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Bucailleism: Difference between revisions
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According to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Bucailleism is "in some ways the Muslim counterpart to Christian creationism" and although "while creationism rejects much of modern science, Bucailleism embraces it."<ref name="StrBedfel">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1011738146332966760 |title=Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran |author=Daniel Golden |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=January 23, 2002}}</ref> | According to ''The Wall Street Journal'', Bucailleism is "in some ways the Muslim counterpart to Christian creationism" and although "while creationism rejects much of modern science, Bucailleism embraces it."<ref name="StrBedfel">{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB1011738146332966760 |title=Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran |author=Daniel Golden |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=January 23, 2002}}</ref> | ||
The doctrine is "widely taught" in Islamic secondary schools, promoted on at least one popular weekly television program in the Arab world<ref>Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist </ref> and is advanced by "a well-funded campaign" led by the Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah, based in Saudi Arabia and founded by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani, a leading militant Islamist and "Specially Designated Global Terrorist".<ref name="Loyalist">[{{Reference archive|1=http://web.archive.org/web/20100314033922/http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1190.htm|2=2013-04-10}} United States Designates bin Laden Loyalist], United States Department of the Treasury, JS-1190, February 24, 2004</ref> Although Bucailleism is said to be "disdained by most mainstream scholars", it has been valuable in fostering "pride in Muslim heritage", and reconciling conflicts that Muslim "students may feel between their religious beliefs and secular careers in engineering or computers."<ref name="StrBedfel">[http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran ] ''Wall Street Journal'', Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1</ref> | The doctrine is "widely taught" in Islamic secondary schools, promoted on at least one popular weekly television program in the Arab world<ref>Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist </ref> and is advanced by "a well-funded campaign" led by the Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah, based in Saudi Arabia and founded by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani, a leading militant Islamist and "Specially Designated Global Terrorist".<ref name="Loyalist">[{{Reference archive|1=http://web.archive.org/web/20100314033922/http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/js1190.htm|2=2013-04-10}} United States Designates bin Laden Loyalist], United States Department of the Treasury, JS-1190, February 24, 2004</ref> Although Bucailleism is said to be "disdained by most mainstream scholars", it has been valuable in fostering "pride in Muslim heritage", and reconciling conflicts that Muslim "students may feel between their religious beliefs and secular careers in engineering or computers."<ref name="StrBedfel">[http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran] ''Wall Street Journal'', Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1</ref> | ||
==Background== | ==Background== | ||
In 1976 the book ''The Quran, the Bible, and Science'', by Dr. Maurice Bucaille was published. It purports to prove that the Qur'an, in contrast to the [[Taurat|Bible]], has always been in agreement with modern scientific discoveries. It was immensely popular "across the Muslim world" where it "sold millions of copies" and was "translated into several languages." <ref name="SubvHoodb"> [http://www.zmag.org/ZMag/articles/oct01hoodbhoy.htm When Science Teaching Becomes A Subversive Activity By Pervez Hoodbhoy ]</ref> | In 1976 the book ''The Quran, the Bible, and Science'', by Dr. Maurice Bucaille was published. It purports to prove that the Qur'an, in contrast to the [[Taurat|Bible]], has always been in agreement with modern scientific discoveries. It was immensely popular "across the Muslim world" where it "sold millions of copies" and was "translated into several languages." <ref name="SubvHoodb"> [http://www.zmag.org/ZMag/articles/oct01hoodbhoy.htm When Science Teaching Becomes A Subversive Activity By Pervez Hoodbhoy]</ref> | ||
While "dozens of conferences" have been held on theme of scientific truths revealed by the Qur'an,<ref name="SubvHoodb"/> the highest profile have been the International Conferences on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah. As of 2006 there have been eight International Conferences on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah, the first held in Islamabad in 1987, attended by "200 Muslim delegates from all over the world" and funded "by the Pakistani state to the tune of a couple of million dollars." <ref name="SubvHoodb"/> At the seventh conference in Dubai, "more than 150 scientists and researchers" attended.<ref>[http://www.aljazeerah.info/Islam/Islamic%20subjects/2004%20subjects/March/Dubai%20Meet%20to%20Highlight%20Scientific%20Facts%20in%20the%20Quran.htm | While "dozens of conferences" have been held on theme of scientific truths revealed by the Qur'an,<ref name="SubvHoodb" /> the highest profile have been the International Conferences on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah. As of 2006 there have been eight International Conferences on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah, the first held in Islamabad in 1987, attended by "200 Muslim delegates from all over the world" and funded "by the Pakistani state to the tune of a couple of million dollars." <ref name="SubvHoodb" /> At the seventh conference in Dubai, "more than 150 scientists and researchers" attended.<ref>[http://www.aljazeerah.info/Islam/Islamic%20subjects/2004%20subjects/March/Dubai%20Meet%20to%20Highlight%20Scientific%20Facts%20in%20the%20Quran.htm Dubai Meet to Highlight Scientific Facts in the Qur’an]</ref> | ||
One of the highlights at the Eighth International Conference in Kuwait was the announcement of a possible cure for AIDS based on "a herbal extract that was prescribed in the Prophetic Sunnah for the treatment of other ailments."<ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545906466&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy ]</ref> | One of the highlights at the Eighth International Conference in Kuwait was the announcement of a possible cure for AIDS based on "a herbal extract that was prescribed in the Prophetic Sunnah for the treatment of other ailments."<ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545906466&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy]</ref> | ||
The debut of a 14-volume Encyclopedia on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah has also been announced by the International Commission on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah. the encyclopedia has been "partially translated into English", with hopes for translation into "18 other languages."<ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545906466&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy ]</ref> | The debut of a 14-volume Encyclopedia on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah has also been announced by the International Commission on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah. the encyclopedia has been "partially translated into English", with hopes for translation into "18 other languages."<ref>[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545906466&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy]</ref> | ||
===Misquoted scientists endorsing science in the Quran=== | ===Misquoted scientists endorsing science in the Quran=== | ||
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===Accuracy=== | ===Accuracy=== | ||
Gamal Soltan, a political scientist at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies protests that the approach of starting with a conclusion from the Qur'an or Sunna (e.g. the Qur’an says the body has 360 joints) and then work toward proving that conclusion, corrupts the scientific method. In the case of the belief in the body having 360 joints, it has meant counting "things that some orthopedists might not call a joint."<ref name="DiscovSciIsl"/> | Gamal Soltan, a political scientist at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies protests that the approach of starting with a conclusion from the Qur'an or Sunna (e.g. the Qur’an says the body has 360 joints) and then work toward proving that conclusion, corrupts the scientific method. In the case of the belief in the body having 360 joints, it has meant counting "things that some orthopedists might not call a joint."<ref name="DiscovSciIsl" /> | ||
Other critics protest against claims by Bucailleists such as that the body has 360 joints<ref>[http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118422 Islam's claim about the 360 joints in the human body was proven to be true! ]</ref> or that the [[Science and the Seven Earths|earth has seven layers]]:<ref>[http://www.missionislam.com/science/earthsevenlayers.html Earth’s Seven Layers]</ref> | Other critics protest against claims by Bucailleists such as that the body has 360 joints<ref>[http://www.ummah.com/forum/showthread.php?t=118422 Islam's claim about the 360 joints in the human body was proven to be true!]</ref> or that the [[Science and the Seven Earths|earth has seven layers]]:<ref>[http://www.missionislam.com/science/earthsevenlayers.html Earth’s Seven Layers]</ref> | ||
{{Quote||Islamic scientists tend to use each other as sources, creating an illusion that the work has been validated by research. The existence of 360 joints, in fact, is not accepted in medical communities; rather, the number varies from person to person, with an average of 307. These days most geologists divide Earth’s crust into 15 [not 7] major zones, or tectonic plates.<ref name="DiscovSciIsl">[http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/science-and-islam Science and Islam in Conflict] ''Discover magazine'', 06.21.2007</ref> }} | {{Quote||Islamic scientists tend to use each other as sources, creating an illusion that the work has been validated by research. The existence of 360 joints, in fact, is not accepted in medical communities; rather, the number varies from person to person, with an average of 307. These days most geologists divide Earth’s crust into 15 [not 7] major zones, or tectonic plates.<ref name="DiscovSciIsl">[http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/science-and-islam Science and Islam in Conflict] ''Discover magazine'', 06.21.2007</ref> }} | ||
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Others unconvinced of a Qur’an as dispenser of scientific truths, argue some of these scientific facts were known in the Middle East centuries before the revelation of the Qur'an - for example found in passages that they argue are rephrasings of the Hebrew Bible - or were also "predicted" by non-scientists with no claims of divine inspiration. Criticisms are also presented based on the translations and context of the verses presented as scientific facts.<ref>Richard Carrier (2001). [http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/islam.html ''Cosmology and the Koran: A Response to Muslim Fundamentalists''].</ref><ref>Richard Carrier (2004). [http://www.secweb.org/index.aspx?action=viewAsset&id=362 ''Predicting Modern Science: Epicurus vs. Mohammed''].</ref> | Others unconvinced of a Qur’an as dispenser of scientific truths, argue some of these scientific facts were known in the Middle East centuries before the revelation of the Qur'an - for example found in passages that they argue are rephrasings of the Hebrew Bible - or were also "predicted" by non-scientists with no claims of divine inspiration. Criticisms are also presented based on the translations and context of the verses presented as scientific facts.<ref>Richard Carrier (2001). [http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/richard_carrier/islam.html ''Cosmology and the Koran: A Response to Muslim Fundamentalists''].</ref><ref>Richard Carrier (2004). [http://www.secweb.org/index.aspx?action=viewAsset&id=362 ''Predicting Modern Science: Epicurus vs. Mohammed''].</ref> | ||
Alleged Qur'anic predictions have also been called "vague descriptions of natural phenomena" employing "stretched or arbitrary" interpretations.<ref>Turkish physicist and philosopher Taner Edis. [http://www2.truman.edu/~edis/writings/articles/quran-science.html ''"Quran-science": Scientific miracles from the 7th century?'']</ref> Alleged Quranic references in particular to the [[Quran and the Big Bang|expanding universe]], parallel universes, and cosmic structural hierarchies have been called "blatantly wrong."<ref name=edis2>Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> Anti-Bucailleist arguments do not necessarily argue in favor of unbelief, since as one says, "[[God]] does not stand or fall depending on whether our scriptures know their physics."<ref name=edis2>Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> | Alleged Qur'anic predictions have also been called "vague descriptions of natural phenomena" employing "stretched or arbitrary" interpretations.<ref>Turkish physicist and philosopher Taner Edis. [http://www2.truman.edu/~edis/writings/articles/quran-science.html ''"Quran-science": Scientific miracles from the 7th century?'']</ref> Alleged Quranic references in particular to the [[Quran and the Big Bang|expanding universe]], parallel universes, and cosmic structural hierarchies have been called "blatantly wrong."<ref name="edis2">Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> Anti-Bucailleist arguments do not necessarily argue in favor of unbelief, since as one says, "[[God]] does not stand or fall depending on whether our scriptures know their physics."<ref name="edis2">Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> | ||
===Methods=== | ===Methods=== | ||
Complaints about the methods of "Bucailleists" include the use of endorsements by Western non-Muslim scientists. One of the Bucailleists most widely circulated works is the book "[[A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam]]," which quotes several non-Muslim scientists in praise of the predictive power, divinity, etc. of the Qur'an. However, in a 2002 story<ref name="StrBedfel"/> in the American newspaper 'Wall Street Journal', several non-Muslim scientists spoke of questionable practices used by Bucailleists to cultivate scientists and coax statements from them, including lavish entertaining, untrue promises to be “completely neutral,” and hard sell interviews by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani. | Complaints about the methods of "Bucailleists" include the use of endorsements by Western non-Muslim scientists. One of the Bucailleists most widely circulated works is the book "[[A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam]]," which quotes several non-Muslim scientists in praise of the predictive power, divinity, etc. of the Qur'an. However, in a 2002 story<ref name="StrBedfel" /> in the American newspaper 'Wall Street Journal', several non-Muslim scientists spoke of questionable practices used by Bucailleists to cultivate scientists and coax statements from them, including lavish entertaining, untrue promises to be “completely neutral,” and hard sell interviews by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani. | ||
{{Quote||The commission drew the scientists to its conferences with first-class plane tickets for them and their wives, rooms at the best hotels, $1,000 honoraria, and banquets with Muslim leaders — such as a palace dinner in Islamabad with Pakistani President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq shortly before he was killed in a plane crash. Ahmed also gave at least one scientist a crystal clock.<ref name="StrBedfel"/> }} | {{Quote||The commission drew the scientists to its conferences with first-class plane tickets for them and their wives, rooms at the best hotels, $1,000 honoraria, and banquets with Muslim leaders — such as a palace dinner in Islamabad with Pakistani President Mohammed Zia ul-Haq shortly before he was killed in a plane crash. Ahmed also gave at least one scientist a crystal clock.<ref name="StrBedfel"/> }} | ||
Scientists complained of having fallen into a "trap" in interviews, or of "mutual manipulation" by the scientists and fundamentalists. Even the man who had been the Bucailleists most enthusiastic supporter, embryologist [[Dr. Keith Moore and the Islamic Additions|Keith L. Moore]] who had an edition of his textbook financed by Bucailleists and co-written with Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani, declined to be interviewed and told the newspaper, “it’s been 10 or 11 years since I was involved in the Quran.” <ref name="StrBedfel"/> | Scientists complained of having fallen into a "trap" in interviews, or of "mutual manipulation" by the scientists and fundamentalists. Even the man who had been the Bucailleists most enthusiastic supporter, embryologist [[Dr. Keith Moore and the Islamic Additions|Keith L. Moore]] who had an edition of his textbook financed by Bucailleists and co-written with Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani, declined to be interviewed and told the newspaper, “it’s been 10 or 11 years since I was involved in the Quran.” <ref name="StrBedfel" /> | ||
==See Also== | ==See Also== | ||
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*[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/contents.html The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science] ''- Dr. William Campbell, 1986 - a Christian response to The Bible, The Qur'an and Science'' | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/contents.html The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science] ''- Dr. William Campbell, 1986 - a Christian response to The Bible, The Qur'an and Science'' | ||
*[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/bucaille.html Is Dr. Maurice Bucaille a Muslim?] ''- Answering Islam'' | *[http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/bucaille.html Is Dr. Maurice Bucaille a Muslim?] ''- Answering Islam'' | ||
*[https://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsTheTruthUncut This is the truth uncut] ''- Youtube channel containing recent interviews with scientists who supposedly endorsed the Qur'an | *[https://www.youtube.com/user/ThisIsTheTruthUncut This is the truth uncut] ''- Youtube channel containing recent interviews with scientists who supposedly endorsed the Qur'an'' | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||