Paradise and hell word count in the Qur'an: Difference between revisions

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This article lists all forms of the words ''jannah'' (paradise, garden) and ''jahannam'' (hell) in the Qur'an. The purpose is to analyze the claim (dubbed as a "miracle" by Muslims) that they both appear 77 times. The word count has to be in the Arabic Qur'an, which makes it complicated for most people, but this article is written in a way that can be understood without previous knowledge of Arabic.
This article lists all forms of the words ''jannah'' (paradise, garden) and ''jahannam'' (hell) in the Qur'an. Some Muslim apologists claim that they both appear 77 times and that this constitutes a miracle, however that does not appear to be the case. The word count has to be in the Arabic Qur'an, which makes it complicated for most people, but this article is written in a way that can be understood without previous knowledge of Arabic.


==Paradise - الجنة (''al-jannah'')==
==Paradise - الجنة (''al-jannah'')==
The word paradise (الجنة, ''al-jannah''), literally means "the garden". The root of this word is جنن (j-n-n). There are also other words derived from this root:
The word paradise (الجنة, ''al-jannah''), literally means "the garden". The root of this word is جنن (j-n-n). Some other Arabic words derived from this root:
* garden (جَنَّٰتٍ, ''jannatin'' in verse 2:25)
* garden (جَنَّٰتٍ, ''jannatin'' in verse 2:25)
* over-shadowed (جَنَّ, ''janna'' in verse 6:76)
* over-shadowed (جَنَّ, ''janna'' in verse 6:76)
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* a snake (جَآنٌّ, ''jannun'' in verse 27:10)
* a snake (جَآنٌّ, ''jannun'' in verse 27:10)


This word appears only in its singular form and it is a feminine word–it ends on the letter ''ta marbuta'' (ة). When a word is alone (not in a context of an Arabic text), the ''ta marbuta'' at the end is not pronounced, so it is read as ''jannah'', not ''jannat''. So when using this word in English, it is basically always read as ''jannah''. But when reading whole sentences from the Qur'an in Arabic, the ''ta marbuta'' would be read as "t".
This word appears only in its singular form and it is a feminine word–it ends on the letter ''ta marbuta'' (ة). When a word is pronounced without the case markings ('iraab) and/or outside of the an idaafa, the ''ta marbuta'' at the end is not pronounced, so it is read as ''jannah'', not ''jannat''. So when using this word in English, it is basically always read as ''jannah''. But when reading whole sentences from the Qur'an in Arabic, the ''ta marbuta'' would be read as "t" unless the word cames at the end of the line.


There are 3 forms of الجنة:
There are 3 forms of الجنة:
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As we can see, this word does not appear 77 times and in 5 cases refers to the jinns:
This word does appears 55 times and in 5 cases refers to the jinns:
* 1) Verse 11:119 "... Certainly I will fill hell with the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and the men, all together."
* 1) Verse 11:119 "... Certainly I will fill hell with the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and the men, all together."
* 2) Verse 32:13 "... I will certainly fill hell with the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and men together."
* 2) Verse 32:13 "... I will certainly fill hell with the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and men together."
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* 5) 114:6 "From among the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and the men."
* 5) 114:6 "From among the '''jinn''' (ٱلْجِنَّةِ, ''aljinnati'') and the men."


In the verse 41:30 the word appears with a prefix:
In the verse 41:30 the word appears with a prefixed preposition:
* "Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings '''of Paradise''' (بِٱلْجَنَّةِ, ''biljannati''), which you were promised."
* "Indeed, those who have said, "Our Lord is Allah " and then remained on a right course - the angels will descend upon them, [saying], "Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings '''of Paradise''' (بِٱلْجَنَّةِ, ''biljannati''), which you were promised."


So this word count is already very questionable. Not only we didn't get to the number 77, but it's hard to say even to which number we have arrived, because there are many ways of counting:
Two questions that arise are many ways:
* Include or exclude the verses where the word refers to the jinns?
* Include or exclude the verses where the word refers to the jinns?
* Include or exclude the verse where the word appears with a prefix?
* Include or exclude the verse where the word appears with a prefix?


Logically, if the miracle is supposed to be that the word count for "paradise" is 77, just like it is for "hell", then we should exclude the cases where it means something else. So the word "paradise" is mentioned '''52 times''' in the Qur'an and the miracle claim is false.
Contrary to the miracle claim, there do not to appear to be 55 instances of the word occurring.  


==Garden - جنة (''jannah'')==
==Garden - جنة (''jannah'')==
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