Science in the Glorious Quran: Introduction
The Glorious Qur’an is the Divine Book of Muslims, who constitute nearly one-fourth of the human race. Muslims purely believe in One God and obey and submit to Him.
The Glorious Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in the seventh century through Angel Gabriel. Since its revelation, Muslims have been keen to record and memorized the Qur’an by heart. Therefore, it is well preserved as it was revealed.
The Glorious Qur’an was revealed as a divine remedy for our souls and hearts. It is God’s prescription for mankind to lead a peaceful and happy life in this world and the world to come.
Because the Qur’an is the final revelation of God, which contains His Straight Path or Islam, He has put precise scientific facts in diverse subjects of biology, embryology, cosmology and geology as evidence for its divinity. Surprisingly these facts have been fairly recently discovered; a fact which obviously raises the question:
How would a man brought up in an illiterate Society in the seventh century have known all these amazing facts unless he was inspired by God?
“We shall certainly show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own selves, till it will be very obvious to them that this (Qur’an) is the Truth” (Qur’an, 41:53).
In this book, we have reviewed more than 80 modern scientific facts mentioned in the Glorious Qur’an. These facts precisely cover topics in biology, embryology, cosmology, and geology.
“O people! A proof has come to you from your Lord, and We sent down to you a clear light” (Qur’an, 4:174).
“We shall certainly show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own selves, till it will be very obvious to them that this (Qur’an) is the Truth” (Qur’an, 41:53).
May God accept this humble effort and reward all those who contributed in writing, revising, amending, translating and printing this book.
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INTRODUCTION
The Qur’an
The Glorious Qur’an is the Divine Book of Muslims, who constitute nearly one-fourth of the human race. Muslims believe in One God and obey and submit to Him alone. The Glorious Qur’an was revealed through Angel Gabriel to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him, PBUH), who lived in an illiterate society in the 7th century.
Since its revelation, Muslims have been keen to record and memorize the Qur’an by heart. Therefore, it is not surprising to find today hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of the 1.6 billion Muslims around the world memorizing the entire Qur’an by heart, from its beginning to its end, regardless of their race, nationalities, or native languages. This has kept the Qur’an free from any human manipulations and contradictions which might be found within previous holy scriptures.
“إنَّا نَحْنُ نَزَّلْنَا الذِّكْرَ وَإِنَّا لَهُ لَحَافِظُونَ” (الحجر:9).
“It is We Who revealed the reminder (the Qur’an) and it is We Who will preserve it” (Qur’an, 15:9).
“وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ” (القمر:22).
“We made the Quran easy to remember, is there any that will remember” (Qur’an, 54:22).
“لَّا يَأْتِيهِ الْبَاطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلَا مِنْ خَلْفِهِ ۖ تَنزِيلٌ مِّنْ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٍ” (فصلت:42).
“Falsehood cannot approach it, from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from One Wise and Praiseworthy” (Qur’an, 41:42).
The Qur’an is a comprehensive Book of Wisdom and Guidance which confirms the previous Holy Books revealed to the Prophets of God, such as Abraham, David, Moses, and Jesus (PBUT). It encompasses a complete way of life with laws, commands, prescribed conduct, duties, rights and all that humanity requires for peaceful coexistence.
“مَّا يُقَالُ لَكَ إِلَّا مَا قَدْ قِيلَ لِلرُّسُلِ مِن قَبْلِكَ” (فصلت:43).
“Nothing is said to you but was said to the Messengers before you” (Qur’an, 41:43).
Muslims are keen to teach their children how to recite and memorise the Qur’an in their childhood.
The Qur’an touches, opens, and moves true hearts; It stirs souls and eases anxiety; It guides people to the truth regardless of their age, knowledge or cultural background.
“وَنُنَزِّلُ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ مَا هُوَ شِفَاءٌ وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ ۙ وَلَا يَزِيدُ الظَّالِمِينَ إِلَّا خَسَارًا” (الإسراء :82).
“And We send down from the Qur’an that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe.” (Qur’an 17:82)
The Nobel Qur’an was revealed in the Arabic language. This language has an elaborate system of grammar and a rich vocabulary. In addition, the Arabic words possess various meanings and numerous synonyms. Therefore, the Arabic language provides immense scopes for expressing thoughts in different ways. This has allowed people, at different times, to comprehend the meanings of the Qur’anic verses in a way which is enriched as their knowledge increases.
The Qur’an and the Science
The first word in the first verse revealed in the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad was “READ”. This means that God encourages us to be knowledgeable. This is because the more we are knowledgeable, the more we will appreciate the Omnipotence and the Magnificence of God’s creation.
“اقْرَأْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ” (العلق:1).
“Read: In the Name of your Lord.” (Qur’an 96:1)
The Glorious Qur’an encourages us to look around, use our minds, and contemplate God’s creation. God knows that if our minds are impartial and unprejudiced by ideas and thoughts propagated around us, we will reach the reality that there must be a creator behind this magnificent, mighty, and great creation.
“إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ” (آل- عمران: 190).
“In the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and in the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding.” (Qur’an 3:190)
“أَمْ خُلِقُوا مِنْ غَيْرِ شَيْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ الْخَالِقُونَ .أَمْ خَلَقُوا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۚ بَل لَّا يُوقِنُونَ” (الطور:35).
“Or were they created out of nothing? Or are they the creators?” (Qur’an 52:35)
God throughout the Qur’an makes it clear that the rule in His creation is perfection and integration. Everything in the universe, starting from the tiniest electron in an atom to a huge galaxy, follows the Laws of God. Would chance create these defined sets of intricate laws? On the other hand, would chance lead to perfection and integration of all the complex forms of life, which keep everything in harmony and order?
“صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ ۚ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ” (النمل:88).
“[It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do.” (Qur’an 27:88)
“مَّا تَرَىٰ فِي خَلْقِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ مِن تَفَاوُتٍ” (الملك:3).
“You see no fault in the creation of the Beneficent.” (Qur’an 67:3)
“وَالْأَرْضَ مَدَدْنَاهَا وَأَلْقَيْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مَّوْزُونٍ” (الحجر:19).
“We spread the Earth… and in it We grew all things in proper balance.” (Qur’an 15:19)
Who is behind the integration of the diverse creatures and their fine balance in the diverse ecosystems? The interference of humans in this balance always leads to environmental disasters.
“إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ” (القمر: 49).
“Everything We created is precisely measured” (Qur’an, 54:49).
“أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَسْجُدُ لَهُ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الأرض” ( الحج : 18).
“Do you not realise that to God prostrates (submits to His Law) whatever in the heavens and everyone on earth” (Qur’an, 22:18).
God, in the Glorious Qur’an, draws our attention to the fact that He planned everything to support life on Earth. Accordingly, He organised and finely tuned everything, starting from the tiniest atom to the whole vast universe, to make this life possible and enable it to flourish in an orchestrated, balanced, and integrated form.
For instance, the moon is responsible, through its gravitational force, for the tilted axis of rotation of the Earth which is, in turn, behind the stable seasonal variations of the Earth and the 24-hour length of the day (see more details in section 2.4).
“هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ” (البقرة:29).
“It is He who planned to create everything for you on earth, then turned to the heaven, and made them seven heavens. And He is aware of all things” (Qur’an, 2:29).
“وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ” (ابراهيم:33).
“And He committed the sun and the moon to your service, both continuously pursuing their courses” (Qur’an, 14:33).
The Qur’an is the living miracle of the Prophet Muhammad
In addition to being the Book of Guidance, which leads humanity to the Straight path of God, the Glorious Qur’an is the living miracle of the prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The Glorious Qur’an addresses all aspects of life and deals with historical, religious, moral, social, and financial issues.
“وَنَزَّلْنَا عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ تِبْيَانًا لِّكُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةً وَبُشْرَىٰ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ” (النحل: 89).
We have revealed to you the Book, as an explanation of all things, and guidance, and mercy and good news for those who submit (Qur’an, 6:38).
Surprisingly, many verses of the Glorious Qur’an reflect scientific phenomena which have been discovered fairly recently. These phenomena are diverse and so many that it would be obvious that the Qur’an must have been revealed by the All-Knowing God, Who created everything in the universe and subjected His creation to His tight laws.
Is it possible for an unlettered man like the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), who was born in an unlettered Society in the Arabian Desert in the 7th century, to have been so knowledgeable unless his immense knowledge was revealed to him by God?
“إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا وَحْيٌ يُوحَىٰ عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ” (النجم: (5.
“It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He (Muhammad) was taught by one mighty in power (Angel Gabriel)” (Qur’an, 53:4-5).
“سَنُرِيهِمْ آيَاتِنَا فِي الْآفَاقِ وَفِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ” (فصلت: 53).
“We shall certainly show them Our signs in the Universe and in their own selves, till it will be very obvious to them that this (Qur’an) is the Truth” (Qur’an, 41:53).
In this book, we have briefly reviewed a number of diverse scientific phenomena reflected by Qur’anic verses. Efforts were done so that these phenomena were discussed in a simple and understandable way.
We should not forget and we should always keep in mind that the main purpose of the revelation of the Qur’an, as the Divine Book of God, is to guide mankind to the Straight Path of God to believe, worship and submit to Him alone without partners and to lead a happy life in this world and the life to come.
“يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ قَدْ جَاءَتْكُم مَّوْعِظَةٌ مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَشِفَاءٌ لِّمَا فِي الصُّدُورِ وَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ” (يونس: 75).
“O men, now there has come to you an admonition from your Lord, and a healing for what is in the breasts, and guidance, and a mercy to the believers” (Qur’an, 10:57).
