The Qur'an is often
claimed by Muslims to be a book of science. But to be more precise, it is
better and more accurate when the Qur'an is called a Book of signs. Verses
revealed 1400 years ago talk about creations, nature and life in a way that makes one ponder over the world around him.
Astonishingly, these verses and the phenomenon they describe fits in perfectly with every modern scientific discovery. In fact, it is noteworthy that all of these were unknown to a man that lived in the middle of a desert, in a society that had never seen any civilization before. What could be the odds that not one of them turned out to be slightly incorrect?
However, one must not overlook the fact that science evolves and comes up with new theories, explanations and laws, and therefore, should not be the basis of one's belief in the Qur'an and Islam. Nevertheless, we shall glance over these verses in the light of our contemporary understanding of science and nature.
Here's the first one to begin with,
"Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?" [Qur'an 78:6-7]
"Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?" [Qur'an 78:6-7]
Mountains are here are compared to stakes? A stake is a strong post driven into the ground to provide support. So does this analogy hold any purpose? Do mountains, in any way serve the purpose of stakes upon the Earth?
There is yet another verse that mentions something similar. Let us read the other verse as well before we draw a conclusion.
"And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that you may be guided" [Qur'an 16:15]
So it can be safely established without any misinterpretation that the verses point out, among the signs of the Creator, how He has made the mountains that stabilize the Earth. So how true is this claim? The theory of Isostasy gives the explanation of how the mountain roots stabilize the Earth and seems to be compatible with what the Qur'an says. But this one mention does not seem to be as impressive and it could have been shrewd guesswork.
Let us
move on to the next one.
"The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation" [Qur'an 55:5]
The first thought that would strike a reader would be that this piece of information is obvious because humans have had calendars, both solar and lunar way before the Qur'an was revealed. However, the verse seems to be talking about the movement of the Sun, similar to the Moon. Another verse speaks of a similar sign,
"And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming." [Qur'an 21:33]
This verse clearly states that the sun and the moon move in an orbit. While these theories across history underwent huge turmoil, at times claiming the Sun to be the centre while the others claiming the Earth to be the centre. The debate came to an absolute end only with the invention of the telescope, establishing the Sun's movement in its orbit. Probably another successful guesswork!
Let us raise the bar now and look at some more advanced scientific discoveries of recent times. Let us read another verse and figure out what the verse implies,
"Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?" [Qur'an 21:30]
The verse seems to be talking about how life came into existence and further emphasizes "then will they not believe?". So let us verify what the Qur'an puts forward before believing it. The first part of the verse says that the heavens and the Earth were a joined entity and were separated. So, is our current understanding of science in contrary or aligned to this idea?
It is worth mentioning that up until the 20th century, scientists believed that the universe neither had a beginning nor an end, a notion that turned out to be incorrect. With the further advancement in space science and the invention of the Hubble Telescope, came up with the most widely accepted big bang theory suggested a similar proposal.
"The basics of the theory are fairly simple. In short, the Big Bang hypothesis states that all of the current and past matter in the Universe came into existence at the same time, roughly 13.8 billion years ago. At this time, all matter was compacted into a very small ball with infinite density and intense heat called Singularity. Suddenly, the Singularity began expanding, and the universe as we know it began."
But the verse does not end here. It makes another claim of all living things being made from water. Is it? Studies show the water is the single most abundant chemical found in living things. Cells, which are the building blocks of life contain 2/3rd of this water, while the rest 1/3rd is contained in blood plasma and other body fluids.
This, if not a sign from the Creator, could be outstanding guesswork, not only for stating with confidence, the idea proposed in the big bang, but also suggesting water to be the source of all life, from a book revealed in a desert with acute shortage of water. Interesting. Let us read one more verse.
"We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might." [Qur'an 57:25]
Talking about the scriptures, the Qur'an says that they were "sent down" in the same way the Qur'an speaks of Iron. The same terminology is used in the Qur'an when describing how Allah "send down" the rain. We can thus safely deduce that these sending down are not metaphorical but literal in their meaning. So, how does this analogy fit into the example of iron?
By scientific standards, the origin of iron has two main sources i.e. supernova explosion and asteroids. These led to the deposition of iron on the Earth's crust through meteor showers. Therefore, referring to iron as being "sent down" from the sky seems to correspond to our contemporary scientific understanding.
Call it another coincidence?
Let us now shift
from physics and talk about Biology. However, this time instead of us examining
whether it could be a Sign from the Creator or just a random guess, we'll
rather let an expert from the field decide. Let us look at a few verses
from the Qur'an that speak of embryology.
"And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators." [Qur'an 23:12-14]
The American Association of Clinical Anatomists president Prof. Keith L. Moore, University of Toronto, Canada, also examined the above verse and some other similar verses from the Qur'an pertaining to embryology, including 22:5 and 39:6, and said the following in one of his lectures
"The intensive studies of the Qur'an and Hadith in the last four years have revealed a system of classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was recorded in the seventh century A.D... The descriptions in the Qur'an cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century...
It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, or Allah, because most 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." [source]
This makes it quite evident that all of these, and many more unmentioned verses, could not have been the creation of a human mind. Accomplishing one such discovery often takes a lifetime of efforts, let alone from a man preoccupied with social reform, spiritual reform and state administration. These verses were recited by an unlearned man, who could neither read nor write. And these verses transformed not only society but changed the course of world history. All of this was accomplished in a short span of 23 years. Those present witnessed the signs of their Creator, while those that were to come after, were given the book of Allah. The Qur'an says,
"We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?" [Qur'an 41:53]
"Do they not then reflect on the Quran? Or are there locks upon their hearts?" [Qur'an 47:24]
"Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them; they will not believe." [Qur'an 2:6]
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