Claim CJ531:
The Qur'an speaks of an expanding universe. It says (51:47), "And it is
We who have constructed the heaven with might, and verily, it is We who
are steadily expanding it." This indicates the Qur'an's divine origin and
thus its accuracy.
Source:
Response:
- The translation above is mistaken or at best forced. Better
translations of the last clause are "we are the ones who enrich it"
(Pangloss 2003) or "we it is who made the vast extent" (Pickthall
n.d.).
- The following verse (51:48) says, "And the earth We have laid out."
Suras 51:47-48 appear to be a rough translation of Isaiah 42:5: "Thus
says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who
spread forth the earth and what comes from it. . . ." If divine origin
is imputed on the basis of these verses, credit should go to the Bible,
not the Qur'an.
- The expansion interpretation was not noticed until after the expansion
of the universe was well known through scientific observations. If
Allah meant the Qur'an to indicate an expanding universe, the verse
indicates that He was not competent to communicate clearly.
Links:
Pangloss, Abdul-Kalaam, 2003. The Qur'an and the Big Bang.
http://www.geocities.com/freethoughtmecca/bigbang.html
References:
- Pangloss, 2003. (see above)
- Pickthall, Marmaduke, n.d. The Meaning of the Glorious Koran, New
York: Dorset Press.
created 2003-12-1
