Eardrum Miracle in the Quran

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The Quranic text doesn't mention "eardrum" anywhere. But some Islamic apologists think that the author of the Quran had knowledge about eardrum and therefore he must be a god.

"Miracle"

The eardrum is a thin membrane that separates your ear canal (the part that is open to the outside) from your middle ear. Sound waves cause your eardrum to vibrate. These vibrations in the eardrum are then carried and processed by other parts of the ear. However this eardrum can rapture causing hearing loss.
A ruptured eardrum (tympanic membrane perforation) is a hole or tear in the thin tissue that separates your ear canal from your middle ear (eardrum). A ruptured eardrum can result in hearing loss. It can also make your middle ear vulnerable to infections. A ruptured eardrum usually heals within a few weeks without treatment. But sometimes it requires a patch or surgical repair to heal.
Mayoclinic, Ruptured eardrum (perforated eardrum), 2020

A raptured eardrum causes hearing loss. This was known recently, however this was portrayed in the Quran 1400 years ago.

[Quran 6:25] Among them are those who listen to you; but We place covers over their hearts, to prevent them from understanding it, and tear in their ears. Even if they see every sign, they will not believe in it. Until, when they come to you, to argue with you, those who disbelieve will say, "These are nothing but myths of the ancients."

"Waqr وَقْرًا ۚ" means tear or crack. In this verse tear in the ears prevent you from hearing. Today we know that a tear in the eardrum causes hearing loss.

How could an illiterate man who lived 1400 years ago have known that a tear in your ear causes hearing loss?


The verse

Apologetic translation

The verse doesn't talk specifically about eardrum, even in the apologetic translation:

Among them are those who listen to you; but We place covers over their hearts, to prevent them from understanding it, and tear (وقرا) in their ears. Even if they see every sign, they will not believe in it. Until, when they come to you, to argue with you, those who disbelieve will say, "These are nothing but myths of the ancients


Quran 6:25 translated by miracles-of-quran.com

It just says "in their ears" which could be referring to any part of the ear.

Actual translation

Although apologists like to translate the word waqar as "tear" or "crack", it is commonly translated as "deafness" in most translations:

Dr. Ghali: ...and in their ears obstruction...

Muhsin Khan: ...and deafness in their ears...

Pickthall: ...and in their ears a deafness...

Sahih International: ...and in their ears deafness...

Yusuf Ali: ...and deafness in their ears...

Mufti Taqi Usmani: ...and heaviness in their ears...



See also