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are too many accuracies and like Dr. Moore,
I have no difficulty in my mind reconciling that this is a
divine inspiration or revelation which lead him to these
statements".
Besides providing guidelines in personal, social, moral and
spiritual spheres of humanity, the Quran touches upon diverse
scientific topics like astronomy, geology, embryology, genetics,
biology, archeology etc. Some of these are mentioned below to
prove the Quran's Divine origin.
The Big Bang!
Currently, the Big Bang model of the origin of the universe is
the cosmological paradigm most widely accepted by astronomers.
It holds that about 15 billion years ago the universe began with
the explosive expansion of a single, extremely dense matter, the
primordial mass. Only after the development of radio telescopes
in 1937 that, the necessary observational precision was achieved
in order for astronomers to arrive at the above conclusion. What
does the Quran say about our universe's origin?
"Do not the unbelievers see that the Heavens and the earth were
joined together, then We split them apart." (21:30)
Expanding Universe
In 1925, Edwin Hubble (after whom the Hubble Space telescope is
named) provided the observational evidence for the expansion of
the universe. Stephen Hawking (author of 'A Brief History of
Time') states: "The universe is not static, as had previously
been thought, it is expanding". So what did God reveal in the
Quran, 1400 years ago?
"And the firmament, We constructed with power and skill and
verily We are expanding it" (51:47) ("We" is the Arabic plural
of respect, not the Christian plural of 'trinity")
The Existence of Sun's Orbit
Ancient people use to believe that the Sun revolves around the
earth. Later, Nicholas Copernicus in 1512, laid his Heliocentric
Theory of Planetary motion, which placed the sun motionless in
the center of the solar system with all the planets revolving
around it. Modern science tells us now that the sun too is not
still, but is in motion.
The sun traveling at roughly 150 miles per second takes about
200 million years to complete one revolution around the center
of our Milky Way Galaxy and 25 days to make one complete
rotation around its own axis. See how beautifully and accurately
God revealed this phenomenon in the Quran:
"It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the
moon, all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its orbit
with its own motion." (21:33)
Conquest of Space by Human
Human exploration and the conquest of space began with the
launching of the Russian Satellite, Sputnik I on Oct. 4, 1957.
Then followed the launching of humans into space, which
eventually led to a manned space flight to the Moon on July
20th, 1967. Thus the dream of humanity since the dawn of
civilization to go beyond the earth to the heavens was realized.
The Quran, 1400 years ago, clearly predicted human's advancement
and the possibility of space flight.
"O assembly of Jinns and humans, if you can penetrate the
regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them! You
will not penetrate them save with a power (of God)." (55:33)
The Protective Atmosphere
Earth is constantly bombarded by meteoroids that disintegrate
upon the atmosphere and by lethal rays emitted by the sun. This
UV radiation is absorbed by the Ozone layer forming the outer
fringe of our atmosphere. Thus our atmosphere along with its
Ozone layer is a protective covering for us. Life possibly could
not have existed without it. How meticulously, does our Lord
sustain and protect us against this atmospheric destruction.
"And We have made the atmosphere a protective roof, yet do they
turn away from the Signs which these things point to." (21:32)
Embryology
The Dutch naturalist Anthony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723)
produced lenses powerful enough to prove that many tiny
creatures are not spontaneously generated but are produced from
eggs. The science of Embryology as we know it today did not
discover many of the detailed aspects of human embryonic
development until the 1970s, using powerful microscopes, ultra
sound and fiber optics technology. See how the Quran described
the stages of embryonic development.
"God fashioned man from a small quantity (of sperm)" (16:4)
Fertilization takes place with only one sperm among several tens
of million produced by man.
"Then We placed him as a drop in a place of rest" (23:13)
Implantation of the blastocyst in the uterus.
"Then We made the drop into a leech like structure..." (23:14)
This resemblance of the human embryo to a leech is an
appropriate description of the human embryo from days 7-24, when
it clings to the endometrium of the uterus.
"And He (God) gave you hearing and sight and feeling and
understanding." (32:9) The internal ears appear before the eyes,
and the brain (the sight of understanding) differentiates last.
Dr. E. Marshall Johnson [2] Professor of Anatomy, concluded
after studying verses from Quran: "The Quran describes not only
the development of external form but emphasizes also the
internal stages - the stages inside the embryo of its creation
and development, emphasizing major events recognized by
contemporary science... so I see nothing in conflict with the
concept that divine intervention was involved..."
Gender Determination
The concept of "Gender Determination" as being described by
geneticists, is one of the outstanding informations revealed to
us in the Quran. This information is now a known fact, that
sperms are the deciding factors in determining the type of
gender (male or female) in the new embryo. This determination
through the male sperm is due to the fact that sperms have an X
and Y chromosomes, while the female ovum has only X Chromosomes
(X, X). Through the Quran, The Almighty informs us that it is
the male sperms that determine the type of gender for the new
offspring:
"Does man think that he will be left uncontrolled (without
purpose)? Was he not a drop of sperm emitted (in humble form)?
Then did (God) make and fashion (him) in due proportion. And of
him He made two sexes, male and female..." (75:36-40)
Existence of Pairs in All Creation
Before the dawn of the modern era, humans conceived that only
animal life was divided into two genders, male and female. Then
the discovery was made that this phenomenon was present in
plants and vegetation too. We have found this reality existing
in every creation, animate as well as inanimate, though in
different forms. In electricity, these two genders can be
classified as positive and negative. North and south pole
describe it in magnetism, electron and proton in atoms, matter
and antimatter etc. Even bacteria could be positive or negative,
while the truth is, this creation is made of pairs. At the time
the Holy Quran was being revealed in the 7th century C.E., we
knew of pairing in animals and plants only, but the Quran
describes the phenomenon in the most lucid manner:
"Hallowed is He, Who created pairs in all things, those that
grow from the earth and of themselves, and what they know not."
(36:36)
The Quranic statement:
"...And what they know not" is as true today, as it was when
Holy Quran was revealed. Though we have discovered that every
created thing exists in pair, we have yet to discover many
things that exist.
We have expounded scientific marvels from the Holy Quran to
convince sincere seekers of truth that it is the infallible Word
of God. No mortal being can ever speak with such authority,
finality, knowledge, perfection, and precision coupled with
exotic beauties of expression, as does God in the Quran.
By realizing these Truths about the Quran and the religion of
Islam revealed by our Creator and Sustainer, many modern
scientists are turning towards it.
Dr. Keith Moore [3], Professor of Embryology, after analyzing
the verses of the Quran for three years comments: "It has been a
pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Quran 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"
Dr. Maurice Bucaille [4], French Physician, after studying Quran
and comparing it with modern science, addressed the French
Academy of Medicine in 1976 proclaimed: "Our knowledge of these
disciplines is such, that it is impossible to explain how a text
produced at the time of the Quran could have contained ideas
that have only been discovered in modern times".
Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson [5], 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 not 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 Quran
shown centuries later to be valid which support knowledge in the
Quran having been derived from God".
Dr. Tejatet Tejasen [6], Professor of Anatomy, attending the
Eighth Saudi Medical Conference, stood up and likewise
announced: "From my studies and what I have learnt at this
conference, I believe that everything that has been recorded in
the Quran 1400 years ago must be true. That can be proved the
scientific way".
These men of knowledge, in their unbiased studies of the Quran,
all proclaimed its truthfulness as a Revelation of Almighty God.
"Soon we will show them Our Signs in the (furthest) regions (of
the earth) and in their own soul, until it becomes manifest to
them that this is the Truth..." (41:53)
Guidance to humanity proclaimed in the Quran is complete and
applicable to all societies and all times. Whether we are living
in the Stone Age or the Space Age, riding in horse pulled
carriages or flying in Space Shuttles, we haven't changed a bit.
We still possess physical and emotional desires, we live in
societies, interact with one another, establish social,
political and economic systems; thus the relevant need for
guidance by our Creator in all these spheres of our life. Islam
is the only religion which is totally compatible with scientific
facts and provides complete, explicit and clear guidance in all
spheres of life.
The Quran was revealed in Arabic, but translation of its meaning
are available in English and other languages for non-Arabs.
Likewise Islam is not restricted to people of the east or Arabs,
it is a universal religion revealed for all of mankind.
We invite all sincere humans to study Islam with an open mind.
Don't blindly follow the whims and paganistic influences of the
environment around us. God bestowed upon us this superb mind to
seek and live the truth; for we all will be accountable on the
Day of Judgment for our beliefs and deeds. Don't delay your
salvation. Welcome to Islam!
References:
1) Dr. T.V.N. Persaud, Professor and Head of the Department of
Anatomy, University of Manitoba, Canada, received in 1991 the
most distinguished award presented in the field of Anatomy in
Canada, the J.C.B. Grand Award.
2) Dr. E. Marshall Johnson, Professor and Chairman of the
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, and the
Director of the Daniel Baugh Institute, Thomas Jefferson
University, Philadelphia, USA
3) Dr. Keith Moore, Professor of Embryology, Department of
Anatomy, Univ. of Toronto, Canada, recipient of numerous awards
and honors, including in 1984, the J.C.B. Grand Award, which is
the highest honor granted by the Canadian Association of
Anatomists.
4) Dr. Maurice Bucaille, French Physician, Author of 'The Bible,
the Quran and Science, Seghers, Paris, 1987.
5) Dr. Joe Leigh Simpson, Professor and Chairman of the
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, and the President of the American
Fertility Society.
6) Dr. Tejatet Tejasen, Professor and Head of Department of
Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chiang, Thailand
Suggested Readings
1. The Holy Quran Abdullah Yusuf Ali (trans.)
2. The Life of Muhammad By Hayykal
3. Towards Understanding Islam By Abul Ala Maududi
4. Jesus: A Prophet of Islam. By. M. Ataur Rahim
5. The Bible, The Quran and Science By Maurice Bucaille
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