{"id":203468,"date":"2019-07-20T14:32:34","date_gmt":"2019-07-20T09:02:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=203468"},"modified":"2019-07-23T10:56:04","modified_gmt":"2019-07-23T05:26:04","slug":"the-people-are-now-asking-about-the-forty-qurans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-people-are-now-asking-about-the-forty-qurans\/","title":{"rendered":"The People Are Now Asking About The Forty Qurans"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Mass L. Usuf<\/a> –<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Mass Usuf<\/p><\/div>\n

“Are those who know equal to those who do not?” (The Quran, Chapter 39 Verse 9).<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

What is the Quran<\/strong><\/span><\/a>?\u00a0 <\/span>It is the scripture revealed by Allah to His Messenger Prophet Muhammed (Peace and blessings be on him) and is the religious Book of the Muslims. In reality, are there forty Qurans? The simple answer is, \u201cNO\u201d.\u00a0 <\/span>How many Qurans are there? There is, only \u201cONE\u201d Quran.\u00a0<\/span>How come some monks and others are speaking about forty Qurans, after Galagoda Atte Gnanasara<\/span><\/strong><\/a> Thero\u2019s Kandy rally, comes the next question?\u00a0<\/span>On the heels of the continuing meaningless hostility towards their community, the Muslims are wondering whether this type of misinformation is deliberately spread to deprecate the sanctity of the Quran and to mock at the religion of Islam. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If that is so, such people should desist from making false claims.\u00a0<\/span>If not, they will be indulging in deceitfully uttering falsehood violating the virtue (sila):<\/p>\n

\u201cMusavada veramani sikkhapadam samadiyami<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

I undertake the precept to refrain from incorrect speech.\u201d<\/p>\n

If they are innocent, then they are talking in absolute ignorance, which also as venerable monks they should not have done. One who speaks must speak facts or maintain noble silence. The Buddha said: “Monks, speech endowed with four characteristics is well-spoken, \u2026.. . Which four? There is the case where a monk says:<\/p>\n

Only what is well-spoken, not what is poorly spoken;<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Only what is just, not what is unjust;\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

Only what is endearing, not what is unendearing;<\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Only what is true, not what is false.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

(Sn 3.3 – Subhasita Sutta: Well-Spoken)<\/p>\n

This column will attempt to give some highlights into what the Quran is.\u00a0<\/span>For those who do not know, this would be knowledge acquired and for those who are inclined towards creating mischief let the public be the jury.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Quran, The Pure Text<\/b><\/p>\n

It is a known fact among scholars of various classifications that the Quran is the only religious scripture on the face of this earth, which remains in its purest form. Therefore, there is no room for there to be a second Quran.The renowned Scottish Orientalist, Sir William Muir wrote, “There is probably no other book in the world which has remained twelve centuries (now fourteen) with so pure a text”. <\/i><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>(Sir Williams Muir, Life of Mohamet, Vol. I. Introduction).<\/p>\n

For sake of clarity, it must be mentioned that quoting Sir Willian Muir above is not to prove the purity of the Quran but, only to help understand a learned opinion.\u00a0<\/span>The inimitability of the Quran does not require any external sources to prove its purity because the Quran by itself is able to do so independently.\u00a0<\/span>Therefore, the statement that the Quranic text still remains in its pure form is not an unsubstantiated blind claim that is being made.\u00a0<\/span>It\u2019s authenticity and purity can be verified scientifically, linguistically, logically, historically, philosophically, rationally, mathematically and epistemologically (relating to the theory of knowledge, validation).\u00a0<\/span>Again, it is not that these disciplines validate the authenticity or purity of the Quran.\u00a0<\/span>On the contrary, these disciplines are validated by the norms embedded in the Quran.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Experimental Science, Embryology<\/b><\/p>\n

A classic example is the detailed stages of the embryological development that is referred to in the Quran which experimental science discovered only in the last century. Internationally recognized leader in the teaching of human anatomy and embryology, Professor Keith Moore, Professor of Anatomy at the Toronto University was amazed that the Quran 1,400 years ago had made mention of it. He said, \u201cAt first I was astonished by the accuracy of the statements that were recorded in the 7th century AD, before the science of embryology was established.\u201d<\/i><\/b> <\/i>(See the seminal work of Professor Keith Moore \u2013 The Developing Human with Islamic Additions \u2013 where he makes reference to the relevant verses of the Quran). The clip below is a scientific presentation made by him on the subject.<\/p>\n