Dr.
Maurice Bucaille
Dr. Maurice Bucaille is a surgeon by
profession. He is also a renowned scholar. In order to be able to read Quran in
its original text and to study its meaning and purport through direct access to
its early and modern commentaries, he devoted himself to the learning of Arabic
language at the ripe age of fifty.
Thereafter, he made a
beginning by trying to reconcile proven scientific truths with religious
axioms. As a result of these studies, he wrote his famous book "QURAN,
BIBLE AND SCIENCE" in 1976, which caused a furor in high academic circles
- particularly in the Christian world.
After a deeper study of
Islam and the Quran, he has authored another book titled, "THE ORIGIN OF
MAN". It comprised Quranic explanations of some of the queries raised much
earlier than the period when those queries were logically and satisfactorily
resolved by scientific experimentation, to be fully in conformity with the
explanations provided by Quran about 1500 years before. The Church acknowledged
and accepted these researches of Dr. Bucaille to be a valuable contribution to
human knowledge and the author became famous all over the world, like
Cambridge, and Oxford Universities in U.K. & Yale and Harvard in USA. He
was invited to give Extension Lectures in their academic institutions. By dint
of his Quranic thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
approach to Quranic thought, and by virtue of his unprejudiced and realistic
discussion and research work, Dr. Bucaille has converted a number of high
ranking scholars to agree with him and to subscribe to his view that the Quran
is a Divine Book, not authored by any human being and actually a Book of
Revelations from Almighty God to His Last Prophet, Mohammed, Peace Be Upon Him.
M. Bucaille is of the
view that his findings in this behalf are a cause of consternation and chagrin
to Western scholars because of their earlier exposure to false and fictitious
propaganda against Islam and its Prophet (S.A.W.), by the Christian clergy and
by biased Western writers and authors. This misguided class of people could not
believe that Quran was the only Scripture which had remained sacrosanct and
free from all additions, alterations and interpolations and consequently it
still retained the purity to guide mankind in all ages, places and in every
conceivable crisis.
For over 1400 years it
has been the only treasure house of ecclesiastical and cosmic knowledge about
the universe and life itself. Mankind has not yet to progress and proceed to a
stage where it can fully be au fait with all the pearls and gems of wisdom and
truth, garnered in its bosom by this miracle of literacy, excellence and
academic purity which could not be matched even in one small sentence by the
literary giants of yore, in spite of an open challenge to this effect.
Q: What urged you so
forcefully to undertake a study of the Quran and other scriptures, and why?
A: Like all other
Frenchmen, I was also initially of the view that Islam was a religion conceived
and introduced by a genius and a remarkable man of great intellect, known by
the name of Mohammed (S.A.W.). Fifty years ago, by the Grace of God, I became
professionally qualified to practice as a surgeon, and used to discuss and
compare (views on) Islam and Christianity with my patients who came to consult
me (and with my co-professionals). I was told by some of them that my knowledge
of Islam and about its discipline was to a great extent misconceived and
mistaken. In the beginning I was inclined to doubt them, but now and then some
people produced actual and original Quranic Verses in contradiction of my
references, and I was compelled to revise my conclusions. And, as a result of
this revision and review, I felt that they were right and I was wrong.
I found that those who
had been my teachers had a wrong approach to the problem and had imparted
incorrect information to me. My knowledge of Islam, until then, had been
restricted to Radio and T.V. reviews, articles published in various magazines
and reproduced in biased treatise books. But I was perplexed; what should I do?
How should I amend my position and rectify my understanding?
Q: When did this happen?
A: After the 8th
Vatican Conference but before the birth of a tolerant attitude on the part of
European scholars gravitating to unbiased thought, i.e. before 1926, when the
cleavage between Muslims and Christian scholars was at its zenith and there was
no prospect of a direct dialogue between them.
Q: How did you react to
this situation?
A: There was only one
road open to me then, that of learning Arabic language so that I could study
the Holy Book, Quran, in its original form and try to get at its meaning
directly. I devoted the next two years to this task when I had acquired enough
knowledge of Arabic (in language and literature) to be able to make a
dependable study of the Quran faithfully as well as academically.
Q: And how did this
benefit you?
A: I knew then that
the Quran was the "Work of Allah" and had not been authored by any
human being. I was also convinced that Mohammed (S.A.W.) was a true Prophet of
God.
Q: The world is now
celebrating the first centenary of Darwin, do you subscribe to Darwinian theory
or disagree with it?
A: No Sir, I oppose
it vehemently. Darwin's theory is totally based on a misconception and is not
at all the outcome of such a scientific research as could prove that there
exists the slightest relation between man and the theory of evolution of
species as propounded by him. In fact his views are nothing but the misguided
and misconceived calculations of a purely materialistic mind. My latest book
(Origin of Man) contains a comprehensive "Rebuttal Article" on Darwin
and his views.
Q: Are you of the
opinion that Darwin was aware of his error?
A: Yes, I think he
knew the error he committed. The scholars, who are fond of materialism, have
propounded innumerable theories, mostly incorrect, and the fun of it is that
they are aware of their fallacies. However, being materialist, they stick to
their wrong attitude. In my book I have criticized some of these scholars,
several of whom are Nobel Prize winners.
Q: Do you think your
writings have had direct repercussion on people outside France?
A: Yes, Recently,
only a few days ago, I visited Northern and Western African countries, where I
was repeatedly called upon to address innumerable gatherings of educated
persons including scholars, on the Origin of Man and about my first book: the
Quran, Bible and Science. I was closely cross- examined about my views by some
of the most qualified, even hostile, elements. Following this, countless
students and scholars contacted and congratulated me. They declared that after
listening to me, they had, for the first time, been able to feel convinced of
the truth of the Quranic statements about the creation of universe and origin
of man. Some of them frankly admitted that my writings and lectures had
restored in them a firm certainty of belief and faith and converted them into
True Muslims, who actually felt solace and pleasure now in saying their
"prayers". They declared that the element of doubt and
dilly-dalliance in faith was entirely due to the misconceived theories of some
of these so-called Western scholars whose theories had been adopted as gospel
truth.
Q: What is the verdict
of Science on Man; and why this conflict between Science and Religion on this
score?
A: In my book,
"Origin of Man", I have endeavored to explain what is dubious and
what is proved according to scientific findings. I have also dealt with the
theories formerly supported by scholars, but now their very basis is being
demolished and proved to be without sound scientific footing. In 1851, Darwin
published his first book, "Origin of Species". In it he has pointed
out that "All animals can procreate amongst themselves", but he did
not take the trouble to demonstrate and prove scientifically his view that the
"Genealogy of Man" extends up to monkey.
Q: Then who is
responsible for propounding this frivolous theory?
A: The fact is that
some other people metamorphosing and without statements digesting his theories,
assigned wrong statements to Darwin, which comprised the assumption that
"Man has evolved from apes". Nevertheless, it is also true that
Darwin did not care to contradict such false notions assigned to him as it was
in this connection and on this topic that confrontation occurred between the
supporters of Darwin and the Clergy, where both the parties roundly abused and
maligned each other. That is why it is now essential that a line of demarcation
should always be drawn between the results of scientific investigations and
arbitrary views of scholars like Darwin.
Q: By such scientific
discourses, debates and discussions even Scriptures, are exposed to scientific
test resulting in exposing their errors and pin-pointing their weaknesses. As
such, may we inquire if you have some across any such anomalies in the Quran,
i.e. where its expositions and explanations are in contrast to scientific
findings?
A: The Scriptures of
non-Muslims have been copied and passed on from generation to generation and through
different personalities. The oldest document of this nature is
"Jehovah", which was written some time during 9th Century A.D. This
book, although not voluminous, is still the most comprehensive document of its
kind. The second book (Sacrodotal), although generally treated as Preface to
the Bible, came to light in 600 B.C. It deals with the creation of universe and
the appearance of Man on earth and the stories narrating the events following
it. The Bible comes thereafter, but the books of the "New Testament"
do not throw much light on the problem of Man. They repeat the statements of
the Old Testament as adopted by St. Luke. Quran made its appearance six hundred
years after Jesus and furnished valuable material on Man and his creation which
was (and still is) totally lacking in the Old as well as the New Testaments and
other Scriptures. What is more important is this context is that unlike the
Bible's Old and New Testaments, Quran is completely free from errors and
interpolations.
Q: In your opinion, what
are the main causes of such plentiful errors in other Scriptures?
A: The compilers of
the Holy Scriptures, in their vanity, presumed to have compiled them on the
basis of heavenly revelations. But all their efforts were the echoes of their
period resounding the thoughts prevalent in that particular environment. They
presented the conception of Man and the phenomenon of his creation as if
enunciated by God Himself, though it merely reflected the traditions the rite
and the perceptions well known and prevalent at that time. This fact is
admitted unanimously by all the exegetes of the Bible, be they Roman Catholics
or Protestants.
Q: Does the church also
admit this fact and subscribe to this view?
A: Yes Sir. The
church did accept this truth which was incorporated in the proceedings on the
occasion of the second Vatican conference, which was held to declare the
"Revolutionary Nature of Old and New Testaments". They admitted that
some parts of these Bibles are defective and contradictory in purport.
Q: What are your views
about the Quran in this behalf?
A: Now this is a
matter of entirely a different nature. All scholars of the Quran are unanimous
that the Quran is the "Word of God" as revealed to His Last Prophet
Mohammed (S.A.W.) through Gabriel (The Angel of Revelation). I have studied the
Book (Quran) very carefully and have not come across one single instance of
scientific fallacy any where in it. On the contrary, I have felt that the
(higher) truths and realities inherent in Quranic Text have been, throughout
the history of 1400 years, beyond the comprehension of ordinary human beings
which in itself, is positive proof that the Quran is the Word of God and it is
(at places) beyond intellectual potential of mortal man; be he an excellent
scholar or philosopher of the highest caliber, who is not always able to
explain the inherent realities of nature as revealed in the Quran. What
obviously conflicts with scientific truth is the assumption of the Bible that
although life erupted in the form of various species, which have endured, there
has been no evolution or improvement in their functions. On the other hand
according to the Quran, Man has transgressed through gigantic changes in the
course of the entire history of humanity. I felt it very necessary to inform the
Christians of the world of this very serious discrepancy in the Bible. As it
happen to be impartial, truthful and very outspoken in my studies, I have been
repeatedly called upon from time to time to express my views regarding these
matters before distinguished gatherings. On all such occasions, I have always
dealt with the subject from the scientific point of view, ignoring the
ecclesiastic or theological context. Whatever has appeared to be dubious or fit
for further investigation, I have tried to put it on the touchstone of
criticism and have not allowed to pass it unchallenged.
Q: Have you embraced
Islam?
A: I wanted to make
it quite clear in the very beginning that even before I learnt the first letter
of Bismillah, I was convinced that God was unique and all- powerful and when
God guided me to undertake a study of the Quran, my inner soul cried out that
Al- Quran was the Word of God revealed to his Last Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.).
In my book "Quran,
Bible and Science," I have mentioned these facts and the book has met with
instant success in the entire Christian world. In this book I have devoted
myself to discuss all problems from purely academic angle, rather than that of
faith or belief which would have revealed only my personal convictions. This was
because I desired to be treated by the world as an academician rather than a
theologian. About my faith and belief, God knows what is in one's heart. I am
convinced that if I identify myself with any creed, people will invariably dub
me as one belonging to such and such group and feel that whatever I say or do,
I do so from only the angle of such and such creed group. I know my fellow
beings very well and understand their mentality only too well. I wanted to
assure them that all my pronouncements are based on scientific knowledge and
not on any religious dogmas.
Q: This is O.K., but
since you have referred to God's complete awareness with what is in one's
heart, may we ask what is your opinion about human heart?
A: Heart is not an
apparent and perceptible organ of the body. It is the abode of faith and source
of eternal light.
Q: What are your views
on Islamic mission and its future in the west?
A: The best method is
to approach the people through in their own language. I am using the world
language in its broadest sense, i.e. comprehensive of all the factors which go
to make any language complete and expressive of peoples' views and beliefs. The
principles and the regulations towards which you are inviting their attention,
should be presented in the style with which you are familiar and which is
popular among them. In my book "Quran Bible and Science", I have
adopted a new style to acquaint the readers with Quranic truths and to
understand the intrinsic value of al-Quran. This unprejudiced and impartial viewpoint
of mine gave an impetus to the wide circulation in my books. Firstly, I tried
to find out the central point of attention of the Christians and the style that
appeals to their common sense. Thereafter I achieved this success. After the
publication of these books I received a number of letters from great
academicians and research scholars as well as commoners in which they expressed
their interest in my study of Al-Quran and appreciated it. They felt satisfied
with my views about the Bible and confirmed the fallacies pointed out by me. I
once entertained some Christians at home, in which they expressed their
astonishment over the literature I produced regarding Islam and inquired the
names of exegesis to acquire correct information about it.
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