The Flies in Bible versus Quran (2)
The Bible says that The LORD God hiss for the fly and Dead flies give perfume a stinking odor. The Quran says that Man is as feeble as a fly and he will never ever be able to create a fly
(1) The LORD God hiss for the fly
Isaiah 7:18
King James Version
And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD (Jehovah) shall hiss for the fly that is in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria.
Hiss is to make or emit a sharp sound like that of the letter s prolonged, as a snake does, or as steam does when forced under pressure through a small opening.
The verb Hiss is used with an object to express disapproval of by hissing.
In certain occasions, Hissing is considered as an offensive behavior and as a sign of Vulgarity. In some places like court, hissing is prohibited.
The Bible says that Jehovah, the LORD God, the Almighty Creator hiss for the fly and for the bee. In the Quran, anyone says or believes that the Almighty Creator does anything like that is insulting His Creator and will dwell in the Eternal Fire in the Hereafter. In the Quran, When the Almighty Creator wants to do anything, He just says: "Be" and it is in no time.
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(2) Dead flies give perfume a stinking odor.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 (New International Version)
As dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor.
In three Biblical commentaries that are Scofield Reference Notes (1917 Edition), Wesley's Explanatory Notes and Geneva Study Bible, there is no comment(s) for this verse.
The Bible says that a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. The Bible makes similarity and shows a relationship between this statement and the evil effect of the dead flies on the perfumes. The Quran does not say that but it shows a relationship between the flies and the modern scientists.
In addition, the Bible says that Dead flies cause the perfume to send forth an evil odor and to give off a stench, a stinking savor.
Perfumes are extracts or essences that contain a percentage of oil distilled in 60-90% alcohol, usually ethyl alcohol.
From the scientific point of view, Dead flies do not cause the perfume to send forth a stinking odor.
This is because,
1) The stinking odor comes from metabolic byproducts due to bacterial growth,
2) It is well known that the alcohol that is present in the perfume would kill the bacteria.
Hence, this Biblical verse contradicts the basic scientific knowledge.
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(3) Man is as feeble as a fly and he will never ever be able to create a fly
On the other, we will leave the basic scientific knowledge and we will jump over to the most sophisticated and advanced fields of biology, genetics and nanotechnology, Entomology etc. Why? This is because the Quran is challenging the scientists in all of such fields and the alike.
The Quran says: O mankind (wherever you are, whenever you are, whoever you are)
1) You will never be able to create a fly
2) And if a fly robs anything from you, would not be able to recover that from it
Verses 22:73-74 (Pickthal Translation)
73) O mankind! A similitude is coined, so pay ye heed to it: lo! Those on whom ye call beside Allah will never create a fly though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly took something from them, they could not rescue it from it. So weak are (both) the seeker and the sought!
74) They measure not Allah his rightful measure. Lo! Allah is strong, almighty.
The meanings of the Verses 22: 73-74
O mankind, a similitude is being struck to explain the likeness of your deities,
So listen to it, pay heed to it and respond; and it is that:
Truly those on whom you call, whom you worship, besides Allah will never be able to create a fly even if they rallied together to create it.
Though they the worshipped and the worshippers combine together for that purpose, they will not be able to create a fly.
And if a fly should take away something from them, [such as a drop] of the scents or the saffron in which they drench themselves, they would not be able to recover that from it, because of their [complete] incapacity.
In other words, and if the fly took something like honey with which are sullied for example (from them) from the deities, they could not rescue it from it, the deities would not be able to take it back from the fly.
So weak are (both) the seeker i.e. the deity (and the sought) and the fly!
Or it means, Feeble is the seeker, the worshipper, and the [thing] sought, the [thing] worshipped!
It is also said that this means: so weak are both that which is worshipped and the worshipper.
So how can they worship any divine being other than Allah, exalted is He?
They do not esteem Allah, exalt Him, with the esteem He deserves, with the exaltedness He deserves, for they ascribe to Him partners who can neither protect themselves from a fly, nor retaliate against it. Truly Allah is Strong, Mighty, Victor.
It follows that the Quran challenges the mankind by two scientific issues:
1) Mankind will never ever create a fly and
2) If the fly should snatch away anything from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly (they can never take it back from the fly)
Then, what is the conclusion?
Not only the fly is weak but man also is as weak as a fly.
It is said that:" The first step to know the truth is by knowing yourself"
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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:
Are the Scholars truthful when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?
