ভূমিকা

Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Authenticity of the Quran Accuracy of Historical Records in the Qur’an Many ancient historical anecdotes and geographical regions have been mentioned in the stories of the holy Qur'an such as : the river or sea through which the Bani Israel passed, the land of Ashab-e Hijr , Dhul Qarnayn Dam, Ashab-e Kahf 's Cave, earthy paradise of Dhat al-`Imad etc., not forgetting the detailed stories of past Prophets.

The hypothesis advanced by those who see Muhammad (S) as the author of Qur’an is untenable. How could a man from being an unlettered, become the most important author, in terms of Historical literature in the whole world, and pen down historical facts with pinpoint accuracy? The Holy Qur’an says*:* “Such are some of the stories of the unseen, which We have revealed unto you, before this neither you nor your people knew them. So persevere patiently, for the end is for those who are righteous”.

(11:49). Research on historical records in the Holy Qur’an and finding their traces is very effective in understanding the Authenticity of the Qur'an. In addition, being involved in exploring the past would provide a good background to take lessons from the past on which the holy Qur'an in the following verses to persuade us to do so: "Have they not travelled in the earth and seen how was the end of those before them?

They were stronger than these in powers..." (30:9) "Indeed there have been examples before you; Therefore travel in the earth..." (3:136) To appreciate the accuracy of historical records advanced in the Qur’an, few examples are cited here below, not mentioning the detailed information on past Prophets’ history: a) Ashabe Kahf While narrating about the duration of which ‘As-habe Kahf’ (the Sleepers of the Cave) stayed in the cave, the Qur’an says: “So they stayed in their cave three hundred years and ADD nine...” (18:25).

* * The wording is quite significant. The verse does not say “three hundred and nine years” but uses the apparently cumbersome wording of “three hundred years and add nine”. Why add nine? This is because their stay was 300 years if one used the solar calendar and 309 years by the lunar calendar. The lunar year is 11 days shorter. Now 11 days times 300 years divided by 365 years is 9 years.