Science in the Glorious Quran: Stone and Iron Human Fossils

 “وَقَالُوا أَإِذَا كُنَّا عِظَامًا وَرُفَاتًا أَإِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ خَلْقًا جَدِيدًا .قُلْ كُونُوا حِجَارَةً أَوْ حَدِيدًا أَوْ خَلْقًا مِّمَّا يَكْبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمْ ۚ. فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَا ۖ قُلِ الَّذِي فَطَرَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ ۚ ” (الإسراء:49-51).

“And they say, ‘When we have become bones and dust, shall we really be resurrected as a new creation?’ Say, ‘Even if you become rocks or iron or some substance, which, in your minds, is even harder.’ Then they will say, ‘Who will restore us?’ Say, ‘The One who originated you the first time…’” (Qur’an, 17:49-51)

In the above verse, the unbelievers denied the resurrection and God ascertained it. After death, people may be buried, decay and leave their bones and minerals behind or alternatively, they may be incinerated and turn to dust. However, could humans become rocks or iron as stated above?

Unlike soft tissues which decay soon after death, the hard parts, like teeth and bones, need several years before becoming dust. However, if bones and teeth become fossilized, they can remain in their original form for thousands or even millions of years.

How are bone fossils formed? Under certain conditions of pH and oxygenation, the original minerals of bones and teeth dissolve away and get replaced by minerals like silica or iron pyrite (iron disulphide); i.e. they turn into rocks. Therefore, the above verses refer to fossilized bones which have actually become rocks of silica or iron pyrite.

How could the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), have known that bones could turn into rocks of silica or iron pyrite? Isn’t that evidence that the Qur’an is the divine revelation of God?

Nearly 7,000 human fossils of the skulls unearthed in a Spanish cave