269- The Predictions of the Holy Qur’an, Part 1 (Series: Inviting Reflections).

In order to establish the Divine Character of the Holy Qur’an the Predictions and Forecasts of the Qur’an, which came true and witnessed by the people, has been a well-attended subject in the Qur’an exegeses.

Some Predictions made by the Qur’an are listed below:

1 -                   In early days of Makkan period, during lifetime of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, the Persians conquered many lands under influence of the Byzantine Empire and laid siege to Constantinople itself. At this time, when apparently there was no chance, the Qur’an predicted victory of the Byzantine Empire. The Holy Qur’an predicted: 

"غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ فِي أَدْنَى الْأَرْضِ وَهُم مِّن بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُون، فِى بِضْعِ سِنِينَ" (The Roman Empire has been defeated- In a land close by; but they, (even) after (this) defeat of theirs, will soon be victorious, in a few years (. Surah: 30, Verses: 2-4.

Edward Gibbon, in his celebrated book: The Decline and Fall of Roman Empire, says that the Qur’anic prediction came to be true when no one could have imagined it. (Please see: eBook version, Vol. 3, pp. 1918-1919). The pagans of Makkah, after one year or so, objected that contrary to the Qur’anic claim, the Persians have not been defeated. In fact, the key word in the above verse is: "بِضْعِ" which is applied in the Arabic language to the numbers: 3 to 9, and the Persians were defeated in seventh year after this prediction.

2 -                   At the time of Hijra from Makkah to Medina, the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was told that Allah will bring him back:

"إِنَّ الَّذِي فَرَضَ عَلَيْكَ الْقُرْآنَ لَرَادُّكَ إِلَىٰ مَعَادٍ ۚ قُل رَّبِّي أَعْلَمُ مَن جَاءَ بِالْهُدَىٰ وَمَنْ هُوَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ" (He Who ordained the Qur’an for you will return you Home. Say, "My Lord knows best who comes with guidance, and who is in manifest error). Surah: 28, Verse: 85.

The Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, returned to Makkah al-Mukarramah just in eight years victoriously.

3 -                   The Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, was told that Allah will save him from the enemies.  Allah says:

"يَا أَيُّهَا الرَّسُولُ بَلِّغْ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ ۖ وَإِن لَّمْ تَفْعَلْ فَمَا بَلَّغْتَ رِسَالَتَهُ ۚ وَاللَّهُ يَعْصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْكَافِرِينَ" (O Messenger, convey what was revealed to you from your Lord. But if you do not, then you would not have delivered His message. And Allah will protect you from the people. Allah does not guide the disbelieving people). Surah: 5, Verse: 67.

In addition to a number of conspiracies of the enemies to kill Muhammad, peace be upon him, 81 military expeditions or battles took place during lifetime of the Prophet, peace be upon him, between Muslims and nonbelievers; and the Holy Prophet, peace be upon him, took part in 57 (Ghazawat) out of 81 such wars or armed scuffles. Allah Almighty saved him, peace be upon him, as was promised.