User:Soft coder

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am a Computer programmer from India.

I am a strong supporter of creationism, since I believe time and energy itself cannot create anything.

In Wikipedia, I am an active reader and mostly only a passive editor. When I contribute, my edits are usually in topics related to religion.

I am generally interested in the study of all religions. Currently I am engaged in the study of Quran.

Following is a quote about Quran by orientalist George Sale, a critic of Islam, who has translated Quran to English.

I will mention but one instance out of several, to show that this book was really 
admired for the beauty of its composure by those who must be allowed to have been 
competent judges. A poem of Labîd Ebn Rabîa, one of the greatest wits in Arabia in 
Mohammed’s time, being fixed up on the gate of the temple of Mecca, an honour allowed 
to none but the most esteemed performances, none of the other poets durst offer anything 
of their own in competition with it. But the second chapter of the Korân being fixed up 
by it soon after, Labîd himself (then an idolater) on reading the first verses only, was
struck with admiration, and immediately professed the religion taught thereby, declaring 
that such words could proceed from an inspired person only.
      The style of the Korân is generally beautiful and fluent, especially where it imitates 
the prophetic manner and scripture phrases. It is concise and often obscure, adorned 
with bold figures after the eastern taste, enlivened with florid and sententious expressions, 
and in many places, especially where the majesty and attributes of GOD are described, sublime
and magnificent; of which the reader cannot but observe several instances, though he must not
imagine the translation comes up to the original, notwithstanding my endeavours to do it
justice.
    Though it be written in prose, yet the sentences generally conclude in a long continued
rhyme, for the sake of which the sense is often interrupted, and unnecessary repetitions 
too frequently made, which appear still more ridiculous in a translation, where the ornament,
such as it is, for whose sake they were made, cannot be perceived. However, the Arabians are
so mightily delighted with this jingling, that they employ it in their most elaborate
compositions, which they also embellish with frequent passages of, and allusions to, the
Korân, so that it is next to impossible to understand them without being well versed in this
book.
    It is probable the harmony of expression which the Arabians find in the Korân might
contribute not a little to make them relish the doctrine therein taught, and give an 
efficacy to arguments which, had they been nakedly proposed without this rhetorical dress,
might not have so easily prevailed. Very extraordinary effects are related of the power of
words well chosen and artfully placed, which are no less powerful either to ravish or amaze
than music itself; wherefore as much has been ascribed by the best orators to this part of
rhetoric as to any other. He must have a very bad ear who is not uncommonly moved with the
very cadence of a well-turned sentence; and Mohammed seems not to have been ignorant of the
enthusiastic operation of rhetoric on the minds of men; for which reason he has not only
employed his utmost skill in these his pretended revelations, to preserve the dignity and
sublimity of style, which might seem not unworthy of the majesty of that Being, whom he gave
out to be the author of them; and to imitate the prophetic manner of the Old Testament; but
he has not neglected even the other arts of oratory; wherein he succeeded so well, and so
strangely captivated the minds of his audience, that several of his opponents thought it the
effect of witchcraft and enchantment, as he sometimes complains.