Scientific facts in the Quran

Scientific facts in the Quran Zin Eddine Dadach Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi, UAE [email protected] Abstract Despite being revealed in a time and place where scholarship was of little concern, the Quran contains a number of scientific facts. These facts were not known to the people of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)'s era. Indeed, a number of them have only been discovered in the past 100 years. Many people present the Quran's advanced scientific knowledge as undeniable proof of Muhammad's prophethood. The main goal of this paper is to present thirteen Quranic verses containing scientific and compare them with their new corresponding scientific discoveries. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE: https://zineddinedadach.com/ Introduction “It is He Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Each of them is floating in its orbit.” (Quran; 21:33) It seems like Allah (SWT) created the universe as a global school for humanity in order to contemplate it to perceive His signs and thank Him for all His Favors. Indeed, considering His beautiful Name “The Originator”, Allah (SWT) created the universe as a dynamic and precisely organized system where all the components move in a highly planned way. For example, earth, which is the third planet from the sun, continuously rotates over twenty-four hours. According to this rotation, we have days and nights on earth, we have daylight for the part of earth that is facing the sun and it is dark for the other part of earth. We usually know the time of day by the position of the sun in the sky. Most people take roads and highways at sunrise for their daily social and professional activities and return home at sunset for family time and rest. While rotating, the earth also orbits the sun in three hundred and sixty-five days. The resulting change of nature over the four seasons of the year, Allah (SWT) teaches us several lessons and reminds us of His Blessings. In this perspective, the transformation of the weather during the four seasons shows how Allah (SWT) has coordinated the rotations of earth, the moon and the sun in order to make our life change through variations of feelings to avoid boredom. Finally, as mentioned in the two Quranic verses “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a lunar year) so it was ordained by Allah on the day when He created the heavens and the earth” (Quran; 9:36)1 and “It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for in stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning.”(Quran; 10:5)1, there are twelve months in one lunar year and we can count days, weeks, months and years with the size of the crescent and the moon. Quran: The Guiding Light “Indeed, Allah conferred a great favor on the believers when He sent among them a Messenger from among themselves, reciting to them His verses (the Quran) and purifying them and instructing them the Book (Quran) and wisdom (Sunnah), while before that they had been in manifest error.” (Quran; 3:164)1. The revelation of Quran to prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the seventh century was quite an avantgarde for the largely uneducated Arabian society. Since the Noble Quran is the book of Allah (SWT), it needed to be fully understood to be properly used for their daily life and actions. Moreover, reading and reciting its words was also the purpose of accessing the full blessings from Allah (SWT). Thus, education in Islam obviously derived its origins from an interdependent relationship with religious instruction. In this perspective, Islam has placed a high premium on education and has enjoyed a long and rich intellectual tradition. In fact, Islamic education is uniquely different from other types of educational theory and practice largely because of the allencompassing influence of the Noble Quran. The powerful impetus given by The Holy Quran to the study of nature and surrounding realities and the reflection and reasoning, for discovering the signs of Allah (SWT), transformed the early Muslims into ardent students and researchers. The importance of seeking knowledge is repeatedly emphasized in the Noble Quran with frequent injunctions, such as "God will exalt those of you who believe and those who have knowledge to high degrees" (Quran58:11), "O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge" (Quran 20:114), and "As God has taught him, so let him write" (Quran 2:282). Such Quranic verses provide a forceful stimulus for the Islamic community to strive for education and learning. The most important is that the conception of knowledge (Al-Ilm) in Islam is the Guiding Light (Huda) separating right from wrong (Al furqan). Therefore, in the same way, the sun brings light to our eyes to see the world around us, Al-Ilm is the source of guidance to see the Truth. Al Tawheed “Say (O Muhammad) He is God the One God, the Everlasting Refuge, who has not begotten, nor has been begotten, and equal to Him is not anyone." (Quran 112). Allah (SWT) is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. When The Prophet (PBUH) was asked by his companions about Allah (SWT); the answer came directly from HIM in the form of this short chapter of the Noble Quran, which is considered the essence of the unity or the motto of Al Tawheed. In order to help us adopt Al-Tawheed and obey Him during all our social and professional activities, Allah (SWT) has revealed His Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names repeatedly in the Noble Quran and in the sayings of prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth.” (Quran; 41:53). Based on this Quranic verse, there is a complete harmony between the signs of Allah (SWT) in the universe, scientifically described by natural laws and His words in the Noble Quran. Indeed, the universe is like a silent Quran with so many marks of the Beautiful Names of Allah (SWT). In this perspective, Allah (SWT) created us with five senses in order to experience the world around us. Those who understand and live with the idea of Al Tawheed, have strong faith that Allah (SWT) alone controls everything in the universe behind the visible material world. Therefore, Allah (SWT) exhorts Muslims to observe the universe in order to perceive some of His signs. For that reason, many verses of the Noble Quran invite Muslims to study nature and seek knowledge, and this has been interpreted to mean encouragement for scientific inquiry. The importance of seeking knowledge is repeatedly emphasized in the Noble Quran with frequent injunctions, such as "God will exalt those of you who believe and those who have knowledge to high degrees" (Quran58:11), "O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge" (Quran 20:114), and "As God has taught him, so let him write" (Quran 2:282). Such Quranic verses provide a forceful stimulus for the Islamic community to strive for education and knowledge. Moreover, I consider this Quranic verse “And of knowledge, you mankind have been given only a little.” (Quran 17:85) as an inspiration for the acquisition of new knowledge. Scientific Facts In The Quran According to Mr. Shamsher Ali, there are around 750 verses in the Noble Quran dealing with natural phenomena3. For some Muslim writers, the study of science stems from Al-Tawheed4, which means that there is a complete harmony between the signs of Allah (SWT) in nature, scientifically proven and His words in the Noble Quran. Indeed, the Quran, which was revealed fourteen centuries ago, mentioned scientific facts only recently discovered. These are just some of the many scientific facts found in the Quran : 1. WATER “He sends down water (rain) from the sky, and therewith revives the earth after its death” (Quran; 30:24)1 In Surah Al-Anbya it was revealed “We made every living thing from water, will they not believe?” (Quran, 21:30) and it was only after the discovery of the microscope that it was concluded that all living things consist mostly of water. While in the deserts of Arabia the last thing a man could guess is that life came from water. Because of the existence of water, the earth is unique among the other known celestial bodies. Indeed water covers three-fourths of its surface and constitutes 60-70 % of the living world. At a micro level, the human body consists of more than 70% water5. The most amazing aspect about the divine science is that Allah (SWT) created water with some properties that allow it to regenerate and to be redistributed through evaporation and condensation in order to be endlessly renewable. The different stages of the water cycle (figure 1) are shown in this paper because they are the demonstration that water is an infinitely renewable source of life. Figure 1. The Water Cycle6. 2. UNIVERSE : THE BIG BAN THEORY "The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts (Allah) by His praise, but you do not understand their (way of) exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving." (Qur'an 17: 44)1 In Surah Al-Anbya, Allah (SWT) also states "Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them" (Quran, 21:30). In 1929, American Astronomer, Edwin Hubble proposed the Hubble's Law according to which all entities in space are moving away from the Earth at speeds proportional to their distance i.e. the greater the distance from earth, the faster they are moving. Soon after this, he discovered that galaxies are moving away from each other as well which means that the universe is expanding over all. This laid the basis for the Big Bang theory which states that around 12-15 billion years ago the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point, due to an explosion of this point the universe came into being. The universe, since then, has been expanding from this single point. In 1965, radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson won the Noble Prize for the discovery that confirmed the Big Bang theory7. 3. UNIVERSE : THE BIG CRUNCHTHEORY “They have not shown Allah His proper reverence—when on the Day of Judgment the ˹whole˺ earth will be in His Grip, and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand. Glorified and Exalted is He above what they associate ˹with Him˺!” ( Quran , 39:67)1 Again, in Surah Al-Anbya, Allah (SWT) says "The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it." (Quran, 21:104). This fits in with the theory of Big Crunch which talks about how the universe will be pulled back into the black holes and again form a tiny mass8. Indeed, the Big Crunch is one of the scenarios predicted by scientists in which the Universe may end. Just like many others, it is based on Einstein’s Theory of General Relativity. That is, if the Big Bang describes how the Universe most possibly began, the Big Crunch describes how it will end as a consequence of that beginning9. 4. EMBRYOLOGY “We have created you, so why do you not believe?” (Quran, 56:57)1 In Surah Al-Mu'minun, Allah (SWT) says “We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Quran 23:12-14). Science has only proved this with the help of the latest technology. It is Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore who is one of the world’s most well known scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology who said that " It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later10. 5. THE SKY’S PROTECTION “He raised the heavens and set up everything in balance,” (Quran, 55:7)1 In Surah Al-Anbya, Allah (SWT) says "And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away." (Quran 21:32). It is a scientific fact that the sky, with all of its gasses, protects the earth and life that is present on it from the harmful rays of the sun. If there was no protective layer, life on earth would cease to exist as the temperature on earth would be freezing at -270.15°C, the same as the temperature in space11. 6. IRON WITHIN METEORITES “Bring me ingots of iron." Then after he had filled up the space between the two mountain-sides, he said: "(Light a fire) and ply bellows." When he had made it (red like) fire, he said: "Bring me molten copper which I may pour on it.” (Quran; 18:96)1 In Surah Al-Hadid it is written that “We sent down Iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for humankind.” (Quran 57:25). According to M. E. Walrath, Iron is not natural to earth. Scientists state that billions of years ago, the earth was struck by meteorites. It was within these meteorites that Iron was present and due to explosion on earth, we now have iron available to us12. 7. THE MEETING OF SEAS “He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition” (Quran, 25:53)1 In Surah Ar-Rahman, it states "He released the two seas, meeting [side by side], Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses." (Quran, 55:19-20). Science has discovered that in places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier that divides them which helps both the seas maintain their own temperature, salinity as well as density8. Moreover, Modern science has also discovered that in estuaries, where fresh (sweet) and salt water meet, the situation is somewhat different from what is found in places where two seas meet. It has been discovered that what distinguishes fresh water from salt water in estuaries is a “pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.”13 This partition (zone of separation) has a different salinity from the fresh water and from the salt water14. 8. SUN MOVING IN ORBIT “Among His signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate yourselves to the sun, or to the moon. And prostrate yourselves to Allah who has created them, if it is Him whom you worship.” (Quran, 41:37)1. In past scientists believed that the Earth stood still in the center of the universe and Sun, stars and everything else revolved around it. Then we came to know that planets not only revolve around the Sun but also rotate around their own axis. But Quran almost around 1400 years ago told us that the Sun is also not stationary and also tells about the movement of planets, Earth and all celestial bodies in space and also around their own axis. For example, In Surah Al-Anbya, it states "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." (Quran, 21:33). Although it was only a widespread belief in the 20th Century amongst the astronomers, today it is a well-established fact that the Sun, the Moon and all the other bodies in the Universe are moving in an orbit and constantly moving, not stationary15. 9. MOUNTAINS AS STAKES “If We had sent down this Qur'an upon a mountain, you would have seen it humbled and coming apart from fear of Allah. And these examples We present to the people that perhaps they will give thought” (Quran, 59:21)1. About one-quarter of the earth’s land surface are covered with mountains and it has become 12 percent of total human population habitat. Mountains provide numerous benefits to human and provide indispensable supplies of natural resources as well for human. The most important is that in Surah An-Naba, Allah (SWT) states "Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as stakes?" (Quran, 78:6-7). In this perspective, in a book by geophysicist Frank Press called 'Earth' (1986), he explains how the mountains are like stakes and are buried deep within the earth's surface16. For example, Mt. Everest which has the height of approximately 9 km above sea level has a root deeper than 125 km17. 10. EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE “It is Allah Who has raised the heavens without any supports that you could see,2 and then He established Himself on the Throne3 (of Dominion). And He it is Who has made the sun and the moon subservient4 (to a law), each running its course till an appointed term.5 He governs the entire order of the universe and clearly explains6 the signs that you may be firmly convinced about meeting your Lord” (Quran, 13:2)1 In this Quranic verse, Allah (SWT) tells us about His power that created this universe. Allah mentions His perfect ability and infinite authority, since it is He Who has raised the heavens without pillars by His permission and order. He, by His leave, order and power, has elevated the heavens high above the earth, distant and far away from reach. The heaven nearest to the present world (first heaven) encompasses the earth from all directions, and is also high above it from every direction. Each of the heavens encompasses the one below it and the distance between each of the seven heavens is enormous. This shows the enormous size of the universe that is visible to us. In Surah Adh-Dhariyat, Allah (SWT) says "And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander." (Quran, 51:47). According to the prominent physicist Stephen Hawking in his book 'A brief History of Time' “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century”18. 11. PAIN RECEPTORS For a long time it was thought that the sense of feeling and pain was dependent on the brain. However, it has been discovered that there are pain receptors present in the skin. Without these pain receptors, a person would not be able to feel pain19. For example, when a doctor examines a patient suffering from burn injuries, he verifies the degree of burns by a pinprick. If the patient feels pain, the doctor is happy, because it indicates that the burns are superficial and the pain receptors are intact. On the other hand, if the patient does not feel any pain, it indicates that it is a deep burn and the pain receptors have been destroyed. In Surah An-Nisa, it is stated that "We shall send those who reject our revelations to the (hell) fire. When their skins have been burned away, We shall replace them with new ones so that they may continue to feel the pain: God is almighty, all-wise.” (Quran, 4:56). 12. INTERNAL WAVES IN OCEANS “Whereby Allah guides whomever closely follows His all-blessed Satisfaction in the ways of peace; and He brings them out of the darkness (es) into the light by His permission, and He guides them to a straight Path” ( Quran, 5:16)1. In Surah An-Nur, Allah (SWT) has revealed "Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds - darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light - for him there is no light." (Quran, 24:40). This verse mentions the darkness found in deep seas and oceans, where if a man stretches out his hand, he cannot see it. 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 all20. Human beings are not able to dive more than forty meters without the aid of submarines or special equipment. Human beings cannot survive unaided in the deep dark part of the oceans, such as at a depth of 200 meters. Moreover, the internal waves cover the deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the waters above them. Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break, just like surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location21. Oceanographers have stated that unlike the belief that waves only occur on the surface, there are waves that take place internally in the oceans, below the surface of water. Invisible to the human eye, these can only be detected through special equipment22. 13. FRONTAL LOBE “(O Prophet), recite the Book that has been revealed to you and establish Prayer.77 Surely Prayer forbids indecency and evil.78 And Allah's remembrance is of even greater merit.79 Allah knows all that you do” ( Quran, 29:45)1. Based on this Quranic verse, it is Allah (SWT)’s wisdom that He Commanded the frontal lobe to be placed on the ground in prostration so that it will learn how to be honest and upright. The human brain consists of four main lobes: (1) the frontal lobe, (2) the occipital lobe, (3) the temporal lobe, and (4) the parietal lobe. Each lobe has its own special function, while at the same time working together and complementing one another. The frontal lobe in humans is distinctive from that of animals since it includes centers that are responsible for speaking and behavior. In Surah Al-Alaq, in the story of a man named Abu Jahl who was a cruel oppressive tribal leader, in the times of the Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Allah revealed a verse to warn him. Therein Allah (SWT) says "No indeed! if he does not stop, We will seize him by the forehead, his lying, sinful forehead.” , (Quran, 96:15-16). According to a book titled 'Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology’ it is clearly stated that the forehead or frontal area of the brain is responsible for motivation and the foresight to plan and initiate movements. All this takes place in the prefrontal area of the brain. The part of the brain that is responsible for movement and planning is said to be seized if he does not stop. Other studies have proved that it is this prefrontal region that is responsible for the function of lying23. A study at the University of Pennsylvania in which volunteers were questioned during a computerized interrogation, it was stated that the volunteers that were lying had an increased activity in their prefrontal and premotor cortices24. CONCLUSION “Surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for men of understanding” (Quran, 3 :190)1. There is a permanent desire in every human being to seek understanding and knowledge. The fundamental motivation of scientific knowledge is the unborn curiosity about the nature of the world, the discovery of truth and the creation of order. When this curiosity combines with vision, the scientists begin to see more and discover more about the surrounding reality. The search for truth is basic purpose of science in islam. The most important is that the conception of knowledge (Al-Ilm) in Islam is the Guiding Light (Huda) separating right from wrong (Al furqan). Therefore, in the same way, the sun brings light to our eyes to see the world around us, Al-Ilm is the source of guidance to see the Truth. As Muslims, in order to know Allah (SWT) Who created all living creatures and the universe and to comprehend His power, a person should consider everything our Lord has created and try to appreciate the manifestations of His boundless knowledge and will. The Quran contains so many scientific facts and only thirteen of them were presented in this paper. More such facts that are already mentioned in the Quran and will be proven in the future by mankind as Allah (SWT) says in the Quran in Surah Ar-Rahman, "So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?" (Quran, 55:13)1. References 1. Interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Quran by Dr. Muhammad Taqui-ud-Din Al Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan, DARUSSALAM (1996). 2. Joachim Funke (2017), How Much Knowledge Is Necessary for Action? In Knowledge and Action pp 99-111 , Springer. 3. Ali, Shamsher. "Science and the Qur'an".In Oliver Leaman. The Qurʼan: An Encyclopedia (PDF). p. 572. Retrieved13 May 2018. 4. Muzaffar Iqbal (2007). Science & Islam.Greenwood Press.\ 5. Sadullah Khan (2019), Stewardship of WATER, the Commodity of Life in IslamiCity https://www.islamicity.org/7781/stewardship-of-water-the-commodity-oflife/?gclid=CjwKCAjwibzsBRAMEiwA1pHZrnRheLGKY7ceb_ybqcN2kX5zAthv23WMYnT6V6NSsX G4FHzR-VyTARoCLDAQAvD_BwE 6. Water cycle process on earth Free Vector IN FREEPIK . https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/watercycle-process-earth_5601885.htm 7. Misha Ketchell, The CMB: how an accidental discovery became the key to understanding the universe, The conversation, July 24, 2015. https://theconversation.com/the-cmb-how-anaccidental-discovery-became-the-key-to-understanding-the-universe-45126 8. Big crunch in Wikipedia. 9. JOHN CARL VILLANUEVA, 2009, Universe Today, https://www.universetoday.com/37018/big-crunch/ 10. Islamic Awareness, This is the Truth by Sheikh Abdul-Majeed A. al-Zindani, https://www.islamic-awareness.org/quran/science/scientists.html 11. Angela Libal (2018), The Temperatures of Outer Space Around the Earth in Sciencing https://sciencing.com/astronomical-instrument-measures-brightness-stars-16357.html 12. M E Walrath, History of the Earth's Formation, ISBN-13 : 978-0530178776 13. Oceanography, Gross, p. 242. Also see Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301. Back from footnote (3) 14. Oceanography, Gross, p. 244, and Introductory Oceanography, Thurman, pp. 300-301. Back from footnote (4) 15. Ethan Siegel, Our Motion Through Space Isn't A Vortex, But Something Far More Interesting, https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2018/08/30/our-motion-through-space-isnt-avortex-but-something-far-more-interesting/#170d8af17ec2 16. Frank Press , Earth, ISBN-13: 978-071671743. 17. The Function of Mountains, https://questionsonislam.com/article/function-mountains Questions 18. Stephen Hawking, A Brief History of Time, ISBN-13 : 978-0553380163 on Islam. 19. Edward A. Shipton, Skin Matters: Identifying Pain Mechanisms and Predicting Treatment Outcomes, Neurol Res Int. 2013; 2013: 329364. 20. Oceans, Elder and Pernetta, p. 27 21. Oceanography, Gross, p. 205. 22. Internal wave in Wikipedia 23. Kenneth Saladin and Robin McFarland, Essentials of Anatomy & Physiology, ISBN13: 9780072965544. 24. University Of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Human Brain Operates Differently In Deception And Honesty, University Of Pennsylvania Researchers Report, ScienceDaily 2001, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/11/011112073302.htm