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Land to water ratio miracle in the Qur'an: Difference between revisions
Land to water ratio miracle in the Qur'an (view source)
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{{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=4|Language= | {{QualityScore|Lead=1|Structure=3|Content=4|Language=4|References=3}} | ||
According to some, the Qur'an describes the ratio of land to water on Earth. That is approximately 71% water and 29% land.<ref>http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/8o.html</ref> This ratio isn't stated anywhere in the Qur'an, but according to claimants, the ratio is hidden in a ratio of word counts. | According to some, the Qur'an describes the ratio of land to water on Earth. That is approximately 71% water and 29% land.<ref>http://www.physicalgeography.net/fundamentals/8o.html</ref> This ratio isn't stated anywhere in the Qur'an, but according to claimants, the ratio is hidden in a ratio of word counts. | ||
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There are '''12 occurrences''' of this word. They are all exactly the same forms. There are no prefixes, no plural and dual forms, no differences in diacritics, like in word counts for other words. And all other words from the same root have a totally different meaning. Rarely are word counts so clear | There are '''12 occurrences''' of this word. They are all exactly the same forms. There are no prefixes, no plural and dual forms, no differences in diacritics, like in word counts for other words. And all other words from the same root have a totally different meaning. Rarely are word counts so clear | ||
===Apologist | ===Apologist Extenuating Claims=== | ||
Some also count the word "creature" (ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ, ''al-bariyyati'')<ref>http://www.answering-christianity.com/land_sea_ratio_miracle.htm</ref> in these two verses: | Some apologists also count the word "creature" (ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ, ''al-bariyyati'')<ref>http://www.answering-christianity.com/land_sea_ratio_miracle.htm</ref> in these two verses: | ||
*1) The verse 98:6 which says that Christians and Jews are '''the worst of creatures''' (شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ, ''sharru albariyyati''): | *1) The verse 98:6 which says that Christians and Jews are '''the worst of creatures''' (شَرُّ ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ, ''sharru albariyyati''): | ||
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**The other translations also translate the word ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ (''al-bariyyati'') as "creatures". | **The other translations also translate the word ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ (''al-bariyyati'') as "creatures". | ||
They are counting this word because they choose to translate the word ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ (''al-bariyyati'') as "land-creatures" since it seems similar, although all the major translations translated it simply as "creatures". These apologists argues that the word ''al-bariyyati'' is derived from the same root برر (b-r-r) as the word ''al-barr'' (land) and therefore their meanings are connected. The word ٱلْبَرِيَّةِ (''al-bariyyati''), however, lacks shaddah on the ra', the double ''r''. It is derived from a completely different root برا (b-r-a). <ref>http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=(98:6:16)</ref> These words are not connected linguistically. ''al-bariyyati'' does not derive its semantic meaning from "land." Furthermore, the alternate rendition of the verse suggests verse 98:6 to mean "christians and jews are the worst of land-creatures" and the verse 98:7 to mean "muslims are the best of land-creatures", implying, which doesn't make much sense in context. | |||
Even the inclusion of these two extra words, though, fails to achieve the 29:71 ratio that is sought. | |||
==''Al-Bahr'' - sea (not water)== | ==''Al-Bahr'' - sea (not water)== | ||
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**''-a'' accusative | **''-a'' accusative | ||
This word count is questionable, because there are dual and plural forms. Should the dual be counted as | This word count is questionable, because there are dual and plural forms. Should the dual be counted as two instances or one? The arithmetic for both is as follows: | ||
*12/45 = 0.2667 that means approximately 27% land | *12/45 = 0.2667 that means approximately 27% land | ||
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27:73 is the word count ratio and 29:71 is the actual land to water ratio. They are not the same. | 27:73 is the word count ratio and 29:71 is the actual land to water ratio. They are not the same. | ||
If one attempts this with the 41 occurrences of the word "sea" in all its forms, and 12 + 41 = 53, then | If one attempts this with the 41 occurrences of the word "sea" in all its forms, and 12 + 41 = 53, then the result is: | ||
*12 / 53 = 0.2264 that means approximately 23% land | *12 / 53 = 0.2264 that means approximately 23% land | ||
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The only coincidence appears to be that there is more of the word "sea" than "land", just like there is more water than land on earth. | The only coincidence appears to be that there is more of the word "sea" than "land", just like there is more water than land on earth. | ||
==Further | ==Further Issues== | ||
Additionally, the word ''al-bahr'' means "sea" and not water. | Additionally, the word ''al-bahr'' means "sea" and not water. The scientific fact is based on the total surface of earth land and water, including lakes, enclosed seas, and river. Yet the Qur'an speaks of rivers (أَنْهَٰرٌ, ''al-anharun'') but this word is not included in the word-count "miracle." | ||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||