Maurice Bucaille

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Maurice Bucaille (born July 19, 1920) in Pont-L'Eveque, France; son of Maurice and Marie (James) Bucaille[1] is a French medical doctor, member of the French Society of Egyptology, and author. Bucaille practiced medicine from 1945-82 and was a specialist in gastroenterology.[2] In 1973, Bucaille was appointed family physician to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Other of his patients at the time included members of the family of President Anwar Sadat of Egypt.[3] In 1976, while still in the service of the king, he published his book, The Bible, The Qur'an and Science which argued that the Quran contains many scientific discoveries. In 1991, another book by Bucaille, Mummies of the Pharoahs: Modern Medical Investigations, was published in English.

Bucaille is best known in the Muslim world where his book The Bible, The Qur'an and Science, book was immensely popular, sold millions of copies, and was translated into several languages.[4] The popularity of the book, as well as the TV programs, conferences and websites that it helped inspire, gave rise to the neologism Bucailleism, a term used to refer the belief that "the Qur'an prophesied the Big Bang theory, space travel and other contemporary scientific breakthroughs."[5]

Contents

[edit] The Bible, The Qur'an and Science

See also: Qur'an and Science

In his book, The Bible, The Qur'an and Science,[6] Bucaille aims to prove the Qur'an is in agreement with scientific facts, while the Bible is not. He claims that in Islam, science and religion have always been "twin sisters" (vii). According to Bucaille, there are monumental errors of science in the Bible and not a single error in the Quran (120), whose descriptions of natural phenomena make it compatible with modern science. Bucaille concludes that the Qur'an is the reliable word of God.

Bucaille argues that the Old Testament should have been distorted because of numerous translations and corrections as it was transmitted orally. He highlights, in his words, "numerous disagreements and repetitions", in the Old Testament (12) and the Gospels (85, 95). In his analysis, Bucaille claims he makes use of many propositions of Biblical criticism, such as the Documentary hypothesis.

With regard to the Qu'ran, Bucaille however follows the Islamic tradition that the Quranic scrolls are said to be collected during Muhammad's lifetime and were deemed accurate by the archangel Gabriel himself (132).

In his opinion, the first of the examples of the consistency of the Quran and science should be presented by the creation of the heavens and the earth.

Bucaille's criticism of the Bible focuses on the creation account found in the Genesis, which in his view contains the most glaring inconsistencies between religion and science. He criticizes verses 1:1-2 as stating that the earth was first a gaseous mass and then water was placed on it, 1:20-25 as letting the "beasts of the earth" appear after the birds (26), which he contrasts with the theory of evolution, and 2:4-5 as claiming that "when God created man, there was no vegetation on Earth (it had not yet rained)". (28)

Bucaille also makes use of the case of Galileo, who was condemned by the Catholic church.

Bucaille points out that the Qur'an, unlike the Bible, does not have a specific sequence for the creation of the heavens and earth, and argues that this leaves the entire process of creation open to interpretation according to the current scientific theories.

Still, Bucaille interprets various Quranic verses to mirror scientific findings:

  • He interprets the smoke mentioned in aya [Qur'an 41:11] as referring to the "gaseous state of the matter that made up the early Universe", which according to science was a primary Nebula. (147)
  • He interprets aya [Qur'an 36:40] to refer to the moon travelling around the earth in an orbit. He contrasts this with Harlow Shapley's calculation of the distance between the Sun and the center of the galaxy and with his calculation that the sun travels at "roughly 150 miles per second" along its orbit. Boucailles claims that these discoveries, made only in 1917, were already contained in the Quran. (161)
  • He argues that aya [Qur'an 51:47] could be translated as "The heaven, We have built it with power. Verily, We are expanding it." He sees this as confirmation of the theory of the Expansion of the universe.
  • He considers the Water Cycle to be referred to in aya [Qur'an 23:18] and the following verse. (174)
  • He also proposes that ayat [Qur'an 75:37], [Qur'an 86:6], [Qur'an 32:8], [Qur'an 77:20] refer to the existence of the sperm and that ayat [Qur'an 40:67] and [Qur'an 23:14] refer to its importance in conception. He argues that, based on the interpretation of these verses, the knowledge of Islamic scholars was superior to that of Western embryology, which he alleges until 1651 held that "all life initially comes from an egg". (207)
  • He interprets aya [Qur'an 6:125] to refer to the discomfort in breathing experienced at high altitudes due to lack of oxygen (183), a situation early Arabs are unlikely to have known about.

[edit] Bucailleism

Bucailleism, according to the Wall Street Journal, is the name given by some to a theme in Bucaille's book, that "the Qur'an prophesied the Big Bang theory, space travel and other contemporary scientific breakthroughs." Although Bucailleism is said to be "disdained by most mainstream scholars", it has been cited as "valuable" in fostering "pride in Muslim heritage", and reconciling conflicts that Muslim "students may feel between their religious beliefs and secular careers in engineering or computers."[5]

According to some proponents, "there are more than 1200 verses (Ayat) which can be interpreted in the light of modern science,"[7] and this "large number of scientific facts in the Quran" is "one of the main convincing evidences" that lead many to convert to Islam.[8]

The doctrine is "widely taught" in Islamic secondary schools, promoted on at least one a popular weekly television program in the Arab world[9] and is advanced by "a well-funded campaign" led by Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah, based in Saudi Arabia and founded by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani, "a charismatic Yemeni academic and politician."[10]

"Dozens of conferences" have been held on theme of scientific truths revealed by the Quran,[4] the highest profile have been the International Conferences on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah. As of 2006 there have been eight International Conferences the first held in Islamabad in 1987.[4] The conferneces have featured the announcement of a possible cure for AIDS based on "a herbal extract that was prescribed in the Prophetic Sunnah for the treatment of other ailments,"[11] and the debut of a 14-volume Encyclopedia on the Scientific Signs in the Qur'an and Sunnah that has been "partially translated into English", with hopes for translation into "18 other languages."[12]

[edit] Criticism

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Criticism has been made both of Bucaille's book and in particular and Bucailleism in general.

Theoretical physicist Parvez Hoodbhoy of Pakistan identifies

the problem with such claims to ownership is that they lack an explanation for why quantum mechanics, molecular genetics, etc., had to await discovery elsewhere. Nor is any kind of testable prediction ever made. No reason is offered as to why antibiotics, aspirin, steam engines, electricity, aircraft, or computers were not first invented by Muslims. But even to ask such questions is considered offensive.[4]

Alleged Quranic predictions have also been called "vague descriptions of natural phenomena" employing "stretched or arbitrary" interpretations.[13] Alleged Quranic references in particular to the expanding universe, parallel universes, and cosmic structural hierarchies have been called "blatantly wrong."[14] Anti-Bucailleist arguments do not necessarily argue in favor of unbelief, since as one says, "God does not stand or fall depending on whether our scriptures know their physics."[14]

Some of the Western scientists quoted in the widely publicized video "A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam," later complained that untrue promises to be “completely neutral” and hard sell interviews by Sheikh Abdul Majeed Zindani were used to coax statements from them, later used out-of-context.[5]

Further information: Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah#Controversy

[edit] Mummies of the Pharaohs

Bucaille's later book, Mummies of the Pharaohs, was awarded the 1988 History Prize from the French Academy, and the 1991 prize from the French National Academy of Medicine ,[15]. The New York Times, in its review, considered the book "so severely flawed that neither specialist nor casual reader will find much to savor."[16]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Galegroup Biography Resource Center
  2. ^ Galegroup Biography Resource Center
  3. ^ New York Times review of Mummies of the Pharaohs: Modern Medical Investigations by Maurice Bucaille. Translated by Alastair D. Pannell and the author. Illustrated. 236 pp. New York: St. Martin's Press. [1]
  4. ^ a b c d When Science Teaching Becomes A Subversive Activity By Pervez Hoodbhoy
  5. ^ a b c Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran Wall Street Journal, Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1
  6. ^ Roman and Arabic numerals in brackets refer to pages in Bucaille's book, if not indicated otherwise
  7. ^ QUR'AN AND SCIENCE
  8. ^ Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist, quoted in Strange Bedfellows
  9. ^ Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist
  10. ^ Commission on Scientific Signs of Qur'an & Sunnah
  11. ^ Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy
  12. ^ Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy
  13. ^ Turkish physicist and philosopher Taner Edis. "Quran-science": Scientific miracles from the 7th century?
  14. ^ a b Taner Edis. Ghost in the Universe. Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.
  15. ^ Galegroup Biography Resource Center
  16. ^ New York Times, February 3, 1991, p.BR29, "All Wrapped Up in His Work"

[edit] External links

[edit] Critical