In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Continuing our discussion about Islam and Quran’s miracles, now we explore another marvelous miracles of Quran that astonish any reader.
As we mentioned at the beginning of “Imam Mahdi’s Age: A Scientific fact, not a mythology” in the old weblog named “Genuine Islam”, given the full-fledged attacks from the west on Islamic countries, the need to protect Islam, Quran and Shia religion is felt more than ever and it could be said that true defense of Islam paves the way for Imam Mahdi’s reappearance.
Fortunately, the scientific frontier against the west is the most early-yielding and most confident frontier and Islam will be the triumphant.
Islam is the most rational religion among others and despite wester scientists’ opinion that consider divine religions, especially Islam, against science and rationalism, Islam’s reliance on science and logic is more than any other religions. In fact, wherever science has remained protected from political and personal anti-religious attacks, totally complies with Islamic didacticism. Subjects such as evolution that are considered as a weakness of Islam, are nothing more than great lies and a device in the hands of freemasons to fight divine religions. Interestingly, Erasmus Darwin, Charles Darwin’s grandfather who was also a biologist, was a master at one of the English leagues, was the one who introduced evolution to Charles Darwin. In fact, Erasmus Darwin long before Charles Darwin introduces the early ideas of evolution in his book “Zoonomia”, and made himself famous as one of the pioneers of evolution. Fortunately, with scientific findings, the falseness of this theory is clarified more, but this fact has remained latent because of the efforts the materialist authors do in their biology books. However, these facts will be presented to our dear readers on the weblog. It is worth noting that the author is studying biology at the academic scale and is well-aware his claims.
According to what previously said, we intended to study another great scientific miracles of Quran which is about iron. It is worth noting that this method of studying iron miracle in Quran is a unique style and what Haroon Yahiya has written in his book is partial and alterable. Therefore, we humbly demand the readers that if they heard anything about this miracle anywhere, remember the details of this article, because carelessness in this regard may lead to partially or falsely interpreting the miracle.
The last thing I want to tell before starting the main article is that the miracle we intend to explore today, is discussable based on Shia approach to Quran; But if we approach this miracle in the opinion of Sunni Islam, it is not possible to completely introduce this subject which can be another evidence of Shia rightfulness.
Quran, the Eternal Miracle: Al-Hadid (Iron) and its chemical
Quran, the God’s words, is the greatest book in the world. This book is the sole complete life manual for human because in addition to moral, didactic and religious issues, there are scientific information that will be decoded when the great interpreter, Imam Mahdi reappear.
This valuable information is latent in the verses, their meanings, verses sequence, numbering and the surahs and by finding the relations between verse numbers and surahs, new scientific information could be achieved. Surah Al-Hadid (Iron) and its miracles relate not only to the information within the verses, but also to their numbering. In order to clarify this miracle more, I suggest that while reading this article have a Quran book at hand and study the subjects yourself.
Al-Haidid is a surah that among others possesses a highly special and strategic position in Quran. This surah is the 57th surah of Quran; as Quean has 114 surahs, it is the middle surah of Quran.
Al-Hadid’s position n Quran is special because three key point lay in the surah. This surah is the 57th and there are 57 surahs after that to the end of the book. There are 56 surahs befor AL-Hadid and if we count the surahs to the end, it is 58th. Also if we count the surahs from the end, there are 57 surahs before it. So, as you might have noticed, 56, 57 and 58 number have key roles regarding the positions of Al-Hadid and there no other numbers regarding its position.
Now if you read Al-Hadid, you’ll understand that the only verse about Al-Hadid or iron is the 25th verse of this surah of Quran.
“We sent aforetime our messengers with Clear Signs and sent down with them the Book and the Balance (of Right and Wrong), that men may stand forth in justice; and We sent down Iron, in which is (material for) mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help unseen, Him and His messengers; for Allah is Full of Strength exalted in Might (And able to enforce His will).” (25)
This is the only verse of Al-Hadid that directly mentions Al-Hadid or iron.
But according to credible Shia narratives, this is not a correct number because most of the available Qurans do not count the ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a verse, which according to our infallibles’ opinion is a separate verse. In the following pictures taken from religious websites, you see that our infallibles have counted the ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a separate verse:
As you see, the infallibles have counted it as a separate verse and also the most important verse and state that “God shall have no mercy to those who have omitted the most important verse of Quran”.
It is worth noting that among Sunnis there are some groups that believe the ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” is a separate verse. Among these groups there are famous scientists such as Ibn Abbas, Ibn Mobarakm, Asem, Kasaie, Ibn Omar, Ibn Zobair, Ibn Horaira, Tawoos and Fakhr Razi in the great interpretation and Jalal-Aldin Siooti in Itqan, claim the repeating of these narratives and count the ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a separate verse.
In addition to the narrative discussion, it is not rationally accepted that the ‘In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” is not a separate verse because we have evidence from Quran itself that it is counted as a verse.
If “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” is not going to be a verse, how it is possible that God has sent the surah Al-Tawba without “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” while other surahs have the verse at the beginning. And if it was arbitrary to say “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” at the beginning of the surahs, we could omit the verse by our choice. Therefore we realize that there is wisdom in bringing or not bringing this verse at the beginning of surahs and we are not allowed to choose what to do about it. Now that we know the significance of “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” at the beginning of surahs, we could make sure that it is an inseparable verse. And our infallibles’ opinion supports the same claim.
As we mentioned, “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” is an inseparable verse from Quran but some Quran books do not write the verse number for that which is contrary to what our infallibles’ say. So if we are going to consider the correct numbering of the surahs, we must start the numbering process from the “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful”. The result is that 1 verse is added to every surah. That is, for example, after counting the “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a verse, verse 3 will change to verse 4.
Although Shias does not agree to Sunnis about “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful”, but in order not to create any division between the Muslim nation, avoid numbering the “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a verse. But the correct mode and what the infallibles’ emphasis is that “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” is a verse and must be numbered.
But what is the relationship of the above discussion about “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” and Quran’s miracle about iron?
If you remember the beginning of the article, we said that in surah Al-Hadid, the verse which talks about iron directly is the 25th verse. And if we look at the beginning of the surah, there is an “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” that does not have a number:
With that being said, the right thing to do is to number the “In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful” as a verse. So the number of this verse is 1 and as a result, the number of the verse that talks about iron will be 26. However this is not something done arbitrarily by us, but something that God and the infallibles have emphasized. For a better understanding, look at the following pictures:
The verse that tells us about iron is 26 according to what the infallibles say.
Based on what discussed earlier, the key numbers about surah Al-Hadid position are 56, 57 and 58. Number 26 is also another key number of Al-Hadid because it is the number of the only verse that talks about iron and its properties.
But what is the connection of 56, 57, 58 and 26 to iron element?
If you refer to periodic table and books of chemistry, you find out that the iron atomic number is 26 and iron itself is the 26th element of periodic table –which is a significant miracle from Quran. For a better understanding look at the following pictures:
On the other hand, 56, 67 and 58 are key numbers regarding the iron element because iron isotopes are the only non-radioactive one is nature, they are safe for human and are long-lasting. Isotopes of iron are 56, 67 and 58.
Note that the iron element has 28 isotopes (numbers 45 to 72). The surprising point is that the only stable isotopes of iron that have long half-life and are not radioactive, are the 56, 57 and 58 isotopes. Interestingly, the 54 isotope that is mentioned as stable in some chemistry sources, is radioactive and the same source has mentioned the radioactive life of it. So the only stable isotopes of iron that are the natural form of iron, are 56, 57 and 58.
This is another miracle of Quran in 1400 years ago that gave us this key numbers about chemical properties of iron long before new devices in chemistry and physics be invented. But human beings due to lack of authoritative interpreters like the infallibles during the last 1100 ago, have remain deprived of this scientific fats and it has been postponed until today that these facts have been discovered by scientific advanced tools.
The following figures clearly show the scientific facts discussed about iron and also highlight this great Quran miracle more than ever:
56, 57, 58 and 26 are key numbers about iron.
Therefore, as you noticed, our dear God has suggested many valuable points in Quran 1400 years ago. Quran is the most complete manual towards happiness and salvation. That is, Quran contains several moral, religious, mystic and social points and many scientific facts. As time passes and more scientific advances become more widespread, the golden pages of Quran with all the valuable rules, scientific notes and guidance toward salvation are highlighted. So the deep true reading of Quran helps to show the rightfulness of it to the world.
But before we end the article, some points that might create obscurity about this miracle shall be clarified:
- Our readers may think that if Osman and his assigned group have gathered Quran and turned it into the present form, how the numbers regarding the surahs and verses are reliable and according to what God has said, because Osman was not infallible and the job was done by him, it is probable that gathering the surahs and verses and the relating numbers might not have been according to the Prophet’s opinion.
The answer to that question is that despite the comment of some Sunni and Shia scientists, many Sunni and Shia pioneers believe and emphasize that the ordering of surahs and verses has been done at the lifetime of the holy Prophet and by his own opinion. What has been done in time of Osman was gathering and destroying the manipulated and fake Qurans. Based on historical documents, Imam Ali and Zayd ibn Thabit we responsible for doing that.
Therefore, the numbering of verses and surahs was determined at the lifetime of Prophet and what Osman did was to destroy the fake Qurans and assimilating the read. There are evidences for such a frame:
- there are narratives that our holy prophet has described Quran like what is available to us today. For example, the following narrative by Ubay ibn Ka’b (one of the trusted Quran scribers) mentions the same matter:
It is narrated by Ibn Ka’b that someday prophet told him “Gabriel has assigned me to salute you are read Quran for you, then he started to talk about the virtues of Quran by the same ordering, that is from Al-Fatiha to An-Nas.
– Quran Sciences by Mohamad Hadi Marefat
So according to the above narratives, is it clear that the ordering of the surahs was done by the Prophet himself.
- many of the great Shia researchers and scientists in Hadith have pointed out that the ordering of surahs is something done by God and his prophet. Among these scientists are Sayed Morteza and Ayatollah Khoi who were very meticulous and careful in reading documents, point to the very fact. Others like kermani, the author of Al-Borhan or Neishaboori had the same opinion and considered this ordering as something done by the Prophet himself. Therefore, according to many great Shia scientists agree to the very opinion and consider the Prophet, the main person to make the ordering of surahs and verses of Quran.
- According to credible narrations from the student of the infallibles about the rightfulness of the available Quran to us, they approved the Quran that is available to us now and said “if you follow this, you’ll be saved”. As we know, salvation would not be met unless there is a right, complete and thorough plan toward, so with the emphasis of our great religious leader and Imams, Quran is that complete plan or manual toward salvation.
- It is not rationally acceptable that with all the emphasis that the Prophet had on the succession and what happened at Ghadir, a significant matter such as Quran had been ignored. Indeed, the Prophet has kept Quran coherent and ordered the surahs and verses as God had ordered him, because if not, Quran could be manipulated and irrelevant verses couple with each other and consequently the meaning of the surahs change. Therefore, our Prophet prevented such manipulations by ordering Quran surahs and verses.
- Holy God says in Quran that “Indeed, we descended this book and we protect it”. This verse well demonstrates that God protects Quran and it is unchangeable. As mentioned, not ordering the surahs and verses of Quran could have led disorder. So the most logical and rational way to protect Quran was to tell the Prophet how to order the surahs and verses in order to keep in unchangeable and far from manipulation.
Due to the fact that the verses were descended in different times and even the adjacent verses were descended with long intervals, lack of correct numbering and ordering of surahs and verses could have created problems. But as God has promised to keep Quran protected, probably he ordered his messenger to do the job and prevent future problems.
- interestingly, some of the scientists that believe the ordering and numbering of Quran was done at the time of Osman, unconsciously agree that this job was performed at the time of Prophet himself, because researchers and interpreters, interpret the verses according to the precious and the next verses. If we accept that Osman did the ordering of Quran, it is probable that Quran interpretations have been wrong because he and Zayd ibn Thabet were not infallible and may did wrong. These interpreters accept that someone infallible has done the ordering and numbering of Quran and today rely on the surahs and interpret the verses by the adjacent verses.
- Another point that might create doubt in the readers’ minds is that some of them may have heard about Mushaf of Ali and have thought that it is something different from the Quran available now, and will be brought back by Imam Mahdi. But they must notice that if we accept that Mushaf of Ali is different from what we have today, another doubt or scrutiny would appear that why God let the available Quran be manipulated against the verse “Indeed, we descended Quran and we protect it”. Therefore, we do not agree that Quran is manipulated and also believe that Mushaf of Ali s not something different from the Quran available now”.
What is Mushaf of Ali?
According to many researchers, Mushaf of Ali is the same Quran which contains some interpretations by the Prophet. Some scientists believe that this Mushaf or book, numbered the verses by the order of revelations –which does not discredit the ordering and numbering available because the content is the same and it is only the ordering. Therefore, the Mushaf of Ali which will be brought back by Imam Mahdi, is nothing different from the available Quran, the only difference is the Prophet Mohammad’s interpretations inside it. These interpretations are highly valuable and protect Islam against its enemies. However, according to some narrations, the Mushaf may have ordered the surahs by the order of descendence.
Important note: If we accept that the Mushaf of Ali is different with the available Quran in ordering and numbering of surahs, it does not discredit the available Quran because these two Qurans are like a two-sided coin that each looks at the truth in its own special look. Mushaf of Ali has an advantage and it is the interpretation by prophet which is the true meaning of the verses.
In addition, if Mushaf of Ali was different with the available Quran, no doubt that he would have struggled against it. Ali, who did not take his position back at the time of caliphate council to introduce Omar ibn Khattab as the successor, how could he keep silent against something different from what holy Prophet had gave human beings as a gift. His silence about this Quran and emphasizing it as the true Quran, ensures us that the available version is the true version.
Important note: According to what we said about Mushaf of Ali, even if put aside th 56, 57 and 58 numbers in Al-Hadid surah, again the 26 number in Al-Hadid is a miracle itself that points to the iron atomic number and demonstrates the rightfulness of Quran more than ever. The 26 number is the same is both the available Quran and the Mushaf of Ali.
Important note: some may think that the periodical table is made by Dmitri Mendeleev or other scientists and the numbers are arbitrary. But these numbers are set by atomic number and hydrogen element mass number and the atomic number and mass number are calculated in relation to this element which is the simplest element of creation. Thus, the numbers related to atomic number and mass number of elements, are true real numbers. Therefore, Quran miracle about iron atomic and mass number is the prophecy of a scientific fact not an arbitrary one.
As you noticed, Quran is the greatest miracles of God descended on earth. This highly valuable book in addition to moral, religious and social influencing points, contains scientific facts. The rightfulness of Quran could be a pattern for scientific researches of Muslims and other people. Although, the verses coupled with the interpretations of the infallibles would demonstrate the scientific miracles more.
The important thing is that in addition to the meaning of the verses, the order and numbering of the verses contains scientific facts and shows the wisdom of God.
At the end we impede God to make the reappearance of Imam Mahdi faster to enjoy his everlasting guidance for human beings and the society heads toward moral, scientific, religious and cultural perfection.
By: the servant of Mahdi
With the help of: the servant of Al-Zahra
