Scientific Errors in the Hadith: Difference between revisions
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===Spinal bone does not decay=== | ===Spinal bone does not decay=== | ||
The hadith state that the 'spinal bone' does not decay. Modern science, by contrast, has revealed that where as the rate at which different types of bones decay differs, all bones do in fact decay. | |||
{{Quote|{{cite web|url= https://sunnah.com/muslim/54/179 |title=Sahih Muslim 54:179 |publisher= |author= |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}|Abu Huraira reported so many ahadith from Allah's Apostle and amongst these one was this that Allah's Messenger said: '''There is a bone in the human being which the earth would never consume''' and it is from this that new bodies would be reconstituted (on the Day of Resurrection). They said: Allah's Messenger, which bone is that? Thereupon he said: '''It is the spinal bone.'''}} | {{Quote|{{cite web|url= https://sunnah.com/muslim/54/179 |title=Sahih Muslim 54:179 |publisher= |author= |date= |archiveurl= |deadurl=no}}|Abu Huraira reported so many ahadith from Allah's Apostle and amongst these one was this that Allah's Messenger said: '''There is a bone in the human being which the earth would never consume''' and it is from this that new bodies would be reconstituted (on the Day of Resurrection). They said: Allah's Messenger, which bone is that? Thereupon he said: '''It is the spinal bone.'''}}Some translations of this hadith opt for "coccyx" instead of "spinal bone". | ||
===Different races are made of different types of earth=== | |||
The hadith state that the different races are made of different types of earth. Modern science, by contrast, has revealed that racial differences arise from genetic differences. Modern science has also revealed that humans are not made of dirt or clay. | |||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||5|44|2955}}|Narrated Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari: | |||
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "Indeed Allah Most High created Adam from a handful that He took from all of the earth. So the children of Adam come in according with the earth, some of them come red, and white and black, and between that, and the thin, the thick, the filthy, and the clean."}} | |||
==Geology and Meteorology== | ==Geology and Meteorology== | ||
===Nile and Euphrates | ===Nile and Euphrates flow from heaven=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|58|227}}|Narrated Abbas bin Malik: ...So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'...}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|5|58|227}}|Narrated Abbas bin Malik: ...So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Abraham. Gabriel said (to me), 'This is your father; pay your greetings to him.' So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, 'You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet.' Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e. a place near Medina) and its leaves were as big as the ears of elephants. Gabriel said, 'This is the Lote Tree of the utmost boundary) . Behold ! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked, 'What are these two kinds of rivers, O Gabriel?' He replied,' As for the hidden rivers, they are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.'...}} | ||
===Thunder is an | ===Thunder is an angel driving clouds=== | ||
{{Quote|{{ | {{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||5|44|3117}}|Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: | ||
"The Jews came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and said: 'O Abul-Qasim! Inform us about the thunder, what is it?' He said: 'An angel among the angels, who is responsible for the clouds. He has a piece of fire wherever that he drives the clouds wherever Allah wills.' They said: 'Then what is this noise we hear?' He said: 'It is him, striking the clouds when he drives them on, until it goes where it is ordered.' They said: 'You have told the truth.' They said: 'Then inform us about what Isra'il made unlawful for himself.' He said: 'He suffered from sciatica, and he could not find anything agreeable due to it (to consume) except for camel meat and its milk. So for that reason he made it unlawful.' They said: 'You have told the truth.'"}} | |||
===Mountains were planted to stabilize Earth=== | |||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||6|44|3369}}|The Prophet said: “'''When Allah created the earth, it started shaking. So He created the mountains, and said to them: ‘Upon it’ so it began to settle.''' The angels were amazed at the strength of the mountains, so they said: ‘O Lord! Is there among your creatures one who is more severe than the mountains?’ He said: ‘Yes. Iron.’ They said: ‘O Lord! Then is there anything among your creatures that is more severe than that iron?’ He said: ‘Yes. Fire.’ S they said: ‘O Lord! Is there anything among your creatures that is more severe than fire?’ He said: ‘Yes. Water.’ They said: ‘O Lord! Is there anything among your creatures that is more severe than water?’ He said: ‘Yes. Wind.’ They said: ‘O Lord! Is there anything among your creatures more severe than wind?’ He said: ‘Yes. The son of Adam. He gives charity with his right hands, while hiding it from his left.’”}} | |||
===The heat of noon rises from Hell=== | |||
{{quote |{{Bukhari|1|10|513}}| Narrated Abu Sa'id: that Allah's Apostle said, "Pray Zuhr prayer when it becomes (a bit) cooler as the severity of heat is from the raging of the Hell-fire." }} | {{quote |{{Bukhari|1|10|513}}| Narrated Abu Sa'id: that Allah's Apostle said, "Pray Zuhr prayer when it becomes (a bit) cooler as the severity of heat is from the raging of the Hell-fire." }} | ||
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===No one knows when it will rain=== | ===No one knows when it will rain=== | ||
The hadith maintain that no one know when it will rain. Modern technology and meteorology, however, have enabled humans to predict the weather. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|17|149}}| Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Keys of the unseen knowledge are five which nobody knows but Allah . . . nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain." }} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|17|149}}| Narrated Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "Keys of the unseen knowledge are five which nobody knows but Allah . . . nobody knows what will happen tomorrow; nobody knows what is in the womb; nobody knows what he will gain tomorrow; nobody knows at what place he will die; and nobody knows when it will rain." }} | ||
=== | ===Najd earthquakes are accompanied by Satan's head=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|88|214}}| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|88|214}}| | ||
Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The People said, "And also on our Najd." He said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham (north)! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! And also on our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet said, "There (in Najd) is the place of earthquakes and afflictions and from there comes out the side of the head of Satan."}} | Narrated Ibn 'Umar: The Prophet said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The People said, "And also on our Najd." He said, "O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Sham (north)! O Allah! Bestow Your blessings on our Yemen." The people said, "O Allah's Apostle! And also on our Najd." I think the third time the Prophet said, "There (in Najd) is the place of earthquakes and afflictions and from there comes out the side of the head of Satan."}} | ||
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==Health== | ==Health== | ||
===There are no infectious diseases=== | ===There are no infectious diseases=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||4|6|2143}}[http://sunnah.com/urn/674460]|'Ibn Mas'ud narrated: "The Messenger of Allah stood among us and said: 'One thing does not infect another.' So a Bedouin said: 'O Messenger of Allah! If a camel gets mangy glands and we leave it at the resting place of camels, then all of the camels get mange?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who caused the first to get mange? There is no 'Adwa nor safar. Allah created every soul, so he wrote its life, its provision, and its afflictions.'"}} | {{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||4|6|2143}}[http://sunnah.com/urn/674460]|'Ibn Mas'ud narrated: "The Messenger of Allah stood among us and said: 'One thing does not infect another.' So a Bedouin said: 'O Messenger of Allah! If a camel gets mangy glands and we leave it at the resting place of camels, then all of the camels get mange?' The Messenger of Allah said: 'Who caused the first to get mange? There is no 'Adwa nor safar. Allah created every soul, so he wrote its life, its provision, and its afflictions.'"}} | ||
===Leprosy and Leukoderma appear only on Wednesdays=== | ===Leprosy and Leukoderma appear only on Wednesdays=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||1|31|3487}}[http://sunnah.com/urn/1275320]|It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: "O Nafi’! The blood is boiling in me, find me a cupper, but let it be someone gentle if you can, not an old man or a young boy. For I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘Cupping on an empty stomach is better, and in it there is healing and blessing, and it increases one’s intellect and memory. So have yourselves cupped for the blessing of Allah on Thursdays, and avoid cupping on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Have yourselves cupped on Mondays and Tuesdays, for that is the day on which Allah relieved Ayyub of Calamity, and He inflicted calamity upon him on a Wednesday, and '''leprosy and leucoderma only appear on Wednesdays, or on the night of Wednesday."'''}} | {{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||1|31|3487}}[http://sunnah.com/urn/1275320]|It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: "O Nafi’! The blood is boiling in me, find me a cupper, but let it be someone gentle if you can, not an old man or a young boy. For I heard the Messenger of Allah say: ‘Cupping on an empty stomach is better, and in it there is healing and blessing, and it increases one’s intellect and memory. So have yourselves cupped for the blessing of Allah on Thursdays, and avoid cupping on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Have yourselves cupped on Mondays and Tuesdays, for that is the day on which Allah relieved Ayyub of Calamity, and He inflicted calamity upon him on a Wednesday, and '''leprosy and leucoderma only appear on Wednesdays, or on the night of Wednesday."'''}} | ||
Revision as of 00:45, 25 January 2021
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A common criticism of the Hadith, as with the Quran, is that they contain numerous scientific and historical errors, with no obvious attempts to differentiate their understanding of the natural world and historical events from the common folklore and misconceptions of the people living in 7th century Arabia. Modern responses typically appeal to metaphor, alternative meanings, or phenomenological interpretations of such hadiths. They also argue that the wording needed to be acceptable to people of its time. Critics typically argue that an all-knowing, perfect communicator would nevertheless have been able to guide the avoidance of statements in the Hadith that reinforced misconceptions of the time, caused future generations to have doubts about its perfection, and on a scale that critics contend is an overwhelming weakness.
Archaeology
Adam was a 90 foot giant
Hadiths state that humans were created in the physical image of Allah, were at first 90 feet (60 cubits) tall, and have been decreasing in height ever since. The oldest human remains found in Ethiopia (Lucy and Ardi) are, however, shorter than modern humans.
Astronomy
The sun goes under Allah's chair
The sun prostrates
The sun rises between the horns of Satan
The moon has light
Eclipses occur to scare humankind
There are giant goats in space
Narrated Al-Abbas ibn AbdulMuttalib: I was sitting in al-Batha with a company among whom the Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) was sitting, when a cloud passed above them.
The Apostle of Allah (peace be upon him) looked at it and said: What do you call this? They said: Sahab.
He said: And muzn? They said: And muzn. He said: And anan? They said: And anan. AbuDawud said: I am not quite confident about the word anan. He asked: Do you know the distance between Heaven and Earth? They replied: We do not know. He then said: The distance between them is seventy-one, seventy-two, or seventy-three years. The heaven which is above it is at a similar distance (going on till he counted seven heavens). Above the seventh heaven there is a sea, the distance between whose surface and bottom is like that between one heaven and the next. Above that there are eight mountain goats the distance between whose hoofs and haunches is like the distance between one heaven and the next. Then Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, is above thatEarth rests on a cosmic whale
The following citation is taken from the Arabic version of Ibn Kathir’s Tafsir, since the English translation omits these traditions. Similar ideas are found in Tafsir Tabari, Al Qurtubi and in the tafsir attributed to Ibn Abbas.
Then Allah created the "Nun" and He caused steam to rise out of which the heavens were created and the Earth was then laid flat on nun’s back. Then the Nun became nervous and (as a result) the earth began to sway, but (Allah) fastened (the earth) with mountains lest the earth should move ...
It was narrated by Ibn Jarir, narrated by Ibn Hamid, narrated by Ata’a, narrated by Abu Al-Dahee, narrated by Ibn Abbas who stated, "The first thing my Lord created, may He be Exalted and Glorified, was the pen and He said to it, ‘Write.’ So the pen wrote all that will be until judgment day. Then Allah created the Nun (the whale) above the waters and he pressed the Earth into its back.
Al Tabarani narrated the same hadith above (from the prophet Muhammad) who narrated from Abu Habib Zaid Al-Mahdi Al Marouzi, narrated by Sa’id Ibn Yaqub Al-Talqani, narrated by Mu’amal Ibn Ismail, narrated by Hamad Ibn Zaid, narrated by Ata’a Ibn Al Sa’ib, narrated by Abu Al Dahee Muslim Ibn Subaih, narrated by Ibn Abbas who stated that the prophet – may peace and blessing be upon him and his family - said, "The first things Allah created were the pen and the whale and He said to the pen ‘Write.’ The pen asked, ‘What shall I write?’ Allah replied, ‘Everything that shall be until judgment day.’ Then He said ‘Nun. By the Pen and by what they write.’ So Nun is the whale and al-Qalam is the pen" ...
Ibn Abu Nujaih stated that Ibrahim Ibn Abu Bakir was informed by Mujahid who said, "It was said that Nun is the great whale who is underneath the seven Earths." Furthermore, Al-Baghawy – may Allah rest his soul - and a group of commentators stated that on the back of this whale there is a great rock whose thickness is greater than the width of the heavens and the earth and above this rock is a bull that has forty thousand horns. On the body of this bull are placed the seven earths and all that they contain, and Allah knows best.Biology
Saying "Allah willing" during sex guarantees a male child
Embryology
Stages of development
According to the hadith, the embryo spends 40 days as a drop of sperm, 40 days as a clot, and then 40 days as a piece of flesh. By contrast, modern science has revealed that by day 56 the fetus is essentially a complete, though tiny, human being with all organ systems in place, and all tissues developed.
Late sex assignment
The hadith also hold that the embryo is neither male nor female until after the clot phase is reached. By contrast, modern genetics has revealed that the gender of a baby is determined at the moment of conception.
Discharge order determines sex
The hadith state that the child will inherit the gender of that parent which 'discharges first' during intercourse. Modern genetics, by contrast, has revealed that the order of discharge does not affect the child's gender.
Narrated Anas: When 'Abdullah bin Salam heard the arrival of the Prophet at Medina, he came to him and said, "I am going to ask you about three things which nobody knows except a prophet: 1)What is the first portent of the Hour? 2)What will be the first meal taken by the people of Paradise? 3)Why does a child resemble its father, and why does it resemble its maternal uncle"
Allah's Apostle said, "Gabriel has just now told me of their answers." 'Abdullah said, "He (i.e. Gabriel), from amongst all the angels, is the enemy of the Jews." Allah's Apostle said, "The first portent of the Hour will be a fire that will bring together the people from the east to the west; the first meal of the people of Paradise will be Extra-lobe (caudate lobe) of fish-liver. As for the resemblance of the child to its parents: If a man has sexual intercourse with his wife and gets discharge first, the child will resemble the father, and if the woman gets discharge first, the child will resemble her."'Nobody knows what is in the womb'
The hadith state that 'nobody knows what is in the womb'. Modern technology, however, has enabled doctors to look into the womb in great detail.
Babies cry at birth because Satan touches them
Birth marks are caused by the evil eye
Yawning is from Satan
The hadith state that Satan causes people to yawn. By contrast, modern science has revealed that yawning occurs when one's blood contains an increased amount of carbon dioxide.
Satan sleeps in one's nose at night
Oversleeping is caused by Satan urinating in one's ear
Non-Muslims have and use seven intestines
Women are deficient in intelligence
The hadith maintain that women are less intelligent than men, the reason given or this is that as a punishment for Eve's transgressions in the garden and 'betrayal of her husband', Allah decided to make women menstruate, suffer pregnancy, and lose out on intelligence. Modern science, however, has revealed no such universal deficiency in women's intelligence. Indeed, some of the smartest and most accomplished people in the world are women (e.g. Patricia Crone).
Spinal bone does not decay
The hadith state that the 'spinal bone' does not decay. Modern science, by contrast, has revealed that where as the rate at which different types of bones decay differs, all bones do in fact decay.
Some translations of this hadith opt for "coccyx" instead of "spinal bone".
Different races are made of different types of earth
The hadith state that the different races are made of different types of earth. Modern science, by contrast, has revealed that racial differences arise from genetic differences. Modern science has also revealed that humans are not made of dirt or clay.
Geology and Meteorology
Nile and Euphrates flow from heaven
Thunder is an angel driving clouds
Mountains were planted to stabilize Earth
The heat of noon rises from Hell
No one knows when it will rain
The hadith maintain that no one know when it will rain. Modern technology and meteorology, however, have enabled humans to predict the weather.
Najd earthquakes are accompanied by Satan's head
Health
There are no infectious diseases
Leprosy and Leukoderma appear only on Wednesdays
Looking at the sky during prayers causes blindness
Loving materialistic objects will cause deafness and blindness
Fever is caused by the heat of hell
Fever is caused by germs, namely bacteria. However, Muhammad believed that it is a spark from hell to punish humans.
A black spot appears on the heart of a sinning Muslim
In reality, physical changes to one's organs do not happen because of sinning.
Water is not polluted by dead dogs, menstrual clothes, etc.
Dust/soil used for ablution
Dust or soils contain germs and parasitic organism that are harmful. However, Muhammad encouraged his follower to utilize it in the case of absence of water.
Playing chess is disgusting
Recent research says that chess is a positive form of mental training:
History
There are two errors in the above hadith. The first error is that Muhammad is mentioned in Torah. The belief that Muhammad is mentioned in Torah requires too many assumptions and also a mistranslation of the Hebrew word Mahamadim. Torah never clearly predicted the birth or other events of the life of Muhammad.
The second error is about Muhammad's death. Muhammad died in 632 CE. However crooked people continued to exist.
Plague in Medina
This is a false statement. Jeddah, Mecca, Medina were swept by the Third Plague Pandemic in 1898.[1]
Muslims are the last people to arrive on earth
There are many exceptions to the above prophecy of Muhammad like Hutterites, Mennonites, Amish, Waldensians, Sikhs and Nirankaris. These ethnoreligious communities were born after Muhammad and Muslims.
Medicine
Camel urine as medicine
Urine is a waste property discharged from the body which contains toxic element. Nevertheless, Muhammad recommended it.
Black cumin cures all diseases
Herbal medicine might have medicinal properties, but it cannot cure every disease.
The wing of a housefly can cure disease
The housefly is proven to be harmful because it carries germs and parasites. However, Muhammad believed that one of its wings is curative.
Eating 7 dates can cure poison
Though dates possess certain medicinal properties, curing poison and dispelling magic are not the benefits.
Drinking honey cures diarrhea
Medicinal value in "cupping"
Scorpion stings can be cured by a spell
Skin eruptions go away with a spell
Water from truffles cures eye diseases
There are more than 100 known eye diseases,[2] each with a different pathophysiology. Hence, their cures are different. One substance cannot cure many eye diseases.
There is a claim that states, "water of truffles prevents the occurrence of fibrosis in cases of eye trachoma".[3] However, the only source for this is a Muslim scientist and no additional evidence can be found to support this claim.
Zoology
Monkeys practice stoning adulterers
See a video of a cleric talking about this event here.
Black dogs are devils
Melanin gives a foraging advantage and is heritable through a dominant gene. It has nothing to do with demons.
Crowing and braying is caused by the sight of demons
Miscellaneous
Graves of true Muslims are widened to 70 cubits and bodies of hypocrites are squeezed
There is a Gate to Heaven in the West
Muhammad claimed that Allah has created a huge gate of repentance to the west (of Arabia, presumably) and it will remain open till the Day of Judgement. However, despite our near-universal mapping of the Earth's surface and even detailed knowledge of the bodies in the solar system, we have not yet seen a trace of such a massive gate.
Sins of Mankind Darkened the Black Stone in Mecca
References
- ↑ Welford, Mark. "6". Geographies of Plague Pandemics: The Spatial-Temporal Behavior of Plague to the Modern Day. Routledge. ISBN 1315307413, 9 April 2018.
- ↑ See here
- ↑ Zaghloul El-Naggar, "Truffles Healing the Eye" (archived), http://www.elnaggarzr.com/en/main.php?id=19.
See Also
- Hadith - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Hadith
- Contradictions and Errors - A hub page that leads to other articles related to Contradictions and Errors