Al-Quran The Ultimate Miracle (By Ahmed Deedat)

THE PURITY OF THE HOLY BOOK

The forgoing were the Miracles for yesterday's people from the Book of God - the Holy Qur'an. But what about today? In this "Age of the Miracle Chip" and the electronic wizards - the Computers - "THE CHILD OF MAN'S BRAIN RATHER THEN HIS LOINS." (Refer "TIME" Magazine Feb. 20, 1978). With the aid of the electronic computer we have just stumbled across the new facet of the Holy Qur'an, which makes this Bool of God the "Ultimate Miracle of Creation." The simplest definition of a Miracle is: AN ACT BEYOUND HUMAN POWER. How can we prove to the satisfaction of every atheist and every agnostic; every Christian and Communist that the Holy Qur'an is the very Word of God and that it is a Miracle of Miracles? We will have to convince them with exact science, through Mathematics, for mathematics is never partial and ist appeal and language is unicersal.

To be able to see, feel, touch and examine this Miracle of the Qur'an, the American or the Chinese, the Russian, the African or the Asian does not have to know or master the language of the Qur'an - ARABIC. The only prerequisites are - eyes to see and the ability to count at least up to 19 (10 + 9).

To fully appreciate this latest Miracle, we have to begin at the beginning of the Qur'anic Revelation. We do know that the Qur'an, as we have it today, follows what is called, its "traditional" order of numbering as arranged at the direct instruction of the Holy Prophet before his demise. But the Qur'an was not revealed in that order. Its "chronological" order is different. The whole Qur'an was revealed to Muhummed a little at a time, according to his immediate needs; like "previews," "spot news," or "news flashes."

We remember his FIRST CALL. He was in a cave some three miles north of the City of Makkah. It was the 27th of the month of Ramadaan. He was forty years of age. He had gone to this cave as was his practise, sometimes alone, but often with his dear wife Ummul Momineen Khadijatul Kubra, (R.A.) the "Mother of the Believers," for peaceful quite and contemplation. On this occasion he was alone. He saw a vision in which the Archangle Gabriel commanded him in his mother tongue, "Iqra!" On his first visit by Gabriel he was given the first 5 verses of Sura Al Alaq, which is not the 96th Chapter of the Holy Qur'an. God had chosen him to be His mouthpiece. But to Muhummed this was no graduation of gowning ceremony. He was not prepared for such a shock. He hurried home to his beloved wife for assurance and support. He felt bewildered and rudderless.

After the initial shock was over, he contemplated the Message in his mind. A taste and yearning was created for more. There was a long wait during which time he began to talk of God and a higher, nobler life. Tongues began to wag. The babblers began to insinuate that Muhummed was "mad or possessed.." In answer to this charge - on the second visit by Gabriel - He was given a few more verses of what now occupies the 68th Chapter of the Holy Qur'an, known as Sura Al Qalam. At this Juncture, I only wish to draw the reader's attention to verse 2 of the revelation:

THOU ART NOR, BY THE GRACE OF THY LORD, MAD OR POSSESSED.
{Holy Qur'an 68:2)

{Holy Qu'ran 96:1-5}

{Holy Qu'ran 68:1-4}

In this verse God Almighty rebuffs the accusations of the detractors. Muhummed was the sanest and wisest of men, but it is a habit with mankind to call Truth Falsehood and Wisdom Madness. His Great predecessor, Jesus Christ, was not exempt from such calumnies from his enemies either. We find the following recorded in the Christian Gospels. "And many said, he hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?" {John 10:20}. Even His dear companions at times thought that Jesus (May peace be upon him) was bereft of sanity - "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold of him: for they said, he is beside himself. And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, he hath Beelzebub (Satan), and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils." (Mark 3:21-22}. Despite this and other miraculous performances we are told - "For Neither did his brethren believe in him." {John 7:5} fortunately Muhummed was not that unlucky. His first and lasting converst were those nearest and dearest to him, those that knew him best.

We are agreed that the Second Revelation (Fig.2 ) was in answer to a CHARGE. Then came the third visit by Gabriel, when Muhummed was given the first few verses of Sura Muzzammil, which is now the 73rd Chapter of the Holy Quran (See fig.3). Here, I only wish to draw your attention to the fifth verse where the Almighty says:

SOON SHALL WE SEND DOWN TO THEE A WEIGHTY MESSAGE.
{Holy Quran 73:5}

To Muhummed, the humble servent of the Lord, everything he was receiving was good, beautiful, important, weighty. But the Author of Revelation had really something extraordinary for His Messenger.

On the Fourth visit Hazrat Jibraeel alai-his-Salaam (for this is how we call Gabriel) gave our Navee over half of Sura Muddaththir, the 74th Chapter of the Holy Quran, from verse 1 to 30. (See fig 4), ending with verse thirty:

1. O thou folded In garments
2. Stand (to pray) by night, But not all night -
3. Half of it, - Or a little less
4. Or a little more; And recite the Qur-an In slow, measured thythmic tones.
5. Soon shell We send down To thee a weighty Message
{Holy Qur'an 73:1-5}

OVER IT ARE NINETEEN.
{Holy Quran 74:30}

So far, Muhummed is now given the biggest volume of verses at any one setting. He was being attuned, so to say, from the First Revelation of five verses to verses now reaching thirty. If the Revelation had continued for another 26 verses of the Sura under review, the Chapter would have been completed. But Gabriel stops at verse 30 of Chapter 74.