What is the stronger opinion regarding the intestines?
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The questioner : The stronger opinion?
The Shaykh : By Allah, the stronger opinion is the one before this. I will say, if it is established by the science of anatomy that the intestines are seven, then the entire issue is resolved. The disbeliever fills these seven intestines, and the believer is satisfied with one. There is no issue with this, but I do not know if Brother Rashad is with us; we would ask him.
The questioner : The issue remains.
The Shaykh : What is it?
The questioner : Some of the believers eat a lot.
The Shaykh : But this is outside the norm.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, it is not the apparent meaning. The apparent meaning is generality.
The questioner : Is the story multiple?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. I mean, the predominant meaning is that this is the common case, not that it is the entirety of the case.
The questioner : Why do we not adopt this opinion?
The Shaykh : We do not adopt it because when we have something, we attribute it to the literal truth. All these opinions mean that the disbeliever increases and the believer decreases, but they do not mention the literal number. The problem now is the literal number, because the physical constitution is one; the believer and the disbeliever are one, are they not? We do not see that if a person is a disbeliever and then becomes a Muslim, six extra intestines appear. They are all one, but the believer does not concern himself with this matter; one intestine is sufficient for him, whereas the disbeliever must fill them. This is the common case. So I say, if Allah wills, this returns to the fact that it is now being researched with doctors. If this is established, it will be a sign for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), a great sign, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know the science of anatomy.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We cannot [do so] if this does not hold up. The best thing is to say that the intended meaning of the number is abundance: that the disbeliever increases and the believer decreases. Yes.
The Shaykh : By Allah, the stronger opinion is the one before this. I will say, if it is established by the science of anatomy that the intestines are seven, then the entire issue is resolved. The disbeliever fills these seven intestines, and the believer is satisfied with one. There is no issue with this, but I do not know if Brother Rashad is with us; we would ask him.
The questioner : The issue remains.
The Shaykh : What is it?
The questioner : Some of the believers eat a lot.
The Shaykh : But this is outside the norm.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : No, it is not the apparent meaning. The apparent meaning is generality.
The questioner : Is the story multiple?
The Shaykh : Yes, that is right. I mean, the predominant meaning is that this is the common case, not that it is the entirety of the case.
The questioner : Why do we not adopt this opinion?
The Shaykh : We do not adopt it because when we have something, we attribute it to the literal truth. All these opinions mean that the disbeliever increases and the believer decreases, but they do not mention the literal number. The problem now is the literal number, because the physical constitution is one; the believer and the disbeliever are one, are they not? We do not see that if a person is a disbeliever and then becomes a Muslim, six extra intestines appear. They are all one, but the believer does not concern himself with this matter; one intestine is sufficient for him, whereas the disbeliever must fill them. This is the common case. So I say, if Allah wills, this returns to the fact that it is now being researched with doctors. If this is established, it will be a sign for the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), a great sign, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not know the science of anatomy.
The questioner : ...
The Shaykh : We cannot [do so] if this does not hold up. The best thing is to say that the intended meaning of the number is abundance: that the disbeliever increases and the believer decreases. Yes.