Maurice Bucaille

Maurice Bucaille (19 July 1920 in Pont-L'Eveque, France- 17 February 1998^[1]), son of Maurice and Marie (James) Bucaille,^[2] was a French medical doctor, member of the French Society of Egyptology, and an author. Bucaille practiced medicine from 1945–82 and was a specialist in gastroenterology.^[2] In 1973, Bucaille was appointed family physician to King Faisal of Saudi Arabia. Another of his patients at the time included members of the family of then President of Egypt, Anwar Sadat.^[3]

Books

The Bible, The Qur'an and Science

In 1976, he published his book, The Bible, The Qur'an and Science which argued that the Qur'an contains no statements contradicting established scientific fact.^[4] Bucaille argued that the Qur'an is in agreement with scientific facts, while the Bible is not. He states that in Islam, science and religion have always been “twin sisters” (vii). According to Bucaille, there are monumental errors of science in the Bible and not a single error in the Qur'an. Bucaille's belief is that the Qur'an's descriptions of natural phenomena make it compatible with modern science. Bucaille concludes that the Qur'an is the reliable word of God.

Bucaille argues that the Old Testament has been distorted because of numerous translations and corrections as it was transmitted orally. He highlights, in his words, “numerous disagreements and repetitions”, in the Old Testament and the Gospels. In his analysis, Bucaille claims he makes use of many propositions of Biblical criticism, such as the documentary hypothesis. With regard to the Qur'an, however, Bucaille followed the Islamic tradition that the Qur'anic scrolls are said to have been collected during Muhammad’s lifetime.

Certain sources pertain that Bucaille stated he is not a Muslim^[5][6], although, in an interview with the Islamic Bulletin, Bucaille claimed that his "inner soul cried out that Al- Quran was the Word of Allah revealed to his Last Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W.)".^[7] He also said that he devoted himself to discuss all problems from a purely "academic angle", to be treated by the world as an "academician rather than a theologian". The validity of Bucaille's arguments that all scientific statements presented in the Qur'an are scientifically accurate has been disputed.^[8]

Others

• What is the Origin of Man?. Islamic Book Service. 2005. pp. 228. ISBN 8172312938. 
• La Bible, le Coran et la Science : Les Écritures Saintes examinées à la lumière des connaissances modernes, Seghers 1976, (ISBN 978-2221501535), Pocket 2003, (ISBN 978-2266131032)
• La bible, le coran et la science (The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science : The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge), traduit par Alistair D. Pannell, 7e édition, TTQ, Inc., 2003 (ISBN 187940298X).
• Les Momies des pharaons et la médecine, Séguier, 1987 (ISBN 2906284475). Mummies of the Pharaohs: Modern Medical Investigations by Maurice Bucaille. Translated by Alastair D. Pannell and the author. Illustrated. 236 pp. New York: St. Martin's Press.
• Réflexions sur le Coran, Seghers, (Reflections on the Koran) 1989 (ISBN 2232101487).
• L'homme d'où vient-il? Les réponses de la science et des Écritures Saintes (Man where is he coming from? The responses of science and Scripture), Seghers, 1980 7ème éd.(ISBN 2221007816).
• Moïse et Pharaon ; Les Hébreux en Egypte ; (Moses and Pharaoh, The Hebrews in Egypt) Quelles concordances de Livres saints avec l'Histoire, Seghers, 1995 (ISBN 2-232-10466-4).

Bucaillism

Bucaillism is a term used by academics to denote the movement to relate modern science with religion, and especially that of Islam.^[9]

Since the publishing of The Bible, the Quran and Science, Bucaillists have tried to prove the divine origin of the Qur'an by attempting to illustrate that it contains scientifically correct facts.^[10][11]

References

1. ^ http://d-nb.info/gnd/114029164
2. ^ ^{a b} Galegroup Biography Resource Center
3. ^ New York Times review of Mummies of the Pharaohs: Modern Medical Investigations by Maurice Bucaille. Translated by Alastair D. Pannell and the author. Illustrated. 236 pp. New York: St. Martin's Press. [1]
4. ^ "Episode 3: The Islamic world is witnessing a trend for seeking 'scientific miracles' in the Qur'an". Islam and Science. 2nd March 2009. No. 3.
5. ^ http://www.answering-islam.org/Campbell/bucaille.html
6. ^ http://www.islamicmedicine.org/nonmuslim.htm
7. ^ http://www.islamicbulletin.com/newsletters/issue_6/embraced.aspx
8. ^ Dr. William Campbell, The Qur'an and the Bible in the Light of History & Science, Middle East Resources, 2002.
9. ^ Encyclopaedia of the history of science, technology, and medicine in non-western cultures Helaine Selin, retrieved 28 March 2011
10. ^ Explorations in Islamic science Ziauddin Sardar, (1989), retrieved 28 March 2011
11. ^ An illusion of harmony: science and religion in Islam (2007) Taner Edis, retrieved 28 March 2011

External links

• Biography from Center for Islam and Science
• The Quran and Modern Science by Dr. Maurice Bucaille Edited by Dr. A. A. B. Philips
• Bible,Quran and Science by Dr. Maurice Bucaille Translated by Alastair D. Pannell and the Author

Critical

• The Qur'an and the Bible in the light of history and science by Dr. William Campbell, 1986 - a Christian response to The Bible, The Qur'an and Science

Persondata
Name	Bucaill, Maurice
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	19 July 1920
Place of birth
Date of death	17 February 1998
Place of death