Symmetry in the Quran

Symmetry in the Quran is the belief held by Muslims, that the word and verse structure of the Quran exhibits such complicated symmetry that it could be neither random placements, nor the intentional work of man, but rather proof of "the will of God".^[1] There are many examples of such symmetry. Using a program called QuranCode ^[2] and other analysis programs, scholars have found many patterns. An example is that chapter 76, called Al-Insan, has 247 words. It has three mentions of the word silver. The middle word of the chapter is word number 124. It is the word silver. It is in a verse that is the middle verse of the chapter (verse 16 of 31). It is the third of five words of the verse. ^[3]

Some of this supposed symmetry are the significance of the number 19: It is claimed that if all the numbers mentioned in the Quran are added up, their sum is 162,146, which is 19x6534; That there are 19x6 (114) Suras; that Muhammad's first revelation consists of a verse that has 19 words and 4x19 (76) letters.^[4]

Symmetry in the Quran's linguistics

Another aspect of the Quran's symmetry, which was discovered using linguistic computer searching algorithms (Quran Corpus, an open-source software), includes the number of times certain words and their forms are used in the whole Quran. Some of these symmetrical patterns include:

• Muslims pray 5 times every day. The word 'prayers' (صلوات) is used in the whole Quran exactly 5 times: 2:157, 2:238, 9:99, 22:40, and 23:9.
• There are 12 months in a year. The word ‘month’ and all its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 12 times: 2:185:1, 2:185:16, 34:12:4, 34:12:6, 2:194:1, 2:194:3, 97:3, 2:217, 9:36, 46:15, 5:2 and 5:97.
• The Quran says there are seven heavens above us, and sometimes it describes them as seven layers (23:17) and that we are in the lowest of these layers (دنيا). So the Quran is basically saying that there are six layers "above" the one in which we are in. Modern physicists also say that there are indeed six dimensional layers "above" the visible universe. The phrase ‘seven heavens’ is used in the whole Quran exactly seven times: 2:29, 41:12, 65:12, 67:3, 71:15, 17:44, and 23:86.
• Muslims circumambulate around the Qiblah, which is the Kaaba, seven times during pilgrimage. The word ‘Qiblah’ is used in the whole Quran exactly seven times: 2:142:8, 2:143:15, 2:144:8, 2:145:10, 2:145:14, 2:145:18, and 10:87:12.
• The word ‘angel’ (ملك) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 88 times and the word ‘devil’ (شطن) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 88 times. ^[5]
• The word ‘say’ (نطق) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 12 times. The word ‘speech’ (خطب) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 12 times.^[6]
• The word ‘benefit’ (نفع) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 50 times. The word ‘corrupt’ (فسد) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 50 times. ^[7]
• The words ‘disease’ (مرض), ‘torment’(أذي) are their forms are both used in the whole Quran exactly 23 times. ^[8]
• The phrase ‘those who possess intellect’ (أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ/أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ) is used in the whole Quran exactly 16 times. The word ‘insane’ (مجنون) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 16 times. ^[9]
• In verses 31:2-3, the Quran describes itself as a ‘mercy’. The Quran has 114 chapters. The word ‘mercy’ is used in the whole Quran exactly 114 times (and only two of those usages are about the Quran). ^[10]
• In 3:59, the Quran compares Jesus with Adam (and it’s the only verse in the whole Quran that compares two prophets). The word ‘Jesus’ is used in the whole Quran exactly 25 times, and the word ‘Adam’ is also used in the whole Quran exactly 25 times. ^[11]
• In verse 2:102 the Quran says that magic was originally a test. The word ‘magic’ (سحر) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 60 times. The word ‘test’ (فتن) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 60 times. ^[12]
• In Islam, Prophets are people who give information from Allah. The word ‘prophet’ (نبي) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 80 times. The word ‘information’ (نبأ) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 80 times. ^[13]
• In verse 34:13, Allah tells David that the people who are grateful are very few. The word ‘grateful’ (شكر) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 75 times, and the word ‘few’ (قلل) and its forms are also used in the whole Quran exactly 75 times. ^[14]
• According to Shia Islam, there were 12 divinely-appointed Imams from the progeny of Prophet Muhammad. The word ‘Imam’ and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 12 times. Places where the word ‘Imam’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:124, 11:17, 17:71, 21:73, 28:5, 32:24, 15:79, 36:12, 28:41, 25:74, 9:12, and 46:12.
• According to Shia Islam, there were only 13 people other than the prophets who are considered infallible in Islam. These include the 12 Imams and Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatima. The root word for ‘infallibility’ (عصم) and its forms are used in the whole Quran exactly 13 times. Places where the root word for ‘infallibility’ and its forms are in the Quran: 4:146, 3:101, 3:103, 3:175, 5:67, 11:43:5, 11:43:10, 12:32, 10:27, 22:78, 33:17, 40:33, and 60:10.

References

1. Statistical Profile of Holy Quran and Symmetry of Makki and Madni Surras, Muhammad Khyzer Bin Dost & Munir Ahmad Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences Vol.1 2008
2. http://qurancode.com
3. http://www.7ameem.com/news.php?id=649&catID=4
4. The Qurʼan: An Encyclopedia, edited by Oliver Leaman, page 465
5. Places where the word ‘angel’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:30:4, 2:31:8, 2:34:3, 2:98:5, 2:102:20, 2:161:11, 2:177:16, 2:210:11, 2:248:22, 2:285:12, 3:18:8, 3:39:2, 3:42:3, 3:45:3, 3:80:5, 3:87:7, 3:124:12, 3:125:14, 4:97:4, 4:136:20, 4:166:9, 4:172:9, 6:8:5, 6:8:8, 6:9:3, 6:50:15, 6:93:30, 6:111:5, 6:158:6, 7:11:7, 7:20:21, 8:9:10, 8:12:5, 8:50:7, 11:12:19, 11:31:13, 12:31:31, 13:13:4, 13:23:10, 15:7:4, 15:8:3, 15:28:4, 15:30:2, 16:2:2, 16:28:3, 16:32:3, 16:33:6, 16:49:11, 17:40:6, 17:61:3, 17:92:11, 17:95:6, 17:95:13, 18:50:3, 20:116:3, 21:103:6, 22:75:4, 23:24:20, 25:7:13, 25:21:9, 25:22:3, 25:25:6, 32:11:3, 33:43:5, 33:56:3, 34:40:6, 35:1:7, 37:150:3, 38:71:4, 38:73:2, 39:75:2, 41:14:18, 41:30:10, 42:5:6, 43:19:2, 43:53:10, 43:60:5, 47:27:4, 53:26:3, 53:27:7, 66:4:18, 66:6:12, 69:17:1, 70:4:2, 74:31:6, 78:38:4, 89:22:3, and 97:4:2. Places where the word ‘devil’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:36:2, 2:102:4, 2:102:12, 2:168:12, 2:208:11, 2:268:1, 2:275:11, 3:36:23,3:155:10, 3:175:3, 4:38:14, 4:60:26, 4:76:15, 4:76:18, 4:83:28, 4:119:13, 4:120:5, 5:90:12, 5:91:3, 6:43:11, 6:68:16, 6:71:20, 6:121:12, 6:142:12, 7:20:3, 7:22:25, 7:27:5, 7:27:26, 7:30:9, 7:175:10, 7:200:4, 7:201:8, 8:11:16, 8:48:4, 12:5:12, 12:42:11, 12:100:34, 14:22:2, 16:63:10, 16:98:7, 17:27:5, 17:27:7, 17:53:8, 17:53:12, 17:64:17, 18:63:13, 19:44:4, 19:44:6, 19:45:10, 19:68:3, 19:83:5, 20:120:3, 21:82:2, 22:52:13, 22:52:20, 22:53:4, 23:97:7, 24:21:7, 24:21:11, 25:29:9, 26:210:4, 26:221:6, 27:24:10, 28:15:34, 29:38:10, 31:21:17, 35:6:2, 36:60:9, 37:65:4, 38:37:1, 38:41:9, 41:36:4, 43:62:3, 47:25:12, 58:10:4, 58:19:3, 58:19:9, 58:19:13, 59:16:2, 67:5:8, 2:14:10, 4:117:10, 6:112:6, 15:17:4, 22:3:11, 37:7:4, 43:36:8, and 81:25:4.
6. Places where the word ‘say’ and its forms are in the Quran: 21:63:9, 21:65:9, 23:62:8, 27:85:8, 37:92:4, 45:29:3, 51:23:9, 53:3:2, 77:35:4, 41:21:7, 41:21:10, and 27:16:8. Places where the word ‘speech’ and its forms are in the Quran: 11:37:6, 23:27:27, 25:63:9, 38:20:6, 38:23:15, 78:37:10, 12:51:3, 15:57:3, 20:95:3, 28:23:18, 51:31:3, and 2:235:8.
7. Places where the word ‘benefit’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:102:56, 2:123:14, 2:164:15, 5:119:5, 6:71:8, 6:158:21, 10:18:9, 10:98:5, 10:106:8, 11:34:2, 12:21:11, 13:17:34, 20:109:3, 21:66:8, 22:12:10, 25:55:7, 26:73:2, 26:88:3, 28:9:12, 30:57:3, 32:29:5, 33:16:3, 34:23:2, 40:52:3, 40:85:3, 43:39:2, 51:55:4, 60:3:2, 74:48:2, 80:4:3, 87:9:3, 2:219:9, 16:5:6, 22:28:2, 22:33:3, 23:21:12, 36:73:3, 40:80:3, 57:25:17, 2:219:14, 4:11:63, 5:76:12, 7:188:5, 10:49:7, 13:16:16, 20:89:12, 22:13:6, 25:3:15, 34:42:6, and 48:11:31. Places where the word ‘corrupt’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:251:20, 21:22:7, 23:71:5, 2:11:5, 2:27:15, 2:30:14, 2:205:6, 7:56:2, 7:85:27, 7:127:9, 12:73:7, 13:25:15, 16:88:13, 17:4:7, 26:152:2, 27:34:7, 27:48:6, 47:22:6, 2:205:14, 5:32:15, 5:33:10, 5:64:43, 8:73:12, 11:116:11, 28:77:19, 28:83:12, 30:41:2, 40:26:18, 89:12:3, 2:12:4, 2:60:28, 2:220:16, 3:63:6, 5:64:47, 7:74:25, 7:86:24, 7:103:16, 7:142:23, 10:40:12, 10:81:17,10:91:7, 11:85:14, 18:94:7, 26:183:9, 27:14:11, 28:4:19, 28:77:26, 29:30:6, 29:36:16, and 38:28:7.
8. Places where the word ‘disease’ and its forms are in the Quran: 26:80:2, 2:10:3, 2:10:6, 5:52:5, 8:49:7, 9:125:5, 22:53:9, 24:50:3, 33:12:7, 33:32:16, 33:60:8, 47:20:18, 47:29:6, 74:31:32, 2:184:6, 2:185:20, 2:196:21, 4:43:22, 4:102:51, 5:6:24, 9:91:6, 24:61:11, 48:17:11, and 73:20:35. Places where the word ‘torment’ and its forms are in the Quran: 3:195:22, 4:16:4, 6:34:10, 7:129:2, 9:61:3, 9:61:21, 14:12:13, 29:10:8, 33:53:30, 33:53:54, 33:57:3, 33:58:2, 33:59:17, 33:69:7, 61:5:7, 2:196:24, 2:222:6, 2:262:14, 2:263:8, 2:264:8, 3:111:4, 3:186:15, 4:102:46, and 33:48:6.
9. Places where the phrase ‘those who possess intellect’ is in the Quran: 2:179:6, 2:197:29, 2:269:16, 3:7:46, 3:190:11, 5:100:13, 12:111:7, 13:19:15, 14:52:13, 38:29:9, 38:43:10, 39:9:24, 39:18:13, 39:21:31, 40:54:4, and 65:10:9. Places where the word ‘insane’ and its forms are in the Quran: 7:184:6, 23:25:6, 23:70:4, 34:8:7, 34:46:15, 15:6:8, 26:27:7, 37:36:6, 44:14:6, 51:39:6, 51:52:13, 52:29:8, 54:9:8, 68:2:5, 68:51:12, and 81:22:3.
10. Places where the word ‘mercy’ is in the Quran: 2:64:10, 2:105:19, 2:157:6, 2:178:30, 2:218:12, 3:8:12, 3:74:2, 3:107:6, 3:157:11, 3:159:2, 4:83:26, 4:96:4, 4:113:5, 4:175:9, 6:12:12, 6:54:13, 6:133:4, 6:147:6, 6:154:13, 6:157:17, 7:49:7, 7:52:8, 7:56:11, 7:57:8, 7:72:4, 7:151:8, 7:154:11, 7:156:18, 7:203:21, 9:21:3, 9:61:16, 9:99:23, 10:21:4, 10:57:13, 10:58:4, 10:86:2, 11:9:5, 11:17:15, 11:28:11, 11:58:9, 11:63:12, 11:66:9, 11:73:6, 11:94:9, 12:56:11, 12:111:21, 15:56:5, 16:64:12, 16:89:22, 17:24:6, 17:28:5, 17:57:11, 17:82:7, 17:87:2, 17:100:6, 18:10:11, 18:16:14, 18:58:4, 18:65:6, 18:82:22, 18:98:3, 19:2:2, 19:21:11, 19:50:4, 19:53:4, 21:75:3, 21:84:12, 21:86:3, 21:107:4, 24:10:5, 24:14:5, 24:20:5, 24:21:20, 25:48:8, 27:19:21, 27:63:13, 27:77:3, 28:43:14, 28:46:8, 28:73:2, 28:86:9, 29:23:9, 29:51:12, 30:21:14, 30:33:13, 30:36:4, 30:46:9, 30:50:4, 31:3:2, 33:17:15, 35:2:6, 36:44:2, 38:9:4, 38:43:6, 39:9:11, 39:38:26, 39:38:30, 39:53:10, 40:7:18, 41:50:3, 42:8:12, 42:28:10, 42:48:16, 43:32:3, 43:32:21, 44:6:1, 45:20:5, 45:30:9, 46:12:6, 48:25:30, 57:13:23, 57:27:18, 57:28:11, and 76:31:5.
11. Places where the word ‘Jesus’ is in the Quran: 2:87, 2:136, 2:253, 3:45, 3:52, 3:55, 3:59, 3:84, 4:157, 4:163, 4:171, 5:46, 5:78, 5:110, 5:112, 5:114, 5:116, 6:85, 19:34, 33:7, 42:13, 43:63, 57:27, 61:6, and 61:14. Places where the word ‘Adam’ is in the Quran: 2:31, 2:33, 2:34, 2:35, 2:37, 3:33, 3:59, 5:27, 7:11, 7:19, 7:26, 7:27, 7:31, 7:35, 7:172, 17:61, 17:70, 18:50, 19:58, 20:115, 20:116, 20:117, 20:120, 20:121, and 36:60.
12. Places where the word ‘magic’ and its forms are in the Quran: 7:116:5, 7:132:7, 23:89:5, 26:37:3, 2:102:16, 5:110:62, 6:7:15, 7:116:10, 10:76:9, 10:77:7, 10:81:8, 11:7:30, 20:57:6, 20:58:2, 20:63:10, 20:66:10, 20:71:12, 20:73:11, 21:3:13, 26:35:6, 26:49:12, 27:13:7, 28:36:10, 28:48:21, 34:43:33, 37:15:5, 43:30:6, 46:7:13, 52:15:1, 54:2:6, 61:6:30, 74:24:5, 7:109:8, 7:112:3, 7:113:2, 7:120:2, 10:2:25, 10:77:11, 10:79:5, 10:80:3, 20:63:4, 20:69:11, 20:69:14, 20:70:2, 26:34:6, 26:38:2, 26:40:3, 26:41:3, 26:46:2, 38:4:9, 40:24:6, 43:49:3, 51:39:4, 51:52:11, 15:15:8, 17:47:19, 17:101:18, 25:8:17, 26:153:5, and 26:185:5. Places where the word ‘test’ and its forms are in the Quran: 4:101:15, 5:49:12, 6:53:2, 7:27:4, 9:49:7, 9:126:4, 10:83:14, 16:110:9, 17:73:3, 20:40:23, 20:85:4, 20:90:9, 20:131:13, 27:47:13, 29:2:10, 29:3:2, 38:24:27, 38:34:2, 44:17:2, 51:13:5, 57:14:8, 72:17:1, 85:10:3, 2:102:32, 2:191:8, 2:193:5, 2:217:25, 3:7:24, 4:91:12, 5:41:44, 5:71:4, 6:23:4, 7:155:26, 8:25:2, 8:28:5, 8:39:5, 8:73:9, 9:47:11, 9:48:3, 9:49:10, 10:85:8, 17:60:14, 21:35:8, 21:111:4, 22:11:15, 22:53:5, 24:63:23, 25:20:16, 29:10:12, 33:14:8, 37:63:3, 39:49:18, 51:14:2, 54:27:4, 60:5:4, 64:15:4, 74:31:11, 20:40:24, 37:162:4, and 68:6:2.
13. Places where the word ‘prophet’ and its forms are in the Quran: 3:15:2, 3:49:31, 5:14:21, 5:48:47, 5:60:3, 5:105:16, 6:60:19, 6:108:22, 6:143:19, 6:159:16, 6:164:25, 9:64:7, 9:94:13, 9:94:27, 9:105:13, 10:18:16, 10:23:22, 12:15:12, 12:36:22, 12:37:7, 12:45:9, 13:33:15, 15:49:1, 15:51:1, 18:78:6, 18:103:3, 22:72:19, 24:64:16, 26:221:2, 29:8:18, 31:15:26, 31:23:8, 34:7:8, 35:14:16, 39:7:24, 41:50:24, 53:36:3, 54:28:1, 58:6:5, 58:7:38, 62:8:15, 64:7:12, 66:3:9, 66:3:20, 66:3:27, 75:13:1, 2:31:10, 2:33:3, 2:33:6, 66:3:24, 10:53:1, 3:44:3, 5:27:3, 6:5:8, 6:34:21, 6:67:2, 7:101:6, 7:175:3, 9:70:3, 10:71:3, 11:49:3, 11:100:3, 11:120:5, 12:102:3, 14:9:3, 18:13:4, 20:99:5, 26:6:4, 26:69:3, 27:22:13, 28:3:4, 28:66:3, 33:20:16, 38:21:3, 38:67:3, 38:88:2, 49:6:7, 54:4:4, 64:5:3, and 78:2:2. Places where the word ‘information’ and its forms are in the Quran: 3:79:9, 6:89:6, 29:27:8, 45:16:7, 57:26:8, 2:61:52, 2:91:24, 2:136:21, 2:177:18, 2:213:7, 2:246:13, 2:247:3, 2:248:3, 3:21:7, 3:39:18, 3:68:8, 3:80:6, 3:81:5, 3:84:19, 3:112:28, 3:146:3, 3:161:3, 3:181:16, 4:69:12, 4:155:8, 4:163:8, 5:20:13, 5:44:9, 5:81:5, 6:112:4, 7:94:6, 7:157:4, 7:158:23, 8:64:2, 8:65:2, 8:67:3, 8:70:2, 9:61:4, 9:73:2, 9:113:3, 9:117:5, 17:55:10, 19:30:8, 19:41:8, 19:49:14, 19:51:10, 19:53:7, 19:54:11, 19:56:8, 19:58:7, 22:52:8, 25:31:4, 33:1:2, 33:6:1, 33:7:4, 33:13:14, 33:28:2, 33:30:2, 33:32:2, 33:38:4, 33:40:12, 33:45:2, 33:50:2, 33:50:33, 33:50:36, 33:53:7, 33:53:31, 33:56:6, 33:59:2, 37:112:3, 39:69:8, 43:6:4, 43:7:4, 49:2:9, 60:12:2, 65:1:2, 66:1:2, 66:3:3, 66:8:25, and 66:9:2.
14. Places where the word ‘grateful’ and its forms are in the Quran: 2:52:8, 2:56:7, 2:152:3, 2:172:9, 2:185:44, 2:243:28, 3:123:10, 4:147:6, 5:6:61, 5:89:45, 7:10:11, 7:58:17, 8:26:19, 10:60:19, 12:38:26, 14:7:5, 14:37:26, 16:14:21, 16:78:15, 16:114:7, 22:36:27, 23:78:10, 27:19:9, 27:40:25, 27:40:29, 27:40:31, 27:73:10, 28:73:13, 29:17:24, 30:46:17, 31:12:6, 31:12:9, 31:12:11, 31:14:13, 32:9:14, 34:15:15, 35:12:28, 36:35:8, 36:73:6, 39:7:12, 40:61:20, 45:12:14, 46:15:25, 54:35:7, 56:70:6, 67:23:12, 34:13:15, 25:62:13, 76:9:10, 14:5:21, 17:3:9, 31:31:19, 34:13:19, 34:19:19, 35:30:8, 35:34:11, 42:23:29, 42:33:15, 64:17:11, 2:158:23, 3:144:27, 3:145:24, 4:147:10, 6:53:15, 6:63:17, 7:17:15, 7:144:14, 7:189:29, 10:22:41, 16:121:1, 21:80:10, 39:66:6, 76:3:5, 17:19:12, and 76:22:8. Places where the word ‘few’ and its forms are in the Quran: 4:7:14, 8:44:8, 18:39:16, 72:24:10, 2:83:26, 2:88:8, 2:126:23, 2:246:50, 2:249:28, 4:46:38, 4:66:15, 4:77:41, 4:83:30, 4:142:19, 4:155:22, 5:13:24, 7:86:18, 8:26:4, 8:43:6, 8:44:7, 9:38:28, 9:82:2, 11:40:26, 11:116:15, 12:47:12, 12:48:13, 17:52:9, 17:62:15, 17:76:13, 17:85:14, 18:22:22, 23:40:3, 23:114:5, 28:58:14, 31:24:2, 33:16:15, 33:18:14, 33:20:23, 33:60:19, 34:13:16, 38:24:21, 48:15:31, 51:17:2, 53:34:2, 56:14:1, 73:2:4, 73:3:5, 2:41:16, 2:79:15, 2:174:12, 3:77:8, 3:187:18, 3:197:2, 3:199:21, 5:44:32, 7:3:12, 7:10:9, 9:9:5, 16:95:6, 16:117:2, 17:74:9, 23:78:8, 26:54:4, 27:62:14, 32:9:12, 34:16:16, 39:8:30, 40:58:11, 44:15:4, 67:23:10, 69:41:5, 69:42:4, 73:11:6, 77:46:3, and 2:249:52.

See also

• Quran code