Scientific Errors in the Hadith: Difference between revisions
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A common criticism of the [[Hadith]], [[Scientific Errors in the Quran|as with the Quran]], is that | A common criticism of the [[Hadith]], [[Scientific Errors in the Quran|as with the Quran]], is that they contain numerous [[Islam and Science|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 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia. Modern responses typically appeal to metaphor, alternative meanings, or [[w:Phenomenology (philosophy)|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== | ==Archaeology== | ||
===Adam was a 90 foot giant=== | ===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. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|55|543}}, See also: {{Muslim|40|6809 }} and {{Muslim|32|6325}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|55|543}}, See also: {{Muslim|40|6809 }} and {{Muslim|32|6325}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: | ||
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==Astronomy== | ==Astronomy== | ||
=== | ===The sun goes under Allah's chair=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|421}}| Narrated Abu Dhar: | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|421}}| Narrated Abu Dhar: | ||
The Prophet asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. }} | The Prophet asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates Itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return whence it has come and so it will rise in the west. }} | ||
===The | ===The sun prostrates=== | ||
{{Quote|{{muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it '''the Sun glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate''' and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out from its rising place and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything ( unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out from the place of your setting, and it will rise from the place of its setting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | {{Quote|{{muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it '''the Sun glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate''' and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out from its rising place and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything ( unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out from the place of your setting, and it will rise from the place of its setting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | ||
=== | ===The sun rises between the horns of Satan=== | ||
{{Quote|{{muslim|4|1807}}|Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not intend to observe prayer at the time of the rising of the sun nor at its setting, for it rises between the horns of Satan.}} | {{Quote|{{muslim|4|1807}}|Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: Do not intend to observe prayer at the time of the rising of the sun nor at its setting, for it rises between the horns of Satan.}} | ||
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The Prophet said, "The sun and the moon will be folded up deprived of their light on the Day of Resurrection." }} | The Prophet said, "The sun and the moon will be folded up deprived of their light on the Day of Resurrection." }} | ||
=== | ===Eclipses occur to scare humankind=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|18|158}}| Narrated Abu Bakra: Allah's Apostle said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone but Allah frightens His devotees with them." }} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|18|158}}| Narrated Abu Bakra: Allah's Apostle said: "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah and they do not eclipse because of the death of someone but Allah frightens His devotees with them." }} | ||
=== | ===There are giant goats in space=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Abudawud|40|4705}}| | {{Quote|{{Abudawud|40|4705}}| | ||
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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 that }} | 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 that }} | ||
===Earth rests on a whale=== | ===Earth rests on a cosmic whale=== | ||
The | 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. | ||
{{Quote|1=[http://quran.al-islam.com/Tafseer/DispTafsser.asp?l=arb&taf=KATHEER&nType=1&nSora=68&nAya=1 Tafsir Ibn-Kathir]|2=It was said that '''Nun refers to a great whale''' that rides on the currents of the waters of the great ocean and '''on its back it carries the severn Earths''', as was stated by Imam Abu Jafar Ibn Jarir. Narrated by Ibn Bashar, narrated by Yahya, narrated by Sufyan Al-Thuri, narrated by Sulayman Al-Amash, narrated by Abu Thubian, narrated by Ibn Abbas who related, "The first thing that Allah created was the pen and He said to it ‘Write’. The pen asked, ‘What shall I write?’ Allah said, ‘Write (the) fate (of everything).’ So the pen wrote everything that shall be from that moment until judgment day. | {{Quote|1=[http://quran.al-islam.com/Tafseer/DispTafsser.asp?l=arb&taf=KATHEER&nType=1&nSora=68&nAya=1 Tafsir Ibn-Kathir]|2=It was said that '''Nun refers to a great whale''' that rides on the currents of the waters of the great ocean and '''on its back it carries the severn Earths''', as was stated by Imam Abu Jafar Ibn Jarir. Narrated by Ibn Bashar, narrated by Yahya, narrated by Sufyan Al-Thuri, narrated by Sulayman Al-Amash, narrated by Abu Thubian, narrated by Ibn Abbas who related, "The first thing that Allah created was the pen and He said to it ‘Write’. The pen asked, ‘What shall I write?’ Allah said, ‘Write (the) fate (of everything).’ So the pen wrote everything that shall be from that moment until judgment day. | ||
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===Saying "Allah willing" during sex guarantees a male child=== | ===Saying "Allah willing" during sex guarantees a male child=== | ||
{{Quote| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|52|74}}|Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Once Solomon, son of David said, '(By Allah) Tonight I will have sexual intercourse with one hundred (or ninety-nine) women each of whom will give birth to a knight who will fight in Allah's Cause.' On that a (i.e. if Allah wills) but he did not say, 'Allah willing [''inshaAllah''].' Therefore only one of those women conceived and gave birth to a half-man. By Him in Whose Hands Muhammad's life is, if he had said, "Allah willing', (he would have begotten sons) all of whom would have been knights striving in Allah's Cause."}} | ||
===Embryology=== | |||
===Embryology | |||
====Stages of development==== | ====Stages of development==== | ||
According to | 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. | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|430}}, See also: {{Bukhari|4|55|549}}, {{Bukhari|8|77|593}}, {{Bukhari|9|93|546}}, and {{Muslim|33|6390}}|Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mus'ud: | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|430}}, See also: {{Bukhari|4|55|549}}, {{Bukhari|8|77|593}}, {{Bukhari|9|93|546}}, and {{Muslim|33|6390}}|Narrated 'Abdullah bin Mus'ud: | ||
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“Allah's Apostle, the true and truly inspired said, "(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period.”}} | “Allah's Apostle, the true and truly inspired said, "(The matter of the Creation of) a human being is put together in the womb of the mother in forty days, and then he becomes a clot of thick blood for a similar period, and then a piece of flesh for a similar period.”}} | ||
==== | ====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. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|77|594}}, See also: {{Bukhari|4|55|550}}, and {{Muslim|33|6397}}|Narrated Anas bin Malik: | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|8|77|594}}, See also: {{Bukhari|4|55|550}}, and {{Muslim|33|6397}}|Narrated Anas bin Malik: | ||
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“The Prophet said, "Allah puts an angel in charge of the uterus and the angel says, 'O Lord, (it is) semen! O Lord, (it is now) a clot! O Lord, (it is now) a piece of flesh.' And then, if Allah wishes to complete its creation, the angel asks, 'O Lord, (will it be) a male or a female?”}} | “The Prophet said, "Allah puts an angel in charge of the uterus and the angel says, 'O Lord, (it is) semen! O Lord, (it is now) a clot! O Lord, (it is now) a piece of flesh.' And then, if Allah wishes to complete its creation, the angel asks, 'O Lord, (will it be) a male or a female?”}} | ||
==== | ====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. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|55|546}}| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|55|546}}| | ||
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: | 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: | ||
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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."'''}} | 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. | |||
{{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." }} | ||
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'''The Prophet said, “When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers''', except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead.”|}} | '''The Prophet said, “When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers''', except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead.”|}} | ||
{{Quote|2=Narrated | {{Quote|2=Narrated Sa`id bin Al-Musaiyab: | ||
Abu Huraira said, "I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, 'There is none born among the off-spring of Adam, but Satan touches it. '''A child therefore, cries loudly at the time of birth because of the touch of Satan, except Mary and her child.'''" Then Abu Huraira recited: "And I seek refuge with You for her and for her offspring from the outcast Satan" (3.36)|{{Bukhari|4|55|641}}}}{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|506}}|Narrated Abu Huraira: | |||
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "When any human being is born. Satan touches him at both sides of the body with his two fingers, '''except Jesus, the son of Mary, whom Satan tried to touch but failed, for he touched the placenta-cover instead'''."}} | |||
===Birth marks are caused by the evil eye=== | ===Birth marks are caused by the evil eye=== | ||
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===Yawning is from Satan=== | ===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. | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|509}}| “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Yawning is from Satan and if anyone of you yawns, he should check his yawning as much as possible, for if anyone of you (during the act of yawning) should say: 'Ha', Satan will laugh at him."}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|54|509}}| “Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Yawning is from Satan and if anyone of you yawns, he should check his yawning as much as possible, for if anyone of you (during the act of yawning) should say: 'Ha', Satan will laugh at him."}} | ||
===Satan sleeps in | ===Satan sleeps in one's nose at night=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|2|462}}|Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|2|462}}|Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. When any one of you awakes up from sleep and performs ablution, he must clean his nose three times, for the devil spends the night in the interior of his nose.}} | ||
===Oversleeping is caused by Satan urinating in | ===Oversleeping is caused by Satan urinating in one's ear=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|21|245}}|Narrated 'Abdullah : | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|2|21|245}}|Narrated 'Abdullah : | ||
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A person was mentioned before the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and he was told that he had kept on sleeping till morning and had not got up for the prayer. The Prophet said, "Satan urinated in his ears."}} | A person was mentioned before the Prophet (p.b.u.h) and he was told that he had kept on sleeping till morning and had not got up for the prayer. The Prophet said, "Satan urinated in his ears."}} | ||
===Non-Muslims have | ===Non-Muslims have and use seven intestines=== | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|23|5113}}, | {{Quote|{{Muslim|23|5113}}, {{Muwatta|49||9}}, &{{Muwatta|49||10}}|Ibn 'Umar reported Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying that a non-Muslim eats in seven intestines whereas a Muslim eats in one intestine.}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|23|5120}}|Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) invited a non-Muslim. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that a goat be milked for him. It was milked and he drank its milk. Then the second one was milked and he drank its milk, and then the other one was milked and he drank its milk. till he drank the milk of seven goats. On the next morning he embraced Islam. And Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that a goat should be milked for him and he drank its milk and then another was milked but he did not finish it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A believer drinks In one intestine whereas a non-believer drinks in seven intestines.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|23|5120}}|Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) invited a non-Muslim. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that a goat be milked for him. It was milked and he drank its milk. Then the second one was milked and he drank its milk, and then the other one was milked and he drank its milk. till he drank the milk of seven goats. On the next morning he embraced Islam. And Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) commanded that a goat should be milked for him and he drank its milk and then another was milked but he did not finish it, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A believer drinks In one intestine whereas a non-believer drinks in seven intestines.}} |
Revision as of 00:23, 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
Muhammad claimed all women are deficient in intelligence.
The reason for this is that Allah decided to make all women menstruate, suffer pregnancy and become stupid as a punishment for Eve's transgressions in the garden.
Spinal bone does not decay
Some translations of this hadith say "coccyx" instead of "spinal bone".
This claim has no factual basis. All bones of buried vertebrates decay over time; only their rate of decay varies.
Races and physical diversity in men are because of different materials used to create Adam
Races depend on genes and adaptation in humans. It has nothing to do with materials of the earth.
Geology and Meteorology
Nile and Euphrates rivers flow from heaven
Thunder is an Angel Who Drives Clouds to Specific Places
Mountains were Fixed into Earth to Prevent it from Shaking
Noon heat is from hell-fire
According to several hadiths, the scorching harsh desert heat is from hell when it rages.
No one knows when it will rain
This hadith says nobody knows when it will rain. This is false. We have weather forecasts which generally predict climate conditions correctly.
Earthquakes in Najd region are accompanied by the rising of Satan's head
Health
There are no infectious diseases
Here, Muhammad claims that all diseases are afflictions from Allah and they are predetermined. He believed diseases do not spread from one individual to another.
Leprosy and Leukoderma appear only on Wednesdays
Diseases do not happen on any specific day of the week.
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