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A common criticism of the [[Hadith]], [[Scientific Errors in the Quran|as with the Quran]], is that it contains numerous [[Islam and Science|scientific]] and historical errors, with no obvious attempts to differentiate its 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.
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===


The hadith say humans were created in the physical image of Allah. Thus they began as tall as 90ft giants (60 cubits is the equivalent of 90 feet), and have been decreasing in height ever since. The oldest human remains found in Ethiopia (Lucy and Ardi) were actually shorter in height than us, thus Archaeological science has disproved this belief.
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==


===Geocentrism: The sun goes under Allah's chair===
===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 inanimate sun can prostrate like a human===
===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.}}


===Sun rises between the horns of Satan===
===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." }}


===An eclipse is a tool to scare mankind===
===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."  }}


===Giant goats in space===
===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 citations are taken from the Arabic version of Ibn Kathir’s [[Tafsir]], since the English translation omits these traditions. As you begin to read them it will become obvious why these tales were omitted from the English version. The early Muslim traditions gives us an insight to Islamic views on the cosmos. Tafsir Tabari, Al Qurtubi and Ibn Abbas also give the same ideas.
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|[{{Bukhari-url-only|4|52|74}}i Sahih Bukhari 4:52:74i]|Narrated Abu Huraira:
{{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."}}


Allah's Apostle 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.' 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 in the hadith===


====Stages of development====
====Stages of development====


According to Muhammad, the embryo spends 40 days as a drop of sperm, 40 days as a clot, and then 40 days as a piece of flesh. In reality by day 56 the fetus is essentially a complete, though tiny, human being with all organ systems in place, and all tissues developed.
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.”}}


====Gender assignment====
====Late sex assignment====


He also claims the embryo is neither male nor female until after the clot phase is reached, some 80 days after conception, while modern genetics show that the gender of the baby is determined at the moment of conception.
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?”}}


====Child inherits appearance from the parent that discharges first during sex====
====Discharge order determines sex====
Genetic has shown that a child inherits half the genes from its father and half from its mother. Its appearance has nothing to do with order of discharges of sexual fluids.
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."'''}}


===No one knows a baby's gender before its birth===
==='Nobody knows what is in the womb'===


This hadith says no one knows what's in the womb. This is false. We now have technology that allows us to know the baby's gender before its birth.
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 Said bin Al-Musaiyab: Abu Huraira said, “I heard Allah’s Apostle 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) (Book #55, [http://www.searchtruth.com/book_display.php?book=55&translator=1&start=0&number=641#641 Hadith #641])}}
{{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===
Yawning occurs when one's blood contains increased amounts of carbon dioxide.  
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 your nose at night===
===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 your ear===
===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 7 intestines while Muslims have 1===
===Non-Muslims have and use seven intestines===


{{Quote|{{Muslim|23|5113}}, See also: {{Muwatta|49|49|6|9}}, and {{Muwatta|49|49|6|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|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.}}
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