Maurice Bucaille 4461367 220986201 2008-06-22T15:00:47Z Giordaano 792628 '''Maurice Bucaille''' (born [[July 19]], [[1920]]) in Pont-L'Eveque, France; son of Maurice and Marie (James) Bucaille<ref name="Galegroup">Galegroup Biography Resource Center</ref> is a [[France|French]] medical doctor, member of the French Society of Egyptology, and author. Bucaille practiced medicine from 1945-82 and was a specialist in gastroenterology.<ref name="Galegroup"/> In 1973, Bucaille was appointed family physician to [[Faisal of Saudi Arabia|King Faisal]] of [[Saudi Arabia]]. Other of his patients at the time included members of the family of President [[Anwar Sadat]] of [[Egypt]].<ref>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. [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D0CE7DA173BF930A35751C0A967958260]</ref> 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 [[Qur'an and science|Quran contains many scientific discoveries]]. In 1991, another book by Bucaille, ''Mummies of the Pharaos: 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.<ref name="SubvHoodb"> [http://web.archive.org/web/20040427143216/http://www.zmag.org/ZMag/articles/oct01hoodbhoy.htm When Science Teaching Becomes A Subversive Activity By Pervez Hoodbhoy ]</ref> 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."<ref name="StrBedfel">[http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran ] ''Wall Street Journal'', Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1</ref> ==''The Bible, The Qur'an and Science''== {{seealso|Qur'an and Science}} In his book, ''The Bible, The Qur'an and Science'',<ref>Roman and Arabic numerals in brackets refer to pages in Bucaille's book, if not indicated otherwise</ref> 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 [[Higher criticism|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 {{kjv|Genesis|1:1-2|1:1-2}} as stating that the earth was first a gaseous mass and then water was placed on it, {{kjv|Genesis|1:20-25|1:20-25}} as letting the "beasts of the earth" appear after the birds (26), which he contrasts with the theory of evolution, and {{kjv|Genesis|2:4-5|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 {{Quran-usc|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 {{Quran-usc|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 {{Quran-usc|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 [[Metric expansion of space|Expansion of the universe]]. *He considers the [[Water Cycle]] to be referred to in aya {{Quran-usc|23|18}} and the following verse. (174) *He also proposes that ayat {{Quran-usc|75|37}}, {{Quran-usc|86|6}}, {{Quran-usc|32|8}}, {{Quran-usc|77|20}} refer to the existence of the sperm and that ayat {{Quran-usc|40|67}} and {{Quran-usc|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 {{Quran-usc|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. ==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."<ref name="StrBedfel">[http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran ] ''Wall Street Journal'', Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1</ref> According to some proponents, "there are more than 1200 verses (Ayat) which can be interpreted in the light of modern science,"<ref>[http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_1_50/all_things_in_pair.htm QUR'AN AND SCIENCE]</ref> and this "large number of scientific facts in the Quran" is "one of the main convincing evidences" that lead many to convert to [[Islam]].<ref>Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist, quoted in [http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows]</ref> The doctrine is "widely taught" in Islamic secondary schools, promoted on at least one a popular weekly television program in the Arab world<ref>Zaghloul El-Naggar, an Egyptian geologist </ref> 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."<ref>[http://www.nooran.org/en/index.htm Commission on Scientific Signs of Qur'an & Sunnah]</ref> "Dozens of conferences" have been held on theme of scientific truths revealed by the Quran,<ref name="SubvHoodb"/> 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.<ref name="SubvHoodb"/> 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,"<ref name="hazy">[http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1164545906466&pagename=Zone-English-HealthScience%2FHSELayout Miracle Drug Announced, Scientific Evidence Still Hazy ]</ref> 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.,"<ref name="hazy"/> ===Criticism=== Criticism has been made both of Bucaille's book and in particular and Bucailleism in general. Theoretical physicist Parvez Hoodbhoy of Pakistan identifies <blockquote>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.<ref name="SubvHoodb"/> </blockquote> Alleged Quranic predictions have also been called "vague descriptions of natural phenomena" employing "stretched or arbitrary" interpretations.<ref>Turkish physicist and philosopher Taner Edis. [http://www2.truman.edu/~edis/writings/articles/quran-science.html ''"Quran-science": Scientific miracles from the 7th century?'']</ref> Alleged Quranic references in particular to the [[expanding universe]], [[multiverse (science)|parallel universes]], and [[Large scale structure of the universe|cosmic structural hierarchies]] have been called "blatantly wrong."<ref name=edis2>Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> 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."<ref name=edis2>Taner Edis. ''Ghost in the Universe.'' Quotes from page 14. Prometheus Books.</ref> Some of the Western scientists quoted in the widely publicized video "[http://www.islam-guide.com/ 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.<ref name="StrBedfel"/> {{see|Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah#Controversy}} ==''Mummies of the Pharaohs''== Bucaille's later book, ''Mummies of the Pharaohs'', was laureated with a silver medal for the "Prix Diane Potier-Boès 1988", one of the history prizes from the [[French Academy]]<ref>[http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prix_Diane_Potier-Bo%C3%A8s French Wikipedia: Prix Diane-Potier-Boès]</ref>. In 1991, Bucaille won prize from the French National Academy of Medicine .<ref name="Galegroup"/> as well. The New York Times, in its review, considered the book "so severely flawed that neither specialist nor casual reader will find much to savor."<ref>''New York Times'', February 3, 1991, p.BR29, "All Wrapped Up in His Work"</ref> ==See also== * [[Islam and science]] * [[Qur'an and science]] * [[Islamic science]] * [[Relationship between religion and science]] * [[Bahá'í Faith and science]] * [[Criticism of the Qur'an]] * [[Qur'an]] * [[Qur'an and miracles]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.irfi.org/articles/articles_1_50/all_things_in_pair.htm QUR'AN AND SCIENCE] *[http://www.elnaggarzr.com/en/main.php?id=49 Quranic verses with important astronomical connotations] *[http://www.cis-ca.org/voices/b/bucaille-mn.htm Biography from Center for Islam and Science]*[http://www.cis-ca.org/index.php] *[http://www.sultan.org/articles/QScience.html The Quran and Modern Science by Dr. Maurice Bucaille Edited by Dr. A. A. B. Philips] ===Critical=== *[http://discovermagazine.com/2007/jul/science-and-islam Science and Islam in Conflict] Discover magazine 06.21.2007 *[http://www.cafearabica.com/wwwboard/social/messages/5948.html Strange Bedfellows: Western Scholars Play Key Role in Touting `Science' of the Quran ] ''Wall Street Journal'', Jan 23, 2002. pg. A.1 *[http://answering-islam.org.uk/Campbell/contents.html Dr. William Campbell, ''The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science''] {{DEFAULTSORT:Bucaill, Maurice}} [[Category:1920 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Islam and science]] [[Category:Islamic philosophy]] [[Category:Science]] [[Category:Religion and science]] [[Category:Islam-related controversies]] [[ar:موريس بوكاي]] [[de:Maurice Bucaille]] [[id:Maurice Bucaille]]