PREFACE Preface This book is a brief guide to understanding Islam. It consists of three chapters. The first chapter, “Some Evidence for the Truth of Islam,” answers some important questions which some people ask:
Is the Qur’an truly the literal word of God, revealed by Him? 1
Is Muhammad
truly a prophet sent by God?
Is Islam truly a religion from God? In this chapter, six kinds of evidence are mentioned: 1) The Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an: This section discusses (with illustrations) some recently discovered scientific facts mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago. 2) The Great Challenge to Pro- duce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Qur’an: In the Qur’an, God challenged all human beings to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Qur’an. Ever since the Qur’an was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, until this day, no one hasbeen ableto meetthischal- lenge, even though the smallest chapter in the Qur’an (Chapter 108) is only ten words. (1) These Arabic words
mean, ‘May God exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection.’ A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents Miracles Performed by the Prophet Muhammad was badly defeated at Antioch in 613, and as a result, the Persians 1 swiftly pushed forward on all fronts. At that time, it was hard to imagine that the Romans would defeat the Persians, but the Qur’an foretold that the Romans would be victorious within three to nine years. In 622, nine years after the Romans’ defeat, the two forces (Romans and Persians) met on Armenian soil, and the result was the decisive victory of the Romans over the Persians, 2 for the first time after the Romans’ defeat in 613. The prophecy was fulfilled just as God has said in the Qur’an. Islam There are also many other verses in the Qur’an and sayings of of Muhammad
that mention future events which later came to pass. Truth 1 the (5) Miracles Performed by Chapter for the Prophet Muhammad Evidence by God’s permission. These miracles were witnessed by many Many miracles were performed by the Prophet Muhammad Some people. For example:
When the unbelievers in Makkah asked the Prophet Muham- mad
to show them a miracle, he showed them the splitting of the moon. 3
Another miracle was the flowing of water through Muham- mad’s
fingers when his companions got thirsty and had no water except a little in a vessel. They came to him and told him that they had no water to make ablution nor to drink except for what was in the vessel. So, Muhammad
put his hand in the vessel, and the water started gushing out between his fingers. So, they drank and made ablution. They were one thousand five hundred companions. 4 There were also many other miracles that were performed by him or which happened to him. (1) History of the Byzantine State, Ostrogorsky, p. 95. (2) History of the Byzantine State, Ostrogorsky, pp. 100-101, and History of Persia, Sykes, vol. 1, pp. 483-484. Also see The New Encyclopaedia Britannica, Micropaedia vol. 4, p. 1036. (3) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3637, and Saheeh Muslim, #2802. (4) Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3576, and Saheeh Muslim, #1856. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents

E) The Qur’an on Seas and Rivers 17 Evidence for the 1 Truth Figure 12: Functional regions of the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex. The prefrontal Some Chapter of area is located at the front of the cerebral cortex. (Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, Islam Seeley and others, p. 210.) Scientists have only discovered these functions of the prefron- tal area in the last sixty years, according to Professor Keith L. Moore. 1 E) The Qur’an on Seas and Rivers: Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, 2 salinity, and density. For example, Mediterranean sea water is warm, saline, and less dense, compared to Atlantic ocean water. When Mediterranean sea water enters the Atlantic over the Gibral- tar sill, it moves several hundred kilometers into the Atlantic at a depth of about 1000 meters with its own warm, saline, and less (1) Al-E’jaz al-Elmy fee al-Naseyah (The Scientific Miracles in the Front of the Head), Moore and others, p. 41. (2) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents The Verses in the Qur’an That Mention Future Events Which Later Came to Pass 35 Also, Isaiah 42:1-13 speaks of the servant of God, His “chosen one” and “messenger” who will bring down a law. “He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope.” (Isaiah 42:4). Verse 11, connects that awaited messenger with the descendants of Kedar. Who is Kedar? According to Genesis 25:13, Kedar was the second son of Ishmael, the ancestor of the Prophet Muhammad
. 3) God will put His words in the mouth of this prophet: The words of God (the Holy Qur’an) were truly put into Muhammad’s
mouth. God sent the Angel Gabriel to teach Some Muhammad
the exactwords of God (theHoly Qur’an)and asked him to dictate them to the people as he heard them. The words are Evidence therefore not his own. They did not come from his own thoughts, but were put into his mouth by the Angel Gabriel. During the life for Chapter time of Muhammad
, and under his supervision, these words the 1 were then memorized and written by his companions. Truth Note that God has said in the prophecy of Deuteronomy: “If of anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in Islam my name, I myself will call him to account.” (Deuteronomy, 18:19). This means that whoever believes in the Bible must be- lieve in what this prophet says, and this prophet is Muhammad
. (Please visit www.islam-guide.com/mib for more informa- tion on Muhammad
in the Bible.) (4) The Verses in the Qur’an That Mention Future Events Which Later Came to Pass An example of the events foretold in the Qur’an is the victory of the Romans over the Persians within three to nine years after the Romans were defeated by the Persians. God has said in the Qur’an:  The Romans have been defeated in the near- est land (to the Arabian Peninsula), and they, after their defeat, will be victorious within bedd’ (three to nine)years....  (Qur’an,30:2-4) Let us see what history tells us about these wars. A book entitled History of the Byzantine State says that the Roman army A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents The second section was the Benefits of Islam to include the door of eternal Paradise, the salvation from Hellfire, real happiness and inner peace, and forgiveness of all previous sins. The last section General Information on Islam: what is the Quran, basic Islamic beliefs, how to become a Muslim, Islam and family, Islam and Jesus, Islam and Women, Five Pillars of Islam, and What Does Islam Say About Terrorism. What Is Islam?
Some Basic Islamic Beliefs 45 Chapter 3 general information on islam What Is Islam? The religion of Islam is the acceptance of and obedience to the teachings of God which He revealed to His last prophet, Muhammad . Some Basic Islamic Beliefs 1) Belief in God: Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone. He is the true God, and every other deity is false. He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes. No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes. In the Qur’an, God describes Himself:
Say: “He is God, the One. God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs. He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.” (Qur’an, 112:1-4) No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act General Information on Islam Chapter 3 of worship, but God alone. Chapter 112 of the Qur’an written in Arabic calligraphy. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents This introductory book on Islam serves as a good da’wah tool, explaining some of the fundamentals of Islam, as well signifying verses of the Qur’an and how they relate to science and the world around us. This Islamic guide is for non-Muslims who would like to understand Islam, Muslims (Moslems), and the Holy Quran (Koran). It is rich in information, references, bibliography, and illustrations. It has been brief and simple to read, yet contains much scientific knowledge A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam by I.A. Ibrahim – eBook DetailsThe Great Challenge to Produce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Qur’an (2) The Great Challenge to Produce One Chapter Like the Chapters of the Holy Qur’an God has said in the Qur’an:  And if you are in doubt about what We have revealed (the Qur’an) to Our worshiper (Mu- hammad
), then produce a chapter like it, Islam and call your witnesses (supporters and help- of ers) besides God if you are truthful. And if Truth you do not do it, and you can never do it, then 1 the fear the Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and Chapter for stones. It has been prepared for disbelievers. And give good news (O Muhammad) to those Evidence who believe and do good deeds, that for them are gardens (Paradise) in which rivers Some flow....  (Qur’an, 2:23-25) Ever since the Qur’an was revealed, fourteen centuries ago, no one has been able to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Qur’an in their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. Also, note that the smallest chapter in the Qur’an (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet this challenge, The smallest chapter in the Holy Qur’an (Chapter 108) is only ten words, yet no one has ever been able to meet the challenge to produce one chapter like the chapters of the Holy Qur’an. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents C) The Qur’an on the Origin of the Universe 15 Figure 10: A new star forming out of a cloud of gas and dust (neb- ula), which is one of the remnants of the ‘smoke’ that was the origin of the whole universe. (The Space Atlas, Heather and Henbest, p. 50.) Some Chapter Evidence for the 1 Truth of Islam Figure 11: The Lagoon nebula is a cloud of gas and dust, about 60 light years in diameter. It is excited by the ultraviolet radiation of the hot stars that have recently formed within its bulk. (Horizons, Exploring the Universe, Seeds, plate 9, from Association of Universi- ties for Research in Astronomy, Inc.) A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents H) Scientists’ Comments on the Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA. After a discussion with Professor Hay about the Qur’an’s mention of recently discov- ered facts on seas, he said: “I find it very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scriptures of the Holy Qur’an, and I have no way of knowing where they would come from, but I think it is extremely interesting that they are there and that this work is going on to discover it, the meaning of some of the passages.” And when he Islam was asked about the source of the Qur’an, he replied: of “Well, I would think it must be the divine being.” Truth 1 the 5) Dr. Gerald C. Goeringer is Course Director and Associate Professor of Medical Embryology at the Department of Cell Biol- Chapter for ogy, School of Medicine, Georgetown University, Washington, Evidence DC, USA. During the Eighth Saudi Medical Conference in Ri- yadh, Saudi Arabia, Professor Goeringer stated the following in Some the presentation of his research paper: “In a relatively few aayahs (Qur’anic verses) is contained a rather comprehensive description of human development from the time of commingling of the gametes through organogenesis. No such distinct and complete record of human development, such as classification, terminology, and description, existed previously. In most, if not all, instances, this description antedates by many cen- turies the recording of the various stages of human embryonic and fetal development recorded in the traditional scientific literature.” 6) Dr. Yoshihide Kozai is Professor Emeritus at Tokyo Univer- sity, Hongo, Tokyo, Japan, and was the Director of the National Astronomical Observatory, Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan. He said: “I am very much impressed by finding true astronomical facts in [the] Qur’an, and for us the modern astronomers have been studying very small pieces of the universe. We’ve concentrated our efforts for understanding of [a] very small part. Because by using telescopes, we can see only very few parts [of] the sky without thinking [about the] whole universe. So, by reading [the] Qur’an and by answering to the questions, I think I can find my future way for investigation of the universe.” A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents F) The Qur’an on Deep Seas and Internal Waves F) The Qur’an on Deep Seas and Internal Waves: God has said in the Qur’an:  Or (the unbelievers’ state) is like the dark- ness in a deep sea. It is covered by waves, above which are waves, above which are clouds. Darknesses, one above another. If a Islam man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it....  (Qur’an, 24:40) of Truth This verse mentions the darkness found in deep seas and 1 the oceans, where if a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it. The Chapter for darkness in deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 meters and below. At this depth, there is almost no light (see figure Evidence 15). Below a depth of 1000 meters there is no light at all. Human 1 Some Figure 15: Between 3 and 30 percent of the sunlight is reflected at the sea surface. Then almost all of the seven colors of the light spectrum are absorbed one after another in the first 200 meters, except the blue light. (Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27.) (1) Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents

Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of Muhammad , the Prophet of Islam 33 1 then or today. Some of the disbelieving Arabs who were enemies of Muhammad
tried to meet this challenge to prove that Mu- 2 hammad
was not a true prophet, but they failed to do so. This failure was despite the fact that the Qur’an was revealed in their own language and dialect and that the Arabs at the time of Muhammad
were a very eloquent people who used to compose beautiful and excellent poetry, still read and appreciated today. (3) Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of Muhammad
, the Prophet of Islam Some The Biblical prophecies on the Evidence advent of the Prophet Muham- mad
are evidence of the truth of for Chapter Islam for people who believe in the 1 the Bible. Truth In Deuteronomy 18, Moses of stated that God told him: “I will Islam raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call 3 him to account.” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19) From these verses we conclude that the prophet in this proph- ecy must have the following three characteristics: 1) That he will be like Moses. 2) That he will come from the brothers of the Israelites, i.e. the Ishmaelites. 3) That God will put His words into the mouth of this prophet and that he will declare what God commands him. Let us examine these three characteristics in more depth. (1) See Al-Borhan fee Oloom Al-Qur’an, Al-Zarkashy, vol. 2, p. 224. (2) See Al-Borhan fee Oloom Al-Qur’an, Al-Zarkashy, vol. 2, p. 226. (3) The verses of the Bible in this book have been taken from The NIV Study Bible, New International Version. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents

B) The Qur’an on Mountains 13 1 the ground. So the most suitable word to describe mountains on the basis of this information is the word ‘peg,’ since most of a properly set peg is hidden under the surface of the ground. The history of science tells us that the theory of mountains having deep roots was introduced only in 1865 by the Astronomer Royal, Sir George Airy. 2 Mountains also play an important role in stabilizing the crust 3 of the earth. They hinder the shaking of the earth. God has said in the Qur’an: Some  And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you...  Evidence (Qur’an, 16:15) for Chapter Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics holds that the 1 mountains work as stabilizers for the earth. This knowledge about Truth the role of mountains as stabilizers for the earth has just begun to of be understood in the framework of plate tectonics since the late Islam 1960’s. 4 Could anyone during the time of the Prophet Muhammad have known of the true shape of moun- tains? Could anyone imagine that the solid massive mountain which he sees before him actually extends deep into the earth and has a root, as scientists affirm? Modern geology has confirmed the truth of the Qur’anic verses. (1) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Qur’an, El-Naggar, p. 5. (2) Earth, Press and Siever, p. 435. Also see The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Qur’an,p.5. (3) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Qur’an, pp. 44-45. (4) The Geological Concept of Mountains in the Qur’an,p.5. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents E) The Qur’an on Seas and Rivers dense characteristics. The Mediterranean water stabilizes at this 1 depth (see figure 13). Islam of Truth 1 the Chapter for Figure 13: The Mediterranean sea water as it enters the Atlantic over the Gibraltar sill with its own warm, saline, and less dense characteristics, because of the barrier that Evidence distinguishes between them. Temperatures are in degrees Celsius (C°).(Marine Geology, Kuenen, p. 43, with a slight enhancement.) Although there are large waves, strong currents, and tides in Some these seas, they do not mix or transgress this barrier. The Holy Qur’an mentioned that there is a barrier between two seas that meet and that they do not transgress. God has said:  He has set free the two seas meeting to- gether. There is a barrier between them. They do not transgress.  (Qur’an, 55:19-20) But when the Qur’an speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of “a forbidding partition” with the barrier. God has said in the Qur’an:  He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition.  (Qur’an, 25:53) (1) Principles of Oceanography, Davis, p. 93. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents

For instance, in the stereotypes section where it talks of terrorism, they should have added Surah Al-Ma'idah 5:32 where it states that killing a person is like killing all of humanity. As a Muslim, I was disappointed that that verse wasn't used. It truly highlights the extremes of murder in Islam and how strictly forbidden it is. No other scripture in history says such a statement. They should have put it inside the book.The Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an 5 Chapter 1 Some evidence for the truth of islam God has supported His last Prophet Muhammad
with many miracles and much evidence which proves that he is a true Prophet sent by God. Also, God has supported His last revealed book, the Holy Qur’an, with many miracles that prove that this Qur’an is the Some literal word of God, revealed by Him, and that it was not authored by any human being. This chapter discusses some of this evidence. Evidence (1) The Scientific Miracles for Chapter the 1 in the Holy Qur’an Truth of The Qur’an is the literal word of God, which He revealed to Islam His Prophet Muhammad
through the Angel Gabriel. It was memorized by Muhammad
, who then dictated it to his Companions. They, in turn, memorized it, wrote it down, and reviewed it with the Prophet Muham- mad
. Moreover, the Prophet Mu- hammad
reviewed the Qur’an with the Angel Gabriel once each year and twice in the last year of his life. From the time the Qur’an was revealed, un- til this day, there has always been a huge number of Muslims who have The Holy Qur’an memorized all of the Qur’an, letter by letter. Some of them have even been able to memorize all of the Qur’an by the age of ten. Not one letter of the Qur’an has been changed over the centuries. The Qur’an, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, men- tioned facts only recently discovered or proven by scientists. This proves without doubt that the Qur’an must be the literal word of A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of Muhammad
, the Prophet of Islam: In this section, some of the Biblical prophe- cies on the advent of the Prophet Muhammad
are discussed. Preface 4) The Verses in the Qur’an That Mention Future Events Which Later Came to Pass: The Qur’an mentioned future events which later came to pass, for example, the victory of the Romans over the Persians. 5) Miracles Performed by the Prophet Muhammad
: Many miracles were performed by the Prophet Muhammad
. These miracles were witnessed by many people. 6) The Simple Life of Muhammad
: This clearlyindicatesthat Muhammad
was not a false prophet who claimed prophethood to attain material gains, greatness, or power. From these six kinds of evidence, we conclude that:
The Qur’an must be the literal word of God, revealed by Him.
Muhammad
is truly a prophet sent by God.
Islam is truly a religion from God. If we would like to know if a religion is true or false, we should not depend on our emotions, feelings, or traditions. Rather, we should depend on our reason and intellect. When God sent the prophets, He supported them with miracles and evidence which proved that they were truly prophets sent by God and hence that the religion they came with is true. The second chapter, “Some Benefits of Islam,” mentions some of the benefits that Islam provides for the individual, such as: 1) The Door to Eternal Paradise 2) Salvation from Hellfire 3) Real Happiness and Inner Peace 4) Forgiveness for All Previous Sins. The third chapter, “General Information on Islam,” pro- vides general information on Islam, corrects some misconceptions about it, and answers some commonly asked questions, such as:
What does Islam say about terrorism?
What is the status of women in Islam? A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents

E) The Qur’an on Seas and Rivers 19 One may ask, why did the Qur’an mention the partition when speaking about the divider between fresh and salt water, but did not mention it when speaking about the divider between the two seas? Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity 1 separating the two layers.” This partition (zone of separation) has Some a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water 2 (see figure 14). Evidence Chapter for the 1 Truth of Figure 14: Longitudinal section showing salinity (parts per thousand ‰) in an estuary. Islam We can see here the partition (zone of separation) between the fresh and the salt water. (Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, p. 301, with a slight enhancement.) This information has been discovered only recently, using advanced equipment to measure temperature, salinity, density, oxygen dissolubility, etc. The human eye cannot see the difference between the two seas that meet, rather the two seas appear to us as one homogeneous sea. Likewise, the human eye cannot see the division of water in estuaries into the three kinds: fresh water, salt water, and the partition (zone of separation). (1) Oceanography, Gross, p. 242. Also see Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301. (2) Oceanography, Gross, p. 244, and Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents ALSO it gave off vibes of the author trying to convert the reader. As we know, in Islam there cannot be any compulsion in religion. So I would tone that down, for a non-Muslim reader they may take it the wrong way and it can guide them away from Islam. G) The Qur’an on Clouds 25 Evidence for the 1 Figure 21: A cumulonimbus cloud. (A Colour Guide to Clouds, Scorer and Wexler, p. Some Chapter 23.) of Truth equipment, to study wind and its direction, to measure humidity Islam and its variations, and to determine the levels and variations of atmospheric pressure. 1 The preceding verse, after mentioning clouds and rain, speaks about hail and lightning:  ....And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky, and He strikes with it whomever He wills, and turns it from whom- ever He wills. The vivid flash of its lightning nearly blinds the sight.  (Qur’an, 24:43) Meteorologists have found that these cumulonimbus clouds, that shower hail, reach a height of 25,000 to 30,000 ft (4.7 to 5.7 2 miles), like mountains, as the Qur’an said: “...And He sends down hail from mountains (clouds) in the sky...” (see figure 21). (1) See Ee’jaz al-Qur’an al-Kareem fee Wasf Anwa’ al-Riyah, al-Sohob, al-Matar, Makky and others, p. 55. (2) Elements of Meteorology, Miller and Thompson, p. 141. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents H) Scientists’ Comments on the Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an 29 morning: these hadeeths could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available [at] the time of their writing ....It follows, I think, that not only there is no conflict between genetics and religion but, in fact, religion can guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches, that there exist statements in the Qur’an shown cen- turies later to be valid, which support knowledge in the Qur’an having been derived from God.” 3) Dr. E. Marshall Johnson is Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Thomas Jefferson University, Some Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. There, for 22 years he was Professor of Anatomy, the Chairman of the Department of Anat- omy, and the Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute. He was also Evidence the President of the Teratology Society. He has authored more for Chapter than 200 publications. In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Con- the ference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Johnson said in the 1 presentation of his research paper: Truth “Summary: The Qur’an describes not only the development of of external form, but emphasizes also the internal stages, the stages Islam inside the embryo, of its creation and development, emphasizing major events recognized by contemporary science.” Also he said: “As a scientist, I can only deal with things which I can specifically see. I can understand embryology and develop- mental biology. I can understand the words that are translated to me from the Qur’an. As I gave the example before, if I were to transpose myself into that era, knowing what I knew today and describing things, I could not describe the things which were described. I see no evidence for the fact to refute the concept that this individual, Muhammad, had to be developing this information from some place. So I see nothing here in conflict with the concept that divine intervention was involved in what he was able to write.” 1 4) Dr. William W. Hay is a well-known marine scientist. He is Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA. He was formerly the Dean of the (1) The Prophet Muhammad
was illiterate. He could not read nor write, but he dictated the Qur’an to his Companions and commanded some of them to write it down. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents H) Scientists’ Comments on the Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an 27 1 a thin and faint fire. These are some of the ideas on meteorology that were dominant at the time of the Qur’an’s revelation, fourteen centuries ago. H) Scientists’ Comments on the Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an: The following are some comments of scientists on the scien- tific miracles in the Holy Qur’an. All of these comments have been taken from the videotape entitled This is the Truth. In this vide- Some otape, you can see and hear the scientists while they are giving the following comments. (Please visit www.islam-guide.com/truth Evidence for a copy of this videotape, to view it online, or to view the video clips of these comments online.) for Chapter 1) Dr. T. V. N. Persaud is Professor of Anatomy, Professor of the 1 Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecol- Truth ogy, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. There, he was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is well-known in his Islam field. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. In 1991, he received the most distin- guished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Qur’an which he has researched, he stated the following: “The way it was explained to me is that Muhammad was a very ordinary man. He could not read, didn’t know [how] to write. In fact, he was an illiterate. And we’re talking about twelve [actually about fourteen] hundred years ago. You have someone illiterate making profound pronouncements and statements and that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.” (1) The Works of Aristotle Translated into English: Meteorologica, vol. 3, Ross and others, pp. 369a-369b. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam ContentsC) The Qur’an on the Origin of the Universe C) The Qur’an on the Origin of the Universe: The science of modern cosmology, observational and theoreti- cal, clearly indicates that, at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of ‘smoke’ (i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition). 1 This is one of the undisputed principles of standard modern cosmology. Scientists now can observe new stars forming out of the remnants of that ‘smoke’ (see figures 10 and 11). The illuminating stars we see at night were, Islam just as was the whole universe, in that ‘smoke’ material. God has said in the Qur’an: of Truth  Then He turned to the heaven when it was 1 the smoke...  (Qur’an, 41:11) Chapter for Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the moon, Evidence stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one Some connected entity. Then out of this homogeneous ‘smoke,’ they formed and separated from each other. God has said in the Qur’an:  Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?...  (Qur’an, 21:30) Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. He said: “Thinking where Muham- mad came from ...I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case.” 2 Also he said: “Somebody who did not know (1) The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of the Universe, Weinberg, pp. 94-105. (2) The source of this comment is This is the Truth (videotape). Visit www.islam-guide.com/truth for a copy of this videotape or to view the video clips of Professor Alfred Kroner’s comments online. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents The first section included the Quran's Evidence for the Truth of Islam on the creation of life and the human embryonic development, mountains, origin of the universe, the brain and cerebrum, seas and rivers, clouds, and other scientific miracle. In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful ABRIEF ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING ISLAM Second Edition I. A. Ibrahim General Editors Science Editors Dr. William (Daoud) Peachy Professor Harold Stewart Kuofi Michael (Abdul-Hakim) Thomas Professor F. A. State Tony (Abu-Khaliyl) Sylvester Professor Mahjoub O. Taha Idris Palmer Professor Ahmad Allam Jamaal Zarabozo Professor Salman Sultan Ali AlTimimi Associate Professor H. O. Sindi Darussalam Houston A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents The Door to Eternal Paradise 41 Chapter 2 some benefits of islam Islam provides many benefits for the individual and the soci- ety. This chapter mentions some of the benefits gained through Islam for the individual. (1) The Door to Eternal Paradise God has said in the Qur’an:
And give good news (O Muhammad) to those who believe and do good deeds, that they will have gardens (Paradise) in which rivers flow....  (Qur’an, 2:25) God has also said:
Race one with another for forgiveness from your Lord and for Paradise, whose width is as the width of the heavens and the earth, which has been prepared for those who be- Some lieve in God and His messengers....  (Qur’an, 57:21) Benefits Chapter The Prophet Muhammad  told us that the lowest in rank of 2 among the dwellers of Paradise will have ten times the like of this 1 world, and he or she will have whatever he or she desires and ten Islam 2 times like it. Also, the Prophet Muhammad  said: { A space in Paradise equivalent to the size of a foot would be better 3 than the world and what is in it. } He also said: { In Paradise there are things which no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has thought of. } 4 He also said: { The most miserable man in the world of those meant for Paradise will (1) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #186, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6571. (2) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #188, and Mosnad Ahmad, #10832. (3) Narrated inSaheehAl-Bukhari, #6568,andMosnad Ahmad,#13368. (4) Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2825, and Mosnad Ahmad, #8609. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam Contents