Desk Report
Publish: 26 May 2022, 11:50 am
Dr. Mabrook Atiyah said that the modern-day phenomena were predicted in verse 83 of Surah 4 of the Quran || Photo: Collected
A
popular Egyptian Islamic preacher has said that the Quran predicted the advent
of social media and the internet over 14 centuries ago, stirring controversy
and criticism.
Dr.
Mabrook Atiyah, a professor at Egypt's Al-Azhar University, said in a
livestream on Facebook on Sunday: "Did anyone tell you that the internet
and Facebook are mentioned in the Quran?"
He said
that the modern-day phenomena were predicted in verse 83 of Surah 4 of the Quran,
which is entitled "Women".
"I
swear to God that the internet and Facebook are in verse 83," he said.
The
verse reads: "And when there comes to them information about [public]
security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to
the Messenger [the Prophet Muhammad] or to those of authority among them, then
the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it.
And if not for the favour of God upon you and His mercy, you would have followed
Satan, except for a few."
"Isn't
this [talking about] the internet, you people who love to broadcast and spread
news?" Atiyah asked.
The
Islamic preacher has over 20 books to his name and his loud and humorous style
of presenting has earned him huge popularity among some circles, with over 1.3
million people following his Facebook page.
Atiyah
chided people who spread news without verifying it, calling them "sick at
heart".
"Don't
spread secrets or say what you've got hidden in the closet… we have to govern relationships
and leave people to their own business," he warned, saying good Muslims
don't spread good or bad news without making sure it's true.
However,
Atiyah's remarks stirred confusion and criticism with another Islamic studies
professor at Al-Azhar, Amna Nosseir, saying that his remarks were
"contrived" and a "deviation" from the meaning of the
Quran.
He
later clarified his remarks in a television programme broadcast by the Al-Nahar
TV station.
"In
the Quran things are either mentioned by name or by their context," he
said.
"Verse
83 mentioned the internet, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp, and all forms of
media, when it said 'and when there comes to them information about security or
fear, they spread it around'. How are they going to spread it around?
"You
adhere to God's meaning, and He knows what he means best, when someone who
spreads news verifies information he is spreading," Atiyah said.
The
Quran is believed by Muslims to be the word of God, as revealed by the
Archangel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad over 14 centuries ago.
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