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Rock in Palestine seems to "float"??
What is the truth behind this and other similar stories?
A Critical Review of some pictures and images that are attributed to be the miracle of Allah or Islam
Through the Internet (or sometimes also in the form of printed leaflets, etc.) we often receive an email that talks about 'evidence of Allah's greatness or miracle of Islam' or 'miracles of Allah' or simply contains a link to a site / blog which includes news or explanation of what is considered or claimed to be 'a clear proof of Allah's verses or its existence'. Usually,
the news are in the form of a surprising: the form of images or natural events that are 'strange' or unusual. For example, the appearance of the written words for Allah or its last messenger, Muhammad or sentences related to Islam on the things from nature. But some go further than that, like the ones below.
But, before we examine such pictures, lets consider the followings:
1. Did we check out or really question the authenticity of these images? The pictures might be altered, enhanced, changed, forged or even just drawn or painted.
One for instance, is just a painting in Eygpt (the one of the Trees the form the words "Laa elaha illa lah, Muhammad rasoolulah" - is just a painting - and not really a very good one at that).
2. Another point, what if there is some type of natural occurence of things that appear to be like words in Arabic? Could there also be something similar for Hindus or Christians in their religions? What about people seeing the face of Jesus or a cross in their soup? Or a statue of St. Mary crying tears? People could claim these things support their belief in their various notions they hold of their "god" or "gods".
3. Does Islam teach us to rely on such instances and so-called "miracles" in order to believe in Allah? Do we have to rely on bent trees, floating rocks, twisted branches, marks on fish and people's dreams or "visions" in order to believe in the Greatness of Almighty Allah? Of course not.
Our goal in dealing with these claims of people is not to put down the efforts of sincere scientists and researchers who seek to bring about a better understanding and appreciation for Islam and what it teaches. However, it is essential to the pure and beautiful message of the Quran and hadeeth of our prophet, peace be upon him, to always strive to present accurate and authentic information, without distortiong or corruption. Testing and questioning our sources, using our reason and logic is definitely a part of understanding true Islam and what it offers.
Very often when people send out these emails with pictures and stories, they do not take the time to investigate and authenticate their sources and then they even miss the whole point of what Islam teaches and in some cases, even give the opposite picture of what Islam is all about.
Now, look real close - under the rock...
We call upon all Muslims, new and old alike to be more critical and investigate stories and pictures before putting them up on websites, blogs, forums and social networks. Also, to be more responsible in forwarding emails and links to websites without knowing more about these concepts and ideas being offered. Another important point is to know who the people are behind these sites and what their motivation is all about and what they are calling to.
Remember, Allah is going to ask all of us about all of this.
Everything we focus on and present to others from Islam must be confirmed and not offered as "opinions" or "ideologies" or "dreams".
Allah is the One and only focus of all that Islam is about. Allah is the Greatest, the Quran is the miracle of Islam, the prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is the last and the final messenger of Allah to all humans and jinn alike. The message of real Islam is to know there is really only One God to worship, Allah; and to know what He has commanded us, submit to Him in Islam and obey His messenger, peace be upon him.
The Quran is not a toy to play with or to make jokes about. We do not count words to find out how many times Allah talks about angels to compare how many times Allah talks about devils or anything else. This amounts to coming up with some new way to look at the Quran and what the message is about. Others have played his game and became disbelievers in the true message of Allah, even trying to change the Quran and declaring themselves to "prophets".
Now let us consider one of many "fakes" amongst Muslims today: THE FLOATING ROCK OF JERUSALEM
'The Miracle' of Floating Rock in Jerusalem? Or is it a hoax?
To begin with, just look at the image at right. It is a widely spread picture in the internet, especially within muslim community. Some call this floating rock, some flying rock or stone.
Some even call this a miracle of Allah, of the Prophet or Islam. What make the picture an 'attention grabber' are also the stories that accompanied the emails or blogs about it.
Here are several summaries of the stories:
It is said that the rock is in Jerusalem. It was the rock where the Prophet Muhammad stood when he begin the ascend to heaven during the Israk Mikraj event. The rock was said wanted to follow the Prophet ascending to heaven, but the Prophet stop it. So it stopped the ascend and staying afloat until now.
Another story adds the above description and said that it is is now under the Dome of the Rock, in the Palestine. Some said the rock is now tightly guarded by the israely soldier as not to attrack muslim and to cover the miracle of the Prohet of Allah.
Some said it is a rock in eastern part of Saudi Arabia, in a village called Al Hassa. The rock is said to float about 10 cm from the ground at a specific time every year and then sit back on the ground.
Many muslims believe the stories and account the picture to be true and eagerly said: 'Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the great!)' or 'this is the miracle of Allah'. Many others questioned it. Still among the non-muslims, the picture raised some doubt and questions: "IS THE PICTURE REAL?"
Here are several of the pictures -
:
WeI also learned that the rock is actually located in Al Ahsa, near Tuwaithir village in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia. You can see what the place looks like and the many unique rocky structures it has here, in Panoramio. There is also another reference to the original rock in flickr.
It is just a
HOAX - Because:
1. The picture is 'too good to be true'. If it is floating, and in open air, near a village (see the car, electricity cables and the house), flocks of people, radio and tv channel crews, and all sort of media would surely have published the pictures and the story. It should already have had its own blog, for sure. Yet, we only have this single picture and vague comments about where and what it is.
2. The story about the rock has no authentic reference from the islamic sources like hadiths or the saying of the Prophet. (if someone has the proof that IT HAS, please let me know)
3. It can be shown that the picture has been somehow manipulated or doctored. Several people pointed to the part below the rock, under the shadow. See below.
The true story of the 'floating rock'
After sometime of believing that the picture is not true without able to prove it, I finally come accross an arabic forum where the members discussing this. Thanks to image search engines, I can show you the pictures below that show the original rock in several viewing angles. The pictures show why the 'floating rock' is almost so convincing that many people reject to accept that such is only a manipulated image. The rock itself is unique, and is supported by at least three rock structures below it. The supporting rocks seem to be a continuous part of the rock that unite it with the ground. The supporting rocks are relatively very small compared to the size of the rock above them.
That fact explains why it is easy to manipulate the rock to be 'floating'. By photographing the rock at the right angle, one can have a picture where the supporting rock can be erased without manipulating other part of the whole image. Such small manipulation was enough to produce the miraculous 'floating rock'.
Concluding remarks
I hope this is enough to prove that the so-called 'floating rock' - and the miracle story that accompany it - is not true. For fellow muslims, I just want to say that we should not hurryly believe pictures or stories that is attributed to be the miracle of Allah, or Islam. We can still be a believing muslim, even if we do not believe such 'miracle pictures'.
That rock is nothing compared to the Power of Allah.
...And what about the stories of the "Floating Rock" in the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem?... Take a look for yourself and then read the commentary...
The original picture of the rock under the golden Dome of the Rock (Quba al Shahra)
This is the picture of the rock that is believed to be the standing point when the Prophet Muhammad about to ascend to heaven in the event of Israk Mikraj. It is located in the infamous Dome of the Rock, in Jerusalem, one of the famous landmark of the Palestine.
Is this rock actually floating?
Honestly, i do not know the answer. But this is a very famous place and many pilgrims visited it every day, they should have known it if it is floating in the 
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