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The Islamic Bulletin
Issue 6
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The Islamic Bulletin
Issue 6
Q: 1. What is the name of the angel of death?
Q: 2. Name the two uncles of Prophet who em-
braced Islam.
Q: 3. Name the youngest commander of Islam.
Q: 4. Through which angel did God reveal the
Holy Qur’an?
Q: 5. How many Surahs are there in the Holy
Qur’an?
Q: 6. Which was the Qibla before Ka’ba?
A: The name of the angel of death is Angel Izrail.
A: The names of the 2 Prophet’s uncles are Hazrat Hamza
(R.A.A.) and Hazrat Abbas (R.A.A.).
A: The youngest commander of Islam is Usama bin Zaid
(R.A.A.).
A: The Holy Qur’an was revealed through the Archangel
Jibraeel.
A: There are 114 Surahs in the Holy Qur’an.
Dr. Maurice Bucaille is a surgeon
by profession. He is also a re-
nowned scholar. In order to be
able to read Quran in its original
text and to study its meaning and
purport through direct access to
its early and modern commen-
taries, he devoted himself to the
learning of Arabic language at the
ripe age of fifty.
Thereafter, he made a beginning
by trying to reconcile proven
scientific truths with religious axioms. As a result of these studies,
he wrote his famous book “QURAN, BIBLE AND SCIENCE” in
1976, which caused a furor in high academic circles - particularly
in the Christian world.
After a deeper study of Islam and the Quran, he has authored an-
other book titled, “THE ORIGIN OF MAN”. It comprised Quranic
explanations of some of the queries raised much earlier than the
period when those queries were logically and satisfactorily resolved
by scientific experimentation, to be fully in conformity with the
explanations provided by Quran about 1500 years before. The
Church acknowledged and accepted these researches of Dr. Bu-
caille to be a valuable contribution to human knowledge and the
author became famous all over the world, like Cambridge, and
Oxford Universities in U.K. & Yale and Harvard in USA. He was
invited to give Extension Lectures in their academic institutions.
By dint of his Quranic thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced
and realistic approach to Quranic thought, and by virtue of his
unprejudiced and realistic discussion and research work, Dr. Bu-
caille has converted a number of high ranking scholars to agree
with him and to subscribe to his view that the Quran is a Divine
Book, not authored by any human being and actually a Book of
Revelations from Almighty God to His Last Prophet, Mohammed,
Peace Be Upon Him.
M. Bucaille is of the view that his findings in this behalf are a
cause of consternation and chagrin to Western scholars because
of their earlier exposure to false and fictitious propaganda against
Islam and its Prophet (S.A.W.), by the Christian clergy and by bi-
ased Western writers and authors. This misguided class of people
could not believe that Quran was the only Scripture which had
remained sacrosanct and free from all additions, alterations and
interpolations and consequently it still retained the purity to guide
mankind in all ages, places and in every conceivable crisis.
For over 1400 years it has been the only treasure house of eccle-
siastical and cosmic knowledge about the universe and life itself.
Mankind has not yet to progress and proceed to a stage where it
can fully be au fait with all the pearls and gems of wisdom and
truth, garnered in its bosom by this miracle of literacy, excellence
and academic purity which could not be matched even in one
small sentence by the literary giants of yore, in spite of an open
challenge to this effect.
Q: What urged you so forcefully to undertake a study of the
Quran and other scriptures, and why?
A: Like all other Frenchmen, I was also initially of the view that
Islam was a religion conceived and introduced by a genius and
a remarkable man of great intellect, known by the name of Mo-
hammed (S.A.W.). Fifty years ago, by the Grace of God, I became
professionally qualified to practice as a surgeon, and used to
discuss and compare (views on) Islam and Christianity with my
patients who came to consult me (and with my co-professionals).
I was told by some of them that my knowledge of Islam and about
its discipline was to a great extent misconceived and mistaken.
In the beginning I was inclined to doubt them, but now and then
some people produced actual and original Quranic Verses in
contradiction of my references, and I was compelled to revise my
conclusions. And, as a result of this revision and review, I felt that
they were right and I was wrong.
I found that those who had been my teachers had a wrong approach
to the problem and had imparted incorrect information to me. My
knowledge of Islam, until then, had been restricted to Radio and
T.V. reviews, articles published in various magazines and reproduced
in biased treatise books. But I was perplexed; what should I do?
How should I amend my position and rectify my understanding?
Q: When did this happen?
A: After the 8th Vatican Conference but before the birth of a tolerant
attitude on the part of European scholars gravitating to unbiased
thought, i.e. before 1926, when the cleavage between Muslims and
Christian scholars was at its zenith and there was no prospect of a
direct dialogue between them.
Q: How did you react to this situation?
A: There was only one road open to me then, that of learning Arabic
language so that I could study the Holy Book, Quran, in its original
form and try to get at its meaning directly. I devoted the next two
years to this task when I had acquired enough knowledge of Arabic
(in language and literature) to be able to make a dependable study
of the Quran faithfully as well as academically.
Q: And how did this benefit you?
A: I knew then that the Quran was the “Work of Allah” and had
not been authored by any human being. I was also convinced that
Mohammed (S.A.W.) was a true Prophet of God.
Q: The world is now celebrating the first centenary of Darwin,
do you subscribe to Darwinian theory or disagree with it?
A: No Sir, I oppose it vehemently. Darwin’s theory is totally based
on a misconception and is not at all the outcome of such a scien-
tific research as could prove that there exists the slightest relation
between man and the theory of evolution of species as propound-
ed by him. In fact his views are nothing but the misguided and
misconceived calculations of a purely materialistic mind. My latest
book (Origin of Man) contains a comprehensive “Rebuttal Article”
on Darwin and his views.
Q: Are you of the opinion that Darwin was aware of his error?
A: Yes, I think he knew the error he committed. The scholars, who
are fond of materialism, have propounded innumerable theories,
mostly incorrect, and the fun of it is that they are aware of their
fallacies. However, being materialist, they stick to their wrong atti-
tude. In my book I have criticized some of these scholars, several
of whom are Nobel Prize winners.
Q: Do you think your writings have had direct repercussion on
people outside France?
A: Yes, Recently, only a few days ago, I visited Northern andWestern
African countries, where I was repeatedly called upon to address
innumerable gatherings of educated persons including scholars, on
the Origin of Man and about my first book: the Quran, Bible and
Science. I was closely cross- examined about my views by some of
the most qualified, even hostile, elements.
Following this, countless students and scholars contacted and con-
gratulated me. They declared that after listening to me, they had,
for the first time, been able to feel convinced of the truth of the
Quranic statements about the creation of universe and origin of man.
Some of them frankly admitted that my writings and lectures had
restored in them a firm certainty of belief and faith and converted
them into True Muslims, who actually felt solace and pleasure now
in saying their “prayers”. They declared that the element of doubt
and dilly-dalliance in faith was entirely due to the misconceived
theories of some of these so-called Western scholars whose theories
had been adopted as gospel truth.
Q: What is the verdict of Science on Man; and why this conflict
between Science and Religion on this score?
A: In my book, “Origin of Man”, I have endeavored to explain what
is dubious and what is proved according to scientific findings. I have
also dealt with the theories formerly supported by scholars, but
now their very basis is being demolished and proved to be without
sound scientific footing. In 1851, Darwin published his first book,
“Origin of Species”. In it he has pointed out that “All animals can
procreate amongst themselves”, but he did not take the trouble to
demonstrate and prove scientifically his view that the “Genealogy
of Man” extends up to monkey.
Q: Then who is responsible for propounding this frivolous
theory?
A: The fact is that some other people metamorphosing and without
statements digesting his theories, assigned wrong statements to
Darwin, which comprised the assumption that “Man has evolved
from apes”. Nevertheless, it is also true that Darwin did not care to
contradict such false notions assigned to him as it was in this con-
nection and on this topic that confrontation occurred between the
supporters of Darwin and the Clergy, where both the parties roundly
abused and maligned each other. That is why it is now essential that
a line of demarcation should always be drawn between the results of
scientific investigations and arbitrary views of scholars like Darwin.
Q: By such scientific discourses, debates and discussions even
Scriptures, are exposed to scientific test resulting in exposing
their errors and pin-pointing their weaknesses. As such, may
we inquire if you have some across any such anomalies in the
Quran, i.e. where its expositions and explanations are in contrast
to scientific findings?
A: The Scriptures of non-Muslims have been copied and passed on
from generation to generation and through different personalities.
The oldest document of this nature is “Jehovah”, which was written
some time during 9th Century A.D. This book, although not volu-
minous, is still the most comprehensive document of its kind. The
second book (Sacrodotal), although generally treated as Preface
to the Bible, came to light in 600 B.C. It deals with the creation
of universe and the appearance of Man on earth and the stories
narrating the events following it. The Bible comes thereafter, but
the books of the “New Testament” do not throw much light on the
problem of Man. They repeat the statements of the Old Testament
as adopted by St. Luke.
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