10th place:

Small Toothed Whale. This warm blooded small whale is known for its mysterious journeys across the ocean. It is still unknown how it can find others in the group several hundred miles away.

9th place:

Squid and octopus. They are considered to be some of the smartest sea creatures. An octopus can build its shelter from the ocean debris and is equal to none in camouflage. It can change its color and pattern in less than a second, sending the brain signal to its entire body.

8th place:

Sheep. British scientists believe that we underestimate sheep on its intuition and intelligence. During several years of research they have concluded that sheep possess exceptional memory and could identify the faces of people or animals without a mistake. They even claim that sheep’s intellectual ability is closer to humans than we thought. The main downside of their study is that the animals tend to scare easy!

7th place:

Cacadu Parrot. In Great Britain a local parrot has become recognized as the country’s smartest animal. A cacadu named Badjo can sew holding a needle and thread with his beak! Badjo’s owner, a professional tailor, confirms that the bird’s skills are 90% accurate.

6th place:

Crows. Officially, most scientists consider crows as the smartest birds in the world, especially the ones living in big cities. Tokyo, Japan, is known for the largest number of crows in the world.

5th place:

Monkeys. Macacas are not only the famous inhabitants of local safari parks or Indian temples. These smart animals above everything else can recognize themselves in the mirror while other animals, including cats, cannot.

4th place:

Rats. You will be surprised to learn that old experienced rats can get away with any mouse trap: they shake it until the spring is off and also shied less younger rats from the poisonous meals.

3rd place:

Dolphins. It’s a known fact that British Special Forces used dolphins as informants during the war to carry messages to and from various ships. Many scientists confirm that dolphins possess amazing intellectual abilities. Also, dolphins never sleep with their systems totally shut down – their brain is taking turns on keeping one half in a sleep mode while the other stays alert.

2nd place:

Elephants. Elephants are extremely skillful with their trunks and are even known to paint with it! They also have an exceptional memory important to distinguish friends from enemies. If you ever hurt an elephant, he will remember it his entire life and if your paths ever cross, beware!

1st place:

Primates: Until now gorillas and chimpanzees were considered the smartest animals on the planet. However, the scientists are spending a lot of time researching orangutans and think that their abilities could be even more astonishing. So for their closest proximity to human nature of improvising and using tools to get food, primates remain as number one in our countdown.

This is the fourth article of the series:

“Is The Lord God Seen or Not in Bible versus Quran?”

In the previous three articles, the Bible says that many men have seen the Lord God like Abraham and Isaac, Jacob. Not only has that, but Jacob Wrestles with God and Jacob defeated GOD.

Read the articles “The Lord God is seen in Bible versus Quran” (1-3).

In this article, Moses and Aaron, Nadab, Abihu and seventy elders saw the Lord God of Israel face to face.  This indicates that in addition to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there are 74 persons more who saw the Lord God.

Yet the Bible declares that No one has ever seen God at any time.

The Noble Quran says that No one can see the Almighty Creator in the life of this world; yet, only the believers will see Him in the Hereafter.

In addition, the Quran mentions the story when Moses said, ‘My Lord! Show me, Yourself and Allah told him that he could not see him; and then Allah revealed Himself, to the mountain He leveled it to the ground and Moses fell down senseless.

 

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?? In the Bible: The Lord God is Seen (4)

 

The Lord God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses; hence, Moses is the fourth man who saw the Lord God

The Lord God spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am the LORD; I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.

Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD.

Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders saw the Lord God.

Under God’s feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.  God did not lay his hand on the chief men, the elders of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

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? The Lord God appeared to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses

 

Exodus 3:15-16 (New International Version)

 

15 God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, the name by which I am to be remembered from generation to generation.

16 “Go, assemble the elders of Israel and say to them, ‘The LORD, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—appeared to me and said: I have watched over you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt.

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? Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob did not know the name Jehovah

 

Exodus 6:2-3 (New International Version)

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.

3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD (Jehovah) I did not make myself known to them.

 

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? Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders saw the Lord God.

This indicates that in addition to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, there are 74 persons more who saw the Lord God.

Under God’s feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.  God did not lay his hand on the chief men, the elders of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

 

Exodus 24:8-11 (New International Version)

 

8 Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

9 Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up

10 and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself.

11 But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.

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? Yet, No one have ever seen the Lord God in the Bible!

Read Exodus 33:20, John 1:18 and 1 John 4:12 and read the articles “The Lord God is Seen in Bible versus Quran” (1) and (2).

 

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?? In the Quran: The Lord God is NOT Seen (3)

 

In the previous articles “The Lord God is seen in Bible versus Quran” (1-3), the following three points are mentioned therein:

1) No man can see the Almighty Creator in the life of this world (Verse 6:103)

2) On the Day of Judgment, your sight will be acute, very sharp and piercing. (Verse 50: 22)

3) Only the Believers will see their LORD in the Hereafter (Verses 75: 22-23).

 

In this article, verses 7:138-144 tell the story when Moses said, ‘My Lord! Show me, Yourself and Allah told him that he could not see him; and then Allah revealed Himself, to the mountain He leveled it to the ground and Moses fell down senseless.

 

The meanings of verses 7:138-144

 

The meanings of verse 7: 138

And Allah brought the Children of Israel across the sea, and they came unto a people (who were given up to idols which they had) who worshipped idols. They said:

O Moses! Make for us a god, show us a god to worship, an idol for us to worship, just as they have gods  ‘O Moses, make for us a god, an idol for us to worship, just as they have gods.’ He said, ‘Truly you are an ignorant folk, for repaying God’s grace to you with what you have said.

 

The meanings of verse 7: 139

Truly as for these, their idolatry will be destroyed and all that they are doing of idolatry is in vain.

 

The meanings of verse 7: 140

Then Moses said: Shall I seek for you a god other than Allah, shall I command you to worship another lord when Allah has favored you above all the nations of your time through surrender unto Him?

 

The meanings of verse 7: 141

And remember when Allah delivered you from Pharaoh’s folk who were afflicting you with dreadful torment, slaughtering your little sons and sparing your girls. These events were tremendous trial as well as blessing from your Lord, so will you not heed the admonition and desist from what you are saying?

 

The meanings of verse 7: 142

And when Allah appointed for Moses to spend in the mountain thirty nights and added to them ten more days and he completed the whole time appointed by his Lord of forty nights (thus was completed the term of communion) with his lord, forty nights.; and Moses said unto his brother Aaron: Take my place, be my deputy among the people. Do right, enjoin them to do right, and do not follow the way of mischief-makers by committing transgressions.

 

The meanings of verse 7: 143

And when Moses came at Allah’s appointed time, that is, the time at which Allah had promised to speak to him, and his Lord spoke with him, without any intermediary, with speech which he heard from all directions,

Moses said, ‘My Lord! Show me, Yourself, that I may behold You!’

Allah Said, ‘You shall not see Me, that is to say, you do not have the power to see me, but behold the mountain, which is stronger than you are, and if it remains, stays fixed, in its place, then you shall see Me’, that is, [then] you shall remain fixed and able to see Me, otherwise, you will not have the capacity for it.

And when Allah revealed Himself, that is, [when] He manifested of His Light the equivalent of half a nail of a little finger, (as stated in one Hadith), to the mountain He leveled it to the ground and Moses fell down senseless, having lost cons

ciousness at the awesomeness of what he had seen.

And when he recovered his senses he said, ‘Glory be to You!, in Your transcendence. I repent to You, for having asked You what I was not commanded [to ask], and I am the first of the believers’, of my time.

It should be emphasized that the use of this expression [lan tar?n?, which means, ‘you shall not see Me’] instead of lan ur?, which means, ‘I shall not be seen’, implies that it is possible to see God, exalted be He (but only the believers will see Him in the Afterlife)

 

The meanings of verse 7: 144

Hen Allah said, to him: ‘O Moses, I have elected you, chosen you, from among mankind, the people of your time, for My Messages and My Speech, that is, [for] My having spoken to you. So take what I have given you, of bounty, and be of the thankful’, of My favors.

 

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Verses 7: 138-144 (Yusuf Ali translation)

 

Verse 7: 138

We took the children of Israel (with safety) across the sea. They came upon a people devoted entirely to some idols they had. They said: “o Moses! Fashion for us a god like unto the gods they have.” he said: “surely ye are a people without knowledge.

 

Verse 7: 139

As to these folk, – the cult they are in is (but) a fragment of a ruin, and vain is the (worship) which they practice.

 

Verse 7: 140

He said: “shall I seek for you a god other than the (true) Allah, when it is Allah who hath endowed you with gifts above the nations?”

 

Verse 7: 141

And remember we rescued you from pharaoh’s people, who afflicted you with the worst of penalties, who slew your male children and saved alive your females: in that was a momentous trial from your lord.

 

Verse 7: 142

We appointed for Moses thirty nights, and completed (the period) with ten (more): thus was completed the term (of communion) with his lord, forty nights. and Moses had charged his brother Aaron (before he went up): “act for me amongst my people: do right, and follow not the way of those who do mischief.

 

Verse 7: 143

When Moses came to the place appointed by us, and his lord addressed him, he said: “o my lord! Show (thyself) to me, that I may look upon thee.” Allah said: “by no means canst thou see me (direct); but look upon the mount; if it abides in its place, then shalt thou see Me.” when his lord manifested his glory on the mount, he made it as dust. and Moses fell down in a swoon. When he recovered his senses he said: “glory be to thee! To thee I turn in repentance, and I am the first to believe.

 

Verse 7: 144

(Allah) said: “o Moses! I have chosen thee above (other) men, by the mission I (have given thee) and the words I (have spoken to thee): take then the (revelation) which I give thee, and be of those who give thanks.

 

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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:

Are the Scholars truthful when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?

If you’re looking for a place that’s rich with remnants of the recent past, then Germany’s the place for you. As you may well know, Germany was a key player in the previous world wars. Thus, it filled Germany with monuments to the stories of our grandfathers about times long past but never forgotten.

1.) Berlin Wall

There’s no other place in Germany that’s more suffused with charged up emotions than the Berlin Wall. You can just imagine the tears and the blood shed over this very wall. This remnant of the wars stands as one of the greatest monuments to democracy known to man – a sign that freedom will always come out victorious.

2.) The Romantic Road

Driving through the Romantic road would be one of the most pleasant drives you’ll experience in your whole life. This road is flanked by scenic landscapes on both sides. Occasionally, you’ll pass through a picturesque town, a beautiful gothic church, and sometimes, a quaint countryside inn.

3.) Augsburg

Passing through the Romantic Road will lead you to Augsburg, a town founded by the Roman Legions and named after the esteemed Roman emperor, Augustus. This picturesque town contains such historical places as St. Anne’s Church, the place where Martin Luther took refuge, and Dom, a very unusual Cathedral. You can also find here the Renaissance Golden Room, a sight that will make you squint with its shine.

4.) Neuschwanstein Castle

Did you know that Walt Disney used a castle found in Germany as his inspiration for the castle of Sleeping Beauty? It’s true, those alabaster walls and those high towers and wide parapets were all based on the Neuschwanstein Castle. It is now hailed as one of the most popular tourist spots in Germany.

5.) The Castles of Fussen

Like most of Europe, several castles are littered throughout Germany. It contains the other two of Ludwig’s castles, the first one being the Neuschwanstein Castle. This is a must-see for all those families who are traveling through Germany because the place literally looks like it’s been torn out of a storybook.

6.) Lake Constance

Lake Constance is both a tourist spot and an essential source of life for the Germans. Several areas in the country rely on this very lake for their drinking water, and this large lake is also a great place to swim and to go bird watching. Indeed, if you’re one for beautiful natural sceneries, then Lake Constance is not to be ignored.

7.) The Black Forest

The name looks like it has been taken from one of the fairytales, doesn’t it? The Black Forest – it sounds like a place where evil witches reside and cursed trees grow, but don’t let that deter you though. If anything, the Black Forest can hardly be related to its name as it’s a sunny forest with tall and sturdy firs. It’s a great place to go hiking and a great place for picnics.

8.) Cologne

When you hear the word, Cologne, what comes into your mind? A beautiful fragrance, right? Well, meet the town that’s called Cologne for a reason, and indeed, the town of Cologne has its own peculiar fragrance that’s very pleasing to the nose. Also, there you will find a beautiful view of the River Rhine and the Cologne Cathedral.

9.) Dachau

Take a break from the fairytale castles and mystical forests and go to the place called Dachau. Dachau is a concentration camp – a remnant of Germany’s dark past where you can just imagine the horrors that took place in this very spot. However, you will also find there a statue bearing the inscription, “Never Again”, a solemn promise of the German people that they will ‘never again’ commit such unspeakable acts – another true victory for peace.

10.) Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest – technically, it’s not a place, but it’s just too good a festival to leave out of any ‘top ten list’ that concerns tourism and Germany. This fun-filled festival in the town of Bavaria is guaranteed to leave you intoxicated and euphoric. You can spend days on end just drinking authentic German Ale and just letting yourself loose.