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Twisting the Qur’an to Justify the WTC Tragedy (What does the Qur'an say about 9/11?)
Islam Online ^ | 09/10/03 | Staff Writer

Posted on 09/12/2003 9:03:25 AM PDT by bedolido

Dear Respected scholar!

We have recently received a paper talking about a Qur’anic miracle. The paper reads: “The collapse of the WTC located in ‘Jurf Har’ street on 9/11/2002 is depicted in the Qur’an in Surah no 9 (referring to the month of the accident) chapter 11 (the day of the event) verse 109. Counting the number of the words from the beginning of the Surah till we reach this verse, we will see that the number is 2001 (the year when the event happened). This is a new miracle of the Qur’an that necessitates meditation and deep reflection. The verse reads: “Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk.” (At-Tawbah: 109). Please comment!

Date: 10/Sep/2003
Mufti: Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All thanks and praise are due to Allah and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Dear questioner!

Thanks a lot for your interesting question that reflects your interest in understanding the teachings of Islam and keeping away from all fake ideas that befog the minds of people and place them at darkness and confusion.

First, it’s to be made clear that this paper is no more than faking people’s mind and playing with their intelligence. It has no scientific basis; it is no more than a whim and fabrication. So we have to stress that it is not allowable, under any pretext, to photocopy this paper or redistribute it, for it contains nothing but lies and slander. Interpretation of the meanings of Qur’an is not an open channel for anybody to tread. It has certain rules and regulations that must be observed and adhered to before embarking on such task.

Tackling the issue of this fake paper in detail, Dr. Husam al-Din Ibn Musa `Afana, professor of the Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence University of Jerusalem, Palestine, states the following:

“It is to be noted that people have gone so far in playing with the words of the Qur’an and twisting the meanings of the verses according to their feeble understanding and baseless way of thinking. Such people have gone to extremes to the extent of subjecting the Qur’an to their whims and desires, turning a deaf ear and a blind eye to the fact that the interpretation of the Qur’an (The Words of the Almighty) is to be done following the rules and the regulations established by erudite Muslim scholars. Warning us against distortive and baseless interpretation of the Qur’an, Ibn `Abbas quotes the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, to have said: “Whoever dares to interpret the Qur’an without having the scholastic qualifications to do so, let him expect his place in the Hell-Fire.” (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

Jundub ibn `Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying: "Whoever interprets the Qur’an according to his own opinion will be always held as mistaken, even if his opinion proves to be right." (Reported by At-Tirmidhi)

In his Exegesis of the Qur’an, Imam Al-Qurtubi wrote a chapter entitled ‘Warning against Interpreting the Qur’an According to Personal Opinion’. He mentioned the above-mentioned Hadiths and cited Ibn `Atiyyah as saying: “The majority of the Righteous Predecessors, including Sa`id ibn Al-Musayyeb, `Amir Ash-Shi`byy and others, refrained from interpreting the Qur’an with fear of falling into the category addressed with the warning. Yet, their knowledge and excellence are beyond description.”

Ibn Abi Mulaikah said: “Once, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, was asked about the interpretation of a letter in the Qur’an and he cried: ‘No sky is to cover my head, nor earth to be my bed, nor can I find any refuge if I am to give any letter in the Qur’an an interpretation other than that meant by Allah.’”

Bearing all these warnings in mind, it is to be stressed that the author of this fabrication has twisted the meanings and the words of the Qur’an to serve his own purposes. He tries to twist the Qur’an in order to justify the tragedy of the WTC. He further states that the words ‘Jurf Har’ refer to the name of the street where the WTC is located. This is a clear falsification. Here, we would like to cite the views of erudite Muslim scholar and exegetes in interpreting these words:

In explaining the meaning of Allah’s words: “`Ala Shafa Jurf Har (on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice)", Ar-Raghib Al-Asfahani states: “The Arabic word ‘Shafa’ means ‘brink’ or ‘verge’ while the word ‘Jurf’ means ‘precipice’ or ‘abyss’. The word ‘Har’ means ‘crumbling’ or ‘overhanging’. In Arabic they say: ‘Bi’r Ha’ir or Har or Muhar’ meaning ‘a crumbling well or a well that is about to crumble’”

It is thus clear that ‘Jurf Har’ are two Arabic words meaning ‘crumbling precipice’ and they can, in no way, be a name of a street in New York or elsewhere, as claimed by the author of this fabrications.

The fabrication goes further to claim that the verse number 109 falls in the 11th chapter of the Qur’an in Surat At-Tawbah (Surah number 9) as a way of giving a divine justification for the tragedy of the WTC (occurred on 11/9/2001). It stated that the number of the words from the beginning of the Surah up to that verse is 2001 referring to the year. This numerical explanation has no scientific basis, talkless of its being based on sheer lies and fabrication.

I myself have counted the words and found that they are 2083 and not 2001 as shown by the fabricated parchment. Moreover, I’d like to ask, why referring here to the solar calendar and not the lunar one? What is to be stressed also is that the verses of Surat At-Tawbah refer to a certain incident, that is the act of building a Ad-Dirar Mosque. This occurred when the hypocrites built their own mosque to distract Muslims from observing prayer in the mosque of the Prophet and to make their plots and conspiracies there. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was invited to pray in the mosque, but Allah informed him of the reality of the matter through these verses:

“ And as for those who chose a place of worship out of opposition and disbelief (Diraran Wa Kufran) and in order to cause dissent among the believers, and as an outpost for those who warred against Allah and His messenger aforetime, they will surely swear : We purposed naught save good. Allah beareth witness that they verily are liars. Never stand (to pray) there. A place of worship which was founded upon duty (to Allah) from the first day is more worthy that thou shouldst stand (to pray) therein, wherein are men who love to purify themselves. Allah loveth the purifiers. Is he who founded his building upon duty to Allah and His good pleasure better; or he who founded his building on the brink of a crumbling, overhanging precipice so that it toppled with him into the fire of hell? Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk. The building which they built will never cease to be a misgiving in their hearts unless their hearts be torn to pieces. Allah is Knower, Wise.” (At-Tawbah: 107-110)

In conclusion, it is to be borne in mind that twisting the meanings of the words of the Qur’an is prohibited. It is also prohibited to photocopy this so-called parchment or distributing it to people, for this involves spreading fake ideas and inciting people to believe in superstitions.”

Almighty Allah knows best.

All Fatwas published on this website (Islamonline.net) represent the juristic views and opinions of eminent scholars and Muftis. They do not necessarily form a juristic approach upheld by this website. Click here to read Full Disclaimer.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Philosophy; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: fables; lies; quran; wtc

1 posted on 09/12/2003 9:03:25 AM PDT by bedolido
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To: bedolido
Oy, now the Bible Coders have found new converts.
2 posted on 09/12/2003 9:05:08 AM PDT by John Beresford Tipton
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To: John Beresford Tipton
"Oy, now the Bible Coders have found new converts."

Exactly what I was thinking. That's probably where the new Muslim Qu'Ran coders got the idea in the first place.

At least they don't mince words in refuting the claim. No doubt the "paper" will be distributed to the Wahhabi Lobby anyway.

3 posted on 09/12/2003 9:20:59 AM PDT by cake_crumb (UN Resolutions = Very Expensive, Very SCRATCHY Toilet Paper)
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