Most Read in the Category of The news of Ghayb (Unseen) from the Qur'an

“Perish the hands of the Father of Flame! Perish he!.. No profit to him from all his wealth, and all his gains! Burnt soon will he be in a Fire of blazing Flame! His wife shall carry the (crackling) wood ―as fuel!― A twisted rope of palm-leaf fibre round her (own) neck!” (Tabbat 1-5)

His real name was Abd al-'Uzza. The Qur’an names him as “Father of Flames” which means “Abu Lahab”. The wife of Abu Lahab was Umm Jamil. Every night, Umm Jamil bunched cockleburs, thorns and thorny branches and knit them together on her neck, threw and spread them on the way of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) so that they would sting on his foot and thus hurt him at night.

We refer the persecution and cruelty of these two people against Muslims to the related books and analyze only the news of this surah related to the Ghayb (unseen, unknown) and its turning out to be true.

The surah of Tabbat informed us that Abu Lahab and his wife would die on disbelief. And this turned out to be true as it had been informed. This surah gives news from the Ghayb. It is not possible for a person to know the Ghayb and future on his own and to inform about the end of some people. Since it is not possible, we can say that the Qur’an which informs about the Ghayb is the book and word of Allah.

Now, let us analyze this proof deeply:

The Qur’an informs us that Abu Lahab and his wife would die on disbelief and go to Hell. How do those who do not accept the Qur’an as the book of Allah and deny it can answer the following questions?

1- Abu Lahab died seven years after the revelation of the surah of Tabbat. That is, the verses of Tabbat were not revealed while Abu Lahab was on his dead bed; contrarily they informed about his end seven years earlier. If it were not the book of Allah –God Forbid- then how could a person know that Abu Lahab would die on disbelief?

2- At the beginning of Islam, there were many enemies of Islam, but as the time passed, all of them entered Islam one by one and pledged allegiance to the Prophet (PBUH). Among them were also people such as Khalid ibn al-Walid, Abu Sufyan, Amr ibn As, who had fought against Muslims. Besides, there were people like Hz. Wahshi, who martyred Hz. Hamzah, and Hz. Hind, who removed the heart of Hamzah. All of these people repented for what they had done and deserved the titles of “Sahaba” and “Hazrat”. Just like these people, it was possible for Abu Lahab and his wife to repent and this would have been natural. However, it was revealed by the Qur’an that they would not repent and die on disbelief. So if the prophet Muhammad (PBUH) were not the apostle of Allah and the Qur’an were not the word of Allah then how had it been known that Abu Lahab and his wife was going to die on disbelief? 

3- A wise person does not assert a claim regarding subjects that will make him a liar. Above all, he does not say anything about the Ghayb (unseen) that will refute him. Now think of the following: The Qur’an says, “Abu Lahab and his wife will die on disbelief”. If Abu Lahab or his wife had said that “I became a Muslim and repented”, the aforementioned news of the Qur’an would not have turned out to be true and this would mean the cancellation of the case of the Qur’an. And if Abu Lahab or his wife had said, “We became Muslims” in a misleading manner as a hypocrite, then the trueness of the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) would have been destroyed at once. While the Qur’an says, “he will die on disbelief”, that person will say “I have become a Muslim”. So how could you explain the news of the Qur’an from Ghayb? The Qur’an stated that Abu Lahab and his wife would die on disbelief during a very critical moment and Abu Lahab died on disbelief after seven years as it had been informed. If the Qur’an were not the word of Allah but a fictitious work of a person –God forbid- then could that person claim such a thing which would reveal his lie? Would you do so, if you were him? Of course not! Then how can you explain this news and its trueness other than the fact that Qur’an is the word of Allah?

Yes, The Qur’an says “He will die on disbelief” and he died on disbelief after seven years. Despite of all of his enmity, he could not say, “I believe” in a factitious way in order to refute this verse of the Qur’an. He could not utter the word of belief even for appearance sake.

In order to know this, it is necessary to be Pre-Eternal and Post-Eternal and have the knowledge of all times and places at the same time and this attribute belongs to Allah Almighty only.

So, we give the Qur’an’s future information about the death of Abu Lahab and his wife on disbelief and the complete trueness of this news as a proof and say that the Qur’an is the book and word of Allah who knows the worlds of Ghayb best. The news of Qur’an from the unseen/unknown (Ghayb) cannot be explained by anything other than this decree.

The following is stated in the 27th and 28th verses of surah of al-Fath:

“Ye shall enter the Sacred Mosque, if Allah wills, with minds secure, heads, shaved, hair cut short, and without fear. It is He who has sent His Messenger with Guidance and the Religion of Truth, to proclaim it over all religion: and enough is Allah for a Witness.”

The prophet Muhammad (PBUH) saw a dream while he was in Medina. In that dream, believers were entering the Sacred Mosque securely and circumambulating the Kabaa. Upon this, the Prophet gave this good news to the believers. For, the believers who had migrated from Mecca to Medina had not been able to go to Mecca since then.

Allah revealed the 27^th verse of surah of al-Fath as an aid and support by Him and informed that his dream was true; and He stated that believers could enter Mecca if He wished.

Indeed, after a while, at first with the treaty of Hudaybiyyah and then the conquest of Mecca, Muslims entered the Sacred Mosque securely as it is stated in the same verse.

The two news of Ghayb informed by those two verses turned out to be true. Muslims conquered Mecca and the true religion of Islam became triumphant over all religions.

The following should not be forgotten and all verses must be evaluated in this way: Giving the good news of spring at the beginning of spring is easy. What is difficult is giving the good news of spring in the middle of winter. The news of the Qur’an is like giving the good news of spring in the middle of winter.

For, Muslims were so weak and few in number at the time when these verses were revealed. They were forced to migrate; and as a result, they left their homeland and properties. They came to Mecca from Medina in order to visit the Kaaba but they returned to Medina since Meccan polytheists did not allow this.

In such turmoil, the Qur’an informed the following and what the Qur’an indicated turned out to be true; “They will enter the Kaaba securely and Islam is going to be triumphant over all religions.”

Pharaoh said: "O Chiefs! no god do I know for you but myself: therefore, O Haman! light me a (kiln to bake bricks) out of clay, and build me a lofty palace, that I may mount up to the god of Moses: but as far as I am concerned, I think (Moses) is a liar!" (Surah al-Qasas:38)

Including this verse, the name Haman is mentioned in 6 places in the Qur’an: The name Haman is mentioned in the sixth and eighth verses of al-Qasas; in the 39^th verse of al-Ankaboot; in the 24^th and 26^th verses of al-Mumenoon; and it is informed that Haman is the vizier of the Pharaoh.   

Did a person named Haman really live? And did this person have any relation with the Pharaoh? What do history books inform us about this issue?

The symbols of the ancient Egyptians used to write the words are called “hieroglyphs.” The ancient Egyptians, Hittites, Mayans and Aztecs used to use the writing of hieroglyph. The Hieroglyph is a writing which is composed of primitive pictures and signs that represent ideas about various creatures and objects. Despite the efforts of giving proper meanings to the pictures, hieroglyph is a very complex writing.

The history and language of Egypt changed completely with the invasion of the Roman Empire. The Rome developed a prohibitive attitude towards the religion of ancient Egypt because of paganism. They destroyed the temples of Egypt as well as their tablets. They prohibited the use of hieroglyph writing. After AD 300, the writing of hieroglyph was forgotten and nobody who could read this writing remained on earth. This continued till the 18^th century. Since there was none who knew this language, nobody had an idea about what the Egyptian papyruses and writings said. This changed with the scripture of “Rosetta Stone”, which was found by a French soldier who was digging a shelter for himself during the invasion of Egypt in 1799. The characteristic of this scripture which differs from other scriptures is that the same text was written both in Hieroglyph and demotic as well as in Greek. Since the language of Greek is well known, the scripture of hieroglyph was decoded by a Frenchman called Jean-Françoise Champollion. By this way, a great deal of knowledge about ancient Egypt and thus Pharaoh was acquired. 

Through the decoding of hieroglyph, an important piece of knowledge was revealed. The name "Haman" was indeed mentioned in Egyptian inscriptions. This name was referred to in a monument in the Hof Museum in Vienna. This same inscription also indicated the close relationship between Haman and the Pharaoh.

The German scientist, Walter Wreszinskiwho analyzed the Antic Egyptian Culture and whose works were accepted as a masterpiece of Atlas stated that the name of Haman was mentioned on a monument of Hof museum and on the same monument the close relationship between Haman and the Pharaoh was mentioned.

(207. Walter Wreszinski, Aegyptische Inschriften aus dem K.K. Hof Museum in Wien, 1906, J. C. Hinrichs’ sche Buchhandlung.)

And Hermann Ranke, who is also a historian expert in ancient Egypt, mentions Haman as the head of the stone quarry workers in his “Dictionary of People in the New Kingdom”, which was prepared based on the entire collection of inscriptions.

(Hermann Ranke, Die Ägyptischen Personennamen, Verzeichnis der Namen, Verlag Von J. J. Augustin in Glückstadt, Band I, 1935, Band II, 1952.)

Yes, Haman was a person that lived in Egypt during the time of Hz. Moses as it is mentioned in the Qur’an, He was very close to the Pharaoh as it is mentioned in the Qur’an and was occupied with the construction works. The verse which informs about the demand of the Pharaoh from Haman about constructing a tower is in complete coherence with this archeological information.

Now we want to ask the following question: the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) did not know how to read and write; he did not read or write a single line. However, a person who lived in ancient Egypt and was the vizier of the Pharaoh is mentioned in the Quran by his name. This mentioning is in complete coherence with the historical finding made 200 years ago. History tells us about a person called Haman living in the same period as the Pharaoh and that he was the vizier of the Pharaoh and was occupied with construction works.

How can it be explained that the Quran miraculously mentions some information that could not be known at the period when it was sent down and that the same information is mentioned in the ancient Egyptian scriptures? It can be explained only as follows: The Quran was sent down by Allah, who knows what is unknown and unseen. It is His book and word.

It is impossible for a person who cannot read and write to inform about the Ghayb (unseen, unknown) and the information given by him to turn out to be right all the time. When we divide the Ghayb into two as future and past, it is not possible for someone to inform about the future at all. In order to give information about the past, that person must be literate and have to study works about the past if the given news is not well known and not something that people talk about in their daily lives. However, you see someone who informs about the future though he is illiterate and cannot read a single sentence, he informs about the past and what he informs always proves to be right. So, can anyone be skeptical about the person who gives this information to be the apostle of Allah and the book in which this information is contained to be the word of Allah? No, never… For, none can know the Ghayb except Allah and the person whom He teaches.

In the second part of our work, which is about the Qur’an as being the word of Allah, we will show the trueness of the information that the Qur’an gives about the Ghayb and prove that the Qur’an is the word of Allah.

We starting this work with the verses of the surah of ar-Room which informs about the victory of armies of the Byzantine.

Alif Lam Mim. The Roman Empire has been defeated― In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious. Within a few years. With Allah is the Decision, in the Past and in the Future: on that Day shall the Believers rejoice― (Surah ar-Room, 1-4)

Now let us analyze the proof that this glorious verse indicates:

During the years of 613-614, Zoroastrian and Persian armies beat the armies of the Christians and Byzantine by an overwhelming defeat. The Meccan polytheists were very happy about the defeat of Christians who were the people of the book and they said to the Muslims: “If Allah were to be the only dominant power, He would let the Byzantine be victorious and make them triumph over the Persians.” So as a miracle, the Qur’an gave the news of a result about the future which seemed impossible at that moment: The Byzantine was going to be triumph over Persians and Muslims were going to be happy with this…

As a matter of fact, Hazrat Abu Bakr said the following to the polytheists who were happy about victory of Persians: Allah will not let your happiness last so long because He informed that the Byzantine would be victorious again within a few years”. Upon this, Ubay B. Khalaf offered Hz. Abu Bakr to make a bet on this subject. They made a bet on ten camels whether the Byzantine would be victorious or not within three years.

When Hazrat Abu Bakr told the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about what had happened, the prophet said: The word of “bid” (بِضْعِ) (a few) as said in the verse does not express three years but between three and nine years; thus, he told Hz. Abu bakr to increase the time period and the number of camels three times more.

This time, they made a bet on whether the Byzantine could be victorious within nine years for one hundred camels. In fact, according to the Sahih of Tirmidhi, during the days of the Battle of Badr, the Byzantine became victorious over Persians in the battle and the news of the Qur’an from the Ghayb became true. Hz. Abu Bakr gave the camels that he gained from the successors of Ubay Ibn Khalaf to the poor upon the advice of the prophet (PBUH).

Now, let us see how this news is so miraculous by analyzing the situation of the Byzantine more clearly:

The Byzantine Empire was undergoing such a downfall that it seemed impossible for it  to survive let alone beating the Persian army. The Persians had beaten the Byzantines in 613 in Antioch and invaded Damascus, Cilicia, Tarsus, Armenia and Jerusalem. In the same era, not only the Persians but also Avars, Slavs and Lombards declared war against the Byzantines.  Heraclius, the Byzantine King, ordered the gold and silver ornaments to be melted and used to meet the expenses of the army. When they were not enough, they started to melt bronze statutes, too. Many governors rebelled against Heraclius and the Empire was about to be divided into several parts. All of the Byzantine lands were invaded by the Persians.    

To sum up, everybody expected the Byzantine to be destroyed. However, just then, the first verses of the chapter of ar-Rum were sent down; it was stated that the Byzantine would be victorious again in a few (3-9) years. Heraclius invaded Armenia and beat the Persians, gaining victory. In December 627, a big war took place the Byzantine army and the Persians. The Byzantine army defeated the Persians. A few months later, the Persians had to sign an agreement by retreating from the places they had invaded and leaving them to the Byzantines.    

Thus,"the victory of the Byzantine", which had been informed by Allah in the Quran, took place "in three to nine years" as it was emphasized in the verse. 

Think of a person who emerges alone and says, "I am the prophet of Allah and this is His book." Very few people believe in him among the stubborn people of his tribe. He gives information about something that seems almost impossible to take place without any fear, hesitation or anxiety by stating the time and place of the event.   

The people around him were in astonishment; those who regarded it to be impossible made a bet on it. If that news turned out to be wrong, his honesty and the cause of prophethood would be brought into disrepute; however, he was sure and said, "It will take place."

Would you doubt that this person was an extraordinary person and that the book he brought was the book of Allah when you saw that this event happened exactly as he had said? Definitely not. For, only Allah and those He teaches can know about the unknown. It is impossible for a person to know the unknown and tell about the future.

Another miracle existing in the verse is the fact that it tells about a geographical feature that was impossible for anyone living at that period to know.

In the 3rd verse of the chapter of ar-Rum, it is stated that the Byzantines were beaten in the lowest part of the earth. The Arabic phrase is "adnal-ard". Adna (the lowest) is derived from the word "dani" which means low in Arabic. Ard means earth. So, the phrase adnal-ard means the lowest place of the earth.

This phrase denotes a very important geological fact that is impossible to be known by anybody in the period when the Quran was sent down.

The scientists who searched for the lowest part of the earth discovered it as the basin of the Dead Sea, where the Byzantines were defeated in 613-614. The place where the war between the Byzantine Empire and the Persians took place is the basin of the Dead Sea where the lands of today's Syria, Palestine and Jordan meet. The basin of the Dead Sea is 395 meters below sea level and the lowest place in the world.

It is impossible to determine the lowest place in the world without a scientific research. It is impossible for a person to know it through his own knowledge.

Then, let us ask this question: How can we explain the fact that the Quran mentioned something 1400 years ago that could be determined only through the technical knowledge of this age? Can we call it "the word of a human being" instead of accepting that it is "the book of Allah"? To call this book the word of a human being means to turn a blind eye and to deny the truth.

“There was for Saba', aforetime, a Sign in their homeland― two Gardens to the right and to the left.”

Eat of the Sustenance (provided) by your Lord, and be grateful to Him: a territory fair and happy, and a Lord Oft-Forgiving! But they turned away (from Allah), and We sent against them the flood (released) from the Dams, and We converted their two garden (rows) into "gardens" producing bitter fruit, and tamarisks, and some few (stunted) Lote― trees.

That was the Requital We gave them because they ungratefully rejected Faith: and never do We give (such) requital except to such as are ungrateful rejecters. (Surah Saba: 15-17)

In the Qur’an, there is a reference to the people of Saba and the calamity of flood that befell them because of their ungratefulness. There is even a detailed explanation about the occurrence of this calamity. Since the calamity that was sent to the people of Saba is mentioned as “Sayl al Arim” which means “the flood of Arim”. This expression of the Qur’an also gives clues about the way this flood occurred.

The meaning of the word "Arim" is dam or barrage. The phrase “Sayl al Arim” means the flood that takes place as a result of the collapsing of the dam wall.

Now, let us see how the news about the people Saba of which was informed by the Qur’an has been proved by historians with the records of history;

“The community of Saba was one of the four biggest civilizations which lived in South Arabia. The historical records about the community of Saba report that this nation was a state like Phoenicians who were occupied with intense commerce activities. The Sabaeans are known to have been a civilized nation in history. In the inscriptions of the rulers of Saba, the words such as "restore", "dedicate" and "construct" are frequently used. The Ma’rib Dam, which is one of the most important works of this people, is an important indication of the technological level this people had reached.”

With the Ma’rib Dam, which they had constructed with very advanced technology, the Sabaean people became owners of a great irrigation capacity. The fruitful lands they thus obtained and their control over the trade routes allowed them to lead a magnificent and luxurious lifestyle.

The total area that could be irrigated by the dam was 9,600 hectares, 5,300 hectares of which belonged to the southern plain, while the remaining part belonged to the northern plain. These two plains were referred to as "Ma’rib and two plains" in the Sabaean inscriptions. Perhaps, the expression in the Qur'an, "two gardens to the right and to the left", points to the imposing gardens and vineyards in these two valleys. Thanks to this dam and its irrigation systems, the region became famous as the best irrigated and most fruitful area of Yemen.

The Frenchman J. Holevy and the Austrian Glaser proved from written documents that the Ma’rib dam existed since ancient times. In the documents written in the Himer dialect, it is stated that this dam rendered the territory very productive.

After the collapse of the dam-wall, all of the country was inundated by the flood. The canals that had been dug by the Sabaean people, and the wall that had been constructed by building barriers between the mountains, were destroyed and the irrigation system fell apart. As a result, the territory, which was like a garden before, turned into a place where weeds grew and there was no fruit left but the cherry-like fruit of little stumpy trees. Besides, there are inscriptions written in the Sabaean language on the pillars of Saba.The Christian archaeologist Werner Keller states the following in his book called "The Holy Book Was Right" (Und Die Bible Hat Doch Recht):

“The flood of Arim occurred as it was described in the Qur’an. “Since the existence of such a dam and the destruction of the whole country by its collapse prove that the example given in the Qur'an about the people of the garden was indeed realized.”

Now, we want to attract attention to the following points:

1. The Quran mentions the people of Saba and historians accept it.

2. The Quran states that the people of Saba lived in a beautiful city with green vineyards, gardens and orchards and historians accept it.

3. The Quran mentions a big dam in that city and historians accept it.

4. The Quran states that the dam irrigated two gardens and historians accept it.

5. The Quran mentions the calamity of flood that took place as a result of the collapsing of the dam wall and historians accept it.

6.  The Quran states that the vineyards and gardens were destroyed and historians accept it.

What do they mean?

Yes, by accepting all of the news stated by the Quran, historians actually accept that the Quran is the Book of God because it is impossible for an illiterate person to discover them all on his own and inform people about them.

Now, we want to ask: how can those who say the Quran is the word of a human being explain the accuracy of the news related to the past reported by the Quran? 

While the Quran expresses loudly like a thunder that it is the Book of God with the news it gives about the past, how can their voice, which is like the buzz of a mosquito, silence it?

What would you say about a person who did not read any books and write a single letter but mentioned about a civilization which was kept secret in the darkness of history as if he had witnessed it and then his news would be approved by scientists with their researches after him, one thousand and four hundred years later?

Which possibilities given below would you accept?

1- This person travelled to the age of that tribe by surpassing the time and places and informed people of what he had seen after he returned to his age. No one who is sane can accept this option but considering this option as reasonable is only possible by losing one's mind.

2- This person is the apostle and prophet of God who created the time and places and encompasses all ages and places with His wisdom. The Prophet knows by being informed by Him and informs people by His notification. This option should be accepted since there is no other option than this one.

Yes, there are no two ways but only one. That is, believing that this person is certainly the apostle of God.

Now, let us look at the miraculous news which proves the prophethood of that person and that the decree which he has is the book of God.

Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the `Ad (people)― Of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, The like of which were not produced in (all) the land? (Surah al-Fajr, 6-8)

At the beginning of 1990s, notable newspapers gave the news of a very important archeological finding with the following headlines; “The Magnificent Arab City Has Been Founded”, “The Legendary Arab City Has Been Founded”, “Ubar, Atlantis of the Sands”. What makes this interesting archeological finding more important is that its name exists in the Qur’an. Up to that time, many people who thought the tribe of Ad mentioned in the Qur’an to be a legend and never to be founded were amazed upon this new finding. Nicholas Clapp is the amateur archeologist who founded the city that is mentioned in the Qur’an.

While researching for the Arabian history, the Arabic historian and documentary producer, Nicholas Clapp came across with a book called Arabia Felix which was written by Bertram Thomas, an English researcher in 1932. Arabia Felix is the name given to the region of the south Arabian Peninsula of Romans and covering the parts of Yemen and Oman nowadays.

The English researcher Bertram Thomas made a research trip in the region of the city of Ubar where there is the remaining of the city, a place which is near the coast of Oman. During the trip, he met with Bedouins who were living in the desert and they showed him an old pathway and told him that this pathway belonged to a very old city called Ubar.

Nicholas Clapp who examined the book of Bertram Thomas, made two attempts in order to prove the existence of Ubar that Thomas reported. At first, he found the traces of the pathway whose existence was told him by the Bedouins. Thereupon, he applied to NASA and demanded this area to be photographed via satellite.

After that, he started to examine the old scripts and maps that exist in Huntington library of California. After a short research, he found a map that had been drawn by Egyptian-Greek geographer Batlamyus in 200 AD. The map showed the place of an ancient city and the drawing of ways that led to this city.

In the photographs taken by NASA, some traces of a road which were impossible to see with naked eye but visible by a complete aerial view came in sight.

Both the ways shown in the old map and the satellite photographs supported one another. The ending point of these ways was a large area that was a city once upon a time.

So, the place of the legendary city which had been the subject of oral stories and narrated by Bedouins was discovered. The remaining of an old city started to come into light from the sand during excavations. Thus, this city was named as “Ubar, the Atlantis of the Sands”. The actual evidence proving that this old city is the city of Ad which is mentioned in the Qur’an is the remains of the city. From the first moment of uncovering of the ruins, it was seen that this collapsed city had belonged to the Ad nation and the pillars were the pillars of Iram, mentioned in the Qur’an. For, tall pillars mentioned in the Quran were found during the excavations.

Dr. Juris Zarins, who is a member of the excavation team, states the following;

“What distinguishes this city from other archeological findings is its tall pillars. Therefore,  this city is the city of Ad nation, Iram, which is mentioned in the Qur’an.”

“Seest thou not how thy Lord dealt with the `Ad (people)― Of the (city of) Iram, with lofty pillars, The like of which were not produced in (all) the land?” (Surah Al-Fajr: 6-8)

The following is stated in the 67th verse of the Surah of al-Maeda:

“Allah will defend thee from men (who mean mischief).”

Before the revelation of this verse, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) migrated to Medina. And the Jews told the prophet: “O Muhammad, we are too crowded and armored, if you do not give up your case and religion, we will kill you”.

Upon this, the prophet was protected by a hundred people from Ansar (helpers) and Muhajirs (Immigrants). They were staying with the prophet at night and going wherever he wanted because of the fear of assassination. When this verse was revealed, the apostle of God said the following to those who were guarding him:

 “O People! Go wherever you want and do not guard me anymore; there is no doubt that Allah will protect me.”

And after this promise of God, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to wander alone at early and late hours of the night in the valleys and secluded parts of Medina despite the muchness of the enemy; and those who conspired against him always failed.

That is, this news of the Qur’an really turned out to be true and right; the enemies of the prophet (PBUH) could not harm him though they wished it so much.

"We punished the people of Pharaoh with years (of drought) and shortness of crops; that they might receive admonition." (al-Araf, 130)

So We sent (plagues) on them; wholesale Death Locusts, Lice, Frogs, and Blood: signs openly Self-explained; but they were steeped in arrogance, a people given to sin. (al-Araf, 133)

Similar verses of the Qur’an of which one is given above inform about the calamities that befell Pharaoh and his community and mention calamities that were sent to them such as draught, flood, frog and blood. It is as follows: God Almighty sent an intense rain to the community of Pharaoh, who insisted on denial. The rain continued for eight days and nights and no one could go out; floods occurred as a result of the overflowing of the river Nile and destroyed houses, crops and animals. Upon this calamity, the people of Pharaoh came to Hz. Moses (PBUH) and said: “Pray your lord. Let Him revoke this calamity so that we can believe in you.” Hz. Moses prayed and the flood ended with the blessing of his prayer.

However, they did not believe and insisted on their denial. Upon this, God Almighty gave them the calamity of locust as a sign and miracle. The flocks of locust which ate crops and the fruits reached up to the ceiling of houses as well as inside clothes. Upon this calamity, once again they came to Hz. Moses and wanted him to pray and let this calamity revoke and said to him that they would believe in him if he would do so. Upon this, Hz. Moses prayed again and with the blessing of his prayer, a strong wind came and poured the flocks of locust into the river. However, Pharaoh and his community, whose hearts were blackened, did not believe in this miracle either; and they broke their promise.  

Upon this, God Almighty sent them the calamity of insects. The insects ate the crops that remained from locusts and sucked their blood by entering their clothes. Hence, they came to Hz. Moses the third time and wanted him to pray and let him revoke this calamity and said him that they would believe in him if they would do so. Hz. Moses prayed again and God Almighty destroyed the insects. However, once again, Pharaoh and his community did not believe in him and said to Hz. Moses: “You are a magician. You are doing magic.”

Upon this, God Almighty sent frogs over them. The frogs were so plentiful that their residing was full of frogs. Pharaoh and his community, who could not escape from these frogs,  could not find any other way but going to Hz. Moses for the survival and wanted him to pray and let these frogs be destroyed. In return for this, they promised “This we will certainly believe in you”.

Hz. Moses prayed again and with the blessing of his prayer, a rain came and poured all of the frogs into the sea. However, they did not believe in and continued their raunchiness. Upon this, God Almighty, poured blood over them and everything was drenched in blood including their drinks.

Here the aforementioned verses of the Qur’an inform us about the calamites that befell Pharaoh and his community and give us a lesson of warning.

So, what do history books say about the events that the Qur’an informs? Now, let us listen to the historical scripts about this subject:

The Ipuwer papyrus that remained from the era of middle kingdom was founded at the beginning of 19th century. After being found in 1909, this papyrus was sent to Leiden Holland museum and translated by Gardiner. In this papyrus, calamities such as the draught, famine in Egypt are narrated as well as the escape of slaves. Besides, it is clearly understood that the author of this aforementioned papyrus, Ipuwer, is the eyewitness of these events. The following is mentioned about the calamites in Ipuwer papyruses which are also narrated in the Qur’an:

“Plague is throughout the land. Blood is everywhere. The river is blood.”

Forsooth, that has perished which yesterday was seen. The land is left over to its weariness like the cutting of flax…

Lower Egypt weeps. The entire palace is without its revenues. To it belong (by right) wheat and barley, geese and fish. Forsooth, grain has perished on every side. The land-to its whole extent confusion and terrible noise…

For nine days there was no exit from the palace and no one could see the face of his fellow.

Towns were destroyed by mighty tides…  Upper Egypt suffered devastation… blood everywhere… pestilence throughout the country…

No one really sails north to Byblos today. What shall we do for cedar for our mummies?… Gold is lacking…

Men shrink from tasting-human beings, and thirst after water. That is our water! That is our happiness! What shall we do in respect thereof? All is ruin!

The towns are destroyed. Upper Egypt has become dry. The residence is overturned in a minute.”

While listening to the information of written in Papyrus that we were informed about in the 20th century, it is as if you are listening to the verses of the Qur’an, aren’t you? The reason of this is that the information given in the papyrus is almost the same as the information in the verses of the Qur’an and supports the news given by the Qur’an exactly.

Now, we are asking the following question: Since there is a great similarity between the information of this papyrus that informs about the calamities that were sent to Pharaoh and his community and the verses of the Qur’an, what can the explanation of this be except the fact that the Qur’an is the book and word of God?

Is it possible for a person could not read and write to know this information by himself and inform people about it?

No, this is not possible! A person cannot know this information on his own. Then, the Qur’an cannot be the word of a man but only the word of God, who is pre-eternal and post-Eternal, knows anything that happened and will ever happen in detail.

No one will be able to change even one single letter of the Qur’an.

“We have, without doubt sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption).” (al Hijr:9)

Imagine a human being who is so weak and lone in a tribe that is both stubborn and hostile towards him but he challenges them confidently with a decree in his hand and says the following; “ Neither you nor the ages after you will be able to change a single letter of the decree that I have.”

The sole wish of his enemies is to tease that decree, destroy it or at least change it. Is it not enough proof that this book is the word of Allah since the plans of distortion and destroying that decree remained inconclusive and despite their efforts, they could not be able to change even one single letter of it?

Yes, Allah promised and stated that He would certainly protect the Qur’an and no one would be able to destroy or change even a single letter, a sentence or a word of it with the following verse: “We have, without doubt sent down the Message; and We will assuredly guard it (from corruption)”.

The news of this verse has been proved to be right. Though fourteen centuries passed after the revelation of the Qur’an and there are so many enemies of the Quran, not even a single letter of the Qur’an has been able to be changed.

The mentality and people who distorted other divine books such as the Bible and Torah have not been able to harm the Qur’an.

Just like its other news of the unseen (ghayb) about the future, the news of the Qur’an “it cannot be changed or distorted” has turned out to be true and this proves that the Qur’an is the word of Allah.

And the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the apostle of Allah.       

“And remember We divided the sea for you and saved you and drowned Pharaoh's people within your very sight.” (Al-Baqara 50)

And when the two bodies saw each other, the people of Moses said: "We are sure to be overtaken." (Moses said: "By no means! my Lord is with me! Soon will He guide me! Then We told Moses by inspiration: "Strike the sea with thy rod." So it divided, and each separate part become like the huge, firm mass of a mountain. And We made the other party approach thither. We delivered Moses and all who were with him; But We drowned the others. (Ash-Shuara 61-66)

The glorious Qur’an informs about the end of the Pharaoh with the verses given above and states that the Pharaoh and his army were drowned in the sea.  Now let us pay attention to the following verse of the Qur’an.  The 48^th verse of the surah al-Ankaboot states the following: “And thou wast not (able) to recite a Book before this (Book came) nor art thou (able) to transcribe it with thy right hand: in that case, indeed, would the talkers of vanities have doubted.”

According to the explicit declaration of this verse, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) did not know how to read and write. Neither did he write a letter nor did he read a letter. While this is the fact, then, how did he inform about the Pharaoh who had lived ages ago before him and his drowning in the sea?

Let us put the answer of how did he informs off and search the answer to the following question: Did Pharaoh really die by being drowned in the water? Has this news of the Qur’an about the end of Pharaoh been approved?

Now, we want to read the related Egyptian papyrus number 6, which dates to the time of the Pharaoh in the British Museum England:

 “From Amenamoni, head of the protective books of the white room of the palace, to the scribe Penterhor:

When this letter reaches you and has been read point by point, surrender your heart to the sharpest pain, like a leaf before the storm, when you learn of the sorrowful disaster of the drowning in the whirlpool. Calamity struck him suddenly and inescapably. The sleep in the waters has made something helpless out of something great. Depict the destruction of the lords, the lord of the tribes, the king of the east and the west. What news can compare to the news I have sent you?”

Here in this scripture, there is a clear explanation about the Pharaoh that he was drowned in the sea. That is, the 6^th Egyptian papyrus approves the news of the Qur’an’.  The news of the Qur’an has been approved by historical scriptures.

Now let us look at our first question: How could a person who did not write or read a letter know and learn the disastrous end of a person who had lived ages before him? If we do not accept the Qur’an as a word of God, then how can we answer this question? Otherwise, do we consider this a coincidence? No, this cannot be a coincidence. This question must have an answer…

This question has only one answer and it is as follows: “This book was sent by Glorious God, who knows all times from past to future. God Almighty informed us about the events of the past and future with the Qur’an and made this news a miracle of the Qur’an…”

Yes, how could the people who deny the Qur’an to be a word of God explain the miraculous news of the Qur’an that informs us about the drowning of the Pharaoh in the sea and its other news about the unseen? Not accepting this book as a word of God means ignoring the truth and denying the reality. The Qur’an is a book and word of God with the correctness of its news about the unseen.

We (once) sent Noah to his people, and he tarried among them a thousand years less fifty: but the Deluge overwhelmed them while they (persisted in) sin. But We saved him and the Companions of the Ark, and We made the (Ark) a Sign for all Peoples! (Surah al-Ankaboot: 14-15)

These and other verses of the Qur’an inform us about a great flood that took place on the earth. This was such a great flood that it covered a major proportion of the earth’s surface and destroyed a civilization.

So then, what do scientists say about the news that the Qur’an informs? Do they also accept the existence of such a flood? What are the views of science and scientists concerning this issue? Now, let us see how this flood, which has been informed by the Qur’an, is proved by scientists:

The traces of a civilization that was annihilated at once and that occurred as a result of a natural calamity, dramatic migration or a war are preserved much better. For, in such calamities, the houses in which humans live and the tools that they use are buried into the soil in a short time and thus preserved without being touched for a long time. And upon being brought to light, important information is acquired about their past lives.  

Many proofs about the flood of Noah are brought to light through this way. The flood which is thought to have happened around 3000 B.C destroyed all civilization at once and enabled a new civilization to be established. So, clear proofs of the flood have been preserved for thousand years for us to take lessons from it.

There are many archeological excavations for the research of the flood that affected the savannah of Mesopotamia. The traces of flood calamity that could have caused the great flood have been discovered primarily in four cities at the excavations of the region. These cities are important cities of the savannah of Mesopotamia; Ur, Uruk, Kish and Shuruppak. The excavations that were made in these cities showed that they were affected by a flood around 3000 B.C

Leonard Woolley is a very important researcher who researched this flood. He presided of an excavation project that was carried out collectively by the British Museum and Pennsylvania University. The excavations of Sir Woolley were carried out in the middle of the desert between Baghdad and the Persian Gulf. The excavations of Woolley are explained as follows in the Reader’s Digest: An important finding was revealed as they got deeper inside the earth; this was the king tomb of the city of Ur. Researchers founded many legendary works of art in the tomb of Sumerian kings and nobles. Helmets, swords, musical instruments, artistic handiworks that were made of gold and precious stones.

Workers got inside the muddy bricks about one meter and started to take out the pots and pans. And everything came to an end. There were no more pots or pans and ashes; only pure mud that was brought by water…”

Woolley continued to dig. Workers suddenly founded pieces of tools that had been made with emery rock along with pots and pans by the people of the age after digging into the clean layer of clay for about two and half meters. When the mud was cleaned well, a civilization came into sight. This showed that a great flood had occurred in the region. Besides, the microscopic analysis showed that a thick layer of clean clay was dumped onto the region by a great flood that was enough to destroy the old Sumerian civilization.

Let us listen with care to the research results of Woolley, who presided the excavation:

“Such mass of clay that had been formed in a single time period can only be the result of a great flood calamity. This can only be the remaining of the legendary Noah’s flood.”

The German archeologist, Werner Keller expressed the result of aforementioned excavation as follows.

“The emergence of a city under a clayey layer during the archeological excavations in Mesopotamia proved that there was a flood in the region.”

Now, let us see how the legendary flood, which is mentioned by scientists, had been informed by the Qur’an 1400 years ago:

“It was revealed to Noah: “None of thy people will believe except those who have believed already! So grieve no longer over their (evil) deeds. But construct an Ark under Our eyes and Our inspiration, and address Me no (further) on behalf of those who are in sin: for they are about to be overwhelmed (in the Flood).” (Hud 36-37)

So the Ark floated with them on the waves (towering) like mountains, and Noah called out to his son, who had separated himself (from the rest): "O my son! Embark with us, and be not with the Unbelievers!" The son replied: "I will be take myself to some mountain: it will save me from the water." Noah said: "This day nothing can save, from the Command of Allah, any but those on whom He hath mercy!"― and the waves came between them, and the son was among those overwhelmed in the Flood. When the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy water, and O sky! withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated, and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi, and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong!" (Hud 42-43-44)

Then, what does the coherence of the news of the Qur’an and the investigations of scientists mean?

How do people who deny the Qur’an to be a word of God could explain the news of the Qur’an about this flood 1400 years ago?

Is it possible for a person to inform about the flood like an eyewitness that took place thousands of years ago by himself?

-Will those who consider the words of scientists as proof close their eyes and ears while there is plenty of explanation about the flood of Noah? Yes, science and scientists reapproved the Qur’an and reaffirmed the trueness of the news of the Qur’an.

Now we want to complete this proof by asking the following question: Imagine an illiterate person who did not know how to read and write informing us about a flood that took place thousands of years like an eyewitness by depending on a book that had been sent to him and then this news being proved by all historians and archeologists after ages as a result of scientific researches; then, could we doubt that this person is the prophet of God and the book he has is the decree of Him?