Refuting doubts about saheeh Al-Bukhari
Fatwa No: 318025

Question

I am asking this website because I think that it gives rational answers to the questions, not like some other website wich answers like priests: "Just believe."
(1) I read Saheeh Al-Bukhaari and saw many scientific errors in it, like that the sun sets, and we know today that the sun does not rise nor set, and this create doubts in my heart and causes me to be confused about it. So please give me a rational answer to this question, not just like priest who says to just believe in it.
(2) Can you please tell me about some miracles that happened in our time that prove (the authenticity of) Islam and help me to remove doubts in my heart, like a boy who was born while knowing the Quran by heart or something like that, and please do not refer me to a previously answered fatwa.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There is no contradiction in saying that the sun sets though it goes around its orbit because it really sets in regard to some people while it rises in regard to some others; so saying that it sets is for those who see the sun setting (is not wrong). Ibn ‘Aashoor said, “There is no real sunset; this is only what we imagine (see).

It is in this sense that the scholars interpreted what was reported about Thul-Qarnayn, who found that the sun sets in a spring of black muddy water; this means in relation to what he himself saw, and not that the sun actually sets. We have already explained this in fatwa 87646, so please refer to it.

As regards the evidence about the truth of the Message of Islam, then the eloquent and miraculous Quran that we have in our hands is enough. It challenged the Arabs, who were eloquent in their language, to bring a soorah (chapter) like it, and they were unable to do so, and it stayed preserved and intact without any distortions or alterations, contrary to the previous Books such as the Torah and the Gospel. This is in addition to the scientific miracles that this Quran includes, such as the fact that the sun is described as a light and likened to the lamp; they both have the same characteristic, which is that they are considered as a direct source of light, but the moon was not likened in any verse at all to the lamp. So the moon does not share the same characteristic as them, as it is an indirect source of light; it reflects the light of the sun to us, so we see it and we see its rays. This is a fact proven by the astronomers.

Also, the Quran described pork as impure, and modern science has proven many harms in eating pork. Moreover, Allaah informed us that menstruation is a harm, and this is scientifically proven as well, and there are many other miraculous aspects in their Quran; please refer to fatwaaa 91361 and 86261.

Finally, we would like to draw your attention to two matters:

Firstly, it is quite daring and bold to say that there are many scientific errors in Saheeh Al-Bukhari. Saheeh Al-Bukhari is the most authentic book after the Book of Allaah (the Quran). The whole Muslim nation received Saheeh Al-Bukhari as well as Saheeh Muslim with acceptance. Instead of accusing the ahaadeeth, let us blame our understanding. It has become clear to you in the example that you yourself provided that the problem is in our understanding of the text. The definite (explicit and undisputed) texts of revelation can never contradict a scientific fact. If a contradiction appears to us, then it either means that the text does not have a definite indication or that the matter is just an unproven theory and not a scientific fact.

Secondly, since you believe that Islam is the true religion, then you should not have doubts about it in any way. You should be firm in your belief, and it is acceptable then to look for what strengthens your faith and certainty. If you find examples on what you are looking for, then all the best, otherwise you should submit yourself to Allaah; because – as we have already mentioned above – it is our understanding and lack of our knowledge that we should blame and not the revelation that came down from Allaah, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing. Allaah says (what means): {And the word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can alter His words, and He is the Hearing, the Knowing.} [Quran 6:115]

Ibn Taymiyyah said about the above verse, “The Quran is truthful in its reports and just in its provisions.

Allaah knows best.

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