MAGIC IN THE QURAN
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"˹This is˺ when a man was killed and you disputed who the killer was, but Allah revealed what you concealed. So We instructed, 'Strike the dead body with a piece of the cow.' This is how ˹easily˺ Allah brings the dead to life, showing you His signs."
Quran 2:72-73
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
God requires bizarre conditions for his miracles because a ritual of some kind to make god do something is what superstitious human authors of the book are used to. By the way, nowadays, where are all the decent miracles at?
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"Have you not considered those who left their homes in many thousands, fearing death? Allah said to them, 'Die'; then He restored them to life."
Quran 2:243
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
"Allah caused him to die for a hundred years; then He revived him."
Quran 2:259
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
No standard deity legend can get away without a few resurrections in it.
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"Allah said, 'Then bring four birds, train them to come to you, ˹then cut them into pieces,˺ and scatter them on different hilltops. Then call them back, they will fly to you in haste.'"
Quran 2:260
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Don't forget to say Abracadabra.
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"˹They were condemned˺... for boasting, 'We killed the Messiah, Jesus, son of Mary, the messenger of Allah.' But they neither killed nor crucified him—it was only made to appear so... Rather, Allah raised him up to Himself."
Quran 4:155-158
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Sneaky Allah.
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"Those whom Allah has cursed and with whom He became angry and made of them apes and pigs."
Quran 5:60
(Sahih International translation)
"So when they were insolent about that which they had been forbidden, We said to them, 'Be apes, despised.'"
Quran 7:166
(Sahih International translation)
People are being turned into apes and pigs. Happens every day.
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"˹On Judgment Day˺ Allah will say, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! Remember... How you moulded a bird from clay... and breathed into it and it became a ˹real˺ bird... How you healed the blind and the lepers... How you brought the dead to life'"
Quran 5:110
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Magic is in the air but always with someone else somewhere else, unverifiable.
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"˹Remember˺ when the disciples asked, 'O Jesus, son of Mary! Would your Lord be willing to send down to us a table spread with food from heaven?'... Jesus, son of Mary, prayed, 'O Allah, our Lord! Send us from heaven a table spread with food as a feast for us'... Allah answered, 'I am sending it down to you.'"
Quran 5:112-115
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Instant food delivery from Allah to his buddies. Where are his deliveries when children dying of starvation are praying for a slice of bread and don't receive it?
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"Moses threw down his staff and—behold!—it became a real snake."
Quran 7:107; similar: 20:20; 26:32
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
"Then he drew his hand ˹out of his collar˺ and it was ˹shining˺ white for all to see."
Quran 7:108; similar: 26:33; 27:12; 28:32
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
"We inspired Moses, 'Throw down your staff,' and—behold!—it devoured the objects of their illusion!"
Quran 7:117; similar: 26:45
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Too sad that Allah lost the ability to grant such powers to people nowadays.
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"When his Lord appeared to the mountain, He levelled it to dust"
Quran 7:143
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Too bad Allah is not doing such tricks anymore when they could be properly documented.
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"People made from their ˹golden˺ jewellery an idol of a calf that made a lowing sound."
Quran 7:148; similar: 20:88
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Mooing metal calf? Maybe a brazen bull, but it's a stretch nevertheless.
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"We revealed to Moses, when his people asked for water, 'Strike the rock with your staff.' Then twelve springs gushed out."
Quran 7:160
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
"Remember Our servant Job, when he cried out to his Lord... ˹We responded,˺ 'Stomp your foot: ˹now˺ here is a cool ˹and refreshing˺ spring for washing and drinking.'"
Quran 38:41-42
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Where are Allah's springs of water when children in deserts are dying of thirst?
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"Do those who have planned evil deeds feel secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow them...?"
Quran 16:45
(Sahih International translation)
"We caused the earth to swallow him and his home."
Quran 28:81
(Sahih International translation)
Quran promises that bad people will be swallowed by the earth as it was allegedly happening in the past, but Allah tends to forget what he promised, so we don't see the earth selectively swallowing bad people's households. Is there something wrong with the Earth or with a book claiming it? Must be the Earth.
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"Glory be to the One Who took His servant ˹Muḥammad˺ by night from the Sacred Mosque to the Farthest Mosque whose surroundings We have blessed, so that We may show him some of Our signs."
Quran 17:1
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
This is a reference to Muhammad's famous trip on a flying semi-donkey Al-Buraq from Mecca to Jerusalem and heaven. Not a questionable tale at all.
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"She pointed to the baby. They exclaimed, 'How can we talk to someone who is an infant in the cradle?' ˹Jesus˺ declared, 'I am truly a servant of Allah. He has destined me to be given the Scripture and to be a prophet. He has made me a blessing wherever I go, and bid me to establish prayer and give alms-tax as long as I live, and to be kind to my mother. He has not made me arrogant or defiant. Peace be upon me the day I was born, the day I die, and the day I will be raised back to life!'"
Quran 19:29-33
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
A newborn baby Jesus gives a religious ramble on the first day after birth. It happened when Mary returned home after giving birth to him.
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"To Solomon... ˹We subjected˺ some of the jinn to work under him by his Lord’s Will."
Quran 34:12
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Jinns were running chores for Solomon.
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"Jonah... ran away to the laden ship... Then the fish swallowed him... But We threw him onto the open shore"
Quran 37:139-145
(Sahih International translation)
The stomach of a fish has no air. Spending more than a few minutes in it would mean death for Jonah.
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"Solomon... We subjected to him the wind, blowing gently at his command to wherever he pleased."
Quran 38:34-36; similar: 34:12
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Solomon could not only speak animal languages (see 'outdated science' section for that) but even command the wind.
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"The Hour has drawn near and the moon was split ˹in two˺. Yet, whenever they see a sign, they turn away, saying, 'Same old magic!'"
Quran 54:1-2
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Did you know that Muhammad split the Moon into two pieces and someone glued it back between then and now? True story.
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"I seek refuge in the Lord... from the evil of those ˹witches casting spells by˺ blowing onto knots"
Quran 113:1-4
(translated by Dr. Mustafa Khattab)
Oh, those witches spreading evil by casting spells.