The Quran and Modern Science: The Miracles of Creation

The noble Quran passed all the tests of modern era and In Sha Allah it will going to pass all the tests in the future as well because today which science is not telling Quran explains in great details. Science and Quran can not be compared in any case because Quran is the world of God. Lets prove it by the examples from the Quran in detail that It is the the word of Allah Almighty. That’s why Allah challenges whole humanity to create one single ayah that is similar to Quranic Ayah. And if you are in doubt concerning that which we have sent down to our Messenger then produce a surah of the like thereof and call your witnesses besides Allah, if you are truthful. (2:23)

Today is the age of science not the age of literature but Alhamdulillah Quran passed the test of all times whether it was the age of literature or now the age of science? Quran is not the book of science but it is the book signs. World’s famous physicist Albert Einstein said “Science without Religion is lame and religion without science is blind”.

Astronomy

In the field of astronomy couple of scientists got the noble prize for describing the creation of earth in 1973. According to them there was primary nebula then there was a big bang and nebula turned into secondary separation into planets, stars, and galaxies. In Quran Allah says Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then we parted them? And we have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? (21:30)

Big bang theory was explained in Holy Quran 1400 years before in detail. Scientists have discovered that the initial celestial matter of the universe was in the form of smoke. But in Quran it is explained earlier Then He rose over (istawa) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth “come both of you willingly or unwillingly” they both said we come willingly.(41:11) Sir Francis Drake in 1577 went on a sea voyage. There he found that the earth is id not flat but spherical. But see the glory of Holy Quran it has declared the same hing 1400 years ago.It is said in the Holy Quran, ‘’See you not (O Muhammad) that Allah merges the night into the day and merges day into the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for a term appointed; and that Allah is All aware of what you do. (31:29) He has created the heaven and the earth with truth. He makes the night to go in day and makes the day to go in the night. And He has subjected the sun and the moon each running for an appointed term. Verily, He is the Almighty, the Oft-forgiving. (39:5) And After that He Spread the Earth (79:30) In this verse Allah use the word Daha’ha which means The Egg of an Ostrich. Now we have known that the earth is not completely circular but the shape of the earth is just like the egg.[1]

Zoology

The Holy Quran says “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.”[Al-Qur’an 6:38] Many researchers come to the point that birds and animal live in the form of communities Further glorious Quran 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.”[Al-Qur’an 16:79] Another verse also touches on birds:“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.”[Al-Quran 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 law.

Modern scientific data has shown the degree of perfection attained by certain species of birds with regard to the programming of their movements. It is only the existence of a migratory programmer 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 24,000 km 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.

Therefore, should we not at least reflect on the identity of this ‘Programmer’? The glorious Quran says“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 skill the spacious paths of its Lord.”[Al-Quran 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 using photography and other methods. The Quran mentions in the above verses how the bee with its skill, finds the spacious paths of its Lord. The gender used for the bee in the above verses is the female gender (fa’sluk? and kul?), 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 Fourth’, 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 investigations in the last 300 years to discover this. Holy Quran says “The parable of those who take protectors other than Allah is that of the Spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but truly the flimsiest of houses is the Spider’s house – if they but knew.”[Al-Quran 29:41]

Besides giving the physical description of the spider’s web as being very flimsy, delicate and weak, the Quran also stresses on the flimsiness of the relationship in the spider’s house, where the female spider many a times kills its mate, the male spider. The parable also has reference to the weakness of such relationship of the people who seek protection for this world and for the hereafter from those other than Allah. The Holy Quran says“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.’”[Al-Quran 27:17-18]. In the past, some people would have probably mocked at the Quran, taking it to be a book of fairy tales in which ants talk to each other and communicate sophisticated messages. In recent times however, research has shown us several facts about the lifestyle of ants, which were not known earlier to humankind.

Many researchers have shown that ant and human beings resemble same lifestyle. That can be found by following studies by renowned zoologists.

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

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

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

(d) Ants have an advanced method of communication among themselves somehow similar to mankind.

(e) Ants hold regular ‘markets’ where they exchange goods.

(f) They store grain 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 grain stored by them gets wet due to rains, they take it out into the sunlight to dry, and once dry, they take it back inside as though they know that humidity will cause development of root systems which will cause the grain to rot. Allah knows the best.[2]

Embryology

Quran has completely described the steps of embryology in great detail.Till now scientists have not reached to that extent. The long delay in interpreting these verses correctly resulted mainly from inaccurate translations and commentaries, and from a lack of awareness of scientific knowledge. Interest in explanations of the verses of the Quran is not new. People used to ask the prophet Muhammad all sorts of questions about the meaning of verses referring to human reproduction. The Apostle's answers form the basis of the Hadith literature. The translations of the verses from the Qur'an which are interpreted in this paper were provided by Sheik Abdul Majid Zendani, a Professor of Islamic Studies in King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "He makes you in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness." This statement is from Surah 39. We do not know when it was realized that human beings underwent development in the uterus (womb), but the first known illustration of a fetus in the uterus was drawn by Leonardo da Vinci in the 15th century. In the 2nd century A.D., Galen described the placenta and fetal membranes in his book "On the Formation of the Fetus." Consequently, doctors in the 7th century A.D. likely knew that the human embryo developed in the uterus. It is unlikely that they knew that it developed in stages, even though Aristotle had described the stages of development of the chick embryo in the 4th century B.C.

The realization that the human embryo develops in stages was not discussed and illustrated until the 15th century. After the microscope was discovered in the 17th century by Leeuwenhoek, descriptions were made of the early stages of the chick embryo. The staging of human embryos was not described until the 20th century. Streeter (194 I) developed the first system of From: The Department of Anatomy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada Address all correspondence to: Keith L. Moore, Ph.D., F.I.A.C., Professor of Anatomy and Associate Dean Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Canada M55 lAB . Staging which has now been replaced by a more accurate system proposed by O'Rahilly (1972). "The three veils of darkness" may refer to: (I) the anterior abdominal wall; (2) the uterine wall; and (3) the amniochorionic membrane (Fig. I). Although there are other interpretations of this statement, the one presented here seems the most logical from an embryological point of view.

Figure I. Drawing of a sagittal seclion of a female's abdomen and pelvis showing a felus in utero. The "veil of darkness" are:

(I) the anlerior abdominal wall;

(2) lhe uterine wall, and

(3) the amniOl:horionic membrane.

"Then we placed him as a drop in a place of rest." This statement is from Sura 23: 13. The drop or nutfa has been interpreted as the sperm or spermatozoon, but a more meaningful interpretation would be the zygote which divides to form a blastocyst which is implanted in the uterus ("a place of rest"). This interpretation is supported by another verse in the Quran which states that "a human being is created from a mixed drop." The zygote forms by the union of a mixture of the Then We made the drop into a leech-like sperm and the ovum ("The mixed drop"). " structure. " This statement is from Surah 23: 14. The word "alaca" refers to a leech or bloodsucker. This is an appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24 when it clings to the endometrium of the uterus, in the same way that a leech clings to the skin. Just as the leech derives blood from the host, the human embryo derives blood from the decidua or pregnant endometrium. It is remarkable how much the embryo of 23-24 days resembles a leech (Fig. 2). As there were no microscopes or lenses available in the 7th century, doctors would not have known that the human embryo had this leech-like appearance. In the early part of the fourth week, the embryo is just visible to the unaided eye because it is smaller than a kernel of wheat.

Figure 2. Top, a drawing of a leech or bloodsucker. Below, a drawing of a 25 day-old human embryo. Note the leech-like appearance of the human embryo at this stage.

Figure 3. Left, a pia ticine model of the human embryo which had the appearance of chewed flesh. Right, a drawing of a 28 day-old human embryo showing several bead-like somites which resemble the teeth marks in the model shown to the left.

"Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump." This statement is also from Sura 23: 14. The Arabic word "mudghah" means "chewed substance or chewed lump." Toward the end of the fourth week, the human embryo looks somewhat like a chewed lump of flesh (Fig. 3). The chewed appearance results from the somites which resemble teeth marks. The somites represent the beginnings or primordia of the vertebrae. "Then we made out of the chewed lump, bones, and clothed the bones in flesh." This continuation of Sura 23: 14 indicates that out of the chewed lump stage, bones and muscles form. This is in accordance with embryological development. First the bones form as cartilage models and then the muscles (flesh) develop around them from the somatic mesoderm. "Then we developed out of it another creature.' , This next part of Sura 23: 14 implies that the bones and muscles result in the formation of another creature. This may refer to the human-like embryo that forms by the end of the eighth week.

At this stage it has distinctive human characteristics and possesses the primordia of all the internal and external organs and parts. After the eighth week, the human embryo is called a fetus. This may be the new creature to which the verse refers. "And He gave you hearing and sight and feeling and understanding." This part of Sura 32:9 indicates that the special senses of hearing, seeing, and feeling develop in this order, which is true. The primordia of the internal ears appear before the beginning of the eyes, and the brain (the site of understanding) differentiates last. "Then out of a piece of chewed flesh, partly formed and partly unformed." This part of Sura 22:5 seems to indicate that the embryo is composed of both differentiated and undifferentiated tissues. For example, when the cartilage bones are differentiated, the embryonic connective tissue or mesenchyme around them is undifferentiated. It later differentiates into the muscles and ligaments attached to the bones. "And We cause whom we will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term." This next part of Sura 22:5 seems to imply that God determines which embryos will remain in the uterus until full term. It is well known that many embryos abort during the first month of development, and that only about 300/0 of zygotes that form, develop into fetuses that survive until birth. This verse has also been interpreted to mean that God determines whether the embryo will develop into a boy or girl, and whether the child will be fair or ugly. The interpretation of the verses in the Quran referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century A.D., or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern Embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Quran related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases.[3]

Oceanography

Allah says: (And it is He Who has let free the two seas (kinds of water): this is palatable and sweet, and that is salty and bitter; and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.) (25:53) Allah said in Holy Quran clearly that there is a barrier between brakish and sweet water but we came to know about this few decades ago by the scientists. Allah says: (Or [the state of a disbeliever] is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by dark clouds, (layers of) darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allah has not appointed light for him there is no light.) (24:40) It is well-known and verified scientifically that in the extreme depths of the ocean there is no light only darkness. The cause for this is that sunrays cannot reach it, for oceans range from a few hundred meters deep to being 11034 meters deep! The darkness in deep seas and oceans is found around a depth of 200 meters and below. At this depth, there is almost no light. Below a depth of 1000 meters there is no light at all.

Therefore, most of the sun's rays are absorbed by the water at 100 meters. This portion of the sea is known as the luminous portion. Thereafter 1% of the sun's rays are visible at 150 meters, and 0.01% of the rays at 200 meters. Ozone layer that is hundred of kilometers above the earth reflects most of the ultra-violet rays, whereas the clouds reflect 30% and absorbs 19% of these rays. Only 51% of these rays reach the sea; between 3 and 30 % of the sunlight is reflected at the sea surface. Then almost all of the seven colors of the light spectrum are absorbed one after another in the first 200 meters, except the blue light.[4]

Geology

The Quran draws attention to a very important geological function of mountains. “And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them.”[Al-Quran 21:31] As we have noticed, it is stated in the verse that mountains have the function of preventing shocks in the Earth. This fact was not known by anyone at the time the Quran was revealed. It was in fact brought to light only recently as a result of the findings of modern geology. It used to be thought that mountains were merely protrusions on the face of the earth. Scientists have now come to realize that mountains are not just surface elevations or protrusions, however, but that they extend 10-15 times their height into the ground, and these extensions are called mountain roots. With these properties, mountains play a similar role to a nail or a stake hammered into the ground. For instance, a peak such as Mount Everest, which rises almost 9 km above the Earth’s surface, has a root that extends downward for more than 125 km. Besides, mountains emerge as a result of the movements and collisions of massive plates forming the Earth’s crust. When two plates collide, the stronger one slides under the other, the one on the top bends and forms heights and mountains. The layer beneath proceeds under the ground and makes a deep extension downward. That means, as pointed out earlier, that mountains have a portion stretching downwards, as large as their visible parts on the Earth.

In geology, the phenomenon of ‘folding’, is a recently discovered fact. Folding is responsible for the formation of mountain ranges. The earth’s crust, on which we live, is like a solid shell, while the deeper layers are hot and fluid, and thus inhospitable to any form of life. It is also known that the stability of the mountains is linked to the phenomenon of folding, for it was the folds that were to provide foundations for the reliefs that constitute the mountains. Geologists tell us that the radius of the Earth is about 6,035 km and the crust on which we live is very thin, ranging between 2 to 35 km. Since the crust is 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 Quran contains exactly such a description: “Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, and the mountains as pegs?”[Al-Quran 78:6-7] The word awtaad means stakes or pegs (like those used to anchor a tent); they are the deep foundations of geological folds.

A book entitled ‘Earth’ is regarded as a basic reference textbook on geology in many universities around the world. One of the authors of this book is Dr. Frank Press, who was the President of the Academy of Sciences in the USA for 12 years 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 [5]root is deeply entrenched in the ground.1 According to Dr. Press, the mountains play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth.[6]

Botany

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 genders male and female. And has sent down water from the sky. With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others. [Al-Quran 20:53] And fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two. [Al-Quran 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 Quran. 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. And of everything We have created pairs. [Al-Quran 51:49] This verse emphasis on everything. Besides humans, animals, plants and fruits, it may also be referring to electricity in which the atoms consist of negatively - and positively - charged electrons and protons. And many more things! 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. [Al-Qur'an 36:36] The Quran here says that everything is created in pairs, including things that the humans do not know at present and may discover later.

Conclusion

We can’t prove the ayahs of Quran wrong because there are still some hidden truths that science could not found .May be in near future those realities of universe would be discovered by science. Yes that’s why Allah Almighty emphasis on gaining knowledge and observe things around us.. The Quran invites all humans to reflect on the Creation of this universe in the verse:"Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day – there are indeed signs for men of understanding."[Al-Quran 3:190] The scientific evidences of the Quran clearly prove its Divine Origin. No human could have produced a book, fourteen hundred years ago, that would contain profound scientific facts, to be discovered by humankind centuries later. The Quran, however, is not a book of Science but a book of 'Signs'. These signs invite Man to realize the purpose of his existence on earth, and to live in harmony with Nature. The Quran is truly a message from Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It contains the same message of the Oneness of God, that was preached by all prophets, right from Adam, Moses, Jesus to Muhammad (peace be upon them). Some people may require ten signs while some may require hundred signs to be convinced about the Divine Origin of the Quran. Some would be unwilling to accept the Truth even after being shown a thousand signs. The Quran condemns such a closed mentality in the verse:"Deaf, dumb and blind, they will not return (to the path)."[Al-Quran 2:18]

[1] https://www.youtube.com/Dr-Zakir-Naik

[2] https://www.peacepropagation.com/quran-and-science-of-zoology/

[3] A scientists interpretation of references to embryology in the quran by Dr Keith Moore, Ph.D, F.I.A.C.

[4] https://www.thekeytoislam.com/en/scientific-explanations-quran-oceans

[5] htps://www.peacepropagation.com/aspx-quran-and-science-of-geology/