In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious. Most Merciful

The Qur’an And Modern Science Compatible or Incompatible ?  
By Dr. Zakir Naik  

INTRODUCTION
Ever since the dawn of human life on this planet, Man has always sought to understand Nature, his own place in the scheme of Creation and the purpose of Life itself. In this quest for Truth, spanning many centuries and diverse civilizations, organized religion has shaped human life and determined to a large extent, the course of history. While some religions have been based on books, claimed by their adherents to be divinely inspired, others have relied solely on human experience.

AI-Qur’an, the main source of the Islamic faith, is a book believed by Muslims, to be of completely Divine origin. Muslims also believe that it contains guidance for all mankind. Since the message of the Qur’an is believed to be for all times, it should be relevant to every age. Does the Qur’an pass this test ? In this booklet, I intend to give an objective analysis of the Muslim belief regarding the Divine origin of the Qur’an, in light of established scientific discoveries.

There was a time, in the history of world civilization, when ‘miracles’, or what was perceived to be a miracle, took precedence over human reason and logic. But how do we define the term ‘miracle’? A miracle is anything that takes place out of the normal course of life and for which humankind has no explanation. However, we must be careful before we accept something as a miracle. An article in ‘The Times of India’ in 1993 reported that ‘a saint’ by the name ‘Baba Pilot’ claimed to have stayed continuously submerged under water in a tank for three consecutive days and nights. However, when reporters wanted to examine the base of the tank of water where he claimed to have performed this ‘miraculous’ feat, he refused to let them do so. He argued by asking as to how one could examine the womb of a mother that gives birth to a child. The ‘Baba’ was hiding something. It was a gimmick simply to gain publicity. Surely, no modern man with even the slightest inkling towards rational thinking would accept such a ‘miracle’. If such false miracles are the tests of divinity, then we would famous magician known for his ingenious magical tricks and illusions, as the best God-man.

A book, claiming Divine origin, is in effect, claiming to be a miracle. Such a claim should be easily verifiable in any age, according to the standards of that age. Muslims believe, that the Qur’an is the last and final revelation of God, a miracle of miracle revealed as a mercy to mankind. Let us therefore investigate the veracity of this belief.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUR’AN
Literature and poetry have been instruments of human expression and creativity, in all cultures. The world also witnessed an age when literature and poetry occupied pride of position, similar to that now enjoyed by science and technology.

Muslims as well as non-Muslims agree that AI-Qur’an is Arabic literature par excellence- that it is the best Arabic literature on the face of the earth. The Qur’an, challenges mankind in the following verses :

“And if ye are in doubt As to what we have revealed From time to time to Our Servant, then produce a Surah Like thereunto; And call your witnesses or helpers (If there are any) besides Allah, If your (doubts) are true. “But if ye cannot, And of a surety you cannot- Then fear the fire Whose fuel is Men and Stones- Which is prepared for those Who reject faith.” [Al-Qur’an 2:23-24]

Al-Qur’an 2:23-24 indicates Surah or Chapter No. 2 and Ayat or verses 23 and 24. The same notation is followed throughout the book. References and translation of the Qur’an is from the translation of the Qur’an by Abdullah Yusuf Ali, revised edition. Maryland USA.

The challenge of the Qur’an, is to produce a single Surah (chapter) like the Surahs it contains. The same challenge to produce a Surah, which, in beauty, eloquence, depth and meaning is at least somewhat similar to a Qur’anic Surah remains unmet to this day.

A modern rational man, however, would never accept a religious scripture which says, in the best possible poetic language, that the world is flat. This is because we live in an age, where human reason, logic and science are given primacy. Not many would accept the Qur’an ‘s extraordinarily beautiful language, as proof of its Divine origin. Any scripture claiming to be a divine revelation must also be acceptable on the strength of its own reason and logic.

According to the famous physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein, “Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” Let us therefore study the Qur’an, and analyze whether Qur’an an Modern Science are compatible or incompatible.

The Qur’an is not a book of science but a book of ‘signs’. I.e. ‘ayats’. There are more than six thousand ‘signs’ in the Qur’an of which more than a thousand deal with science.

We all know that many a time. Science takes a ‘U’-turn. In this book I have considered only established scientific facts and not mere hypotheses and theories that are not backed by proof.

ASTRONOMY

CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE: ‘THE BIG BANG’ THEORY
The creation of the universe is explained by astrophysicists in a widely accepted theory, popularly known as the ‘Big Bang Theory’. It is supported by observational and experimental data gathered by astronomers and astrophysicists for decades. According to this theory, the whole universe was initially one big mass (Primary Nebula). Then there was a ‘Big Bang (Secondary Separation) which resulted in the formation of Galaxies. These then divided to form stars, planets, the sun, the moon, etc. The origin of the universe was unique and the probability of it occurring by ‘chance’ is zero.

The Qur’an contains the following verse, regarding the origin of the universe:

“Do not the Unbelievers see That the heavens and the earth Were joined together (as one Unit of Creation), before We clove them asunder ?” [AlQur’an 21:30]

The striking congruence between the Qur’anic verse and the Big Bang Theory is inescapable! How could a book, which first appeared in the deserts of Arabia 1400 years ago, contain this profound scientific truth?

THERE WAS AN INITIAL GASEOUS MASS BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE UNIVERSE

Scientists say that before the galaxies in the universe were formed, celestial matter was initially in the form of gaseous matter or smoke. In short, huge gaseous matter or clouds were present before the formation of the galaxies. To describe initial celestial matter, the word ‘smoke’ is more appropriate than gas. The following Qur’anic verse refers to this state of the universe.

“Moreover, He comprehended In His design the sky, And it had been (as) smoke: He said to it And to the earth: ‘Come ye together, Willingly or unwillingly.’ They said: ‘We do come (together), in willing obedience”. [Al-Qur’an 41:11]

Again, this fact is a corollary to the Big Bang Theory and was not known to the Arabs during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). What then, could have been the source of this knowledge ?

THE SPHERICAL SHAPE OF THE EARTH:

In early times, people believed that the earth is flat. For centuries, men were afraid to venture out too far, lest they should fall off the edge. Sir Francis Drake was the first person who proved that the earth is spherical when he sailed around it in 1597.

Consider the following Qur’anic verse regarding the alternation of day and night:

“Seest thou not that Allah merges Night into Day And He merges Day into Night?” [Al-Qur’an 31:29]

Merging here means that the night slowly and gradually changes to day and vice versa. This phenomenon can only take place if the earth is spherical. If the earth was flat, there would have been a sudden change from night to day and from day to night.

The following verse also alludes to the spherical shape of the earth:

“He created the heavens And the earth In true (proportions): He Makes the Night Overlap the Day, and the Day Overlap the Night”. [AI-Qur’an 39:5]

The Arabic word used here is ‘Kawwara’ meaning to coil-the way a turban is wound around the head. The coiling of the day and night can only take place if the earth is spherical.

THE LIGHT OF THE MOON IS REFLECTED LIGHT:
It was believed by earlier civilizations that the moon emanated its own light. Science now tell us that the light of the moon is reflected light. However this fact was mentioned in the Qur’an 1,400 years ago in the following verse :

“Blessed is He Who made Constellations in the skies And placed therein a Lamp And a Moon giving light”. [AI-Qur’an 25:61]

The Arabic word for the sun in the Qur’an, is ‘Shams’. It is referred to as ‘Siraaj’ which means a ‘torch having a light of its own’ or as ‘Wahhaaj’ which means ‘a blaizing lamp’ or as ‘Diya’ which means ‘shining glory’. All there descriptions are appropriate to the sun, since it not only emits its own light but also supplies essential energy to life on earth. The Arabic word for the moon is ‘Qamar’ and it is described in the Qur’an ‘Noor’ which is a reflection of light or as ‘Muneer’ which means borrowed light. Again, the Qur’anic description marches perfectly with the true nature of the moon, which we now know reflects the light of the sun. Not once in the Qur’an, is the moon mentioned as ‘Siraaj’ or ‘Wahhaaj’. This implies that the Qur’an recognized the difference between the nature of sunlight and moonlight.

Consider the following verses related to the nature of light from the sun and the moon:

“It is He who made the sun To be a shinning glory And the moon to be a light (Of beauty).” [AI-Qur’an 10:5]

“See ye not How Allah has created The seven heavens One above another, “And made the moon A light in their midst And made the sun As a (Glorious) Lamp?” [AI-Qur’an 71:15-16]

The Arabic word for star is ‘Kaukab’ or ‘Najm’, which means a visible heavenly body. The term ‘Najm’ also carries with it the notion of a heavenly body that may be either a generator of light or a mere reflector of light. A star is described in the Qur’an as ‘Thaquib’ which means that the light burns and consumes itself (as it pierces through the shadows of the night).

The Qur’an refers to starlight in the following verse: “(it is) the star Of piercing brightness”. (AI-Qur’an 86:3]

It is known that the light from stars pierces through the darkness of interstellar space.

There is thus, no conflict between the Qur’anic description of the sun, the moon, and the stars, and what astronomers have discovered long after the revelation of the Qur’an.

THE SUN ROTATES
For a long time European philosophers and scientists believed that the earth stood still in the centre of the universe and every other body including the sun moved around it. In the West, this geocentric concept of the universe was prevalent right from the time of Ptolemy in the second century B.C. Inn 1512, Nicholas Copernicus put forward his Heliocentric Theory of Planetary motion, which asserted that the sun is motionless at the center of the solar system with the planets revolving around it.

In 1609, the German scientist Yohannus Keppler published the ‘Astronomia Nova’. In this he concluded that not only do the planets move in elliptical orbits around the sun, they also rotate upon their axes at irregular speeds. With this knowledge it became possible for European scientists to explain correctly many of the mechanisms of the solar system including the sequence of night and day.

Consider the following Qur’anic verse:

“It is He who created The Night and the Day, And the sun and the moon: All (the celestial bodies), each Travelling in an orbit With its own motion”. [AI-Qur’an 21:33]

The Arabic word used in the above verses is ‘Yasbahoon’. The word ‘Yasbahoon’ is derived from the word ‘Sabaha’. It carries with it the idea of motion that comes from any moving body. If you use the word for a man on the ground, it would not mean that comes from any moving body. If you use the word for a man on the ground, it would not mean that he is rolling – it would he is walking or running. If you use the word for a man in water it would not mean that he is floating but would mean that he is swimming.

Similarly, if you use the word ‘Yasbah’ for a celestial body such as the sun it would not mean that it is only flying through space. Moss of the school textbooks have incorporated the fact that the sun rotates about its axis. The rotation of the sun about its own axis can be proved with the help of an equipment that projects the image of the sun on the table top so that you can examine the image of the sun without being blinded. You will notice that the sun has spots which complete a circular motion once every 25 days i.e. the sun takes approximately 25 days to rotate round its axis.

In fact, the sun travels through space at roughly 150 miles per second, and takes about 200 million years to complete one revolution around the center of our Milky Way Galaxy.

“ It is not permitted To the Sun to catch up The Moon, nor can The Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along In (its own) orbit (According to Law).” [AI-Qur’an 36:40]

This verse mentions an essential fact discovered by modern astronomy, i.e. the existence of the individual orbits of the Sun and the Moon, and their journey through space with their own motion.

The ‘fixed place’ towards which the sun travels, carrying with it the solar system has been located exactly by modern astronomy. It has been given a name, the Solar Apex; the solar system is indeed moving in space towards a point situated in the constellation of Hercules (alpha Lyric) whose exact location is firmly established.

The moon rotates around its axis in the same duration that it takes to revolve around the earth. It takes approximately 291/2 days to complete one round.

One cannot help but be amazed at the scientific accuracy of the Qur’anic verses. Should we not ponder over the question: “What was the source of knowledge contained in the Qur’an ?”

THE SUN WILL EXTINGUISH AFTER A CERTAIN PERIOD
The light of the sun is due to a chemical process on its surface that has been taking place continuously for the past five billion years. It will come to an end at some point of time in the future when the sun will be totally extinguished leading to extinction of all life on earth. Regarding the impermanence of the sun’s existence the Qur’an says :

“And the Sun Runs its course For a period determined For it; that is The decree of (Him) The exalted in Might, The All-Knowing “. [AI-Qur’an 36:38]1

The Arabic word used here is ‘mustaqar’, which means a place or time that is determined. Thus the Qur’an says that the sun runs towards a determined place, and will do so only up to a pre-determined period of time – meaning that it will end or extinguish.

THE PRESENCE OF INTERSTELLAR MATTER
Space outside organized astronomical systems was earlier assumed to be a vacuum. Astrophysicists later discovered the presence of bridges of matter in this interstellar space. These bridges of matter are called plasma, and consist of completely ionized gas containing equal number of free electrons fourth state of matter (besides the three known states viz. Solid, liquid and gaseous). The Qur’an mentions the presence of this interstellar material in the following verse:

1A similar message is conveyed in the Qur’an in 13:2, 35:13, 39:5 and 39:21.

“He Who created the heavens And the earth and all That is between.” [AI-Qur’an 25:59]

It would be ridiculous, for anybody to even suggest that the presence of interstellar galactic material was known 1400 years ago.

THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE

In 1925, an American astronomer by the name of Edwin Hubble, provided observational evidence that all galaxies are receding from one another, which implies that the universe is expanding. The expansion of the universe is now an established scientific fact. This is what AI-Qur’an says about the nature of the universe:

“With the power and skill Did We construct The Firmament: For it is We Who create The vastness of Space”. [AI-Qur’an 51:47]

The Arabic word ‘Mu’si’oon’ is correctly translated as ‘expanding it’, and it refers to the creation of the expanding vastness of the universe.

Stephen Hawking, in his book, ‘A Brief History of Time’, says, “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century”. The Qur’an mentioned the expansion of the universe, before man even learnt to build a telescope!

Some people may say that the presence of astronomical facts in the Qur’an is not surprising since the Arabs were advanced in the filed of astronomy. They are correct in acknowledging the advancement of the Arabs in the filed of astronomy. However they fail to realize that the Qur’an was revealed centuries before the Arabs excelled in astronomy. Moreover many of the scientific facts mentioned above regarding astronomy, such as the origin of the universe with a Big Bang, were not known to the Arabs even at the peak of their scientific advancement. The scientific facts mentioned in the Qur’an are therefore not due to the Arabs’ advancement in astronomy. Indeed, the reverse is true. The Arabs advanced in astronomy because astronomy occupies a place in the Qur’an.

PHYSICS

THE EXISTENCE OF SUBATOMIC PARTICLES
In ancient times a well-known theory by the name of ‘Theory of Atomism’ was widely accepted. This theory was originally proposed by the Greeks, in particular by a man called Democritus, who lived about 23 centuries ago. Democritus and the people who came after him, assumed that the smallest unit of matter was the atom. The Arabs used to believe the same. The Arabic word ‘Zarra’ most commonly meant an atom. In recent times modern science has discovered that it is possible to split even an atom. That the atom can be split up further is a development of the 20th century. Fourteen centuries ago this concept would have appeared unusual even to an Arab. For him the ‘Zarra’ was the bottom beyond which one could not go. The following Qur’anic verse however, refuses to acknowledge this limit :

“The unbelievers say, ‘Never to us will come The Hour’: Say, ‘Nay! But most surely, By my Lord, it will come Upon you – by Him Who knows the unseen – From Whom is not hidden The least little atom In the Heavens or on earth : Nor is there anything less Than that, or greater, but Is in the Record Perspicuous". [AI-Qur’an 34:3]1

This verse refers to the Omniscience of God, His knowledge of all things, hidden or apparent. It then goes further and says that God is aware of everything, including what is smaller or bigger than the atom. Thus the verse clearly shows that it is possible for something smaller than the atom to exist, a fact discovered only recently by modern science.

1. A similar message is conveyed in the Qur’an in 10:61

GEOGRAPHY

THE WATER CYCLE
In ancient times a well-known theory by the name of ‘Theory of Atomism’ was widely accepted. This theory was originally proposed by the Greeks, in particular by a man called Democritus, who lived about 23 centuries ago. Democritus and the people who came after him, assumed that the smallest unit of matter was the atom. The Arabs used to believe the same. The Arabic word ‘Zarra’ most commonly meant an atom. In recent times modern science has discovered that it is possible to split even an atom. That the atom can be split up further is a development of the 20th century. Fourteen centuries ago this concept would have appeared unusual even to an Arab. For him the ‘Zarra’ was the bottom beyond which one could not go. The following Qur’anic verse however, refuses to acknowledge this limit :

The water cycle is described by the Qur’an in the following verses :“Seest thou not that Allah Sends down rain from The sky, and leads it Through springs in the earth ? Then He causes to grow, Therewith, produce of various Colors.”[AI-Qur’an 39:21]

“He sends down rain from the sky And with it gives life to The earth after it is dead: Verily in that are Signs For those who are wise.” [AI-Qur’an 30:24]

“And We send down water From the sky according to (Due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; And We certainly are able To drain it off (with ease).” [AI-Qur’an 23:18]

No other text dating back 1400 years ago gives such an accurate description of the water cycle.

WINDS IMPREGNATE THE CLOUDS

“And we send the fecundating winds, Then cause the rain to descend From the sky, therewith providing You with water (in abundance).” [AI-Qur’an 15:22]

The Arabic word used here is ‘Lawaqih’ which is the plural of ‘Laqih’ from ‘Laqaha’, which means to impregnate or fecundate. In this context, impregnate means that the wind pushes the cloud together increasing the condensation that causes lighting and thus rain. A similar description is found in the Qur’an :

“It is Allah who sends The Winds, and they raise The Clouds: the does He Spread them in the sky As He wills, and breaks them Into fragments, until thou seest Raindrops issue from the midst Thereof: then when He has Made them reach such Of His servants as He wills; Behold, they do rejoice !” [AI-Qur’an 30:48]

The Qur’anic descriptions are absolutely accurate and agree perfectly with modern data on hydrology.

The water cycle is described in several verses of the Glorious Qur’an, including 7:57, 50:9-11, 25:48-49, 13:17, 67:30, 36:34, 56:68-70.

GEOLOGY

MOUNTAINS ARE LIKE PEGS (STAKES)

In ancient times a well-known theory by the name of ‘Theory of Atomism’ was widely accepted. This theory was originally proposed by the Greeks, in particular by a man called Democritus, who lived about 23 centuries ago. Democritus and the people who came after him, assumed that the smallest unit of matter was the atom. The Arabs used to believe the same. The Arabic word ‘Zarra’ most commonly meant an atom. In recent times modern science has discovered that it is possible to split even an atom. That the atom can be split up further is a development of the 20th century. Fourteen centuries ago this concept would have appeared unusual even to an Arab. For him the ‘Zarra’ was the bottom beyond which one could not go. The following Qur’anic verse however, refuses to acknowledge this limit :

Geologists tell us that the radius of the Earth is about 3,750 miles and the crust on which we live is very thin, it has a high possibility of shaking. Mountains act like stakes or tent pegs that hold the earth’s crust and give it stability. The Qur’an contains exactly such a description in the following verse:

“Have we not made The earth as a wide Expanse, And the mountains as pegs?” [AI-Qur’an 78:6-7]

1 Earth, Press and the Siever p. 435. Also see Earth Science. Tarbuck and Lutgens. P. 157.

The word ‘awtad’ means stakes or pegs (like those used to anchor a tent); they are the deep foundations of geological folds.

A book named ‘Earth’ is considered as a basic reference textbook on geology in many universities around the world. One of the authors of this book is Frank Press, who is the President of the Academy of Science in the USA and was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter. In this book he illustrates the mountain in a wedge-shape and the mountain itself as a small part of the whole, whose root is deeply entrenched in the ground. 1 According to Dr. Press, the mountains play an important role in stabilising the crust of the earth.

The Qur’an clearly mentions the function of the mountains in preventing the earth from shaking.

“And We have set on the earth Mountains standing firm, Lest it should shake with them.” [AI-Qur’an 21:31]

The Qur’anic descriptions are in perfect agreement with modern geological data.

MOUNTAINS FIRMLY FIXED

The surface of the earth is broken into many rigid plates that are about 100 km in thickness. These plates float on a partially molten region called aesthenosphere.

Mountain formations occur at the boundary of the plates. The earth’s crust is 5 km thick below oceans, about 35 km think below flat continental surfaces and almost 80 km thick below great mountain ranges. These are the strong foundations on which mountains stand. The Qur’an also speaks about the strong mountain foundations in the following verse:

“And the mountains Hath He firmly fixed”. [AI-Qur’an 79:32]1

1 A similar message is contained in the Qur’an in 88:19, 31:10 and 16:15

OCEANOLOGY

BARRIER BETWEEN SWEET AND SALT WATERS

Consider the following Qur’anic verses:

“It is He Who has Let free the two bodies Of flowing water: One palpable and sweet, And the other salt and bitter;Yet has He Made a barrier between them, A partition that is forbidden To be passed”. [AI-Qur’an 25:53]

“He has let free The two bodies Of flowing water, Meeting together: Between them is a Barrier Which they do not transgress.” [AI-Qur’an 55:19-20]

In the Arabic text the word ‘barzakh’ means a barrier or a partition. This barrier is not a physical partition. The Arabic phrase ‘Marajal Bahraini Yal Takiyan’ literally means ‘to meet and mix with each other’. Early commentators of the Qur’an were unable to explain the two opposite meanings for the two bodies of water, i.e. they meet and mix, and at the same time, there is a barrier between them. Oceanologists are now in a better position to explain this verse. There is a slanted unseen water barrier between the sea’s sweet and salt water through which water from one sea passes to the other.

But when the water from one sea enters the other sea, it loses its distinctive characteristic and becomes homogenized with the other. In a way this barrier serves as a transitional homogenizing area for the two waters.

This scientific phenomenon mentioned in the Qur’an was also confirmed by Prof. Hay who is a well-known marine scientist in the US.

The Qur’an mentions this phenomenon in the following verse :

“And made a separating bar Between the two bodies Of flowing water”. [AI-Qur’an 27:61]

This phenomenon occurs in several places including:

(One) The Cape area in South Africa where fresh water pools into the salt water.

(Two) Egypt, where the river Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

(Three) The divider between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean at Gibralter.

DARKNESS IN THE DEPTHS OF THE OCEAN

Prof. Durga Rao is an expert in the field of Marine Geology and was a professor at King Abdul Aziz University in Jeddah. He was asked to comment on the following verse:

“Or (the Unbelievers’ state) Is like the depths of darkness In a vast deep ocean, Overwhelmed with billow Topped by billow, by (dark) clouds: Depths of darkness, one Above another: if a man Stretches out his hand, He can hardly see it! For any to whom Allah Giveth not light, There is no light!” [AI-Qur’an 24:40]

Prof. Rao said that scientists have only now been able to confirm, with the help of modern equipment that there is darkness in the depths of the ocean. Humans are unable to dive unaided underwater for more than 20 to 30 meters, and cannot survive in the deep oceanic regions at a depth of more than 200 meters. This verse does not refer to any sea because not every sea can be described as having accumulated darkness layered one over another. It refers especially to a deep sea or deep ocean, as the Qur’an says, “darkness in a vast deep ocean.” This layered darkness in a deep ocean is the result of two causes :

1. A light ray is composed of seven colors. These seven colors are Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red (VIBGYOR). The light ray undergoes refraction when it hits water. The upper 10 to 15 meters of water absorb the red color. Therefore if a driver is 25 meters under water and gets wounded, he would not be able to see the red color of his blood, because the red color does not reach this depth. Similarly orange rays are absorbed at 30 to 50 meters, yellow at 50 to 100 meters, green at 100 to 200 meters, and finally, blue, violet and indigo beyond 200 meters. Due to successive disappearance of color, one layer after another, the ocean progressively becomes darker, i.e. darkness takes place in layers of light. Below a depth of 1000 meters there is complete darkness.

1 Oceans. Elder and pernetta. P. 27

2. The sun’s rays are absorbed by clouds which in turn scatter light rays thus causing a layer of darkness under the clouds. This is the first layer of darkness. When light rays reach the surface of the ocean they are reflected by the wave surface giving it a shiny appearance. Therefore it is the waves which reflect light and cause darkness. The unreflected light penetrates into the depths of the ocean. Therefore the ocean has two parts. The surface characterized by light and warmth and the depth characterized by darkness. The surface is further separated from the deep part of the ocean by waves.

The internal waves cover the deep water of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them.

The darkness begins below the internal waves. Even the fish in the depths of the ocean cannot see; their only source of light is from their own bodies.

The Qur’an rightly mentions:

“Darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with waves topped by waves”.

In other words, above these waves there are more types of waves, i.e. those found on the surface of the ocean. The Qur’anic verse continues, “topped by (dark) clouds; depths of darkness, one above another.”

These clouds as explained are barriers one over the other that further cause darkness by absorption of colors at different levels

Prof. Durga Rao concluded by saying, “1400 years ago a normal human being could not explain this phenomenon in so much detail. Thus the information must have come from a supernatural source.”

BIOLOGY

EVERY LIVING THING IS MADE OF WATER

Consider the following Qur’anic verse:

“Do not the unbelievers see That the heavens and the earth Were joined together (as one Unit of creation), before We clove them asunder ? We made from water Every living thing. Will they Not then believer ?” [AI-Qur’an 21:30]

Only after advances have been made in science, do we now know that cytoplasm, the basic substance of the cell is made up of 80% water. Modern research has also revealed that most organisms consist of 50% to 90% water and that every living entity requires water for its existence.

Was it possible 14 centuries ago for any human being to guess that every living being was made of water ? Moreover would such a guess be conceivable from a human being in the deserts of Arabia where there has always been scarcity of water ?

The following verse refers to the creation of animals from water:

“And Allah has created Every animal from water.” [AI-Qur’an 24:45]

The following verse refers to the creation of human beings from water :

“It is He (Allah) Who has Created man from water: Then has He established Relationships of lineage And marriage: for thy Lord Has power (over all things).” [AI-Qur’an 25:54]

BOTANY

PLANTS CREATED IN PAIRS, MALE AND FEMALE

Previously humans did not know that plants too have male and female gender distinctions. Botany states that every plant has a male and female gender. Even the plants that are unisexual have distinct elements of both male and female.

“And (He) has sent down water from the sky. With it have We produced Diverse pairs of plants, Each separate from the others.” [AI-Qur’an 20:53]

FRUITS CREATED IN PAIRS, MALE AND FEMALE

“And fruit Of every kind He made In pairs, two and two”. [AI-Qur’an 13:3]

Fruit is the end product of reproduction of the superior plants. The stage preceding fruit is the flower, which has male and female organs (stamens and ovules). Once pollen has been carried to the flower, they bear fruit, which in turn matures and frees its seed. All fruits therefore imply the existence of male and female organs; a fact that is mentioned in the Qur’an.

In certain species, fruit can come from non-fertilized flowers (Parthenocarpic fruit) e.g. bananas, certain types of pineapple, fig, orange, vine, etc. They also have definite sexual characteristics.

EVERYTHING MADE IN PAIRS

“And of everything We have created pairs”. [AI-Qur’an 51:49]

This refers to things other than humans, animals, plants and fruits. It may also be referring to a phenomenon like electricity in which the atoms consist of negatively – and positively – charged electrons and protons.

“Glory to Allah, Who created In pairs all things that The earth produces, as well as Their own (human) kind And (other) things of which They have no knowledge.” -Qur’an 36:36]

The Qur’an here says that everything is created in pairs, including things that the humans do not know at present and may discover later.

ZOOLOGY

ANIMALS AND BIRDS LIVE IN COMMUNITIES

“There is not an animal (That lives) on the earth, Nor a being that flies On its wings, but (forms Part of) communities like you.” [AI-Qur’an 6:38]

Research has shown that animals and birds live in communities, i.e. they organize, and live and work together.

THE FLIGHT OF BIRDS

Regarding the flight of birds the Qur’an says:

“Do they not look at The birds, held poised In the midst of (the air And) the sky? Nothing Holds them up but (the power Of) Allah. Verily in this Are Signs for those who believe.” [AI-Qur’an 16:79]

Regarding the flight of birds the Qur’an says:

“Do they not observe The birds above them, Spreading their wings And folding them in ? None can uphold them Except (Allah) Most Gracious: Truly it is He That watches over all things.” [AI-Qur’an 67:19]

The Arabic word ‘Amsaka’ literally means, ‘to put one’s hand on, seize, hold, hold someone back,’ which expresses the idea that Allah holds the bird up in His power. These verses stress the extremely close dependence of the birds’ behavior on Divine order. Modern scientific data has shown the degree of perfection attained by certain species of birds with regard to he programming of their movements. It is only the existence of a migratory programme in the genetic code of the birds that can explain the long and complicated journey that very young birds, without any prior experience and without any guide are able to accomplish. They are also able to return to the departure point on a definite date.

Prof. Hamburger in his book ‘Power and Fragility’ gives the example of ‘mutton-bird’ that lives in the Pacific with its journey of over 15,000 miles in the shape of figure ‘8’. It makes this journey over a period of 6 months and comes back to its departure point with a maximum delay of one week. The highly complicated instructions for such a journey have to be contained in the birds’ nervous cells. They are definitely programmed. Should we not reflect on the identity of this ‘Programmer’?

THE BEE

“And thy Lord taught the Bee To build its cells in hills, On trees, and in (men’s) habitations; Then to eat of all The produce (of the earth), And find with skills the spacious Path of its Lord”. [AI-Qur’an 16:68-69]

Von-Frisch received the Nobel Prize in 1973 for his research on the behavior and communication of the bees. The bee, after discovering any new garden or flower, goes back and tells its fellow bees the exact direction and map to get there, which is known as ‘bee dance’. The meanings of this insect’s movements that are intended to transmit information between worker bees have been discovered scientifically by photography and other methods. The Qur’an mentions in the above verse how the bee finds with skill the spacious paths of its Lord.

The worker bee or the soldier bee is a female bee. In Surah Al-Nahl chapter no. 16, verses 68 and 69 the gender used for the bee is the female gender (‘Faslukee’ and ‘Kuli’), indicating that the bee that leaves its home for gathering food is a female bee. In other words the soldier or worker bee is a female bee.

In fact, in Shakespeare’s play, “Henry the Fouth”, some of the characters speak about bees and mention that the bees are soldiers and that they have a king. That is what people thought in Shakespearean times. They thought that the worker bees are male bees and they go home and are answerable to a king bee. This, however, is not true. The worker bees are females and they do not report to a king bee but to a queen bee. But it took modern investigation in the last 300 years to discover this.

LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNICATION OF ANTS :

Consider the following Qur’anic verse :

“And before Solomon were marshalled His hosts – of Jinns and men And birds, and they were all Kept in order and ranks. “At length, when they came To a (lowly) valley of ants, One of the ants said: ‘O ye ants, get into Your habitations, lest Solomon And his hosts crush you (Under foot) without knowing it’.” [AI-Qur’an 27:17-18]

In the past, some people would have probably mocked at the Qur’an, taking it to be a fairy tale book in which ants talk to each other and communicate sophisticated messages. In recent times, research has shown us several facts about the lifestyle of ants, which were not known earlier to humankind. Research has shown that the animals or insects whose lifestyle is closest in resemblance to the lifestyle of human beings are the ants. This can be seen from the following findings regarding ants :

(One) The ants bury their dead in a manner similar to the humans.

(Two) They have a sophisticated system of division of labor whereby they have managers, supervisors, foremen, workers, etc.

(Three) Once in a while they meet among themselves to have a ‘chat’.

(Four) They have an advanced method of communication among themselves.

(Five) They hold regular markets wherein they exchange goods.

(Six) They store grains for long periods in winter and if the grain begins to bud, they cut the roots, as if they understand that if they leave it to grow, it will rot. If the grains stored by them get wet due to rains, they take these are dry, they take them back inside as though they know that humidity will cause development of root systems and thereafter rotting of the grain.

MEDICINE

HONEY HAS HEALING PROPERTIES

The bee assimilates juices of various kinds of flowers and fruit and forms withing its body the honey, which it stores in its cells of wax. Only a couple of centuries ago man came to know that honey comes from the belly of the bee. This fact was mentioned in the Qur’an 1,400 years ago in the following verse :

“There issues from within their bodies A drink of varying colors Wherein is healing for men.” [AI-Qur’an 16:69]

We are now aware that honey has a healing property and also a mild antiseptic property. The Russians used honey to cover their wounds in World War II. The wound would retain moisture and would leave very little scar tissue. Due to the density of honey, no fungus or bacteria would grow in the wound.

A person suffering from an allergy of a particular plant may be given honey from that plant in order to develop resistance to that allergy. Honey is rich in fructose and vitamin K.

Thus the knowledge contained in the Qur’an regarding honey, its origin and properties, was far ahead of the time it was revealed.

PHYSIOLOGY

BLOOD CIRCULATION AND THE PRODUCTION OF MILK

The Qur’an was revealed 600 years before the Muslim scientist Ibn Nafees described the circulation of the blood and 1,000 years before William Harwey brought this understanding to the Western world. Roughly thirteen centuries before it was known that happens in the intestines to ensure that organs are nourished by the process of digestive absorption, a verse in the Qur’an described the source of the constituents of milk, in conformity with these notions.

To understand the Qur’anic verse concerning the above concepts, it is important to know that chemical reactions occur in the intestines and that, from thee, substances-extracted from food pass into the blood stream via a complex system; sometimes by way of the liver, depending on their chemical nature. The blood transports them to all the organs of the body, among which are the milk-producing mammary glands.

In simple terms, certain substances from the contents of the intestines enter into the vessels of the intestinal wall itself, and these substances are transported by the blood stream to the various organs.

This concept must be fully appreciated if we wish to understand the following verse in the Qur’an.

“Verily, in cattle there is a lesson for you. We give you to drink Of what is inside their bodies, Coming from a conjunction Between the contents of the Intestine and the blood, A milk pure and pleasant forThose who drink it.” [AI-Qur’an 16:66]

“And in cattle (too) ye Have an instructive example: From within their bodies We produce(milk) for you drink; there are, in them, (Besides) numerous (other) benefits for you; And of their (meat) ye eat.” [AI-Qur’an 23:21]

The Qur’anic description of the production of milk in cattle is strikingly similar to what modern physiology has discovered.

EMBRYOLOGY

MAN IS CREATED FROM “ALAQ” – A LEECH-LIKE SUBSTANCE

A few years ago a group of Arabs collected all information concerning embryology from the Qur’an, and followed the instruction of the Qur’an :

“If ye realize this not, ask of those who possess the message”.[AI-Qur’an 16:43 & 21:7]

All the information from the Qur’an so gathered, was translated into English and presented to Prof. (Dr.) Keith Moore, who is an acclaimed Professor of Embryology and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto, in Canada. At present he is one of the highest authorities in the field of Embryology.

He was asked to give his opinion regarding the information present in the Qur’an concerning the field of embryology. After carefully examining the translation of the Qur’anic verses presented to him, Dr. Moore said that most of the information concerning embryology mentioned in the Qur’an is in perfect embryology mentioned in the Qur’an is in perfect conformity with modern discoveries in the field of embryology and does not conflict with them in any way. He added that there were a few verses, on whose scientific accuracy he could not comment. He could not say whether the statements were true or false, since he himself was not aware of the information contained therein. There was also no mention of this information in modern writings and studies on embryology.

One such verse is :

“Proclaim! (or Read!) In the name Of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created – Created man, out of A (mere) clot Of congealed blood:” [AI-Qur’an 96:1-2]

The word “Alaq” besides meaning a congealed clot of blood also means something that clings, a leech – like substance.

Dr. Keith Moore had no knowledge whether an embryo in the initial stages appears like a leech. To check this out he studied the initial stage of the embryo under a very powerful microscope in his laboratory and compared what he observed with a diagram of a leech and he was astonished at the striking resemblance between the two !

In the same manner, he acquired more information on embryology, that was hitherto not known to him, from the Qur’an.

Dr. Keith Moore answered about eighty questions dealing with embryological data mentioned in the Qur’an and Hadith. Noting that the information contained in the Qur’an and Hadith was in full agreement with the latest discoveries in the field of embryology, Prof. Moore said, “If I was asked these questions thirty years ago, I would not have been able to answer half of them for lack of scientific information”.

Dr. Keith Moore had earlier authored the book, ‘The Developing Human’. After acquiring new knowledge from the Qur’an, he wrote, in 1982, the 3rd edition of the same book, ‘The Developing Human’. The book was the recipient of an award for the best medical book written by a single author. This book has been translated in to several major language of the world and is used as a textbook of embryology in the first year of medical studies.

In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Moore said, “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur’an about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God or Allah, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God or Allah”.

Dr. Joe Leigh Simpsonn, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, proclaims:”…. These Hadiths (sayings of Muhammad) could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available at the time of the writer (7th century). It follows that only is there no conflict between genetics and religion (Islam) but in fact religion (Islam) may guide science by adding revelation to some of the traditional scientific approaches….. there exist statements in the Qur’an shown centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the Qur’an having been derived from God.”

MAN CREATED FROM A DROP EMITTED FROM BETWEEN THE BACK BONE AND THE RIBS

“Now let man but think From what he is created !

He is created from A drop emitted – Proceeding from between The back bone and the ribs.” [AI-Qur’an 86:5-7]

1 The reference for this statement is the video tape titled ‘Thus is the Truth. For a copy this video tape contact the Islamic Research Foundation.
In embryonic stages, the reproductive organs of the male and female, i.e. the testicles and the ovaries, begin their development near the kidney exactly between the spinal column and the eleventh and twelfth ribs. Later they descend; the female gonads (testicles) stop in the pelvis while the male gonads (testicles) continue their descent before birth to reach the scrotum through the inguinal canal. Even during the embryonic stage after the descent of the reproductive organ, these organs receive their nerve supply and blood supply from the Aorta, which is in the area between the backbone (spinal column) and the ribs. Even the lymphatic drainage goes to the same area.

HUMAN BEINGS CREATED FROM NUTRA” (MINUTE QUANTITY OF LIQUID):

The Holy Qur’an mentions no less than eleven times that the human being is created from ‘Nutfa’, which means a minute quantity of liquid or a trickle of liquid which remains after emptying a cup. This is mentioned in several verses of the Qur’an including 22:5 and 23:13.

Science has confirmed in recent times that only one out of an average of three million sperms is required
1. The same is also mentioned in the Qur’an in 16:4, 18:37. 35:11, 36:77, 40:67, 53:46, 75:37, and 80:19. For fertilizing the ovum. This means that only a 1/300 millionth part or 0.000000003% of the quantity of sperms that are emitted is required for fertilization.

HUMAN BEINGS CREATED FROM ‘SULALA’ (quintessence of liquids):

“And made his progeny From a quintessence Of the nature of A fluid despised”. [AI-Qur’an 32:8]

MAN CREATED FROM ‘NUTFATUN AMSHAAJ’ (Mingled liquids)

Consider the following Qur’anic verse:

“Verily We created Man from a drop Of mingled sperm.” [AI-Qur’an 76:2]

The Arabic word ‘Nutfatin Amshaajin’ means mingled liquids. According to some commentators of the Qur’an, mingled liquid refers to the male or female agents or liquids. After mixture of male and female gamete, the zygote still remains ‘Nutfa’. Mingled liquids can also refer to spermatic fluid that is formed of various secretions which come from various glands.

Therefore ‘Nutfatin Amsaj’, i.e. a minute quantity of mingled fluids refers to the male and female gametes (germinal fluids or cells) and part of the surrounding fluids.

GENETICS

The sex of a foetus is determined by the nature of the sperm and not the ovum. The sex of the child, whether female or male, depends on whether the 23rd pair of chromosomes is XX or XY respectively. Primarily sex determination occurs at fertilization and depends upon the type of sex chromosome in the sperm that fertilizes an ovum. If it is an ‘X’ bearing sperm that fertilizes the ovum, the foetus is a female and if it is a ‘Y’ bearing sperm then the foetus is a male.

“That He did create In pairs – male and female From a seed when lodged(in its place).” [AI-Qur’an 53:45-46]

The Arabic word ‘Nutfatin’ means a minute quantity of liquid and ‘Tumnah’ means ejaculated or planted. Therefore Nutfa specifically refers to sperm because it is ejaculated.

The Qur’an says :

“Was he not a drop Of sperm emitted (In lowly form)? “Then did he become A clinging clot; Then did (Allah) make And fashion (him) In due proportion. “And of him He made Two sexes, male And female.” [AI-Qur’an 75:37-39]

Here again it is mentioned that a small quantity (drop)