Word Count Miracles in the Qur'an: Difference between revisions

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=="Seven heavens" mentioned 7 times==
=="Seven heavens" mentioned 7 times==
The Qur'an talks much more than 7 times about the seven heavens if we don't require both the words "seven" and "heavens" to be together in the verse. There are dozens of verses with the plural word "heavens", which just don't have the word "seven" in them, like this one:
The Qur'an talks much more than 7 times about the seven heavens if both the words "seven" and "heavens" aren't counted together together in the verse. There are dozens of verses with the plural word "heavens", which just don't have the word "seven" in them, like this one:


*Verse 2:107 "''Do you not know that Allah´s is the kingdom of '''the heavens''' and the earth, and that besides Allah you have no guardian or helper?''"
*Verse 2:107 "''Do you not know that Allah´s is the kingdom of '''the heavens''' and the earth, and that besides Allah you have no guardian or helper?''"
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Notice that in the verses 17:44 and 23:86 the order of the Arabic words is different. They literally say "heavens seven".
Notice that in the verses 17:44 and 23:86 the order of the Arabic words is different. They literally say "heavens seven".


We can get 7 occurrences of the phrase "seven heavens" if we count only the occurrences where the seven heavens are explicitly called seven "heavens" (samawat, سَمَٰوَٰتٍ) and not "paths" or "strong ones". Also we have to include 2 cases, where the phrase is in backwards order, literally "heavens seven".
7 occurrences of the phrase "seven heavens" can be arrived at if only counting only the occurrences where the seven heavens are explicitly called "the seven heavens" (samawat, سَمَٰوَٰتٍ) and not "paths" or "strong ones". In order to arrive at this number it is necessary to include 2 cases, where the phrase is in backwards order, literally "heavens seven".


But probably a more important question than "What is the word count?" is "Are there 7 heavens in reality?". And also we should wonder if the meanings of the verses together make sense: When we consider that the heavens are one above the other (verse 67:3) and stars are in the lowest heaven (41:12), that means our universe (in which are stars) would be the lowest heaven. We can see only this universe (= the lowest heaven), so do we really see all the 7 heavens as the verse 71:15 claims we should?
This miracle also takes the existence of "7 heavens" as granted, an recurring trop in ancient literature that finds no support in modern astronomy According to the Qur'an,  the heavens are one above the other (verse 67:3) and stars are in the lowest heaven (41:12), which (if any useful interpretation is to be maintained consistently with modern cosmology) it must mean that our universe (in which are stars) would be the lowest heaven. Humans can see only this universe (= the lowest heaven), yet the Qur'an at 71:15 claims we should be able to see all of the seven heavens, indicating that the "seven heavens" are the planets visible to us in the sky (the 5 easily visible planets of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn plus  the sun and the moon-- a widespread idea in antiquity). We know today these are not levels of heaven but rather planets like our own, and this thus constitutes a [[Scientific Errors in the Quran|Scientific Errors in the Quran.]]


Let's see what other miracles with the number 7 the Qur'an offers, so that we can be sure that the one with "seven heavens" mentioned 7 times wasn't just a coincidence:
Let's see what other miracles with the number 7 the Qur'an offers, so that we can be sure that the one with "seven heavens" mentioned 7 times wasn't just a coincidence:
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=="Creation of heavens" mentioned 7 times==
=="Creation of heavens" mentioned 7 times==
This word count doesn't make sense from the beginning. If this phrase would occur 7 times, then the most direct meaning would be "the heaven'''s''' were created seven times", while they were created only one time. The plural form doesn't fit in this miracle. If the singular form "creation of a heaven" was mentioned 7 times, it would make more sense. It would mean that they were created one after another.
There is no internal consistency to this claim. If this phrase would occur 7 times, then the most direct meaning would be "the heaven'''s''' were created seven times", while they were created only one time. The plural and singular forms have to be either together or separately, but in order to arrive at this count one can do neither.  


There are many verses which say that Allah created everything, that means including the heavens. For example:
There are many verses which say that Allah created everything, that means including the heavens. For example:


*6:102 "..there is no god but He; the '''Creator of all things''', therefore serve Him, and He has charge of all things."
*6:102 "..there is no god but He; the '''Creator of all things''', therefore serve Him, and He has charge of all things."
So counting only the cases where heavens are explicitly mentioned is questionable.


There are also verses where the words "creation" and "heavens" are both mentioned, but not exactly next to each other (as a phrase). For example:
There are also verses where the words "creation" and "heavens" are both mentioned, but not exactly next to each other (as a phrase). For example:
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*...and many others.
*...and many others.


So just in the first 15 chapters, the Qur'an speaks much more than 7 times about the creation of heavens. There are many ways to count this and if some of those ways produces the number 7 it is not miraculous, nor improbable, because the more ways of counting exist, the higher is the probability of the existence of a counting method which produces the desired number.
So just in the first 15 chapters, the Qur'an speaks much more than 7 times about the creation of heavens. There are many ways to count this but any way which arrives at a count of seven is clearly being reverse engineered from the text, not discovered from it.  


==="Seven earths" not mentioned 7 times non-miracle===
==="Seven earths" not mentioned 7 times non-miracle===
According to the Quranic verse 65:12, there are also 7 earths. So the counting method which produces the outcome of "seven heavens" should be used for counting "creation of earths" and produce the same number. But apologist websites never mention any "7 earths mentioned 7 times miracle".
According to the Quranic verse 65:12, there are also 7 earths. So the counting method which produces the outcome of "seven heavens" should be used for counting "creation of earths" and produce the same number. But Islamic websites never mention any "7 earths mentioned 7 times miracle".


=="Wine" and "intoxication" both mentioned 6 times==
=="Wine" and "intoxication" both mentioned 6 times==
What is the significance of the number 6? And what is this supposed to mean? Wine equals intoxication? They are not the same thing.. but let's count them.
For some reason, du'aah associate the number six with wine and intoxication.


Wine (''khamr'', خمر):
Wine (''khamr'', خمر):
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Some translations sometimes translate the word as "dazzled" or "drunk" or "stupor", but the basic meaning is the same and the arabic root سكر is the same.  
Some translations sometimes translate the word as "dazzled" or "drunk" or "stupor", but the basic meaning is the same and the arabic root سكر is the same.  


So the words are not both mentioned 6 times.
So neither word is mentioned 6 times.


=="Muhammad" and "sharia" both mentioned 4 times==
=="Muhammad" and "sharia" both mentioned 4 times==
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The word "sharia" (شَرِيعَة) appears in one verse:
The word "sharia" (شَرِيعَة) appears in one verse:


*45:18 "Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an '''ordained way''' (شَرِيعَةٍ, ''shareeAAa'') concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know."
*45:18 "Then We put you, [O Muhammad], on an '''ordained way''' (شَرِيعَةٍ, ''shareeAAa'') concerning the matter [of religion]; so follow it and do not follow the inclinations of those who do not know.<br /> There are other 3 verses containing words derived from the same trilateral root شرع (sh-r-AA), but they are not "sharia":
 
 
There are other 3 verses containing words derived from the same trilateral root شرع (sh-r-AA), but they are not "sharia":


*1) 5:48 ".. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed '''a law''' (شِرْعَةً, ''shirAAa'') and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good.."
*1) 5:48 ".. So judge between them by what Allah has revealed and do not follow their inclinations away from what has come to you of the truth. To each of you We prescribed '''a law''' (شِرْعَةً, ''shirAAa'') and a method. Had Allah willed, He would have made you one nation [united in religion], but [He intended] to test you in what He has given you; so race to [all that is] good.."
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If Allah cared so much about equal word counts, why did he make equal word counts for "Muhammad" and "swine"? One of the interpretations might be that he wanted to criticize [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Muhammad#Obesity|Muhammad's obesity]].
If Allah cared so much about equal word counts, why did he make equal word counts for "Muhammad" and "swine"? One of the interpretations might be that he wanted to criticize [[Qur'an,_Hadith_and_Scholars:Muhammad#Obesity|Muhammad's obesity]].
=="Allah" mentioned more than 1 time miracle fail==
Muslims believe that Allah is 1. But the Quran failed to mention the word "Allah" exactly 1 time.


=="The righteous" mentioned 6 times and "the wicked" 3 times==
=="The righteous" mentioned 6 times and "the wicked" 3 times==
If we count only the literal words ''al-abrar'' (the righteous) and ''al-fujjar'' (the wicked), we get 5 occurrences of ''al-abrar'':
Counting only the literal words ''al-abrar'' (the righteous) and ''al-fujjar'' (the wicked), yields 5 occurrences of ''al-abrar'' and two of ''al-fujjar'':


*1) 3:193 "Our Lord! surely we have heard a preacher calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord, so we did believe; Our Lord! forgive us therefore our faults, and cover our evil deeds and make us die with '''the righteous''' (ٱلْأَبْرَارِ, ''al-abrar'')."
*1) 3:193 "Our Lord! surely we have heard a preacher calling to the faith, saying: Believe in your Lord, so we did believe; Our Lord! forgive us therefore our faults, and cover our evil deeds and make us die with '''the righteous''' (ٱلْأَبْرَارِ, ''al-abrar'')."
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*2) 83:7 "Nay! most surely the record of '''the wicked''' (ٱلْفُجَّارِ, ''al-fujjar'') is in the Sijjin."
*2) 83:7 "Nay! most surely the record of '''the wicked''' (ٱلْفُجَّارِ, ''al-fujjar'') is in the Sijjin."


So there is no miracle. However when we count the words with slightly different forms, we get one more occurrence for "the righteous":
So there is no miracle. However counting words with slightly different forms related to ''al-abrar'', yields one more occurrence for "the righteous":


*3:198 "But as to those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding in them; an entertainment from their Lord, and that which is with Allah is best '''for the righteous''' (لِّلْأَبْرَارِ, ''lil-abrar'')."
*3:198 "But as to those who are careful of (their duty to) their Lord, they shall have gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding in them; an entertainment from their Lord, and that which is with Allah is best '''for the righteous''' (لِّلْأَبْرَارِ, ''lil-abrar'')."
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*80:42 "These are they who are unbelievers, '''the wicked''' (ٱلْفَجَرَةُ, ''al-fajarah'')."
*80:42 "These are they who are unbelievers, '''the wicked''' (ٱلْفَجَرَةُ, ''al-fajarah'')."


So this word count is more questionable than miraculous.  
So this word count is holds questionable consistency.  


Also there are other word count "miracles" where the "bad" word has the same number as the "good" word. Like ''iman''/''kufr'', ''paradise''/''hell''. So why suddenly count double word counts?
There are many other word count "miracles" where the "bad" word has the same number as the "good" word, for instance ''iman''/''kufr'', ''paradise''/''hell''. The inconsistency begs the question of the soundness of finding word count "miracles" in the first place.


=="The Sabbath" mentioned 7 times==
=="The Sabbath" mentioned 7 times==
===Mental gymnastics===
===Mental gymnastics===
The Sabbath (ٱلسَّبْت, ''as-sabt'') is a day of the week, when Jews are supposed to not work. So what is miraculous about this word being mentioned 7 times according to apologists? Well, it is the 7th day of the week. So the word count of "seven Sabbaths" somehow implies the meaning "the 7th day".
The Sabbath (ٱلسَّبْت, ''as-sabt'') is a day of the week, when Jews are supposed to not work. It is thus the 7th day of the week, and its appearance 7 times in the Qur'an is a supposed "miracle."  


===The list===
===The list===
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==="Ramadan" mentioned 1 time non-miracle===
==="Ramadan" mentioned 1 time non-miracle===
If the word "Sabbath" was mentioned 7 times, because Sabbath is the 7th day of the week, then by the same logic, the word "Ramadan", the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, should also occur 9 times.  
If the word "Sabbath" was mentioned 7 times, because Sabbath is the 7th day of the week, one might expect by the same logic, the word "Ramadan", the 9th month of the Islamic calendar, to occur 9 times.  


This is the list of all the occurrences of the word "Ramadan" (رَمَضَانَ) in the Qur'an:
This is the list of all the occurrences of the word "Ramadan" (رَمَضَانَ) in the Qur'an:
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*1) 2:185 "The month of '''Ramadan''' is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction..."
*1) 2:185 "The month of '''Ramadan''' is that in which the Quran was revealed, a guidance to men and clear proofs of the guidance and the distinction..."


And that's it. There are no more occurrences of this word in the Qur'an although it is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. So the Qur'an is not very consistent in these word count "miracles".
That's all. There are no more occurrences of this word in the Qur'an although it is the 9th month of the Islamic calendar. The word "Friday" (ٱلْجُمُعَةِ) also appears only once (62:9) although it is the Muslim day of prayer. The inconsistent logic begs the question of which holy times are actually important to Allah here, since Muslims don't follow the Jewish Sabbath of Saturday (beginning according to the Jewish reckoning at sundown on Friday) but congregate to pray instead on their Friday in the middle of the day, and Allah did not see fit to bless the holy month of Ramadan with a word count miracle.  
 
The word "Friday" (ٱلْجُمُعَةِ) also appears only once (62:9) although it is not the first day of the week.


=="Gold" and "luxury" both mentioned 8 times==
=="Gold" and "luxury" both mentioned 8 times==
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*(*) The word "city" (قَرْيَةٍ, ''qaryatin'') in the verse is feminine in Arabic. So "her" wealthy people refers to a city.
*(*) The word "village" (قَرْيَةٍ, ''qaryatin'') in the verse is feminine in Arabic. So "her" wealthy people refers to a village.


So, the word "wealth" itself appears exactly '''0 times'''.
So, the word "wealth" itself appears exactly '''0 times'''.
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