Re: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"
Reply #1098 - July 15, 2010, 10:23 PM
Chapter 4 - The Miraculous Nature of the Qurʾān (cont...)
Part 8 - Weakness of the Qurʾān (cont...)
2. There is another branch called "The Style of the All-Wise". The prophet was asked about the phases of the moon, i.e. the changing appearance of the moon from one day to another. Instead of explaining it to them in a way they could understand - and if he did that, then that would have been a real miracle - he evaded the answer they hoped to hear from the One who created the phases of the moon and instead received from him a disappointing reply that both the old and young already know:
"They ask you concerning the phases of the moon, say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in (the affairs of) men, and for Pilgrimage." (2:189) (59)
What an extraordinary astonishing answer! God created the phases of the moon so that people can count time for (their affairs such as) agriculture, trade, menstrual periods of their women, when to fast and break fast and for their pilgrimage to the sacred house - as the exegetes say! Fine. If that is the case, then I wonder how we can we explain the changing appearance of the moon - nay the moons - around Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the other planets? Are there humans like us on these planets who perform Hajj to the Holy Ka'ba and have concerns and affairs as we do, such as our women who have menstruation cycles and (count the time when) they are free from menstruation, ready for prayer and fasting?
The truth is that the worst method of counting time is to count it by Lunar phases which we have suffered from and which has caused a division which there is no hope of repairing. Not to mention that this reply is a glaring affirmation of a geocentric universe, and a single sun and a single moon, and single form of worship and religious rites. Thus the Qur'an diverted them from what they were actually asking about, towards that which they were not asking about and (diverted them) from gaining knowledge about things they didn't know to things they already knew.
The knowledgeable in eloquence were truly shocked by this reply and yet they couldn't be shocked. How could they be shocked when it has come from the presence of an All-Wise and All-Knowing? So they retreated (like sheep) to the pen and exchanged the duty to be critical so that truth and correct understanding may prevail in exchange for idiocy and stupidity. Indeed Allah avoided the answer, on the pretext of disciplining, guiding and teaching them the right way to ask a question, never mind that this reply displays contempt and scorn towards the questioner. In my view it is a reply that has no meaning other than an attempt to stifle questioning. It's as though asking questions is an unforgivable sin. It is a blatant disregard for mankind's longing to understand the reasons behind what we see. Allah is the All-Wise who knows the needs of his servants and he makes clear to us the style by which we must address Him. This is the "Style of the All-Wise" and it is also a branch from amongst the branches of Eloquence.
This poor (art of) eloquence! How many have spoken falsely in it's name!! How many have told lies and fabrications about it!!
It seems al-Mutanabbi was well aware of this game (played by the scholars of language) for his poetry was criticised by some of the grammarians when he made a grammatical mistake. Al-Mutanabbi fumed with rage and replied to the grammarian, saying with audacious self-confidence: "It is up to me to say (what I like) and up to you to cite (evidence of it being correct)", with the implication: "Isn't that what you do with the Qur'an? Rules are for the little people as for the masters, they can get away with what the little people can't. Get lost! Go back to your tribe and people of little ones!"
In my opinion the most important reason for the flourishing of the science of eloquence in Islam is the defence of the Qur'an in any way possible and to provide solutions to the flaws in it - not for the pure sake of knowledge or truth or elucidation. For they came across so much in it (the Qur'an) that bewildered them and troubled their minds. If it was in any other book it would have caused them to doubt it, and it would have been publicly defamed to an extreme extent. But what can they do, for it has been revealed by an Almighty, All-Knowing One. "An Arabic Qur'an without crookedness" (39:28) This is the incontestable of incontestables that no Muslim can forsake.
Every Muslim of sincere faith will doubt himself rather than doubt his Qur'an, no matter what thoughts come to his mind about the Qur'an, it is not possible to defame the Qur'an or even pause to question it. So here comes the science of eloquence, and elucidation and marvels... to repair what has ruptured, mend what has broken, fill in the holes, and fix what is broken, come apart and disordered. So that there is no rupture nor gaps, nor cracks, nor holes in the Qur'an. It is only the shortcomings of our human minds. The science of Eloquence and Elucidation can vouch for complete verification in this matter.
With nonsense and sophistry and waffling you can discover what you want and hide what you want. You can do what you want and explain what you want, and convey what you want and smooth out every crookedness you want.
I always say: Give me a madman and I can bring out the wisdoms of the first and last, from his speech. But it appears that the exegetes (mufassirun) who have been raised on more than one school of the schools of pure speech and eloquence and bore the responsibilities of the embellishment of eloquence and marvels and meanings... beat me to it by a long way!
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(59) Note this verse does not strictly fall into the category of weak speech but is cited here to highlight the sophistry, waffling and patching-up.
Topic: Discussion about "My Ordeal with the Qur'an"