[QUOTE]
*Originally posted by Soggy: *
*If this generation was in totality an 'illiterate' generation... *
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It doesn't necessarily mean all were illiterate, but perhaps most of them were. For example, i live in a society than can rightly be described as literate, but it doesn't mean everyone can read and write, i can still point out certain individuals within it who are illiterate.
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[quote]
... then they couldn't have understood what the eloquent Qur'an said.**
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Illiterate doesn't mean ignorant. They can perfectly well understand a recited Qur'an.
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[quote]
... then how come the future 'generations' of Ibrahim are referred to as the 'unlettered ones' when they had subsequent prophets and scriptures sent down to them?**
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Not all future generations, just the specific society in which the Prophet Muhammad (s) arose.
Iqbal