In Bible versus Quran: the Ostrich Laughs at the Horse and his Rider

The ostrich in the Bible versus the Quran (1)

 

The ostrich is mentioned 10 times in the Bible.

The ostrich's behavior is mentioned in the Bible in the dialogue between God and Job.

In this dialogue the Lord God, the Almighty Creator describes the ostrich as:

She is joyfully proud of its small wings,

She is unmindful of the safety of its nest,

She treats her offspring harshly,

She is lacks in wisdom, she is stupid.

The ostrich's labor is not in vain

And yet she can put a horse to shame with its speed.

In addition, God described to Job how he created the ostrich with no good sense.

On the other hand, scientists say that the ostrich has good sense; with their acute eyesight and hearing, they can sense predators such as lions from far away.

The question is:  Would the Almighty Creator who creates the ostrich say that? Do these Biblical verses reflect a primitive, incorrect knowledge about the ostrich?

That is why the Quran says: Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

Nevertheless, the ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran. Yet, the Quran says that the birds in general live in societies like human beings.

 

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?? The ostrich in the Bible (1)

 

Is the Bible mistaken about the ostrich?

The Bible says that the Lord God, the Almighty Creator, said unto Job that the ostrich is a stupid bird that lays its eggs on the ground, leaves them to be hatched by the heat of the sand, and then she treats her young harshly after they have hatched.

In contrast, scientists describe the ostrich as a very caring parent. Laying eggs on the ground, rather than being a sign of neglect, is just something some birds normally do; and while the female may leave the nest, the male incubates the nest in her absence.

In the meantime, when the young hatch, they are given attentive care by their mother.

Therefore, the verses are in error from the scientific point of view.

Moreover, the ostrich's labor is not in vain.

It goes without saying that the Almighty Creator who creates the ostrich and knows very well everything about it would say that about the ostrich.

 

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Job 39:13-18

 

New International Version

13 "The wings of the ostrich flap joyfully, but they cannot compare with the pinions and feathers of the stork.

14 She lays her eggs on the ground and lets them warm in the sand,

15 unmindful that a foot may crush them, that some wild animal may trample them.

16 She treats her young harshly, as if they were not hers; she cares not that her labor was in vain,

17 for God did not endow her with wisdom or give her a share of good sense.

18 Yet when she spreads her feathers to run, she laughs at horse and rider.

 

American Standard Version

13 The wings of the ostrich wave proudly; but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

14 For she leaveth her eggs on the earth, and warmeth them in the dust,

15 And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, Or that the wild beast may trample them.

16 She dealeth hardly with her young ones, as if they were not hers: Though her labor be in vain, she is without fear;

17 Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18 What time she lifteth up herself on high, She scorneth the horse and his rider.

 

King James Version

13Gavest thou the goodly wings unto the peacocks? or wings and feathers unto the ostrich?

14Which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust,

15And forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them.

16She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not her's: her labour is in vain without fear;

17Because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.

18What time she lifteth up herself on high, she scorneth the horse and his rider.

 

Young's Literal Translation

13The wing of the rattling ones exulteth, Whether the pinion of the ostrich or hawk.

14For she leaveth on the earth her eggs, and on the dust she doth warm them,

15And she forgetteth that a foot may press it, And a beast of the field tread it down.

16Her young ones it hath hardened without her, in vain [is] her labour without fear.

17For God hath caused her to forget wisdom; And He hath not given a portion to her in understanding:

18At the time on high she lifteth herself up, she laugheth at the horse and at his rider.

 

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The ostrich in the Quran (1)

 

The ostrich is not mentioned therein in the Quran; yet the birds in general are mentioned 12 times in the Quran.

In respect to the ostrich in the Quran, the following points will be discussed:

 

1) Allah is the Creator of all things

2) Allah has created every creeping creature from water

3) Animals and Birds are but societies like human beings.

4) Allah created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities, and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

5) Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

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1) Allah is the Creator of all things

 

Verse 39:62

QARIB: Allah is the creator of all things, and of all things he is the guardian.

SHAKIR: Allah is the creator of every thing and he has charge over every thing

PICKTHAL: Allah is creator of all things, and he is guardian over all things.

YUSUFALI: Allah is the creator of all things, and he is the guardian and disposer of all affairs.

 

The meanings of the verse 39:62

Allah is the Creator of all things and He is Guardian over all things, disposing of them as He will. He is the disposer of all affairs.

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2) Allah has created every creeping creature from water

 

Verse 24:45

 

QARIB: Allah created everything that walks from water. Some creep upon their bellies, others walk on two feet, and others walk on four. Allah creates whatever he will. Allah is powerful over everything.

SHAKIR: and Allah has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon its belly and of them is that which walks upon two feet and of them is that which walks upon four; Allah creates what he pleases; surely Allah has power over all things

PICKTHAL: Allah hath created every animal of water. Of them is (a kind) that goeth upon its belly and (a kind) that goeth upon two legs and (a kind) that goeth upon four. Allah createth what he will. Lo! Allah is able to do all things.

YUSUFALI: and Allah has created every animal from water: of them there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on two legs; and some that walk on four. Allah creates what he wills for verily Allah has power over all things.

 

The meanings of the verse 24:45

And Allah has created every creeping creature from water. Among them are some that creep upon their bellies and among them are some that walk on two feet, and among them are some that walk on four.

Allah creates whatever He will.

Truly Allah has power over all things.

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3) Animals and Birds are but societies like human beings.

 

Verse 6:38

 

QARIB: there is no crawling creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but they are nations like you. We have neglected nothing in the book. They shall all be gathered before their lord.

SHAKIR: and there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; we have not neglected anything in the book, then to their lord shall they be gathered

PICKTHAL: there is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the book (of our decrees). Then unto their lord they will be gathered.

YUSUFALI: there is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their lord in the end.

 

The meanings of the verse 6:38

There is not an animal in the earth, or a flying creature flying on two wings between the earth and sky, but they are societies like unto you.  They resemble you in eating, copulation, understanding one another, just as you understand one another: this is a sign for you.

We have neglected nothing in the Quran. Allah has mentioned everything in the Quran.

Then unto their Lord, all the created beings will be gathered on the Day of Judgment.

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4) Allah created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities, and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

 

Verses 87: 1-3

 

QARIB: exalt the name of your lord, the highest, who has created and shaped, who has ordained and guided,

SHAKIR: glorify the name of your lord, the most high, who creates, then makes complete, and who makes (things) according to a measure, then guides (them to their goal),

PICKTHAL: praise the name of thy lord the most high, who createth, then disposeth; who measureth, then guideth;

YUSUFALI: glorify the name of thy guardian-lord most high, who hath created, and further, given order and proportion; who hath ordained laws. And granted guidance;

 

The meanings of the verses 87: 1-3

 

Glorify the Name of your Lord, that is, exalt your Lord above what does not befit Him He is the Most High.

Who created and proportioned His creature, making it of well-proportioned parts, without irregularities,

And Who determined, what He wants, and ordained and guided his creatures to what He had determined.

 

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5) Woe, to those who write the Scripture with their hands then say: This is from God

 

Verse 2:79

 

QARIB: woe to those who write the book with their own hands and then say: 'this is from Allah, ' in order to gain a small price for it. So woe to them for what their hands have written, and woe to them for their earnings.

SHAKIR: woe, then, to those who write the book with their hands and then say: this is from Allah, so that they may take for it a small price; therefore woe to them for what their hands have written and woe to them for what they earn

PICKTHAL: therefore woe be unto those who write the scripture with their hands and then say, "This is from Allah," that they may purchase a small gain therewith. Woe unto them for that their hands have written and woe unto them for that they earn thereby.

YUSUFALI: then woe to those who write the book with their own hands, and then say: "this is from Allah," to traffic with it for miserable price! - Woe to them for what their hands do write, and for the gain they make thereby.

 

The meanings of the verse 2:79

So woe, a severe chastisement, to those who write the Scripture with their hands, that is, fabricating it themselves, then say, ‘This is from God’ to gain a small price in the life of this world.

Therefore woe and severe punishment are waiting for them for what their hands have written, of fabrications, and woe to them for their earnings, by way of corruption.

 

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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?

About the Author

Professor Dr. Ibrahim Khalil
 Prof. of Clinical and Chemical Pathology,
 Head of Clinical Microbiology and Infection Control Unit, Ain-Shams University. Cairo, Egypt,
 President of the Egyptian Society of Inventors,
 Member of the Egyptian union of Writers,
 Published some 60 Medical Articles,
 Supervisors for 79 PhD theses,
 Supervisors for 111 Master Degree theses,
 Co-Chief Editor of the Egyptian Journal of Lab. Medicine,
 Honorary President of SPIC-Egypt (The Society of Practitioners of Infection Control – Egypt)

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