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'''The Islamic whale''' (in Arabic الحوت الإسلامي, ''al-hoot al-islami''), is a mythological creature described in Islamic texts that carries the Earth on its back. It is also called Nun (نون), which is also the name of the Arabic letter "n" ن. Two alternative names of the whale are Liwash and Lutiaya.<ref> | '''The Islamic whale''' (in Arabic الحوت الإسلامي, ''al-hoot al-islami''), is a mythological creature described in Islamic texts that carries the Earth on its back. It is also called Nun (نون), which is also the name of the Arabic letter "n" ن. Two alternative names of the whale are Liwash and Lutiaya.<ref> | ||
Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs: "And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. '''The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya''''; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called 'Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah's name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam" | Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs: "And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. '''The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya''''; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called 'Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah's name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam" | ||
http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2</ref> The details behind the mentioning of this creature | http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=73&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2</ref> The details behind the mentioning of this creature are unclear. The name Nun is derived from one of the [[Huruf Muqatta'at (Disjointed Letters in the Qur'an)|mysterious letters]] which appear before the start of certain surahs in the Quran. However, the whale does feature in [[Hadith]] and [[Tafseer|Tafsir]] explanations of verses. The concept appears to be of Jewish origin.<ref>See the section "The possible origins of the Whale" towards the end of the article [https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/the-nun-whale-and-its-origins-in-early-islam/ The Nun whale and it’s origins in early Islam]</ref> | ||
From all of the earliest Sunni and Shi'a sources today available to us, it does appear that the earliest Muslims believed the letter "nun" in the Qur'an surah 68:1 refers to a giant whale upon whose back the entire earth rests. This belief is attributed by numerous Islamic scholars of high repute to "tarjumaan al-qur'an", Ibn Abbas, and was mentioned thereafter by many trusted Islamic scholars all the way up until the 19th century - though they mention it alongside other different interpretations. According to this cosmography, the earth is (actually the 7 earths are) attached to the back of the whale by means of the mountains, which are pegs to balance the earth upon the Nun's back. This cosmography fits in with a widespread ancient belief that the world was balanced upon the back of giant animals, and the even more primordial belief that the world is surrounded by a giant, unending body of water. | |||
==Nun in the Qur'an== | ==Nun in the Qur'an== | ||
The letter nun appears in the verse 68:1<ref>نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe {{Quran|68|1}}</ref> as one of the [[Huruf Muqatta'at (Disjointed Letters in the Qur'an)|mysterious letters (muqattaʿat)]] which appear before the start of 29 surahs in the Quran (for example alif lam mim before Surah al-Baqarah). One popular theory to explain these letters was proposed by Theodor Nöldeke, that they were simply an indication of the scribes or owners of the sheets for those surahs when the Quran was first compiled. | |||
Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe, | |||
Most respected scholars of Islam (Ibn Kathir, At-Tabari, Al-Qurtubi and others including Al-Jalalayn) reported the belief that Nun refers to a whale that carries the Earth on its back:<ref>Al-Jalalayn on 21:87 | |||
*ذَا ٱلنُّونِ } صاحب الحوت} | *ذَا ٱلنُّونِ } صاحب الحوت} | ||
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</ref> | </ref> | ||
Word-by-word translation: | Word-by-word translation of the Qur'anic verse: | ||
*نٓ - ''noon'' - the name of the whale | *نٓ - ''noon'' - the name of the whale | ||
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*يَسْطُرُونَ - ''yasturoona'' - they write | *يَسْطُرُونَ - ''yasturoona'' - they write | ||
There is not much information in the Qur'an ipso facto, but it is necessary to have an understanding of this idea in order to understand much of the traditional interpretation of the Qur'an. For example, in verse 21:87 Jonah is called "man of the Nun", which has been interpreted as meaning that he was eaten by a whale<ref>And [mention] the man of <nowiki>'''</nowiki>the fish<nowiki>'''</nowiki> (ٱلنُّونِ, <nowiki>''</nowiki>al-noon<nowiki>''</nowiki>), when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." | There is not much information in the Qur'an ipso facto, but it is necessary to have an understanding of this idea in order to understand much of the traditional interpretation of the Qur'an and early Islamic cosmography. For example, in verse 21:87 Jonah is called "man of the Nun", which has been interpreted as meaning that he was eaten by a whale<ref>And [mention] the man of <nowiki>'''</nowiki>the fish<nowiki>'''</nowiki> (ٱلنُّونِ, <nowiki>''</nowiki>al-noon<nowiki>''</nowiki>), when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." | ||
{{Quran|21|87}}</ref><ref>http://biblehub.com/library/marshall/the_wonder_book_of_bible_stories/the_story_of_jonah_and.htm</ref>: | {{Quran|21|87}}</ref><ref>http://biblehub.com/library/marshall/the_wonder_book_of_bible_stories/the_story_of_jonah_and.htm</ref>: | ||
==Relevant Quotations== | ==Relevant Quotations== | ||
Surah 68 famously begins with the letter nun (نٓ), one of 29 surahs that begin with mysterious letters (muqattaʿat). | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|68|1}}|نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ<br>Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe. | {{Quote|{{Quran|68|1}}|نٓ وَٱلْقَلَمِ وَمَا يَسْطُرُونَ<br>Nun. By the pen and what they inscribe. | ||
}} | }} | ||
A Fish/Whale (l-ḥūt الحوت) which swallowed Yunus (Jonah) is mentioned in the same chapter: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|68|48}}|Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of '''the fish''' (الحوت) when he called out while he was distressed. | {{Quote|{{Quran|68|48}}|Then be patient for the decision of your Lord, [O Muhammad], and be not like the companion of '''the fish''' (الحوت) when he called out while he was distressed. | ||
}} | }} | ||
Another surah mentions al-nun (ٱلنُّونِ), which is how the letter nun (نٓ) is spoken. The verse was understood to be a reference to the creature which swallowed Yunus (Jonah): | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|21|87}}|And [mention] the man of '''the fish''' (ٱلنُّونِ, ''al-nun''), when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."}} | |||
==Hadiths== | |||
In a lengthy hadith, a Jew tests Muhammad's knowledge on a number of questions. One of these concerns the food of the people of paradise. The word translated "the fish" is actually al-nun. Muhammad answers that they will eat the caudate lobe of liver of "al-nun" (قَالَ زِيَادَةُ كَبِدِ النُّونِ). In addition they will eat a bull which grazes around paradise. | |||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|3|614}}|Thauban, the freed slave of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said: | |||
While I was standing beside the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) one of the rabbis of the Jews came and said: Peace be upon you, O Muhammad. [...] | |||
The Jew said: What would constitute their breakfast when they would enter Paradise? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: '''A caul of the fish-liver'''. He (the Jew) said. What would be their food alter this? He (the Holy Prophet) said: '''A bullock which was fed in the different quarters of Paradise would be slaughtered for them.''' [...] | |||
The Jew said: What you have said is true; verily you are an Apostle. He then returned and went away. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He asked me about such and such things of which I have had no knowledge till Allah gave me that.}} | |||
Ibn Hajar in his famous commentary on on Sahih al-Bukhari (Fath al Bari) mentions this hadith regarding al-nun, adding that "Al-Tabari mentioned through al-Dahhak on the authority of Ibn Abbas, he said, 'The bull butts the whale with its horn, so the people of Paradise eat from it, then it is resurrected and the bull is slaughtered with its tail, and they eat it, then it is resurrected and this process continues'". | |||
A number of narrations reported from companions (particularly Ibn Abbas) mention the nun as a giant whale beneath the earth. A giant bull also features in some of these narrations. These concepts can be seen also in early Jewish texts, probably including the Apocalypse of Abraham (2nd century CE). For details of the above, see [https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/the-nun-whale-and-its-origins-in-early-islam/ this article]. | |||
==Tafsir Ibn Kathir== | |||
Ibn Kathir lists three different interpretations and spends a good bit of text on the first interpretation which can be summarized as: In the beginning, Allah created the pen before all else. The pen asked "what do I write" and Allah told it to write the letter ن "nun" or "N" which is actually a whale upon whose back he balanced the entire world: | |||
{{Quote|Tafsir of Ibn Kathir on the verse 68:1|كَمَا قَالَ الْإِمَام أَبُو جَعْفَر بْن جَرِير حَدَّثَنَا اِبْن بَشَّار حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَان هُوَ الثَّوْرِيّ حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَان هُوَ الْأَعْمَش عَنْ أَبِي ظَبْيَان عَنْ اِبْن عَبَّاس قَالَ : أَوَّل مَا خَلَقَ اللَّه الْقَلَم قَالَ اُكْتُبْ قَالَ وَمَاذَا أَكْتَب ؟ قَالَ اُكْتُبْ الْقَدَر فَجَرَى بِمَا يَكُون مِنْ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْم إِلَى قِيَام السَّاعَة ثُمَّ خَلَقَ النُّون وَرَفَعَ بُخَار الْمَاء فَفُتِقَتْ مِنْهُ السَّمَاء وَبُسِطَتْ الْأَرْض عَلَى ظَهْر النُّون فَاضْطَرَبَ النُّون فَمَادَتْ الْأَرْض فَأُثْبِتَتْ بِالْجِبَالِ فَإِنَّهَا لَتَفْخَر عَلَى الْأَرْض | |||
"As The Imam Abu Ja'afar ibn Jareer told said (so) told user ibn Bashaar, so told us Yahya so told us Sufyaan ِAl-Thawri so told use Sulimaan who is the sticky-eyed(al-a'mash) from Abi Zabyaan from ibn 'Abbaas who said "The first thing that Allah created is the pen, it said "What do I write" Allah said "write the fate of existence all that will happen from this day until the day of judgement, then Allah created the "Nun" and raised the mist of the water and rent it from the sky and spread the earth on the back of the Nun. The Nun was disturbed and the earth was extended and earth was fixed in place with the mountains, verily they are the pride (of Allah) upon the earth." }} | |||
===Hadith from Ibn Abbas, the turjuman ul-Qur'an=== | ===Hadith from Ibn Abbas, the turjuman ul-Qur'an=== | ||
Another variation of this hadith from At-Tabari: | Another variation of this hadith from At-Tabari: | ||
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From Ibn Abbas (ابنِ عباسٍ), who said: The first thing Allah (اللهُ) created was the pen (القلمُ), so he told it: "Write!" (اكتب) And it wrote what will happen until the Hour (Day of Judgement), then he created the Nun (النون) above (فوق) water (الماءِ), then He pressed (كبس) the Earth (الأرضَ) on it (عليه). | From Ibn Abbas (ابنِ عباسٍ), who said: The first thing Allah (اللهُ) created was the pen (القلمُ), so he told it: "Write!" (اكتب) And it wrote what will happen until the Hour (Day of Judgement), then he created the Nun (النون) above (فوق) water (الماءِ), then He pressed (كبس) the Earth (الأرضَ) on it (عليه). | ||
}} | }} | ||
The hadith (narration) by Ibn Abbas (collected by At-Tabari) is considered صحيح (sahih)<ref name="abbas"></ref>, which means it is considered to be an authentic narration in the traditional estimation of hadith. According to the tradition Ibn Abbas holds a special place in the scheme of hadith preservers, for Muhammad made du'a(prayer) for Ibn Abbas, so that Allah would teach him the true interpretation of the Qur'an. Ibn Abbas was also called ''turjuman ul-Qur'an'' (ترجمان القرآن), because he had deep knowledge about the interpretation (''tarjama'', literally translation) of the revelations. | The hadith (narration) by Ibn Abbas (collected by At-Tabari) is considered صحيح (sahih)<ref name="abbas"></ref>, which means it is considered to be an authentic narration in the traditional estimation of hadith. According to the tradition Ibn Abbas holds a special place in the scheme of hadith preservers, for Muhammad made du'a(prayer) for Ibn Abbas, so that Allah would teach him the true interpretation of the Qur'an. Ibn Abbas was also called ''turjuman ul-Qur'an'' (ترجمان القرآن) id est "translator of the Qur'an", because he had such a deep knowledge about the interpretation (''tarjama'', literally translation) of the revelations. | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92|375}}|Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (raa): The Prophet (saws) embraced me and said, “O Allah! Teach him (the knowledge of) the Book (Quran).”}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92|375}}|Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas (raa): The Prophet (saws) embraced me and said, “O Allah! Teach him (the knowledge of) the Book (Quran).”}} | ||
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78:7 And the mountains as pegs? | 78:7 And the mountains as pegs? | ||
}} | }} | ||
It also explains why Allah's throne is "on water" (because Allah created the heavens out of water): | It also explains why Allah's throne is "on water" (because Allah created the heavens out of water): | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|11|7}}|And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and '''His Throne had been upon water'''}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|11|7}}|And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and '''His Throne had been upon water'''}} | ||
==Tafsir | ==Tafsir Al-Tabari== | ||
At-Tabari | At-Tabari mentions several interpretations. One of them is this: | ||
{{Quote|At-Tabari tafsir on 68:1 <ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | {{Quote|At-Tabari tafsir on 68:1 <ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>|هو الحوت الذي عليه الأرَضُون | ||
هو الحوت الذي عليه الأرَضُون | |||
It is | It is a whale (الحوت), which on it the Earths. | ||
}} | }} | ||
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They are placed on the whale like flapjacks on a plate, stacked one atop the other. | They are placed on the whale like flapjacks on a plate, stacked one atop the other. | ||
== | ==Tafsir Al-Qurtubi== | ||
Al-Qurtubi mentions several interpretations. One of them is that the Nun is the whale which is under the 7th (lowest) Earth: | |||
{{Quote|Tafsir Al-Qurtubi on 68:1 <ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=5&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | {{Quote|Tafsir Al-Qurtubi on 68:1 <ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=5&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>|نۤ> الحوت الذي تحت الأرض السابعة><br> | ||
نۤ> الحوت الذي تحت الأرض السابعة><br> | |||
<Nun> - the whale (الحوت), which is | |||
<Nun> - the whale (الحوت), which is under the Earth the seventh. | |||
}} | }} | ||
From his use of the word "tahat" or "under" it can be surmised that in Al-Qurtubi's cosmology the earth is seen as flat. | From his use of the word "tahat" or "under" it can be surmised that in Al-Qurtubi's cosmology the earth is seen as flat. | ||
==ِTafsir Al-Kabir (by | ==ِTafsir Al-Kabir (by Al-Razi)== | ||
{{Quote|Tafsir Al-Kabir on 68:1<ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=4&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | {{Quote|Tafsir Al-Kabir on 68:1<ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=4&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | ||
بالحوت الذي على ظهره الأرض وهو في بحر تحت الأرض السفلى | بالحوت الذي على ظهره الأرض وهو في بحر تحت الأرض السفلى | ||
..with the whale (بالحوت) which over its back | |||
..with the whale (بالحوت) which over its back is the Earth and it is in the sea under the Earth (الأرض) the lowest. | |||
}} | }} | ||
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==ِTafsir Fath Al-Qadir (by Shawkani)== | ==ِTafsir Fath Al-Qadir (by Shawkani)== | ||
This tafsir is from the 18th century | This tafsir is from the 18th century and it mentions several interpretations. One of them is the idea that the world is carried on the back of a whale: | ||
{{Quote|Fath Al-Qadir on 68:1<ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=9&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | {{Quote|Fath Al-Qadir on 68:1<ref>http://altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=9&tSoraNo=68&tAyahNo=1&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1</ref>| | ||
هو الحوت الذي يحمل الأرض | هو الحوت الذي يحمل الأرض | ||
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==The Qur'anic Cosmology vis-à-vis Modern Science== | ==The Qur'anic Cosmology vis-à-vis Modern Science== | ||
The world view evinced in the tasfir is one fundamentally at odds with the modern, scientific understanding of cosmology, earth sciences and geology. The authors of the tafsir tradition and the Qur'an seem to have been operating on the assumption that the earth that the human race inhabits is flat, and moreover it is only one of many different earths. The belief that the world is balanced on the back of a giant cosmological animal is not peculiar to Islam--witness the Hindu tradition of Akupāra (Sanskrit: अकूपार), also know as Kurma and Chukwa, the giant tortoise who supports the 16 elephants who hold up the world, or the Chinese myth of the sea turtle Ao whose sawed off legs prop up the world. The idea of a giant animal holding up the world is a myth found in many pre-scientific | The world view evinced in the tasfir is one fundamentally at odds with the modern, scientific understanding of cosmology, earth sciences and geology. The authors of the tafsir tradition and the Qur'an seem to have been operating on the assumption that the earth that the human race inhabits is flat, and moreover it is only one of many different earths. The belief that the world is balanced on the back of a giant cosmological animal is not peculiar to Islam--witness the Hindu tradition of Akupāra (Sanskrit: अकूपार), also know as Kurma and Chukwa, the giant tortoise who supports the 16 elephants who hold up the world, or the Chinese myth of the sea turtle Ao whose sawed off legs prop up the world. The idea of a giant animal holding up the world is a myth found in many pre-scientific cultures. | ||
==Other interpretations of Nun== | ==Other interpretations of Nun== | ||
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==="ن is a letter of the alphabet"=== | ==="ن is a letter of the alphabet"=== | ||
ن ("n") is a letter of the Arabic alphabet called نون (Nun). Many | ن ("n") is a letter of the Arabic alphabet called نون (Nun). Many surahs in the Qur'an actually start with mysterious letters that don't have any immediate meaning. This does beg the question of what these letters mean in the first place, and from the perspective of a believing Muslim why Allah would start his revelations out with random letters, but considering it does fall into an accepted Qur'anic pattern it does at least offer an explanation for its presense. Another point is the word following the Nun, "walqalami" "by the pen." The Arabic formation for oaths and swears is to add و "wa" a particle meaning generally "and" to a noun in the majruur (genetive) case, producing the swearing oath: "والله" "wallahi" "by God!" "والشمس" "washamsi" "by the sun!" etc. Since the word "qalam" or "pen" is in the genitive case, it should be understood to be a swear, and this seems likely. It should however be remembered that the original "rasm" or consonantal text for the Qur'an lacked the vowel markings which in this case marks the word as being in the genitive. The original text thus might not have had this word in the genitive case, in which case the meaning would simply be "and the pen." It is thus possible that in the original the "wa" functioned simply as an "and" and the original meaning was thus simply "(the letter) nun, and the pen, and what they write." | ||
==="N" in "Ar-Rahmaa'''n'''"=== | ==="N" in "Ar-Rahmaa'''n'''"=== | ||
The word الرحمن, Ar-Rahman, "the gracious" is one of the titles of Allah. The 13th sura starts with three letters الر, and a few suras start with the letters حم (see the comment on random letters at the beginning of | The word الرحمن, Ar-Rahman, "the gracious" is one of the titles of Allah. The 13th sura starts with three letters الر, and a few suras start with the letters حم (see the comment on random letters at the beginning of surahs above). Putting these together produces الر + حم + ن= الرحمن "Ar-rahmaan." | ||
*The word Ar-Rahman is nowadays actually written as الرحمان, but in the old Uthmani script it was written without the ا (alif) before the ن. It was added later, to indicate the "aa" vowel. | *The word Ar-Rahman is nowadays actually written as الرحمان, but in the old Uthmani script it was written without the ا (alif) before the ن. It was added later, to indicate the "aa" vowel. | ||
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==="Allah knows best"=== | ==="Allah knows best"=== | ||
"[[Allah knows best]]", in other words "the author knows what he meant", is an explanation offered by some Muslim commentators, indicating that even with the traditional narrative understanding this | "[[Allah knows best]]", in other words "the author knows what he meant", is an explanation offered by some Muslim commentators, indicating that even with the traditional narrative understanding the mysterious letters at the start of this surah and others is difficult topic. | ||
==Modern Muslim Scholarly and Apologetic Views== | ==Modern Muslim Scholarly and Apologetic Views== | ||
Today, Muslim scholars<ref>https://islamqa.info/en/114861</ref>, realizing how at odds this cosmography of giant animals and oceans is with modern science, have attempted to refute the reliability of the traditional whale interpretation. | |||
===It's not in the Qur'an=== | ===It's not in the Qur'an=== | ||
The letter Nun appears at the start of surah 68 al-Qalam and it was used in spelled out form in another verse 21:87 to mean "whale". However, it is not clearly stated in the Qur'an that Nun is the whale which carries the Earth on its back. The Qur'an speaks about mountains being like pegs, which may support the "whale cosmology" and the two are linked in one version of the hadith. If there is nothing under the Earth, then there is no reason for mountains to function as pegs. | |||
When something is not in the Qur'an, then it doesn't mean it was never a part of Islam. The "5 pillars of Islam" are also not described in the Qur'an and they are considered to be a part of Islam. Islam (or at least the mainstream Islam) is derived from the Qur'an, hadith and sira. At one time, the whale was part of Islamic cosmography until knowledge improved and this became unsustainable. | |||
===The strength of the hadith ''mawqoof''=== | ===The strength of the hadith ''mawqoof''=== | ||
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===Only the early scholars believed it=== | ===Only the early scholars believed it=== | ||
It's sometimes claimed that only early scholars believed this, a strange claim considering that antiquity usually validates rather than invalidates views and doctrines in Islamic theology and jurisprudence. This view is, | It's sometimes claimed that only early scholars believed this, a strange claim considering that antiquity usually validates rather than invalidates views and doctrines in Islamic theology and jurisprudence. This view is, incidentally, not entirely accurate so far as it goes, as the idea of the earth-bearing whale was mentioned even by the prominent Yemeni Sunni Islamic scholar, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Shawkani Al-Shawkani] who died in the year 1834 CE who wrote about it in his commentary on this verse. | ||
=== | ===Jewish Origins=== | ||
There are some modern claims that this story/doctrine comes from Judaism. Neither the Bible, Talmud, targums, Mishnah | There are some modern claims that this story/doctrine comes from Judaism. Neither the Bible, Talmud, targums, Mishnah mentions the idea of the earth-bearing whale, although as mentioned above, the ''Apocalypse of Abraham'' may be an antecendant to the concept as well as the giant bull. There is also a myth of a big sea monster called "Leviathan" in the Bible: | ||
{{Quote|Isiah 27:1| | {{Quote|Isiah 27:1| | ||
In that day, | In that day, | ||
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===Ibn Abbas Receiving the Story from the Jews=== | ===Ibn Abbas Receiving the Story from the Jews=== | ||
Some modern | Some modern Islamic scholars attribute this story to Jewish sources, basing this idea on the fact that ibn Abbas often took and retold Jewish stories. Interestingly, there exist sahih hadiths which appear to permit exactly this sort of re-narration: | ||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|56|667}}|Narrated `Abdullah bin `Amr: | ||
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "'''Convey (my teachings)''' to the people even if it were a single sentence, and '''tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you)''', for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire."}} | The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "'''Convey (my teachings)''' to the people even if it were a single sentence, and '''tell others the stories of Bani Israel (which have been taught to you)''', for it is not sinful to do so. And whoever tells a lie on me intentionally, will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire."}} | ||
This hadith | This hadith appears to allow taking stories from Jewish sources. In the phrase "of Bani Israel" (عَنْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ), the word عن can mean both "from" and "about". Some Islamic scholars contest that this, coupled with the fact that the beginning of the hadith reads, literally translated, "convey from me" (بلغوا عني), it is more likely that Muhammad's message is to narration stories ''about'' Jews ''from'' Islamic sources. | ||
Fath ul-Bari says in his commentary: | Fath ul-Bari says in his commentary: | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Still, at the same time, some competing Islamic scholars argue that there is not anything wrong with taking Jewish stories from and retelling them for Muslims with an Islamic spin - with modern historians note, In fact, that where a Jewish or Christian narrative on any given topic, the Quran usually reiterates this with some changes made suitable to Islamic theology. | |||
Those scholars arguing against the validity of the biblical references often couple the foregoing hadith with another hadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari, from the chapter entitled “Do not ask the people of the Scripture about anything”: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92|460}}, book 96, chapter | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92|460}}, book 96, chapter "Do not ask the people of the Scripture about anything"| | ||
Narrated Abu Huraira: | Narrated Abu Huraira: | ||
The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to the Muslims). "Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' " | The people of the Book used to read the Torah in Hebrew and then explain it in Arabic to the Muslims. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said (to the Muslims). "Do not believe the people of the Book, nor disbelieve them, but say, 'We believe in Allah and whatever is revealed to us, and whatever is revealed to you.' " | ||
}} | }} | ||
Islamic scholars are again divided on the interpretation of this hadith. Some argue that Muslims should ignore the Jews, because some of the Jewish stories are right, while others are wrong.. Other scholars emphasize the final part of the hadith with says Muslims ought to believe in whatever was revealed to the Jews, and thereby arrive at the conclusion that narrating from them is acceptable. | |||
Imam Shafi'i, for instance, explicitly prohibits retelling the "lies" of the Jewish traditions: | |||
{{Quote|Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, Fathul Bari, Kitab: Ahaadeeth Al 'Anbiyaa', Bab: Ma Thakr 'an Bani Israel <ref>https://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?bk_no=52&ID=2078&idfrom=6279&idto=6300&bookid=52&startno=8</ref>| | {{Quote|Ibn Hajar Al Asqalani, Fathul Bari, Kitab: Ahaadeeth Al 'Anbiyaa', Bab: Ma Thakr 'an Bani Israel <ref>https://library.islamweb.net/newlibrary/display_book.php?bk_no=52&ID=2078&idfrom=6279&idto=6300&bookid=52&startno=8</ref>| | ||
من المعلوم أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يجيز التحدث بالكذب ، فالمعنى حدثوا عن بني إسرائيل بما لا تعلمون كذبه ، وأما ما تجوزونه فلا حرج عليكم في التحدث به عنهم [ ص: 576 ] وهو نظير قوله : إذا حدثكم أهل الكتاب فلا تصدقوهم ولا تكذبوهم ولم يرد الإذن ولا المنع من التحدث بما يقطع بصدقه | من المعلوم أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم لا يجيز التحدث بالكذب ، فالمعنى حدثوا عن بني إسرائيل بما لا تعلمون كذبه ، وأما ما تجوزونه فلا حرج عليكم في التحدث به عنهم [ ص: 576 ] وهو نظير قوله : إذا حدثكم أهل الكتاب فلا تصدقوهم ولا تكذبوهم ولم يرد الإذن ولا المنع من التحدث بما يقطع بصدقه | ||
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}} | }} | ||
Another important quote from Ibn Abbas himself is also found in the chapter “Do not ask the people of the Scripture about anything”, however. This narration appears to cast doubt on the idea that ibn Abbas was in the habit of taking stories from the Jews: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92| | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|9|92|461}}, book 96, chapter '''"Do not ask the people of the Scripture about anything"'''| | ||
Narrated Ubaidullah: | Narrated Ubaidullah: | ||
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}} | }} | ||
===It Was Ibn Abbas’s Personal Opinion=== | |||
Some modern Islamic scholars argue that Ibn Abbas was sharing his personal views on cosmology. In the hadiths themselves, by contrast, Ibn Abbas attributes the story directly to Allah. This would create two primary issues with the credibility of Ibn Abbas from an Islamic theological standpoint, if these Islamic scholars are correct, namely: | |||
1) That lying about Allah is forbidden: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|11|18}}|And who is more unjust than he who invents a lie about Allah? Those will be presented before their Lord, and the witnesses will say, "These are the ones who lied against their Lord." Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.}} | |||
2) And that attributing stories to Allah without knowledge is forbidden and an act of Satan: | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|2|168|169}}| O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy. He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know.}}A position that entails Ibn Abbas did both of the above things would appear to collide with the Islamic doctrine regarding the unerring reliability of Muhammad's [[companions]] as narrators. | |||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
[[Cosmology of the Quran]] | |||
==External Links== | |||
*The Masked Arab - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVhsVjXJzKM Islam & the whale that carries the Earth on its back] (video) | *The Masked Arab - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVhsVjXJzKM Islam & the whale that carries the Earth on its back] (video) | ||
*The Islam Issue - [https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/ | *Islamwhattheydonttellyou164 - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj0qIqrvmmU Part 34: Islamic Creation Myth: The Honest Truth] (video) | ||
*Islam Critiqued - [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXjhwpTRZfw A Whale of a Tale in Muslim Sources] (video) | |||
*The Islam Issue - [https://theislamissue.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/the-nun-whale-and-its-origins-in-early-islam/ The Nun whale and it’s origins in early Islam] (blog) | |||
{{Translation-links-english|[[Islámská velryba|Czech]]}} | {{Translation-links-english|[[Islámská velryba|Czech]]}} | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references /> | <references /> | ||
[[Category:Cosmology]] | |||
[[Category:Islam and Science]] | |||
[[Category:Supernatural beings]] | |||
[[Category:Criticism of Islam]] | |||
[[Category:Tafsir]] | |||
[[Category:Pre-Islamic Arabia]] |
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