Koran and Self-Reference

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There was a fundamental crisis in mathematics about a hundred years ago, a basic disturbance that affected all of logic till it was repaired. Logicians realized that for centuries they had left out the concept of "Self-reference." For centuries, Aristotles rule of the "Excluded middle" had been used. This rule is a proposition that states, "Every proposition is either true or false." Somebody was smart enough to question that very proposition. What if that proposition that states that every proposition is either true or false is false? People had overlooked that for centuries. Not so the Koran. If the Koran is what it claims to be then it should be aware of self-reference, as applied to its own statements.

Far in the Horizon

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The interpretation of the first verse of Al-Isra’a chapter reads:

“Most glorified is the One who summoned His servant during the night, from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque, whose surroundings we have blessed, in order to let him see some of our signs. He is the Hearer, the Seer.” [17:1]

What are the signs that the Prophet saw?

As Muslims, only a sincere examination of the Quran offers any real opportunity to envision the signs that the Prophet saw during his summoning. As always, let us start by finding the other places in the Quran that talk about those particular signs.

The Physics of the Day of Judgement

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  • Chapter: 50, Verse: 47 When we are dead and have become dust and bones Shall then we indeed be raised again?
  • Chapter: 75, Verses: 3 & 4 Man thinks that, We shall not assemble his bones Yes Truly! We are able to restore his very fingers!
  • Chapter: 22, Verse: 7 The Hour will come there is no doubt And God will raise those who are in the graves.

THE AFTERLIFE

The belief in life after death is universal; it is reflected in the teachings of all the major religions of the world, permeating culture and time. Despite tremendous scientific and technological advancement of the twentieth century, we have no answers to many questions that have plagued the minds of people from time immemorial. What happens to us on dying? What is soul? Does it leave the body to enter the spiritual world, which is beyond human perception in some other dimension? Are the souls reincarnated entering some other body to be recycled again as in the beliefs of some eastern religions? Is the soul captured and kept somewhere until the Day of Judgment to be reunited with the body that rises from the grave? How can a body that had decayed and disappeared into dust, regain its original shape and form? We can believe what we wish, however the modern world is based on truthful pursuit of science and technology. Truth cannot be decided on wishful thinking or majority vote, if that was the case then Columbus would have surely fallen of the earth in 1492.”