Support the Bangladeshi Free-thinkers and Atheist Bloggers! Extend Your Helping Hands to Humanity!

We are freelance writers from Bangladesh. Most of us have started our writings through blogging in 2006 and 2007 when a Bengali blog, called, ‘somewhereinblog’ (www.somewhereinblog.net), was first founded. Somewhereinblog has appeared as a wonderful opportunity to express and share our experiences, daily diaries, our happiness and sorrows in our own language/terms. Initially we have used the space to read blogs, while some of us were sharing personal diaries, literary works i.e. poetry, short stories, travel blogs etc. At some point we have noticed random posts on Islamic thoughts and inserts from Quran & Hadith, translated by apparently preaching articles from so called Islamic scholars abroad. These were not one off incidents, rather those were regular posts by religious and Islamist writers. In reading those articles, we wondered if religious writers or Islamic authors are able to share their religious speeches, why shouldn’t we? We believed that even if non-believers we should have the right to talk about our thoughts and reasons for unbelieving when the believers and religious authors have the right to preach through social media. Hence we started to express our thoughts and views through blogs. As atheists our blogs contained the non-traditional thoughts, the logic of being skeptical, and the story behind unbelieving. This simultaneously appeared as counter-logic to the believers. Many of us have started to argue that about some Islamic articles which were posted by the blind-believers. Both logic and counter-logic went on in the section for comments. We were soon thrilled by e-meeting and discovering so many supporters, friends, free-thinkers, atheists, non-believers, and agnostics around us. It was totally unexpected yet amazing to come across these many non-believers with us at that time. We could have hardly imagined that so many atheists and free thinkers had existed in the country as ours, from where writers like Taslima Nasrin and Daud Haider were exiled!

We started to write blogs on faithism, on the history of religions, philosophy of religions, and scientific outlook of religions. We started to ask various questions on the issue of women’s rights and the issues of justice and rights within religions. At the same time, we had begun to debunk the unscientific claims of the religious texts and religious. Our interest covers history, philosophy, science, feminism, law, culture, art-culture and, of course, humanity. We wrote several articles on these subject-matters. We have great interest in ancient Indian philosophy since we have found there are lots of atheist sects of our ancient philosophy like Sankhya, Mimangsa, Buddhism, Charbak, Jainism etc. We have started to publish short articles or inserts from prominent free thinkers, writers, like Aroj Ali Matubbar, Dr. Humayun Azad, Ahmed Sharif and more.

Later on we came across the web-site, called Muktomona - Freethinkers (www.mukto-mona.com) which was founded in 2001. It was a great discovery for us again when we came to know that writers of such a site are mainly people of Bangladeshi origins. Initially it was not a blog. There was no comment option on the site. We needed to send our articles via mail. We have spent time mostly to debate and argue with the Islamists in somewhereinblog though mukto-mona was like our own home-base. Through this home-base we have obtained an identity as “mukto-mona” – free thinker, someone who holds a free mind and who is open to debate and discussions about anything. There we found many other friends, among whom muktomona blogger Avijit Roy was the most influential for his new and creative writings. He had soon become a good friend, our guide and a wonderful senior fellow. Gradually some more Bengali blogs came on the web. Sachalayatan, for instance, became most powerful among others. Also Amar blog, cadet blog, nagorik blog, ishtishon became popular and many of our atheist bloggers were scattered in different platforms of blogs. But somewhereinblog had still a special role as an open platform where both the religious and atheist bloggers used to write and where many Islamic bloggers freely took part on the discussions and debates with us. Over time somewhereinblog lost its popularity as many other blogs came into scene, and as facebook took over the place of blogs for many bloggers. The Dhormockery became another major initiative for the atheist bloggers where various satires and cartoons on religions were published.

From the beginning of our writings in blogs and facebook, we were faced with unexpected angry words and annoyance of the religious people, especially from the Islamists. Some of us have used to write in disguise under “nick name” butsome used to write with their original names. The Islamic fanatics often offered us to dare not to write in disguise which actually made us take the decision to continue under the nickname. On the other hand, bloggers with real name and identity were often asked to share their address! Sometimes Islamic extremist people used to show their doubt about the originality of the identity of us, who were writing in real name! They used to remind us the almighty’s threat after and before death. We did never bother about so-called heavenly threats, but sometimes we felt worried when it seemed that these guys were somehow willing to see the almighty’s threat to be applied upon us in this very world!

As stated earlier, from the beginning of our writing on religion, history, philosophy, humanity and atheism, we used to receive very angry and furious responses from some fanatic religious persons. Especially our articles on Islam, Quran & Hadith and Muhammad made them almost mad. We always  ried not to show any disrespect towards their belief, on the contrary we used to discuss the economical and political situation under which Muhammad had become Muhammad, the prophet. Sometimes we tried to debunk false claims about Quranic explanations of some Islamic scholars like Zakir Nayek, Ahmed Deedat etc instead of hitting Quran directly. Still these articles made some of them very angry. In the comment section of these blog posts or via facebook messages, they used to show their reactions. They scolded us out of hatred, declared our ultimate punishment after death. They wished our complete destruction. Initially we took such reactions as normal behavior of believers. We overlooked their  eactions as we thought that these were only reactions which came out of instant anger. We preferred not to bother them at all. But in 2013, the situation took a sudden turn and got rapidly worse. Below are  the major incidents (chronologically) that happened in the year 2013:

1. On 14 January, 2013, Atheist blogger Asif Mohiuddin was stabbed by unknown attacker, somehow he survived.

2. On 5 February, 2013 the Shahbagh Movement began.

3. on 15 February, 2013, Ahmed Razib Haider, one of the activists of Shahbagh Movement (Thaba Baba on blog) was murdered by identifiable killers .

4. From the very moment of Rajib’s killing and soon after the Shahbag public demand for justice for Rajib, his writings especially satires on Islam, Muhammad, Quran and Hadith were systematically brought in public and made available through various Islamic pages of facebook, Islamic websites as well as the national media including the Daily Amar Desh, Daily Sangram and so on), backed by Islamic nationalist parties. Propaganda against aetheists and Rajib was being spread all over the places within the country. Extreme hatred against atheist bloggers was being successfully raised at mass level. Islamic leaders called for capital punishment for the atheist bloggers. Eventually Hefajot-E-Islam, an organization of Ulamas, Islamic knowledgeable persons, from the Qawmi madrashas, Islamic educational institutes, took on the lead to the country-wide agitation.

5. Hefajot-E-Islam declared a 13 points-demand against atheists which include below:

· Reinstate the phrase “Absolute trust and faith in the Almighty Allah” in the constitution as one of the fundamental principles of state policy.

· Pass a law keeping a provision of capital punishment for maligning Allah, Islam and Prophet Muhammad and smear campaigns against Muslims.

· Punish the “atheist” leaders of Shahbagh, bloggers and anti-Islamists who make “derogatory comments” about Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

(http://archive.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/hefajat-demands)

6. Hefajat-e-Islam declared to organize a long march towards the Motijheel area in Dhaka from Chittagong, Sylhet and Rajshahi to push for their 13-point demand on April 6, 2013.

7. 3 Bloggers Subrata Adhikari Shuvo, Russel Parvez and Mashiur Rahman Biplob were arrested on April 2 2013, under Section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on suspicion of making derogatory comments about Islam. The 4th blogger, Asif Mohiuddin was arrested on April 3 2013. In the behind of the scene, government was trying to negotiate with these Islamic groups including Hefajot-E-Islam.

8. List of atheist bloggers was published. It started sporadically after the killing of Rajib. Several Islamic groups published in different Islamic websites and also in some of print media. The lists published were also of different types (different groups listed down 26 atheist bloggers, 42 bloggers, 56 bloggers differently). On 31 March, 2013 an investigation committee of the Prime Minister’s Office held a meeting with ‘Islamist’ scholars. During the meeting with the committee at the Home Ministry, these Islamic leaders and or scholars submitted a list of 84 ‘atheist’ bloggers to the committee. Mainuddin Khandaker, Home Ministry’s Additional Secretary and also the committee chief, echoed the scholars during the meeting: “The committee is taking steps to identify for bringing those spreading propagandas to justice”. Just few days after this meeting and also few days before the long march of Hefajot-E-Islam, 4 bloggers were arrested.

(http://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2013/03/31/atheist-bloggers-to-repent)

9. On 31 March 2013 Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina pledged to punish online insults against Islam. She said: "You (Islamic parties) do not need to go for any movement. As a Muslim, We have the responsibility to take action". http://www.ndtv.com/world-news/bangladesh-pmsheikh-hasina-pledges-to-punish-online-insults-against-islam-517688

10. On May 5, 2013, Hefajat arranged a siege and rally at the capital city, Dhaka in the demand of their 13-points.

11. The cabinet approved the draft of the ICT (Amendment) Act-2013 on August 19 proposing to empower law enforcers to arrest any person without warrant and increase the highest punishment to 14 years from minimum 7 years. The government has later promulgated the ICT (amendment) ordinance.

(http://www.askbd.org/ask/2013/10/09/ict-amendment-act-2013-information-reedom-expression-threat)

Article-57: Punishment for publishing fake, obscene or defaming information in

electronic form:

(1) If any person deliberately publishes or transmits or causes to be published or transmitted in the website or in electronic form any material which is fake and obscene or its effect is such as to tend to deprave and corrupt persons who are likely, having regard to all relevant circumstances, to read, see or hear the matter contained or embodied in it, or causes to deteriorate or creates possibility to deteriorate law and order, prejudice the image of the State or person or causes to hurt or may hurt religious belief or instigate against any person or organization, then this activity of his will be regarded as an offence.

(2) Whoever commits offence under sub-section (1) of this section he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to maximum fourteen years and minimum 7 years and with fine which may extend to Taka one crore.

After Rajib’s killing we have realized for the first time that nick name couldn’t guarantee anyone’s safety, and that the Islamic extremists had got the mechanism to identify the original identity of a disguised nick. The Ansarullah Bangla Team, an Islamic fanatic and terrorist group has declared that they were going to kill many more atheists of Bangladesh (https://justpaste.it/Target). Since then we have been trying to be more careful regarding our writings.Most of us slowed up our writings. But just before the long march of Hefajot-E-Islam on 6 April 2013, the situation went even worse. Many lists of atheist bloggers were produced and four bloggers were arrested. These months were very concerning for us and many of us have felt vulnerable within the supposedly secular-state of Bangladesh. We were desperate to find safe and unknown places to hide, mainly to hide from state-security personnel and police since the arrested bloggers were freed.

2014 was a comparatively calm year. We had started to live relatively normal life, though already many of us had become irregular in our online domain, many had removed their blogs. In the year of 2015, following the mixed reaction of Bangladeshi people about the Cahrlie Hebodo Killings, the Islamic extremists started to commit serial killing. They have been following a hit list of 84 atheist bloggers who were found vividly loud about secularism and against religious illogicality. Four radiant atheist bloggers were hacked to death within 5 and half months. First they murdered Avijit Roy, the founder of muktomona. com, then hacked blogger Washikur Rahman Babu to death, and science writer Ananta Bijoy Das and most recently they murdered Niloy Neel, a blogger and the founder member of Science & Rationalist Association of Bangladesh (SRABAN). The local media has published a full list of what they called “those ‘culprit’ 84 bloggers” following the murders each time! The situation is now heightened, as if the remainder of those atheist bloggers who are still surviving and somehow living in the country could be killed anytime. It seems that we are waiting for nothing but a direct machete-attack. Government of Bangladesh has failed to identify and punish the real criminals behind these consecutive incidents of concerted attacks on atheists. Two of the killers were caught by public on spot after the killing of Washikur Babu, but with the help of them no more extremists could be identified. Actually no activities from police administration, special branch or detective branch, ie the government authority can be seen after these incidents. Son of our Honorable Prime Minister told the reason behind this inactiveness while replying to the query of Reuters: “Our mother offered private condolences to Avijit’s father.But the political situation in Bangladesh is too volatile for her to comment publicly…. We don’t want to be seen as atheists.”

http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2015/may/11/situation-too-volatile-comment-avijit-murder

It has been found most alarming that instead of helping to confront this outrageous injustice, political and state institutions have begun blaming the victims themselves and making matters worse. Very next day following the murder of Niloy Neel, the Inspector General of Police engaged in victim-blaming, called for self-censorship, and threatened bloggers. Furthermore, the Cabinet Committee for Law and Order, headed by Minister of Industries Amir Hossain Amu, on their 9 August 2015 meeting decided to declare Atheist authors as criminals, thereby making them subject to prosecution, and intelligence agencies have been asked to monitor blogs to find those atheist writers.  (http://www.kalerkantho.com/print-edition/first-page/2015/08/10/254553)

Under the circumstance, we hold no hope for our safety or for the other bloggers listed on the hit list, though we are still living in Bangladesh. Today’s Bangladesh is totally unsafe for the atheist bloggers like us, not only for those Islamic fanatics and extremists but also for the so-called secular government who totally failed to ensure the safety for the bloggers. They are actually unwilling to provide safety in true terms. Although six persons were arrested after the killing of Rajib on 15 February 2013, all of them had got the bail and later released. There is no hope. The opposition party had already allied with several Islamic parties, and they have declared support to Hefajot-E-Islam’s 13 points. Not only this support towards Hefajot-E-Islam, now Awami Olama League, the Islamist wing of ruling party Bangladesh Awami League, has made new demands of death penalties for all atheist bloggers and activists, echoing the rhetoric of Islamist extremists in other parties.  Likewise, the so-called secular government became greedy to attract the Muslim vote bank of the country and for this reason they failed to stand besides the atheists. The prime minister has recently announced several times in public that being a very pious Muslim she would not tolerate anything against Muhammad and Quran. So, atheist bloggers, especially those who are on the list and who live in the country, are in danger and under attack by both sides:

1. Firstly, they are attacked by the fanatic Islamic extremists who can kill us with machete and attack us from the back, and

2. Secondly, the Government who can use ICT act 2006 (Article 57) anytime against the bloggers.

Being on the list of 84 atheist bloggers, we are under threats from Islamic extremists as well as the government. We know that anytime any Islamic extremist can hack us to death anywhere in Bangladesh. At the same time, we also know that Government can also arrest us against 57 article of ICT act 2006 for hurting religious belief whenever they want to. Under such threats and bearing the above-mentioned attacks in mind, one may wonder how terrible our current situation is? How our families can keep under current situation? Since the killing of Ananta Bijoy

Das, most of us have been keeping ourselves caged in four walls. Being the main earning members of our families we have to go to office regularly. Some of us can’t even avoid evening or night duty at work.

The horrific feeling that we and our family members endure under such death threats is hard to describe by words. We have to keep extra alert every time we are going outside and when returning home from office. As vigilantly looking around constantly, we often get scared to see any bearded-person anyone in Islamic dress. Our current situation is vulnerable and unbearable. The damage that we undergo is not only physical but also our mental health is seriously being injured. The routine of whole family has changed for last couple of months. They are afraid that they may lose us. Our parents are always in panic about us. They don’t want us to go outside home, but being the single earning–member in the family some of us have to go to office. Even staying home fails to guarantee our safety as murder in bedroom is not uncommon in Bangladesh. Moreover police can arrest us from home anytime in the name of provocative writings.

This is all-out of attack on free thinking movement in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is a Muslim majority country though the history of secularism here is pretty old. Even in the ancient philosophy and rituals, we can find the sign of secularism here. In 1971, our independence war was based on secularism, we defeated the Islamic fundamentalists. But gradually since the liberation, Islamism has been injected through dirty politics. Major political parties have counted Muslim vote banks as their main resources. Hence we are now treated by the fruit! Even so, this land never stops producing secular children. These children were brave enough not to pay any attention to the treats of the fundamentalists. Aroj Ali Matubbar, our first free thinker-writer and philosopher was arrested before the independence merely for his writings. Nonetheless, after the independence we were able to pay homage to him. After liberation, Ahmed Sharif, Daud Haider, Ali Azgar, Humayun Azad, Taslima Nasrin and many other prominent free thinkers and writers were threatened, but they did not stop. First attack on atheists in Independent Bangladesh came when Taslima Nasrin and Daud Haider were exiled from our country. Later the government of Bangladesh disallowed them to enter the country for ever. The second massive blow came when Dr Humayun Azad was severely attacked by the extremists for his last book about ‘the holy land’. We are the third generation who chose online medium for our writing, and so we are facing the third phase of attack which appeared as concerted. Still we do believe that even if they kill us the pen or keyboard will not stop. Meanwhile, we are desperately looking for a safe place in the world. Thus we dare to knock you and bother you today.

We would like to seek your help through this letter. If you know of any option or information about where we may be able to go for the time being, please will you be kind to contact us? We should be grateful to hear from you. If you have any suggestion, guideline about finding a safe home, please share with us. We would like to live and protect ourselves from the religious fanatics. We would like to keep working on mitigating the deadly affect that religious radicalists continue to create in our world. We wish to defend our writing for human rights, humanism and rationalism.

Thank you for your time and help.

Please contact: savebloggersbd@gmail.com

Links:

1.      News of bloggers’ arrest: http://iheu.org/arrests-atheist-bloggers-shows-bangladeshauthorities-are-walking-trap-set-fundamentalists/

2.      Link of news of list of 84 bloggers published in newspaper for the first time (April 1, 2013): http://www.amardeshonline.com/pages/details/2013/04/01/194550#.VWWIFUZqOzk

3.      Link of news of list of 42 bloggers in Ansarulla Bangla Team’s hit list: http://www.jugantor.com/last-page/2014/11/13/173174

4.      Complete list of 84 bloggers: http://www.observerbd.com/2015/08/13/104719.php#sthash.xOD2zlNA.dpuf  

5.      Who is next target by Ansar Islam Bangla Team: https://justpaste.it/Target

6.      http://end-blasphemy-laws.org/2015/06/speak-out-for-bangladesh-bloggers/

7.      http://iheu.org/arrests-atheist-bloggers-shows-bangladesh-authorities-are-walking-trap-set-fundamentalists/

8.      CEMB published our call on their webpage:  http://ex-muslim.org.uk/2015/06/support-bangladeshi-free-thinkers-and-atheist-bloggers/

9.      One Law for all published our call on their webpage: http://www.onelawforall.org.uk/support-bangladeshi-free-thinkers-and-atheist-bloggers/

10.  http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-33819032

IN RESPONSE TO SOME DISCUSSIONS ON ALLAH, PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) AND AL-QURAN

We do believe He exists despite not seeing Him. This belief gets firmer when we see the feats of Allah. We get the evidence of His existence in various ways among those feats.

This is fairly common among all believers/ theists- the same thing happened to me when I was a believer. Being a by-born Muslim due to my Muslim parents I found such kind of logics-evidences for myself. While in class three/four there was clear argument in religion text-book that ‘the signs that Allah exists are numerous around us’. Everything runs so normally- which can easily prove that there must be someone who I controlling everything so efficiently. Allah is one because if He is two or three in number, there would have been conflicts and chaos- the World would not run that smoothly – etc. etc. I am pretty sure this argument is equally applicable to other religions too- believing first, then searching arguments, signs and vestiges to rationalize that belief.

Whatever, nothing more to say about this, let’s come to the point- I have many things to say on the evidences and arguments that have deepened your belief. If those seem irrational to me, then couldn’t the bases of my previous belief be a little weaker?

‘Sometimes we see, the society the Prophet formed about 1400 years ago based on ideology, principle and justice out of an abnormally feculent society is a rare example in any time for any place in the world history. I can remember Omer (R:) and his servant travelled through a long desert sharing the back of a camel 50-50%. Sometimes I remember the speech of Hazrat Omer (R:) during the famine ‘Even if a dog starves to death today on the bank of river Forat, I will be guilty for that’. What comparison can you find against such a nice humanitarian attitude?’

I do admit the contribution of Muhammad (S.) for the Arab society 1400 years ago and I doalso have tremendous respect for him as a human being. But we also find numerous number of people like him as the time advances- my respect to those people also.  But when it is said that the role of Muhammad 1400 years ago in the Arab land is unique is the world history- I then realize such kind of claimers fathom very little about the world history. I realize it is just blind veneration or boot-licking- such blind that it fantasizes a flesh and blood to the divine level, declares His all rituals and actions to be the ultimate for all ages, all regions and all social systems while simply forgetting that Muhammad (S.) was born in a particular time, in a particular region and in a particular social system. Then I cannot but ask politely that this man in his last Hajj speech appealed to behave gently with the slaves but failed to call upon for the abolition of slavery system. Why? Why did he keep provision of four marriage for men? Why remained with the custom of Hillah marriage? Why did he permit extra-marital sexual relation with the slave women? And so on!

When this man is depicted as Great Man by dragging world history, or announced as a direct friend of Allah or a Messenger of Allah- then I again gently ask- after ascending to power, why he had to lean to woman one after another? Why getting involved in war/Jihad one after another? Why spreading hatreds towards the infidels? And also why he had to destroy the idols/sculptures of the Pagans who were of different religions? And so on!

But due to the above reasons I do have no disrespect for one human being Muhammad (S.) since I know very well what the age-bound, social system bound confinements of a man may be! But again I have thousands of questions to Muhammad (S.) as a Messenger of Allah. So if any one tries to grant Prophet’s lust for women in the name of time, or tries to show his character as exemplaryby comparing him with king Solaiman or some other more lustful kings of ancient time- then I’ll bring Jesus Christ, Gautama Buddha, Socrates and numerous other people born far before Muhammad (S.) and would request to follow their characters in this regard but not Muhammad (S.)

Many tales and stories of Omer (Ra.) still inspire us- this is the way many characters of history remain alive among us for decades. But when based on those amazing stories of flesh and blood some other fictitious threads are linked to promote the sublimity of gossips rather than greatness of character- I’ll then humbly ask- how many of the four Caliphs of Islam was murdered? By whom were they killed? Had been killed

Why was the delay in burial of corpse of Muhammad (PBUH)? Weren’t the people close to Him certain that He was the Messenger of Allah? That engaging in conflict of power keeping the corpse of His Prophet unattended would make Allah displeased?

‘When I see the messages of the Holy Quran are so much metaphoric; till today there is no such poetical work with such an incomparable ordination of words (however to understand it much better, you have to know very well Arabic literature or Arabic language or you have to be an expert in literature; whatsoever let’s keep faith in the words of our experts!)

The so much figurative messages of Al-Quran with excellent ordination of words- whoever is a believer believes it blindly without understanding Arabic language. And such a blindly devoted stand declares: ‘There is still no equivalent poetic literature like the Holy Quran!’

So it can easily be answered in one sentence: such declarant possesses no idea about poetry or literature. I would be happy to inform such people that the position of Al-Quran is at almost zero level with reference to world literature. This book must have a considerable role as a history book or a book of philosophy- you must approach The Quran and The Hadith to understand a whole era. But in the universe of world literature, Quran matters a little. Even in our region, the Ramayana or The Mahabharata may be leveled as ‘Epic’, we keep our ‘Charjapada’ with high esteem in the field of ancient literature, the two epics of Homer further enriches the world literature; but Quran as a literary work matters little comparing to those. You have dragged the experts’ opinion- but they themselves have judged the literary values of ancient books- which one is an ‘epic’, which one not!

Let’s judge the poetic values of Al Quran by ourselves. Various organs of poetry are: metaphor, simile, prosody etc. Expressing a thought through metaphors and similes is the peculiarity of poetry- this is found in several verses of Quran-I have to admit that. But they are very less in number and according to my opinion not that much luminouspaint, rather kind of flat. Moreover the illustrations of thoughtsthrough various similes-metaphors in our ancient writings and poetry, the exorbitances of similes-metaphors in our very previous somatic songs clearly imply that this is very much possible by human being.

And in terms of prosody, Quran will to be ranked very mean. Verses of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, prosody of the lyrics of the Charzapada are much more melodious and temperate. Most of the suras (verses) of Quran did not in fact maintain the grammar of prosody. However in some of the suras, some successive Aayats in some suras we get artistry of prosody. But again we have to add that- like any other ancient rhythm they are combination of monotonous alliteration.

For example:

Alamtarakaifafa'alarabbuka bi ashaabil feel

Alamyaj'alkaidahum fee tad leel

waarsala 'alaihimtairanabaabeel

Tar meehim bi hi jaaratim min sijjeel

Faja 'alahumka'asfimm'akool

This is surah al-fil (105). The syllable ‘eel’ is present at the end of every sentence. (though the fifth sentence includes ‘ool’). Similarly in surah Al-Fatiha every sentence ends with ‘eem/een’. In surah An-Nass every sentence ends with the syllable ‘naas’ etc. etc.

Such kinds of rhymes/prosodies are found in ancient poems. Actually at that time rhymes/prosodies were created orally, circulated from mouth to mouth; so creation of verses as well as memorizing it in rhyme format was easier. You can also make such quality prosody if you try. For example:

10 fingers,
10 toes,
2 eyes
And a round nose.

Or

One potato, two potatoes, three potatoes, four,
Five potatoes, six potatoes, seven potatoes, more?

Or

Kill

Bill

Jill

Fill

Mill

Nil

Hill

Ill etc

Let’s try. If someone like me can do it, you can do also. You may read the poetry of famous Bengali poet Satyendranath Dutta, you’ll then realize how excellent the practice of prosody can be in the hand of a human being.

And if you show plea of ancient times, I’ll say keep an eye on things like Charjapada, Ramayana and Mahabharata. They are created through such rhythmic prosodies. After going through those books, you’ll understand how inferior in quality the verses of Quran are in comparison with them. Inferior in quality in this sense that verses of Quran are so much monotonous and same word, same sentence is repeatedly used to show matches among the lines.

And with your sentence it seems that you have challenged the present literature and poetry also. It should not be right for you for Quran will then be more humiliated. The varieties of prosody, its strength- I cannot expect this from some ancient books, so the comparisons will also not be accurate, still if you challenge, then please learn no one in the world literature has treated Al Quran as an epic/poetry.

‘’Or when we see Quran did not change to a tittle within 1400 years whereas Bible and other religious books have been changed hundred times. Kings or clerics changed those according to their thoughts. We find the reflection of God’s will in this case…. Many of the other religions though coming from God have actually been changed/distorted in circumambulation of time and the religious books need a latest of final version for the time advances. But the argument behind Quran being the final version is its pure undistortedness. (Allah said He himself would save the Quran and must it remain undistorted.)’’

What do you mean by the intactness of Quran? What does it imply?

Today after the invention of printing machine you’ll get tens of millions of books remain unaltered for decades. The plays and sonnets of Shakespeare- all in as it was created format; even not mismatching by a full-stop or comma. Nowadays we find inscriptions of two or three thousand years ago- they too are also undistorted. What does it imply?

Hmm, there was obviously possibility of distortion when once upon a time knowledge, literature etc were transmitted in oral form from generation to generations and era to era. And we know Al Quran inscribed as a whole did not appear in front of mankind from Muhammad. Initially its fragments were orally transmitted and in a scatter written format. That gave birth to the natural doubt behind its undistortedness and that’s why convincing all regarding the issue became the liability of Quran. So we find Allah saying in Quran that He is its defender.

Indubitably no one even felt it necessary to proclaim such undistortedness in the case of Michael’s Meghnathbadh Kabya in Bengali or for King Lear or for War and Peace.

Let’s come to the point of comparing the Holy Quran with other ancient books. Other scriptures have been tampered with, but not Quran! The delusion of such logic is easily explicable. 

Is it possible to claim distortions on those books that were documented during the lifetime of their authors? It’s only claimed in case of compilation writings after the death of its author. For instance- Socrates never docketed any of his thoughts but did his two disciples. Now it’s a natural question-  do the inscriptions of these two disciples word by word represent the thoughts and philosophy of Socrates? But you see when Plato wrote or documented ‘Dialogue’ or ‘Socrates’ Defense’, we find it undistorted and obviously as a pure writing of Plato.

Neither Jesus nor Muhammad was successful in offering the Bible-Quran in the way Plato did. Their follower compiled them later. Again there comes the natural question- do the Holy books represent the cult preached by them? Initiatives of compilation were taken after a certain time interval of Jesus’ death- so possibility of distortion is higher for the Bible whereas Quran is in a safer position than Bible. But once compiled or documented, it may remain unaltered if upkept properly. We have found some before Christ era books in our sub-continent and as these books were inscribed at that very time; one can easily understand that they are the same word by word as the writer wrote.

Next is the different explanations/opinions of one Surah/verse even if it got documented in the Holy book i.e. ununiqueness of opinion over a single verse. This issue in fact gave birth to the later edition of Bible. Anyone may claim the later edition as tempered- but can the older version be called tempered in real sense? This is also true for Quran. We find in many Hadiths the differences in opioion among the Sahabis (companions) during compilation of Quran. We know about Hazrat Ali's objections. Dispute over different language is also known and also the act of destroying all other copies of Quran by Usman. We know about different Qurans of the Haafs and the Walsh, different Quran of the Shia and last but not the least the revised Quran of Rashad Khalifa. All these indicate that Quran has been distorted many times and Quran of one group is obviously a distorted one for the other group.

So you can never say Quran is written by Allah considering it undistorted and when you clearly see Quran is distortedly inscribed and further been distorted in course of time- shouldn’t you be suspicious about the existence of Allah?

‘’Or when I see there is not a single verse in Quran that can be proved incorrect by the established science. Contrary to that, the other scriptures are full of wrong information and inconsistencies.

Or when I watch that Quran accurately described many events that were laterproved right by modern science.’’  

There is not a single verse in Quran that can be proved incorrect by the established science- He who dares to say so is surely such a person that have not read/understood all Aayats/verses of Quran and utterly ignorant of science.

The science of today finds so many inconsistencies in all ancient books- whether it be a Holy book or a book on science or philosophy. Similarly so many unscientific, anti-science, false, inconsistent and bizarre statements are frequently available in the verses of Quran. But then again some true and scientific things are also available in them which are still accepted by science. (What it implies- mankind discovered the accurate knowledge on certain topics by that very time.)- In this way some topics/points of Quran may also be proved right by today’s established science. But that does not necessarily prove that- modern science grants every word of Quran. The story of Adam, Gossips of Angels and ghostly bodies, magic-sorcery- jugglery, superhuman power of the Prophets- modern science considers all these as fairy tales. Talks on heaven and earth, creation of animals and human beings, birth of human, development of embryo- all these are erroneous incorrect, preposterous in the eyes of modern science. And there are still others. Just read by yourself a bit more, keep your eyes-ears open, unclasp the window of your mind:- you’ll easily understand.

Regarding the second point-‘Quran accurately described many events that were later proved right by modern science’- is actually not a unique pretension. Many of the other religions claim the same today. I have refuted this point in one of my previous posts- so nothing new to say- requesting to go through that post.

‘‘It’s a wonder how the Prophet, an illiterate person, was able to write a book for 23 years with no inconsistency which is at the same time 1) guide for mankind, 2) no inconsistency of information, 3) no scientific mistake of any given information, 4) information which have later been proven by modern science are also given, 5) full of excellent poetic values, 6) has remained unchanged for 1500 years, 7) the only one scripture that most people can commit to memory, 8) It is the only one Holy book memorized by tens of thousands of people. So there is no possibility of annihilation of this Holy book even if all the copies get burnt.’’

Historians are divided into opinions whether Prophet Muhammad was an illiterate person. Read- was the first revelation to him. He was a successful merchant in his early life- He himself had to maintain the accounts. Such Hadiths are also available where he rectified the letters written to different rulers. Whatever, let’s assume that he was illiterate. But does this necessarily mean he was empty-headed? Or does that mean he was not a man of extraordinary caliber?

There are so many ingenious people of ancient time who were downright illiterate- they have gifted us impeccable creations in oral format only using their brains. So no one can be certain that he did not possess leadership capability, a very inquisitive mind, a vision and ability to think deeper no matter if he was illiterate. And if possessed with such qualities with some adroit followers around him, it is not so difficult to write a book like Quran.

One more point to be addressed- Usman was the pioneer in offering us the format of Quran as we get today. Before that Quran Compilation Committee took the first initiative during the reign of Abu Bakar. There were many efficient and also poetic minded followers in that committee. So Muhammad should not be the only contributor behind today’s format of Quran. Even Ali(R:)  was seen to protect for this reason.

1.       Guide for mankind- is a completely wrong proclamation. The non-Muslim portion of today’s world is running very well without Quran; so Quran can’t be a guideline for them. Even the Muslim world is not following Quran directed life exactly or they very well realize that it can’t be followed exactly.

You yourself can understand why Quran can’t be a guideline for mankind if you read it carefully with meaning. You’ll see how each of the Aayats/ Surahs appeared in response to various incidents happened in Muhammad’s life. Even Aayats appeared when there were disputes among Muhammad’s wives- to tackle that situation. Many times when the disciples came to Prophet to solve their different problems- Aayats appeared. Aayats appeared when the non-Muslims came to ask something, when to motivate the disciples etc. etc. A major part of all these incidents are very specific. There are Surahs on some specific persons- you can’t say they are guidelines for the whole mankind. Even one Surah was named after one person (Non-Muslim), so much hatred was spread by that Surah-just read- you’ll make out what kind of a guideline it is for mankind!!! 

2.       There are many inconsistencies of information. Please refer to previous points. Moreover, it is due to this inconsistency that divided Muslim world into so many fractions/ Mazhabs.

3.        There are so many mistakes of Quran provided ‘scientific’ information. Again referring to previous discussions.

4.       Modern science has invented so many things which were not included in Quran and also many other things are there which are contradictory to different Aayats of Quran. And Quran includes everything- this is just a crystal-clear lie and bluff.

5.       It has changed in 1500 years- which I showed earlier. And you’ll find many ancient books older than Quran that are undistorted.

6.       The topic of literary values are discussed earlier. However, some names of followers are heard who were poets. Let’s assume they are not created by those followers and Muhammad(S) himself possessed poetic intellect. But if you think it is the poetic intellect of Allah, then I cannot but say that Allah as a poetic genius is much inferior to Yeats, Elliot, Jibananda, Rabindranath Tagore, Shakespeare, Michael Madhusudhan etc.

7.       It’s true that the memorizers of Quran are many in number. May be once upon a time people memorized many a books, but in today’s world only some fanatic people do this job. Geeta or Bible memorizers are also in the

world. These scriptures are older than Quran- so what?? And if one memorizer of any book remains alive while all the copies get burnt- this book will be revived, not only Quran.

But if I am thrown to a situation that the whole world will be destroyed except one book, I would choose a science encyclopedia rather than a Quran. I’ll compile all the latest laws and formulas of modern science in a book and preserve it. Because it will be the best weapon at man’s hand that can restore the position of earth within the least possible time. Quran the Holy book can’t do it.

Translated by: Tanmoy

Original link of Bengali article: http://blog.mukto-mona.com/2009/05/21/1701/