Winn..
The reason I mentioned the Uncertainty Principle, is to show that not only human perception or knowledge, but even the most sophisticated instruments that human beings can devise, have inherent physical limits.
While optical and cognitive illusions show the limits of the human senses, the Uncertainty principle shows the limits of our understanding of the physical universe even with the most advanced of machines.
If we accept this, then there shouldn't be any difficulty in accepting that there could be other realms of existence that we aren't and cannot be aware of, especially if they are governed by laws other than the laws of our own universe.
In a way we are trapped by our own physical limitations and are limited by the laws of the physical universe, which appear to us to be immutable.
This should lead us to be more humble than haughty when we examine the claims of someone who says that he has access to a source of knowledge or knowledge has come to him from a source that is not accessible to us.
Since the claimant of such knowledge is clearly saying that he is getting knowledge from a source that is not accessible to us, then on the face of it, the only way we have of accepting or rejecting his claim, is looking at first of all the claimant himself , i.e. does he have any ulterior motive in making this claim ?
The second option is, to look at the contents of what he is claiming he has recieved from this source of knowledge.
Rayyz..
As regards the incident you've narrated about the Prophet Salllallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, forgetting something from the Qur'an, first of all I'd like to see a reference to this incident, so I can be sure that is from an authentic source.
Assuming that it did occur, all it shows is that the Prophet was very sincere and honest. He never claimed, that he couldn't forget, in fact, the Qur'an has Ayaat, that clearly mention that the Prophet doesn't remember the Qur'an by his own effort, rather it is Allah Ta'ala who makes him remember and he can make him forget it too.
For example, see Surah Al-`Aala (Sanuqriuka falaa Tansaa illa MaShaAllah).
In this case, had the Prophet been an imposter, he would have made some excuse to the companion saying, well you've made a mistake, I am a prophet I never make mistakes or that Allah Ta`ala has now removed this Ayat from the Qur'an. But he didn't do any such thing. On the contrary, he acknowledged his mistake and blessed his Companion, clearly showing that he didn't acknowledge the mistake grudgingly and nor did he harbor any animosity against this Companion for pointing his mistake.
BTW, there are other incidents too, that show that the Prophet forgot things, just like any other human being. At least one of them is alluded to in Surah Al-Kahf.
Do you think, someone who was a liar and an imposter would've been so humble and forthright about his mistakes ? And Allah knows BEST
Winn..
The reason I mentioned the Uncertainty Principle, is to show that not only human perception or knowledge, but even the most sophisticated instruments that human beings can devise, have inherent physical limits.
While optical and cognitive illusions show the limits of the human senses, the Uncertainty principle shows the limits of our understanding of the physical universe even with the most advanced of machines.
If we accept this, then there shouldn't be any difficulty in accepting that there could be other realms of existence that we aren't and cannot be aware of, especially if they are governed by laws other than the laws of our own universe.
In a way we are trapped by our own physical limitations and are limited by the laws of the physical universe, which appear to us to be immutable.
This should lead us to be more humble than haughty when we examine the claims of someone who says that he has access to a source of knowledge or knowledge has come to him from a source that is not accessible to us.
Since the claimant of such knowledge is clearly saying that he is getting knowledge from a source that is not accessible to us, then on the face of it, the only way we have of accepting or rejecting his claim, is looking at first of all the claimant himself , i.e. does he have any ulterior motive in making this claim ?
The second option is, to look at the contents of what he is claiming he has recieved from this source of knowledge.
Rayyz..
As regards the incident you've narrated about the Prophet Salllallahu Alayhi wa Sallam, forgetting something from the Qur'an, first of all I'd like to see a reference to this incident, so I can be sure that is from an authentic source.
Assuming that it did occur, all it shows is that the Prophet was very sincere and honest. He never claimed, that he couldn't forget, in fact, the Qur'an has Ayaat, that clearly mention that the Prophet doesn't remember the Qur'an by his own effort, rather it is Allah Ta'ala who makes him remember and he can make him forget it too.
For example, see Surah Al-`Aala (Sanuqriuka falaa Tansaa illa MaShaAllah).
In this case, had the Prophet been an imposter, he would have made some excuse to the companion saying, well you've made a mistake, I am a prophet I never make mistakes or that Allah Ta`ala has now removed this Ayat from the Qur'an. But he didn't do any such thing. On the contrary, he acknowledged his mistake and blessed his Companion, clearly showing that he didn't acknowledge the mistake grudgingly and nor did he harbor any animosity against this Companion for pointing his mistake.
BTW, there are other incidents too, that show that the Prophet forgot things, just like any other human being. At least one of them is alluded to in Surah Al-Kahf.
Do you think, someone who was a liar and an imposter would've been so humble and forthright about his mistakes ? And Allah knows BEST