User:CPO675/Sandbox 1
Magic, Miracles, and the Supernatural in the Quran
Magic
Creatures
-put jinn first when angel section finished
The existence and attributes of angels
The Quran, Hadith and Sira affirms the existence of angels (see angel and angels on Quran Corpus), traditionally said to be made from light as mentioned in (Sahih Muslim 42:7134 - Islamic tradition),[1] while other have asserted they are made from fire like jinn based on (see: Quran 38:73-76 and Quran 7:11-12),[2] before humans Quran 2:30.
They are also God's messengers like humans, and have two, three or four (pairs of) wings.
They are said to hold God’s throne (in the seventh heaven) (Q 40:7, 69:17) and some stand around it (Q 40:7). Eight angels will carry the throne of God on Judgement Day(Q 69:17). Two write down everyone's deeds for judgment day (Q 50:17 – 21), they also ask forgiveness for the faithful on Earth (Q 42:5), help fight with believers against non-believers (Q 8:12) chastise unbelievers (Q 8:50). As well as blow the trumpets on judgement day[3] in e.g. Q 6:73, Q18:99.
They praise and worship God constantly Q13:13 Q 7:206, 21:19, 40:7, 41:38, 42:5, 69:17 and carry out his divine will.
They also have an active role in the cosmos, striking spying jinn devils from attempting to listen in to divine information from the 'exalted assembly', to be stuck by stars/meteors/fireballs (see: shooting stars in the Quran). (Q 15:16 – 18), (Q 37:6 – 10) Q67:5, 72:8-9; with Q 72:8 – 9 says that the firmament is filled with guards [ḥaras], who are undoubtedly angels.[4]
There is no evidence that these exist.
Invisible armies assumed to be angels - fight in wars:
O you who have faith! Remember Allah’s blessing upon you when the hosts came at you, and We sent against them a gale and hosts whom you did not see, and Allah sees best what you do. Q33:9
The possible Existence of cherubs
al-muqarrabūn
Decharneux, Julien. Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background (Studies in the History and Culture of the Middle East Book 47) (p. 306). De Gruyter. Kindle Edition.
The existence and attributes of Jinn
The Quran, Hadith and Sira all support the existence of supernatural, generally invisible creatures known as Jinn (جن ǧinn, singular جني ǧinnī ; variant spelling djinn) living among us. In the Qur'an, satan/devil(s) are also jinn (Quran 18:50), which like humans are sent prophets and have (at least some: see Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Predestination) free-will and will be judged accordingly alongside mankind (Quran 6:130). They can interact with us (Quran 6:128) and even possess humans (Quran 2:275) (which the main article elaborates on), and cause people to forget things (Quran 18:63). As well as create buildings/structures (Quran 34:12-13). There is no evidence that these exist.
Solomon's Army of jinn and birds
A story in the Qur'an, drawing on Jewish folklore, states that Solomon commanded a massive army comprised of 'Jinns and men and birds'. Solomon is described as speaking with a Hoopoe bird and thereafter desiring to execute the bird when it is tardy to his assembly. The Hoopoe bird, it is then revealed, was only delayed because it had been spying on a beautiful female ruler, Queen Sheba, who Solomon subsequently insists is misguided and must be conquered. At this point, Solomon assigns a Jinn from his assembly the task of stealing Queen Sheba's magnificent throne. There is, however, no scientific evidence that Jinn exist, that birds can be commanded as soldiers, or that birds can engage in elaborate conversations with humans.
The existence of magic and sorcerers
Main article: Qur'an, Hadith and Scholars:Witchcraft and the Occult
No evidence has ever proven that magic is real. However, Quran 113:4 ("evil of those who blow on knots") is reported in commentaries as referring to those who practice magic.[5] Knots were commonly associated with magic in antiquity.[6] The next verse, Quran 113:5 ("evil of the envious when he envies), is said to refer to a superstitious belief known as 'The Evil Eye', a physical and mental supernatural condition that affects those who envy. For further explanation see the main article.
2. From the evil of what He has created
3. And from the evil of the utterly dark night when it comes
4. And from the evil of those who blow on knots
At least once, humans are taught magic by satans (believed to be jinn) and angels (Harut and Marut are named in this verse):
Giants?
“O, Moses! Lo! a giant people (dwell) therein, and lo! we go not in ‘till they go forth from thence. When they go forth from thence, then we will enter (not ‘till then). Then out spake two of those who feared (their Lord, men) unto whom Allah had been gracious: Enter in upon them by the gate, for if ye enter by it, lo! ye will be victorious. So put your trust (in Allah) if ye are indeed believers. They said: O, Moses! We will never enter (the land) while they are in it. So go thou and thy Lord and fight! We will sit here.” (5: 22-24)
Miracles and myths
While miracles by definition are supposed to defy the laws of nature and scientific explanation, the examples of myths and legends briefly listed in this section illustrate the pre-scientific worldview with which the Quran was composed.
Prophet Miracles
Jesus talking from his Cradle
(And remember) when the angels said: O Mary! Lo! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a word from him, whose name is the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, illustrious in the world and the Hereafter, and one of those brought near (unto Allah). He will speak unto mankind in his cradle and in his manhood, and he is of the righteous. Quran 3:45-46
Allah Miracles
Mooing statue
The Qur'an describes a statue of a calf that was capable of mooing.
Supernatural food
The Qur'an states that Jesus received a feast sent down from heaven.
Stick turned serpent
The Quran states that Moses' staff transformed into a serpent.
Living inside a big fish
The Quran presents a version of the Biblical tale in which Jonah is swallowed by a whale ('the big Fish') and then lives in the whale for some time while praying. Scientific research, however, suggests that a person could not persist long inside a whale's digestive tract and, if not crushed by the whale or by water pressure, would almost immediately suffocate.
Buraq, the winged horse
While it took one week to travel from Mecca to Jerusalem (the location of the alleged 'farthest Mosque') by camel, the Qur'an states that a magical winged horse, called the Buraq, transported Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem in a matter of minutes. Creatures like the Buraq were common characters in near Easter myths.
Speaking body parts
The Quran states that human organs will, on the Day of Judgement, testify against their own persons.
Sea split in half
The Quran present a version of the Biblical story where Moses splits the sea and crosses it with the Israelites. There is no historical or other evidence that such an event occurred.
Plagues of Egypt
God sent plagues of locusts, lice and frogs to punish the sinful Egyptians who thought themselves mighty (Q7:133)
Manipulating the wind
The Quran says that Solomon had the power to control the wind and traditional sources elaborate that Solomon could use this wind to fly upon a gigantic wooden carpet to wherever he pleased.
Testimony of a dead man
The Quran states that Allah instructed a group of people to strike a murdered man with a piece of a heifer (young female cow that has not yet borne a calf) in order to temporarily resurrect him and discover the identity of the murderer.
Mountains and birds sing psalms
The Qur'an states that hills and birds would sing the psalms with David.
Add fish coming back to life/magical sea as one Q 18:61-5;
Dead fish (for food) comes back to life at the junction of the two seas
Moses's dead fish comes back to life at the junction of the two seas, showing a huge parallel with late antique Christian? literature
dsda
Army of magic birds attacking Abraha's army
Main article: Historical Errors in the Quran - Surah of the elephant
Talk of interpretation of words issue or not? Link to explanation of event such as tafsir.
Did He not make their stratagems go awry,
and send against them flocks of birds
hurling against them stones of baked clay
Then He made them like straw eaten up.
Jews transformed into pigs and apes as a punishment
Q5:60 transforming jews into apes and pigs and some Jews were transformed into detestable apes as punishment for breaking the Sabbath (Q 2:65; 7:166).
The Qur'an records a miraculous event where Sabbath breakers are transformed into apes.
Solomons dead body doesn't decompose properly
The mention of the termite (dabbat al-ard) gnawing Solomon’s staff displays knowledge of its eating habits (Q 34:14).
Solomon speaks to an ant
Solomon (q.v.) understands the speech of an ant advising caution to his fellows (Q 27:18.)
Dream interpreting
Birds are seen in a dream which Joseph (q.v.) interprets (Q 12:36, 41).
Raven
- God also dispatched the raven which showed Cain how to hide the corpse of his brother Abel
Vivifying Rainfall and Resurrection
The author of the Qur'an claims several times that rainfall brings trees of a dead land to life, so in the same way, people will be brought back to life. This is a non-sequitur fallacy. One is a natural process; the other is not possible, hence it cannot be deduced from the first.
It is Allah Who sends forth the Winds, so that they raise up the Clouds, and We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth therewith after its death: even so (will be) the Resurrection!
Quran 35:9
That sends down (from time to time) rain from the sky in due measure;- and We raise to life therewith a land that is dead; even so will ye be raised (from the dead);-
Quran 43:11
And among His Signs in this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it, it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly, He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things.
Quran 41:39
Cures Yahya's wife barreness
“And (remember) Zakariya, when he cried to his Lord: ‘O, my Lord! leave me not childless, and Thou art the best of inheritors.’ So We responded to him, and We granted him Yahya, We cured his wife’s (barrenness) for him. These (three) were ever quick in emulation in good works; they used to call on Us with love and reverence, and humble themselves before Us.” (21: 89-90)
Punishment narrative miracles/destructions
Natural law in the Quran
God active in the Cosmos & continuous creation
- war:
“They have taken gods other than He, in order that they be given victory, but they are not able to give them victory.” (36: 74-75) - also loses battles to
Similarly: “Why did those whom they had chosen for gods as a way of approach (unto God) not help them? Nay, but they did fail them utterly. And that was their lie, and what they used to invent.” (46: 28)
Quran 9:26 (angels you can't see help)
“You did not kill them, but God killed them, and you didn’t shoot the arrows when you shot, but God shot them.” (8: 17)
“Allah had helped you at Badr, when ye were a contemptible little force; then fear Allah, that you may show your gratitude. Remember, you said to the Faithful, ‘Is it not enough for you that Allah should help you with three thousand angels, sent down?’ Nay, but if you remain firm, and act aright, even if the enemy should rush here on you suddenly, your Lord would help you with five thousand angels, making a terrific onslaught. Allah made it but a message of hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts. There is no help except from Allah. The Exalted, the Wise.” (3: 123-126)
- wind
(It is) God who sends the winds, and it stirs up a cloud, and We drive it to some barren land, and by means of it give the earth life after its death. So (too) is the raising up. (Q 35:9)
- ships that drown
- Birds held up by God & parallel
- Inanimate objects worship god: All created things naturally adore God (Q 13:13: “the thunder adores by praising him”). See Q22:18 "Have you not regarded that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth prostrates to Allah, as well as the sun, the moon, and the stars, the mountains, the trees, and the animals and many humans?."
- Moreover, all the creatures in heaven or on earth, as a sign of their devotion to the creator, perform this act directly or by means of their shadows (Q 7:206; 13:15; 16:4.8-9; 22:18; 55:6).
- Wind by allah - pre-Islamic allah poetry parallel in Sinai paper?
- Mountains and earth couldn't deal with task of being human? Worshipping or something they were asked?
- he animals (every dabba, Q 16:49; 22:18) worship God by prostrating themselves, including the birds, which do so while flying (Q 24:41).
- Cause of Lightning: The Quran claims that Lightning is a sign of Allah, it frightens people and gives them hope. But lightning is a complex electrical phenomenon and only somebody without this knowledge would simply attribute it to Allah. And among His Signs, He shows you the lightning, by way both of fear and of hope, and He sends down rain from the sky and with it gives life to the earth after it is dead: Quran 30:24
Not random cause and effect;
Bestows favours: “And whatever favour is (bestowed) on you it is from God.” (16: 53)
Regulates all affaris: “He regulates affairs from the heaven to the earth.” (32: 5)
“Say: the angel of death, who is given charge of you, shall cause you to die.” (32: 11)
“And His are the ships sailing smoothly through the seas, lofty as mountains.” (55: 24) “And, surely, We have honoured the children of Adam, and We carry them in the land and the sea.” (17: 70) “Your Lord is He Who speeds the ships for you in the sea that you may seek of His grace; surely He is ever Merciful to you.” (17: 66)
Makes female & male: scientific error? :makes barren “He creates whatever He wants and bestows female to whomever He wants and bestows male to whomever He wants. Or He mingles them, males and females, and He makes barren whom He pleases. Lo! He is Knower, Powerful.” (42: 49-50)
Anthropomorphisms of Allah
Non transcendent - Hands, eyes, ears, throne, carried light - photons,
Look up Nicolai Sinai Entry 2024 and Intro 2017 book
References
- ↑ Angels in Islam. Of what are the Angels created? Islam Q&A. 2000
- ↑ El-Zein, Amira. Islam, Arabs, and the Intelligent World of the Jinn (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) (Kindle Edition. pp. 44-46 ). Syracuse University Press.
- ↑ What is meant by the blowing of the Trumpet? Islam Q&A. 2003.
- ↑ Decharneux, Julien. Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background (Studies in the History and Culture of the Middle East Book 47) (Kindle Edition. pp. 313). De Gruyter.
- ↑ Tafsirs for Quran 113:4
- ↑ Day, C. L. (1950). Knots and Knot Lore. Western Folklore, 9(3), 229–256