13. ... ahaqqu an takhshawhu in kuntum mu/mineena 14. ... wayashfi sudoora qawmin mu/mineena

Surat al-Baqara 62. ... wala khawfun AAalayhim wala hum yahzanoona 63. ... waothkuroo ma feehi laAAallakum tattaqoona 64. ... lakuntum mina alkhasireena 65. ... faqulna lahum koonoo qiradatan khasi-eena 66. ... wamawAAithatan lilmuttaqeena 67. ... aAAoothu biAllahi an akoona mina aljahileena 68. ... faifAAaloo ma tu/maroona 69. ... baqaratun safrao faqiAAun lawnuha tasurru alnnathireena

Surat al ‘Imran 130. ... waittaqoo Allaha laAAallakum tuflihoona 131. Waittaqoo alnnara allatee oAAiddat lilkafireena 132. ... laAAallakum turhamoona 133. ... oAAiddat lilmuttaqeena 134. ... waAllahu yuhibbu almuhsineena 135. ... walam yusirroo AAala ma faAAaloo wahum yaAAlamoona 136. ... waniAAma ajru alAAamileena 137. ... faonthuroo kayfa kana AAaqibatu almukaththibeena 138. ... wamawAAithatun lilmuttaqeena 139. ... waantumu al-aAAlawna in kuntum mu/mineena 140. ... waAllahu la yuhibbu alththalimeena

Surat al-Anbiya’ 5. ... falya/tina bi-ayatin kama orsila al-awwaloona 6. ... afahum yu/minoona 7. ... in kuntum la taAAlamoona 8. ... wama kanoo khalideena 9. ... waahlakna almusrifeena 10. ... afala taAAqiloona 11. ... waansha/na baAAdaha qawman akhareena 12. ... hum minha yarkudoona

Surat an-Nur 47. ... wama ola-ika bialmu/mineena 48. ... fareequn minhum muAAridoona 49. Wa-in yakun lahumu alhaqqu ya/too ilayhi muthAAineena 50. ... bal ola-ika humu alththalimoona 51. ... waola-ika humu almuflihoona 52. ... faola-ika humu alfa-izoona 53. ... inna Allaha khabeerun bima taAAmaloona 54. ... wama AAala alrrasooli illa albalaghu almubeena 55. ... faola-ika humu alfasiqoona

Surat al-Hijr 5. ... wama yasta/khiroona 6. ... innaka lamajnoonun 7. ... in kunta mina alssadiqeena 8. ... wama kanoo ithan munthareena 9. ... wa-inna lahu lahafithoona 10. Walaqad arsalna min qablika fee shiyaAAi al-awwaleena 11. ... kanoo bihi yastahzi-oona 12. Kathalika naslukuhu fee quloobi almujrimeena 13. ... waqad khalat sunnatu al-awwaleena 14. ... feehi yaAArujoona 15. ... nahnu qawmun mashooroona

The formation of rhymed prose with just two or three sounds in a poem of 200-300 lines may give that work an important quality, sufficient for it to be described as a masterpiece by literary critics today. However, bearing in mind the length of the Qur'an, the information it contains and its wise exposition, the extraordinary manner in which its rhymed prose system is used becomes even clearer and more beautiful. The Qur'an indeed contains an ocean of information relating to a wide variety of subjects. They include: religious and moral guidance, lessons from the lives of the peoples of the past, the message of the Prophets and Messengers of Allah, the physical sciences and historical accounts of important events. But all of this, although wonderful in itself, is delivered with the most fantastic literary rhythm and excellence. It is simply not possible for so much rhymed prose by use of so few sounds in the Qur'an, with its varied and knowledgeable subject matter, to be achieved by human endeavour. From that point of view, it is not surprising that Arab linguists describe the Qur'an as "very definitely inimitable."

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The Perfection of the Qur'an from the Literary aspect

The Inimitability of the Qur'an	Comments about the Qur'an from various Scholars
A Selection of other Statements Regarding the Qur'an	The Qur'an is the word of God

Source: http://www.miraclesofthequran.com/index2.php

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Some of the scientific information referring to numbers in the Qur'an

(This chapter is based on Ömer Çelakıl's Kur'an-ı Kerim'in Sırları [Merkez Gazete Dergi Basım Press, 2003] and Kur'an-ı Kerim'in Şifresi [Sınır Ötesi Press 2002])

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- THE DATE OF THE LUNAR LANDINGS
- THE ORBIT OF THE MOON
- THE RATIO OF THE SEA TO THE LAND
- THE STAR SIRIUS
- THE ATOMIC NUMBER OF IRON
- THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH AROUND THE SUN: 365 DAYS
- GENDER AND THE 23rd CHROMOSOME PAIR
- THE SPUTNIK RISING TO THE SKIES
- THE GENETIC CODE OF THE BEE

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THE DATE OF THE LUNAR LANDINGS

The Hour (of Doomsday) has drawn near and the Moon has split. (Surat al-Qamar, 1)

The word “Qamar” means “Moon,” and the word “Moon” appears in the first verse of Surat al-Qamar. There are 1390 verses from that verse to the end of the Qur’an. The year 1390 in the Islamic calendar corresponds to 1969 AD, the date of the lunar landings. This, one of the greatest landmarks in human history, was indicated 14 centuries beforehand. (Allah knows the truth.)

In addition, the word “inshakka,” meaning “split,” is used in this verse. The word is derived from the root “shakka,” meaning “to plow, dig up, to turn the soil...” In the same way, the Apollo 11 spacecraft that went to the Moon also took specimens of lunar dust back to Earth. In that sense, the term “the Moon has split” is consistent with developments in the present day.

Number of verses from the first verse of Surat al-Qamar to the end of the Qur’an = 1390 Date of the lunar landings (Islamic calendar) = 1390

THE ORBIT OF THE MOON

The word “Qamar,” referred to as a heavenly body in the Qur’an and meaning “Moon” appears 27 times. The elliptical orbit of the Moon around the Earth also takes 27 days. But this is not a number that someone looking from Earth could determine. Because since there is a 29-day between full moons, it used to be thought it took the Moon 29 days to travel around the Earth. The fact is, however, that as the Moon revolves around the Earth, the Earth is also travelling round the Sun. Because of the movement of the Earth, the Moon completes its orbit with a 2-day delay. This is another reference in the Qur’an consistent with modern astronomical findings. (Allah knows the truth.)

Number of times the word "Moon" appears in the Qur’an = 27 Time it takes the Moon to travel round the Earth (in days) = 27

THE RATIO OF THE SEA TO THE LAND

The ratio of the appearances of the words "sea" and “land" in the Qur’an is identical to the ratio between sea and land in modern science. The continents had not yet been discovered at the time the Qur’an was sent down, and it was impossible to determine the ratio between the land and sea. Even such a large continent as America was only discovered in the 15th century.

The word "land" appears 13 times in the Qur’an, while “sea” appears 32 times. These numbers total 45. If we divide the number of references to land in the Qur’an, 13, by 45, the result is 28.8888888889%. When we divide the number of references to sea in the Quran, 32, by 45, the result is 71.1111111111%. these ratios are the exact ones that apply between water and dry land on Earth.

The repetition of these words in the Qur’an may be an indication that the Earth is 71% covered in water and 29% in dry land. (Allah knows the truth.) It has only been possible to arrive at this ratio in the present day, thanks to satellite photos and computer calculations.

Number of times the word “land” appears in the Qur’an = 13 Number of times the word “sea” appears in the Qur’an = 32 Proportion of dry land to sea covering the Earth = 13/45 = 29% Proportion of sea to dry land on Earth = 32/45 = 71%

THE STAR SIRIUS

"Sirius", the brightest star in the night sky, appears as “Shi’ira,” meaning “star” in verse 49 of Surat an-Najm:

That it is He Who is the Lord of Sirius [Shi’ira]. (Surat an-Najm, 49)

The fact that the word “Sirius,“ or “Shi’ra” in Arabic, appears only in the 49th verse is particularly noteworthy. Because, based on the irregularities in Sirius’ orbit, scientists discovered it is actually a binary star. Therefore, Sirius is actually two stars, known as Sirius A and Sirius B. One feature of Sirius B is that is cannot be seen by telescope.

The stars in Sirius system follow a course toward one another in the shape of a bow, and hang in the sky by approaching one another every 49.9 years. These scientific data have been unanimously confirmed by the astronomy departments at the universities of Harvard, Ottawa and Leicester.1 Yet this scientific fact that only emerged toward the end of the 20th century was miraculously referred to in the Qur’an 1400 years ago. This miracle appears when we read verses 9 and 49 of Surat al-Najm together.

That it is He Who is the Lord of Sirius. (Surat an-Najm, 49)

He was two bow-lengths away or even closer. (Surat an-Najm, 9)

The term "kane kabe kavseyni ev edna,” in verse 9 of Surat al-Najm, translated as “two bow-lengths away or even closer,” may be a reference to these two stars drawing closer to one another in their courses. (Allah knows the truth.) This scientific fact, which could not possibly have been known at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an, proves once again that the Qur’an is the word of our Almighty Lord.

The star Sirius appears in the Surah called an-Najm, meaning “Star.” The stars comprising Sirius approach one another in their courses once every 49.9 years. This astronomic phenomenon is indicated in verses 49 and 9 of Surat an-Najm.

THE ATOMIC NUMBER OF IRON

Iron is one of the elements mentioned in the Qur’an. Allah says this in the Surah called “al-Hadid,” or “Iron:”

... And We sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind, ... (Surat al-Hadid, 25)

The word "enzelna," meaning “to send down,” may also be thought of in the figurative sense of being placed at the service of human beings. But bearing in mind the true meaning of the word, which is “physically descending from the sky,” used for rain and solar rays, then the verse can be seen to contain a hugely significant scientific miracle. Because modern astronomical findings have revealed that the iron on Earth came from giant stars in outer space.2 (For details see, Miracles of the Qur’an, 4th edition, Harun Yahya)

In addition, Surat al-Hadid also refers to the chemical symbol for iron. Because verse 15, in the exact middle of the Surah, begins with the Arabic letter "Fe," which is how iron is known to chemists.

In addition, the number emerging from a numerological [abjad] calculation of the words “al-Hadid,” the 57th Surah of the Qur’an, is the same as the number of the Surah: "57." A calculation of the word "hadid" alone produces the number 26. And this corresponds to the number of iron in the periodic table. The Qur’an, which contains the revelation of our Omniscient Lord, refers both to the formation of iron and to its atomic number. (Allah knows the truth.)

Al-Hadid is the 57th Surah of the Qur’an, and the numerical value of the words al-Hadid is also 57. The value of the word "hadid" alone is 26, and this is also the atomic number of iron.

THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH AROUND THE SUN:
365 DAYS

The word "day, “yavm” in Arabic appears 365 times in the Qur’an. It also takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the Sun.

The fact that the word “day” appears 365 times in the Qur’an is very important in terms of its providing information about the Earth’s orbit hundreds of years ago. The repetition of the word “day” 365 times may be a reference to the 365-day relationship between the Earth and Sun. (Allah knows the truth.)

The word “day (yavm)" appears 365 times in the Qur’an. It takes the Earth 365 days to orbit the Sun.

GENDER AND THE 23^rd CHROMOSOME PAIR

The genetic make-up of human beings and other living things depends on their chromosomes and the genetic data in these chromosomes in DNA. Gender is dependent on the 23rd chromosome pair. In other words, the difference between a man and a woman stems from the 23rd chromosome pair. If a person’s 23rd chromosome id expressed in the form XX she is female, and if in the form XY, then he is male.

The Qur’an makes reference to the 23rd chromosome that determines the difference between male and female thus: The word “man” and the word “woman” both appear 23 times in the Qur’an. This discovery about chromosomes made only recently was reported hundreds of years beforehand in the Qur’an by way of the number 23, that which concerns the basic difference between male and female. (Allah knows the truth.)

The words “man” and “woman” both appear 23 times in the Qur’an. The 23rd chromosome is the main element that determines an individual’s gender.

THE SPUTNIK RISING TO THE SKIES

The first ever satellite, "Sputnik 1," was launched in 1957. Verse 19;57 (Surah Maryam, 57) of the Qur’an amazingly refers to rising and being raised.

We raised him up to a high place. (Surah Maryam, 57)

The term "Refa'nahu" in this verse is derived from the verb “refea,” meaning “to raise, lift up or elevate.” On the other hand, the word "aliyyen" in the verse bears the meaning of “high, very high” in addition to “great.” When we consider this verse by itself, therefore, it means “being raised into a very high place.” In that respect, verse 19:57 may be a reference to the launching into the sky of the spacecraft Sputnik 1 in 1957. (Allah knows the truth.)

Verse 19:57 of the Qur’an speaks of “raising to a high place.” "Sputnik 1," the first unmanned satellite, was launched in 1957.

THE GENETIC CODE OF THE BEE

All the bees in the world have the same number of chromosomes, and that never changes. Male and female animals generally have the same number of chromosomes. But the bee is slightly different. Because the male bee has 16 single chromosomes and the female bee 16 pairs.3

The bee is thus different in this respect, that of chromosome number. This difference is indicated in the Qur’an thus: (Allah knows the truth.) The Surah “Nahl,” meaning bee, is the 16th Surah of the Qur’an. And 16 is the number of chromosomes these animals possess.

Surat an-Nahl, meaning “Bee,” is the 16th Surah. The bee has 16 chromosomes.

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1 http://www.star.le.ac.uk/astrosoc/whatsup/stars.html (Leicester edu dept of Physics & astronomy); http://www.site.uottawa.ca:4321/astronomy/index.html#Sirius (University of Ottowa); http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~hrs/ay45/Fall2002/ChapterIVPart2.pdf (Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics)

2 Dr. Mazhar, U. Kazi, 130 Evident Miracles in the Qur’an, Crescent Publishing House, New York, 1997, p. 110-111; http://www.wamy.co.uk/announcements3.html; from Prof. Zighloul Raghib El-Naggar’s speech.

3 Malcolm T. Sanford, APIS /Apicultural Information and ISsues from IFAS/University of Florida, Vol. 14, no. 4, April 1996; http://apis.ifas.ufl.edu/apis96/apapr96.htm

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Numbers of Significance in the Qur'an - Mathematical Miracles of the Qur'an

This section contains the results of various calculations performed on Surahs in which numerical terms appear. The same numbers obtained as a result of different calculations in the relevant Surah are extremely noteworthy. This article discusses various types of calculation such as the numbers of syllables and letters in the Surahs, the types of letter and their numerological values [abjad], and reveals surprising similarities in the numbers emerging. The calculations in this section are not open to discussion; everyone can arrive at the same figures by performing the same calculations.

In addition to the sublime wisdom and knowledge of the Holy Qur'an in terms of meaning, it also contains very rich and extraordinary numerical references. In verse 29 of Surat an-Naba' our Lord says "... We have recorded all things in writing." And verse 28 of Surat al-Jinn reads "... (Allah) has counted the exact number of everything." These miraculous numerical references obtained from the Holy Qur'an are also manifestations of our Almighty Lord's title of "Al-Muhsey," or "He Who knows the number of everything, even if it is infinite".

THE ALLOTMENT OF FORTY (40) NIGHTS TO THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

And when We allotted to Moses forty nights. Then you adopted the Calf when he had gone and you were wrongdoers. (Surat al-Baqara, 51)

• 40 is the number of letters to the end of the verse from the term "arbaAAeena laylatan," meaning "40 nights."
• The numerological value [abjad] of the dotted letters up to "arbaAAeena laylatan " is 40. (By minor abjad calculation)
• This subject first appears in the Qur'an in verse 40 of Surat al-Baqara.
• Number of syllables in verse 40 in which the subject begins is 40. ¹

Furthermore:

• In addition to verse 51 of Surat al-Baqara, which explicitly concerns "arbaAAeena laylatan" (40 nights), this also appears in verse 142 of Surat al-A'raf. It also appears figuratively in verses 143 and 155 of Surat al-A'raf.

a) The Surahs between these verses are: "al-Baqara", "Al-Imr'an", "an-Nisa", "al-Ma'ida", "al-An'am" and "al-A'raf."
b) The names "al-Baqara", "Al-Imr'an", "an-Nisa", "al-Ma'ida", "al-An'am" and "al-A'raf" also contain 40 letters.

TWELVE (12) FOUNTAINS SPRINGING FROM STONE

And when Moses was looking for water for his people, We said, 'Strike the rock with your staff.' Then twelve fountains gushed out from it and all the people knew their drinking place. 'Eat and drink of Allah's provision and do not go about the earth corrupting it.' (Surat al-Baqara, 60)

• Number of words in the verse until the expression "ithnata AAashrata" meaning "twelve" is 12.
• Number of dotted letters until the expression "infajarat minhu ithnata AAashrata AAaynan" meaning "the twelve fountains gushed out from it [the rock]"; 12.
• Number of types of letter used in the term "infajarat minhu ithnata AAashrata AAaynan" 12.²

HELP FROM THREE THOUSAND (3,000) ANGELS

And when you said to the believers, 'Is it not enough for you that your Lord reinforced you with three thousand angels, sent down?' (Surat al-Imr'an, 124)

• The abjad value of the term "thalathati alafin mina almala-ikati," meaning "three thousand angels," is 3,000. (By major abjad calculation)
  

HELP FROM FIVE THOUSAND (5,000) ANGELS

Yes indeed! But if you are steadfast and guard against evil and they come upon you suddenly, your Lord will reinforce you with five thousand angels, clearly identified. (Surat al-Imr'an, 125)

• The abjad value of the letters up to the first letter of the term "almala-ikati," meaning "angels," is 5,000. (By minor abjad calculation)

THE SENDING OF TWELVE (12) LEADERS

Allah made a covenant with the tribe of Israel and We raised up twelve leaders from among them. Allah said, 'I am with you. If you establish salat and pay zakat, and believe in My Messengers and respect and support them, and make a generous loan to Allah, I will erase your wrong actions from you and admit you into Gardens with rivers flowing under them. Any of you who are unbelievers after that have gone astray from the right way.' (Surat al-Ma'ida, 12)

• Number of letters up to the term "ithnay AAashara naqeeban," meaning "twelve leaders:" 12.
• Number of repetitions of the letters in the name "Ma'ida" (the name of the Surah) from the beginning of the verse to the term "ithnay AAashara " (twelve): 12.³
• Verse number: 12.
• The abjad value of the first and last letters of the verse is 12.⁴ (By minor abjad calculation)
  

THIRTY (30) NIGHTS AND TEN (10) NIGHTS BEING SET ASIDE FOR THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

We set aside thirty nights for Moses and then completed them with ten, so the appointed time of his Lord was forty nights in all. Musa said to his brother Harun, 'Be my khalif among my people. Keep order and do not follow the way of the corrupters.' (Surat al-A'raf, 142)

• Number of syllables from "thalatheena laylatan," meaning 30 nights," to the end of the clause: 30.⁵

• Number of syllables used after "thalatheena laylatan " (30 nights) to the end of the verse: 30.⁶
  
  
• Number of syllables from the word "thalatheena" (30) to the end of the clause: 30.⁷
  
  
• Number of time the muqatt'at letters [unique combinations of letters that begin a number of Surah in the Qur'an] in the Surah (alif, lam, mim, sad) are used in the verse from the word "thalatheena " (30) to the end of the verse: 30.⁸
  
  
• Number of dotted letters up to the word "Aashr" (10): 10.
  
  
• Number of undotted letters from the word "Aashr" (10) to the end of the clause: 10.
  
  
• The word "Aashr" (10) appears 10 pages from the end in Surat al-A'raf.
  
  
• The letters "alif, lam, mim and sad," the muqatt'at letters in the Surah, are used 10 times before the word "Aashr" (10).⁹
  
  
• 10 types of letter are used in the term "waatmamnaha biAAashrin" meaning "and then completed them with ten."¹⁰
  

TWELVE (12) TRIBES AND TWELVE (12) FOUNTAINS FLOWING FROM THE ROCK

We divided them up into twelve tribes–communities. We revealed to Moses, when his people asked him for water: 'Strike the rock with your staff.' Twelve fountains flowed out from it and all the people knew their drinking place. And We shaded them with clouds and sent down manna and quails to them: 'Eat of the good things We have provided you with.' They did not wrong Us; rather it was themselves they wronged. (Surat al-A'raf, 160)

• The letters in the term "ithnatay AAashrata" (twelve) appear 12 times up to "isnetey ashrate."¹¹
  
  
• 12 types of letter are used from the term "ithnatay AAashrata " (twelve) to the end of the clause.¹²
  
  
• The letters in " ithnatay AAashrata " (twelve) appear 12 times between it and the end of the clause.¹³
  
  
• 12 letters comprise the words "ithnatay AAashrata " (twelve) and "isneta aşrate" (twelve).¹⁴
  
  
• 12 types of letter are used in the clause in which it appears before the term "ithnata AAashrata AAaynan " (twelve fountains).¹⁵

THE NUMBER OF MONTHS IN THE SIGHT OF ALLAH IS TWELVE (12)

There have been twelve months with Allah in the Book of Allah, from the day He first created the heavens and earth. Four of them are forbidden. That is the True Religion. So do not wrong one another during them. However, fight the idolaters totally just as they fight you totally, and know that Allah is with those who guard against evil. (Surat at-Tawba, 36)

• There are 12 syllables up to the term " ithna AAashara" (twelve).
  
  
• There are 12 dotted letters from the term "ithna AAashara" (twelve) to the end of the clause.

ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS SEVENTY (70) TIMES

You can ask forgiveness for them, or not ask forgiveness for them. Even if you asked forgiveness for them seventy times, Allah still would not forgive them. That is because they have rejected Allah and His Messenger. Allah does not guide deviant people. (Surat at-Tawba, 80)

• Total number of letters from the term "sabAAeena marratan " (seventy times) to the end of the verse: 70.¹⁶
  
  
• The abjad value of the letter types used from the term "sabAAeena marratan" (seventy times) to the end of the clause is 70.¹⁷ (By minor abjad calculation).
  
  
• There are 70 undotted letters in this verse.¹⁸

THE NUMBER OF THE YEARS AND THE RECKONING THEREOF

It is He Who appointed the sun to give radiance, and the moon to give light, assigning it phases so you would know the number of years and the reckoning of time. Allah did not create these things except with truth. We make the Signs clear for people who know. (Surah Yunus, 5)

A month in the Islamic calendar can only have 29 or 30 days. (There is no other possibility.)

• A lunar month is 29 or 30 days. There are 29 letters in the verse up until the term "qaddarahu manazila litaAAlamoo AAadada alssineena waalhisaba," meaning "the number of years and the reckoning of time."
  
  
• The abjad value of "al-Qamar," meaning "moon," is 29. (By minor abjad calculation)

We made the night and day two Signs. We blotted out the Sign of the night and made the Sign of the day a time for seeing so that you can seek favour from your Lord and will know the number of years and the reckoning of time. We have made all things very clear. (Surat al-Isra', 12)

One year according to the Hijri calendar lasts 354 or 355 days. (There is no other possible figure.)

• The abjad value of the letters up to the term "litaAAlamoo AAadada alssineena waalhisaba," meaning "so you will know the number of years and the reckoning of time," is 354. (By minor abjad calculation)

THEIR INABILITY TO PRODUCE TEN (10) SUCH SURAHS

Or do they say, 'He has invented it?' Say, 'Then produce ten invented suras like this, and call on anyone you can besides Allah if you are telling the truth.' (Surah Hud, 13)

• Variety of letters used in the clause up to the word "AAashri" (ten): 10.¹⁹
• Number of dotted letters in the verse up to the word "AAashri" (ten): 10.²⁰
• Number of syllables in the verse up to the expression "biAAashri suwarin mithlihi muftarayatin," meaning "then produce ten invented suras like this:" 10.²¹
• Number of dotted letters up to the term "qul fa/too biAAashri suwarin mithlihi muftarayatin," meaning "Say, 'then produce ten invented suras like this':" 10.
• "Number of letters in the term "AAashri suwarin mithlihi ," meaning "ten suras like this:" 10.
• Number of letters from the term "AAashri suwarin mithlihi " (ten suras like this) to the end of the verse: 10.
• Variety of letters used in the term "biAAashri suwarin mithlihi," meaning "ten suras like this:" 10.²²
• The letters in the term "AAashri suwarin " (ten suras) appear 10 times up to "AAashri suwarin ".²³
  

THE PROPHET JOSEPH'S (PBUH) DREAM AND ELEVEN (11) STARS

Yusuf told his father, 'Father! I saw eleven bright stars, and the sun and moon as well. I saw them all prostrate in front of me.' (Surah Yusuf, 4)

• There are 11 letters in the term "ahada AAashara kawkaban," meaning "eleven stars."
  
  
• There are 11 words up to the term "ahada AAashara kawkaban " (eleven stars).
  
  
• The letters in the term "ahada AAashara kawkaban " (eleven stars) appear 11 times up to "ahada AAashara kawkaban ". ²⁴
  
  

THE NUMBER OF THE HUMAN CHROMOSOME

He created man from a drop of sperm and yet he is an open challenger! (Surat an-Nahl, 4)

There are some 100 trillion cells in an adult human body. The cells all possess the same genetic structure. That genetic structure is also present in the chromosomes in the cell nucleus. There are 23 pairs, or 46 chromosomes, in a human cell; 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. These chromosomes also contain DNA molecules in which the characteristics of the person are recorded. The scientific world only learned that there are 46 chromosomes in the human cell in the second half of the 20th century.

The words "manayyin" and "nutfatan" in the Qur'an refer to different things (Surat al-Qiyama, 37). "Manayyin" is used to refer to the whole and "nutfatan" to a component thereof.

* The word "nutfatan" appears in different forms below, such as nutfatin, nutfata or nutfatan, depending on its use in the sentence or grammatical rules. But the meaning does not change.

• The abjad value of the word "nutfatin" (nutfa) is 23. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• Variety of letters used in the Surah up to the word "nutfatin:" 23.²⁵
  
  
• Abjad value of the letters used in the verse up to the word "nutfatin:" 23.²⁶ (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• Number of dotted letters in the Surah up to the word "nutfatin:" 46.

Then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators! (Surat al-Muminun, 14)

• Abjad value of the word "nutfata:" 23. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• Number of letters in Surat al-Muminun from "nutfatan" in verse 13 to "nutfata" in verse 14 is 23.
  
  
• Abjad value of the variety of letters used in the verse up to the term "nutfata:" 46.²⁷ (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• Abjad value of the letters belonging to the term "nutfata" up to "nutfata:" 46.²⁸ (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• Number of letters belonging to the term "nutfata" up to "nutfata:" 46.

Allah created you from dust and then from a drop of sperm and then made you into pairs. No female becomes pregnant or gives birth except with His knowledge. And no living thing lives long or has its life cut short without that being in a Book. That is easy for Allah. (Surat al-Fatir, 11)

• Abjad value of the term "nutfatin:" 23. (By minor abjad calculation)
• Variety of letters used from "nutfatin" to the end of the verse: 23.²⁹

It is He Who created you from earth, then from a drop of sperm, then from a clot of blood, then He brings you out as infants, then so you may achieve full strength, then so you may become old men –though some of you may die before that time– so that you may reach a predetermined age and so that hopefully you will use your intellect. (Surah Ghafir, 67)

• The abjad value of "nutfatin" is 23. (By minor abjad calculation).
  
  
• Number of dotted letters from the word "nutfatin" to the end of the clause: 23.
  
  
• The word "nutfatin" is the 23rd in the verse.
  
  
• There are 23 types of letter in this verse.³⁰
  
  
• The abjad value of the dotted letters up to the word "nutfatin" in the verse is 46. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• There are 46 dotted letters in this verse.

… out of a sperm-drop when it spurted forth; (Surat an-Najm, 46)

• The abjad value of the word "nutfatin" is 23. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• The letters in the term "nutfatin" appear 46 times up to "nutfatin".³¹
  
  
• The verse containing the term "nutfatin" is the 46th.

We created man from a mingled drop to test him, and We made him hearing and seeing. (Surat al-Insan, 2)

• The abjad value of the word "nutfatin" is 23. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• The abjad value of the letters from the word "nutfatin" to the end of the clause is 23. (By minor abjad calculation)

Was he not a drop of ejaculated sperm? (Surat al-Qiyama, 37)

• There are 23 types of letter between verse 35 of Surat al-Qiyama and verse 2 of Surat al-Insan.³²
  
  
• There are 23 words having letters from the clause "nutfa" in verse 37 of Surat al-Qiyama up to "nutfa" in verse 2 of Surat al-Insan.³³
  

THE ANGLES IN HONEYCOMBS

Your Lord revealed to the bees: 'Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow.' From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Surat an-Nahl, 68-69)

The honey bee fills the hexagonal cells it builds with honey. The hexagon is the ideal shape for comb construction. For example, if the cells in the combs were pentagonal or octagonal etc., then all their edges would not weld together perfectly, and parts of the comb would therefore remain used. But through the inspiration of Allah, bees store the greatest possible amount of honey by building their combs in the form of hexagons.

• These are the only verses of the Qur'an that mention bees, honey and honeycombs. The abjad value of these verses is 720. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• The total internal angles of the comb add up to 720 degrees.
  
  
• Every cell in the comb is a hexagon. Each internal angle in the cell is 120 degrees.
  
  
• The number of clause (clauses) in Surat an-Nahl until this matter is discussed is 120.
  

THE COMPANIONS OF THE CAVE AND HOW THEY SPENT THREE HUNDRED AND NINE (309) YEARS IN THE CAVE

Do you consider that the Companions of the Cave and Ar-Raqim were one of the most remarkable of Our Signs? (Surat al-Kahf, 9)

• The abjad values of "as-haba alkahfi," meaning "The Companions of the Cave," is 238. (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• The number of syllables in the Surah up to the term "as-haba alkahfi" (Companions of the Cave) is also 238.³⁴
  
  
• The variety of letters used in the verse up to the term "as-haba alkahfi" (Companions of the Cave) is 7.³⁵
  
  
• The number of words from "as-haba alkahfi" (Companions of the Cave) to the end of the verse is 7.
  
  
• Our Lord's name "Allah" is repeated 7 times in the story of the Companions of the Cave in the Surah.
  
  
• "As-haba alkahfi" (Companions of the Cave) is in the 7th clause on the page.
  
  
• This verse is the 7th from the top of the page.

They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine. (Surat al-Kahf, 25)

In revealing how long the Companions spent in the cave, the Qur'an says "They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine." (Surat al-Kahf, 25) In interpreting this verse, commentators say that the Companions of the Cave slept for 300 solar years or 309 years by the lunar calendar.

• The number of syllables up to "sineena waizdadoo," meaning "number of years" is exactly 309.³⁶
  
  
• There are 309 undotted letters in the Surah up to the term "sineena waizdadoo".

Then We woke them up again so that we might see which of the two groups would better calculate the time they had stayed there. (Surat al-Kahf, 12)

• This verse reveals that the reason the Companions of the Cave were woken was to establish which of the two groups would most accurately calculate how long they had been asleep. The number of syllables before this verse is exactly 309.³⁷

They stayed in their Cave for three hundred years and added nine. (Surat al-Kahf, 25)

The way that the Qur'an does not directly state that the Companions of the Cave spent 309 years in the cave but also adds an additional 9 years is exceedingly wise. This mode of expression thus draws attention to the difference between the solar and lunar years. (Allah knows the truth.)

The solar year refers to the Earth's revolution around the Sun, and 365.242217 complete revolutions of the Earth constitute a solar year. A lunar year consists of 354.36768 days, the time in which the Moon orbits the Earth 12 times. There is thus a difference of 10.874537 days between the solar and lunar years; 100 solar years is thus equivalent to 103 lunar years.

In order to determine the equivalent of 300 solar years in terms of lunar years, we need to add on 9 more years – just as in the verse.

• The total of all the numbers in this Surah up to this verse is 300. (300 by the Gregorian calendar equates to 309 years by the Islamic calendar.)
  
  
• There are 309 pages from this page, the last to refer to the Companions of the Cave and their sleep, and the end of the Qur'an.

That was the situation when we woke them up so they could question one another. One of them asked, 'How long have you been here?' They replied, 'We have been here for a day or part of a day.' They said, 'Your Lord knows best how long you have been here. Send one of your number into the city with this silver you have, so he can see which food is purest and bring you some of it to eat. But he should go about with caution so that no one is aware of you. (Surat al-Kahf, 19)

THE NINE (9) MIRACLES OF THE PROPHET MOSES (PBUH)

Put your hand inside your shirt front. It will emerge pure white, yet quite unharmed – one of nine Signs to Pharaoh and his people. They are a people of deviators.' (Surat an-Naml, 12)

• Number of syllables from the term "tisAAi ayatin," meaning "nine Signs," to the end of the clause: 9.
  
  
• The letters in "tisAAi ayatin " (nine Signs) appear 9 times up to the term "tis'i ayatin."
  
  
• Number of words from "tisAAi ayatin " (nine Signs) to the end of the verse: 9.
• "TisAAi ayatin " (nine Signs) appears on the 9th page from the end of the Surah.
  
  
• The variety of undotted letters in the verse up to the word "tisAAi," meaning 9, is 9.
  
  
• The number of undotted letters from the word "tisAAi" (9) to the end of the clause: 9.³⁸
  
  
• "TisAAi" (9) is the ninth word from the end of the verse.
  
  
• The abjad value of the muqatt'at letters (ta, sin) in the Surah is 9. (By minor abjad calculation)

A GROUP OF NINE (9) IN THE CITY

There was a group of nine men in the city causing corruption in the land and not putting things right. (Surat an-Naml, 48)

• The letters in the term "tisAAatu rahtin," meaning "nine men," appear 9 times between the expression and the end of the verse.³⁹
  
  
• There are 9 dotted letters between the term "tisAAatu rahtin " (9 men) and the end of the verse.
  
  
• Nine undotted letters are used from the term "tisAAatu rahtin " (9 men) and the end of the verse.⁴⁰
  
  
• The abjad value of the muqatt'at letters (ta, sin) in the term "tisAAatu rahtin " (9 men) is 9.⁴¹ (By minor abjad calculation)
  
  
• There are 9 verses in the story of the people of Shelah and Thamud.⁴²

THE MATTER OF THE NINETY NINE (99) EWES

This brother of mine has ninety-nine ewes and I have only one. He said, "Let me have charge of it," and got the better of me with his words.' (Sura Sad, 23)

• The subject of the 99 ewes begins at verse 21. There are 99 syllables from the beginning of the reference to the Prophet David (pbuh) – from verse 17, to verse 21.⁴³
  
  
• The matter of the 99 ewes begins being described in verse 22. The matter of the 99 ewes begins with the 2nd clause of verse 22, and this clause is the 99th from the end of the Surah.
  
  
• There are 99 syllables from the 2nd clause of verse 22 to the term "niAAajihi," meaning "his ewes," in verse 24.
  
  
• The abjad value of the letters at the end of the verse up to the end of verse 23 containing the term "tisAAun watisAAoona naAAjatan," meaning 99 ewes, is 99.⁴⁴ (By the minor abjad calculation.)
  
  
• The abjad value of the term "hatha akhee lahu tisAAun watisAAoona naAAjatan," meaning "this brother of mine has 99 ewes," is 99'dur. (By minor abjad calculation)

THE SEVEN (7) HEAVENS

He Who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any flaw in the Creation of the All-Merciful. Look again – do you see any gaps? (Surat al-Mulk, 3)

• The variety of letters used in the term "sabAAa samawatin," meaning "seven heavens," is 7.⁴⁵
  
  
• Number of letters in the verse up to the term "sabAAa samawatin " (seven heavens): 7.
  
  
• The letters in the word "seb'a" (7) appear seven times from the word "sabAAa " to the end of the verse.⁴⁶
  
  
• The letters in the word "seb'a" (7) appeat 7 times in the verse up to the word " sabAAa ".⁴⁷
  
  
• There are 7 syllables from the word "sabAAa " (7) to the end of the clause.

SWEARING BY THE TEN (10) NIGHTS

By the dawn and ten nights, (Surat al-Fajr, 1-2)

• The letters in the term "layalin AAashrin," meaning "ten nights" appear 10 times in the Surah up to this term.⁴⁸
  
  
• There are 10 dotted letters in the Surah up to the term "layalin AAashrin " (10 nights).
  

This section is based on Ahmet Maraşlı's book Kuran'da Sırlı Diziliş [Mysterious Aligning in the Qur'an ], (Okul Press, Istanbul, 2003).

1 Stopping at the end of the verse.

2 alif, nuun, faa, jiim, raa, taa, miim, ha, thaa, ayn, shiin, yaa

3 miim: 3, alif: 8, daal: 1, taa: 0

4 waaw, laam

5 Stopping at the end of the clause.

6 thaa: 0, laam: 9, yaa: 10, nuun: 5, taa: 6, laam-alif: 2

7 Stopping at the end of the clause.

8 alif: 11, laam: 11, miim: 7, saad: 1, laam-alif: 2

9 alif: 4, laam: 3, miim: 3, saad: 0

10 waaw, alif, taa, miim, nuun, ha, baa, ayn, shiin, raa

11 alif: 2, thaa: 1, nuun: 2, taa: 2, yaa: 1, ayn: 2, shiin: 1, raa: 1

12 alif, thaa, nuun, taa, yaa, ayn, shiin, raa, sin, baa, taa, miim

13 alif: 3, thaa: 1, nuun: 2, taa: 2, ayn: 2, shiin: 1, raa:1

14 The orthographic difference here is a grammatical one stemming from the form of the word in the sentence.

15 faa, alif, nuun, baa, jiim, sin, taa, miim, ha, thaa, ayn, shiin

16 laam-alif: 2

17 siin, baa, ayn, yaa, nuun, miim, raa, taa, faa, laam, ghaayn, alif, ha

18 laam-alif: 2

19 qaaf, laam, faa, alif, taa, waaw, baa, ayn, shiin, raa

20 alif: 5, laam: 3, raa: 2

21 Stopping at the sejavend taa. [Sejavend: subdivision marks in the Qur'an for reading in accordance with meaning].

22 baa, ayn, shiin, raa, siin, waaw, miim, thaa, laam, ha

23 ayn, shiin, raa, siin, waaw

24 alif: 7, haa: 0, daal: 0, ayn: 0, shiin: 0, raa:1, kaaf: 0, waaw: 1, baa: 2

25 alif, ta, yaa, miim, raa, laam, ha, faa, siin, ayn, jiim, waaw, baa, haa, nuun, shiin, kaaf, zaay, daal, thaal, qaaf, kha, daad. laam-alif two. Besmele included or excluded.

26 kha, laam, qaaf, alif, nuun, sin, miim

27 thaa, miim, kha, laam, qaaf, nuun, alif, taa, faa, taa

28 nuun: 3, taa: 0, faa: 3, taa: 4

29 nuun, taa, faa, taa, thaa, miim, jiim, ayn, laam, kaaf, alif, zaay, waaw, haa, yaa, dad, baa, haa, raa, qaaf, saad, thaal, siin, laam-alif two

30 ha, waaw, alif, laam, thaal, yaa, kha, qaaf, kaaf, miim, nuun, taa, raa, baa, thaa, taa, faa, ayn, jiim, ghaayn, shiin, daal, sin, laam-alif two.

31 nuun: 23, taa: 1, faa: 9, taa: 13.

32 miim, nuun, yaa, thaa, kaaf, alif, ayn, laam, qaaf, taa, faa, kha, siin, waaw, jiim, ha, zaay, thaal, raa, baa, daal, haa, shiin. Besmele included or excluded.

33 Besmele included.

34 Besmele included.

35 alif, miim, haa, sin, baa, taa, nuun

36 Besmele included.

37 Besmele included.

38 siin, ayn, alif, laam, yaa, raa, waaw, miim, ha

39 taa: 2, sin: 2, ayn: 1, raa: 2, ha: 1, taa: 1

40 siin, daal, waaw, yaa, alif, laam, raa, saad, haa, laam-alif two

41 taa: 1, sin: 1

42 From the verse 45 to verse 53: 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53.

43 Stopping at the sejavend "miim", "taa" and "jiim".

44 Raa, qaaf, saad, baa, baa, daal, qaaf, baa, baa, baa, baa, daal, baa, baa, qaaf, baa, baa, qaaf, baa, baa, baa, taa, baa

45 siin, baa, ayn, miim, waaw, alif, taa

46 siin: 2, baa: 3, ayn: 2

47 laam-alif two

48 laam: 3, yaa: 1, alif: 2, ayn: 1, shiin: 1, raa: 2

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