Is There a Mathematical Error in the Qur'an ?
Question:
I got confused by a Christian missionary about the so-called mathematical mistake in inheritance explained in Quran. Since I am not an aalim, I need your help to clarify this confusion. I have firm faith that there is no such mistake in the Quran; it's my fault not to have complete knowledge about it.
One example he gave is stated below:
Wife1/8 = 3/24
Daughters 2/3 = 16/24
Father 1/6 = 4/24
Mother1/6 = 4/24
Total = 27/24
Please help me out in this matter.
Response:
The example of application of the law of inheritance you have mentioned is what our traditional scholars understand and present. I don't blame the Christian missionary for what he has mentioned to you. However, the understanding of the law is not a correct reflection of what the Qur'an says.
According to my understanding of the law relevant to the particular case you have mentioned, the parents are going to get one-sixth each (8 out of 24) and the widow one-eighth (3 out of 24). Out of the remaining (11 out of 24), the two daughters are going to get one-third each. There is therefore no mathematical error in this case while distributing inheritance.
There are four conclusions I would like to draw from this example.
Some part of the understanding of traditional Islam needs to be reviewed otherwise we will be guilty of presenting in the name of Islam what is not from God but a flawed understanding of His word.
Those who find faults in Islam should do further research on whether what they are criticising is real Islam or not. It is not a great idea to jump to conclusions when what has been presented in the name of Islam is not necessarily the true Islamic message.
Your missionary friend should look into this response sympathetically. He should give an honest opinion on whether he still thinks that the law mentioned in the Qur'an was flawed.
The scholar who has helped in understanding the law clearly, Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Sahib, deserves to be thanked for this and many other original researches of his. He has rendered huge service towards the cause of understanding true Islam. Probably it is written in the fate of such great men that a good part of our religious clergy would turn against them and vow to degrade them.
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