Miracle or Myth? The Russian Muslim Baby Whose Skin Reveals Qur’anic Verses

I know what you’re thinking, and trust me: the exact same thing flashed through my mind when I read about the Russian baby boy whose skin reportedly reveals verses from the Koran. “That’s gotta be a hoax right?”

Half an hour of Google-mining later and it seems various news sources covered the story at the end of October ’09. The boy, who hails from the Yakubov family, members of Dagestan’s Muslim community, has sparked controversy and intrigue across Russia.

Sayings from the Qur’an apparently appear on 9 month old Ali Yakubov’s back, arms, legs and stomach, fade and are replaced with new ones.

While some hail the inscriptions “miraculous” other Russians (like me) are downright confused. According to the Daily Mail, Russian doctors have been ruminating without conclusion over the cause of the marks on Ali’s skin. Apparently, it all started when Ali was a few weeks old and the word Allah appeared on his chin.

Mum’s the Word

Madina Yakubova, Ali’s mother told Russian News Service RIA Novosti that verses from the Islamic holy book appear on her son’s body on Mondays and Fridays. She also claims his body temperature shoots up to 40 degrees and he starts crying when the “miracle” happens.

The inscriptions typically last three days and then fade away gradually, and making way for new verses to show up.

Dagestan is a troubled region due to its proximity to Chechnya in the south of Russia. According to the Daily Mail, local MP Akhmedpasha Amiralaev sees Ali as the cure: ‘This boy is a pure sign of God. Allah sent him to Dagestan in order to stop revolts and tension in our republic.’ He said.

A representative of a local mosque confirmed Madina’s account and local imam Abdulla reminded locals that the Koran forecasts that people may appear with its sayings on their bodies as a prelude to the end of the world.

A Miracle or a Simple Case of Mechanics?

On October 30th, Ali and his family travelled from Dagestan to Moscow Congregational Mosque, the capital’s main mosque, to meet Ravil Gainutdin, head of the Russian Mufti Council, and community members. Religious leaders, diplomats, ambassadors and local believers got a chance to witness Ali with their own eyes.

Russian scientists, remain sceptical:  according to the Daily Mail, Lyudmila Luss, head of the scientific advisory department at the Institute of Immunology of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency said the “verses” were probably the result of mechanic or chemical action on Ali’s skin.

Lyudmila suggested he may suffer from what’s known as “urticarial dermographism,” a disease that affects 5% of the population. Dermographism, (Greek for “skin writing) is when a person’s skin becomes raised and inflamed when stroked or rubbed with a dull object.

She asserts that a medical examination is the only way to determine Ali Yakubov’s condition.

Do any of you know any more on this story? Have there been any further developments to prove it a revelation or fabrication? Enlighten us!