Quote:
|
Originally Posted by czgibson My favourite recitation of sura 2 was the second, by Mishary Rashid Al-Efasi. The words seem to roll around in his mouth, producing a poetic effect I've never heard before. I particularly like the way verse 3 sounds. Incidentally, does "yu/minoona" mean "believe"? |
Yes, you're right.
Its based on the word
imaan (also spelled
eemaan) which means faith/belief
mu'min -> one who has faith, a believer
mu'minoon -> plural of mu'min, believers or those with faith
yu'minoon -> verb & plural
About the scientific miracles, I'm not going to argue with you about vague or clear references. I think the scientific miracles deserve their own thread, and indeed they've been discussed in many threads.
http://www.islamicboard.com/showthread.php?t=1000 (The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of Science) http://www.islamicboard.com/showthread.php?t=3924
You're welcome to air your doubts and we can discuss them. Although there's not much I can say in response to your idea that the letters are placed there to make an artificial sense of awe, since that's a personal feeling not a claim that can be analyzed with evidence. Moreover, although I use science to explain the Qur'an and I find it very interesting to do so, I don't believe that the Qur'an must be examined for scientific miracles. Which brings me to your next point:
Quote:
|
You say you would have a hard time explaining those two verses without scientific knowledge. Were the verses incomprehensible before the scientific discoveries you mention were made? Or is everyone free to make any interpretation, using current scientific knowledge if it fits?
|
In the commentary of the Qur'an known as
Al-Bahr Al-Muheet, written by Shaykh Abu Hayyan Muhammad ibn Yusuf (d. 1344CE) he presents the following explanation:
Verse 29 shows that the earth was created before the skies, as indicated by the word thumma (then). Another verse of the Holy Qur'an seems to be saying the opposite: "He spread out the earth after this." (79:30) But it doesn't necessarily mean that the earth was created after the skies. What it actually implies is that although the earth had already been created when the skies came into existence, yet a final shape was given to it after the creation of the skies. (Related by Mufti Muhammad Shafi in Ma'ariful Qur'an)
So just like I did, the classical commentators concluded that the verses could only be understood if verse 79:30 was referring to the further development of the earth after its existence, while verse 2:29 was referring to the further development of the skies after their existence. However, the classical commentators did not have scientific evidence to support their interpretation that the creation pattern was:
creation of the primitive atmosphere -> spreading of the earth's crust and its the earth's development -> development of atmosphere into seven layers
There was a large chance that the Qur'an could have made a complete scientific error here, but it did not, which to me at least is a sign from God.
Regards