Scientific Facts From The
Qurân
Zafarun Nisa Khan.
In the name of Allah, the Most compassionate, Most Merciful
The most popular aspect of ijaz (the miraculous nature of the Quran)
concerns the reference to scientific phenomena that the Prophet sallahu
alaihi wasallam and his people could not have known.
There are a number of books written about
this topic, perhaps the most popular being "The Bible, Quran and
Science" by Murice Bucaille. He writes: "The observation makes
the hypothesis advanced by those who see the Prophet Muhammad (peace be
upon him) as the author of the Qurân untenable. How could a man, from
being illiterate, become the most important author, in terms of literary
merit, in the whole Arabic literature? How could he then pronounce truths
of a scientific nature that no other human being could possibly have
developed at the time, and all this without once making the slightest
error in the pronouncement on the subject?
Murice Bucaille from The Bible, The Quran and Science. 1978, p 125.
It should be remembered however, that the Quran is not a book of science
but rather a book that is meant for guidance of mankind. As such any
reference to subjects of a scientific nature are typically brief and not
very descriptive. The ijaz however appears in the fact that even in these
limited descriptions modern science conforms exactly to the Quran and
imparts knowledge that was unknown during the lifetime of the Prophet
Mohammed sallahu alaihi wasallam.
There are numerous examples of such verses, such as the description of the
mosquito; "Surely Allah is not ashamed to set forth any parable (that
of) a gnat or anything about that (Sûrah al Baqarah 2.26). When
considering the life of the mosquito, we can say that it is a very
extraordinary adventure. What is generally known about mosquitoes is that
they absorb and feed on blood. Yet this is not completely true. Because
not all the mosquitoes but only the female ones absorbs blood and their
need for blood is not related to feeding at all. Actually, both male and
female mosquitoes feed on the nectar of flowers. The only reason that the
female absorbs blood is for her eggs that need the protein contained in
the blood to develop and mature with. In other words .The female mosquito
absorbs blood just to ensure the survival of the new generation.
(Article: The Mosquito and its Extraordinary Adventure by Haroon Yahya)
Other examples are: The description of the formation of human life is
referred to in a number of verses by the word (nutfah) In (75:37) (76:2).
The process of development in the mother’s womb (23:13). Even the
process of the baby from mother’s womb to the outside world is referred
in the verse: “we made passage through the birth canal easy" 80:20.
Other examples given in the Quran include the description of formation of
milk (16:66) The motion of planets in orbit (21:33) and (36:40), The
description of water cycle (15:22). And many more.
Allah himself commands mankind to ponder over the creation, and mentions
these as the indication of his existence and power (3:190-191) Likewise
the laws that govern creations are also from ALLAH. What is studied as
science is the attempt by man to understand the creation and laws of
ALLAH. Therefore, it is possible for a scientific assumption to be
incorrect. However when there is conflict between the meaning of a clear
explicit verse (qatee ad dallah) of the Quran and the modern science a
Muslim must take the verse of the Quran without hesitation, over any
scientific fact. Science is still a developing field, it does not have the
ability to measure or explain many natural phenomena. A rejection of such
a verse or even the apparent meaning of such a verse would be tantamount
to rejection of Allâh’s knowledge. The scientific aspect of the Quran
is not one of the aspects of its ijaz.
Allah created and designed the Quran, announced that Allah had revealed to
the honeybee and had commanded the honeybee to produce honey (Sûrah an
Nahl 68-69). This announcement is an example of a giant secret of life.
This secret states the fact that all creation submits to Allâh’s will
and follows along the pattern designed by Allah. The honeybee
produces honey according to it, and so does the silkworm produce silk for
the very same reason.
"Is then HE who creates like the one that creates not? Will ye not
receive admonition? (Sûrah an Nahl 68:17).
Published in the March Issue of 'Islamic
Reflections'
Contact Info: Zafar un Nisa Khan wisesoul1@aol.com |
