Cholesterol Miracle in the Quran

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Cholesterol isn't mentioned anywhere in the Quran.

"Miracle"

1400 years ago people used iron which always rusted. Rust is oxidation of iron. But at that time nobody knew that oxidation can affect your heart.

Today we know that there are two types of cholesterol, one is good and the other is bad. But bad cholesterol is actually oxidized.

What is oxidized cholesterol?
The cholesterol that dangerously builds up on artery walls is oxidized. Oxidation is very damaging to the cholesterol cells. Oxidation is the result of a normal body process, but if something triggers an overproduction of oxidized cholesterol, it can be dangerous. Your immune system may mistake oxidized cholesterol for bacteria. Your immune system then tries to fight it off, which can cause inflammation inside of the arterial wall. This can lead to atherosclerosis or heart disease.
Healthline, The Danger of Oxidized Cholesterol and Tips for Prevention, 2020

Oxidized cholesterol clogs the arteries and causes heart disease. This was known recently, however this was portrayed in the Quran 1400 years before it was discovered.

[Quran 83:14] Not at all. Their hearts have become rusted by what they used to earn.

"Ran رَانَ" means rust. Today we know that rust is oxidized just like bad cholesterol is oxidized.

[Quran 47:24] Will they not ponder the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?

"Locks upon their hearts" means something is blocking access to the heart. Those people back then used locks made of iron which rusted (oxidized iron). Today we know that oxidized cholesterol clogs arteries.

How could an illiterate man who lived 1400 years ago have known what clogs your heart?


The verses

Verse 83:14

The verse doesn't say anything about cholesterol, even in the apologetic translation:

Not at all. Their hearts have become rusted by what they used to earn.


Quran 83:14, translated by miracles-of-quran.com

And even if "rusted" meant "oxidized", it would mean that the hearts are oxidized. While the quoted scientific article talks about cholesterol in arteries being oxidized:

What is oxidized cholesterol?

The cholesterol that dangerously builds up on artery walls is oxidized. Oxidation is very damaging to the cholesterol cells. Oxidation is the result of a normal body process, but if something triggers an overproduction of oxidized cholesterol, it can be dangerous. Your immune system may mistake oxidized cholesterol for bacteria. Your immune system then tries to fight it off, which can cause inflammation inside of the arterial wall. This can lead to atherosclerosis or heart disease.


Healthline article, quoted by Islamic apologists in the miracle claim

And apologists claim that the word ران in the verse means "rust", but that's not how most translators have translated it:

Muhsin Khan: Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.

Pickthall: Nay, but that which they have earned is rust upon their hearts.

Yusuf Ali: By no means! but on their hearts is the stain of the (ill) which they do!

Sahih International: No! Rather, the stain has covered their hearts of that which they were earning.


Verse 47:24

Will they not ponder the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?


The verse doesn't mention arteries nor cholesterol. And it doesn't say that the locks are rusted (oxidized). If it doesn't specify that it is rusted, the default is non-rusted. And the verse assumes that that heart is the center of thinking/pondering, which is a scientific error.

See also