by Sadiqi az-Zindiki
Of the many miracles attributed to the Qur'an by proselytizers, one of the most popular has been claims of advanced knowledge of embryology within its pages. This is evidenced by the widespread dissemination of a supporting article by University of Toronto Embryologist Keith L. Moore over the Internet, and in da'wa paperbacks like "The Bible, the Qur’an, and Science." Investigating these claims, I obtained a copy of a special edition textbook Moore co-wrote on the subject "The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology with Islamic Additions." (ISBN 0-7216-6472-5) Only a short time ago, I was browsing through it when I noticed a name in the Acknowledgements that is now familiar to everyone: "Sheikh Osamah bin Ladin." (Page viii e) Corroborating it being perhaps the very same infamous Bin Ladin, the textbook was published by Saudi Publishers- "Dar Al-Qiblah for Islamic Literature: PO Box 10932, Jeddah 21443, Saudi Arabia." (No idea if the address is current.) The publication date given is 1983, and in the preface it states that it was published "with special permission from W.B. Saunders Company." The Book appears to be the result of collaboration between Moore and a few Saudi Universities: "Mr. Moore…for three years collaborated with the Embryology Committee of the King Abdul-Aziz University in Saudi Arabia for a comparative study on this phenomenon." It is unclear whether Bin Lauden’s involvement was financial or otherwise, which is why I hope that perhaps the in the future the NY Times (who are aware of this fact) might care to elucidate the role of the embryonic terrorist in embryonic miracles. Bin Lauden's name appears. So the paper trail begins...
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