Science Myths: Muhammad or Science?

The Islamic community constantly reminds the world of how their holy books and their prophet Muhammad were scientific geniuses well ahead of their time. Many people take this claim as truthful without asking for evidence – if so many people are repeating it, it must be true? Others who ask for evidence are provided with the worst works to ever be produced in the English language – poor paraphrasing of scientific concepts loosely linked to incoherent and archaic English translations of the Qur’an.

Then there are those who go straight to the sources – to see what Muhammad really knew about science. For those belonging to the last group, this is for you.

Muhammad’s Scientific Knowledge

1. The first humans were 60 cubits tall. That is roughly 90 feet tall or 27metres.

The Prophet said, "Allah created Adam, making him 60 cubits tall. When He created him, He said to him, "Go and greet that group of angels, and listen to their reply, for it will be your greeting (salutation) and the greeting (salutations of your offspring." So, Adam said (to the angels), As-Salamu Alaikum (i.e. Peace be upon you). The angels said, "As-salamu Alaika wa Rahmatu-l-lahi" (i.e. Peace and Allah's Mercy be upon you). Thus the angels added to Adam's salutation the expression, 'Wa Rahmatu-l-lahi,' Any person who will enter Paradise will resemble Adam (in appearance and figure). People have been decreasing in stature since Adam's creation."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 543

2. House flies – 1 wing causes disease, 1 wing cures disease

The Prophet said "If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 537

3. Fevers are caused by the hellfire

I used to sit with Ibn 'Abbas in Mecca. Once I had a fever and he said (to me), "Cool your fever with Zam-zam water, for Allah's Apostle said: 'It, (the Fever) is from the heat of the (Hell) Fire; so, cool it with water (or Zam-zam water)."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 54, Number 483

4. Eating dates renders all poisons (and magic) ineffective

Allah's Apostle said, "He who eats seven 'Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them."

Sahih Bukhari Volume 7, Book 65, Number 356
(Also in hadith number 663)

For a consistent argument, the Muslim must accept all their sources. These difficulties must be rationalised before they cherry pick.