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Quran and Science (Conversation)
Seated side by
side, two gentlemen from two different worlds... And there they were, on a
flight from Cape Town to Durban (two South African cities), ....... After
the formalities were covered, the conversation continued........
Bob: I don't believe in
God, but rather in science and technology, something tangible you see, but
if you can prove to me scientifically that God does exist then I would
consider such a thought.
Yunus: Okay, you being interested in technology, please answer this
question......with regard to an advanced machine or electronic device, who
would be the one to know the most about its mechanism or functioning?
Bob: Well, perhaps the person who has invented or manufactured such
a machine.
Yunus: Can we agree that it is the maker or creator of the product
who would know every-thing there is to know about the product.
Bob: I don't see why not, it sounds reasonable.
Yunus: Being knowledgeable in these matters, the next question I'd
like to ask you is, Just how did the world or the universe come into
existence?
Bob: According to recent scientific research, the whole universe
was one gigantic mass, which scientists call the primary Nebula, they tell
us that it was a cosmic explosion or a secondary explosion that gave rise
to the sun, the stars, the planets and even the Earth we live on.
Yunus: Is this what you believe?
Bob: Yes of course, these are established facts based on scientific
proofs. In fact, this idea was realized in 1973 and termed the 'BIG BANG'
theory.
Yunus: I see, well I have a surprise for you....In the Holy Quran,
Chapter 21, verse 30 says. "Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens
and the earth were joined together, then I split them apart".
Here we can see that the Holy Quran is speaking about this 'BIG BANG'
theory and let me tell you that the Holy Quran was revealed over 1400
years ago.
Bob: I have heard about the Quran, but can you refresh my memory.
Yunus: Sure, the Muslim believes the Quraan to be the word of God,
pure and unadulterated which was revealed verbally to the Prophet of
Islam, Mohammed, Peace be upon him, through the agency of the Angel
Gabriel. The Holy Quraan was completed over a period of 23 years, that is
over the prophetic life of the Prophet of Islam.
Bob: Are you sure that the Quraan is over 14 centuries old and
secondly, that the Quraan has not been changed.
Yunus: Absolutely, it is a historical fact that the Holy Quraan was
completed in the seventh century and has remained unchanged ever since.
Historians, whether friends or foes to Islam, testify to this.
Bob: Well then, perhaps it's a guess.
Yunus:.....What does science say about the shape of the Earth ?
Bob: Previously, Man thought that the Earth was flat, until Sir
Frances Drake in 1607 finally proved it to be spherical. Today, the term
Geoids is used to describe this spherical shape.
Yunus: Amazingly the Holy Quraan in chapter 31, verse 29 says,
"Have you not seen how God merges the night into the day and merges the
day into the night." The use of the word merges emphasizes a slow gradual
change, and this is not possible if the earth is flat.
Bob: Go on.
Yunus: Further in chapter 39, verse 5, it says, "He coils the night
upon the day and he coils the day upon the night." The word used in the
original Arabic text is "Kaw'wara" which means coils or winds, the
significance of this verb is that you usually coil something around a
rather spherical object. You say that this fact was discovered recently,
well relatively recently, who could have mentioned this in the Holy Quraan
over 1400 years ago ?
Bob: I'm not convinced.
Yunus: Fine, tell me where the light of the Moon comes from ?
Bob: Centuries ago people thought that the Moon was a miniature
version of the Sun and that both emitted their own light, but recently
studies confirmed that the Moon reflected the Sun's light.
Yunus: The Holy Quraan in chapter 25, verse 61 mentions, "Blessed
is the one who placed the constellations in the Heaven and placed therein
a lamp and a Moon reflecting light." Here the Sun is referred to as a lamp
for it has its own illumination, while the Moon is said to have reflected
light or borrowed light, meaning not its own.
Bob: Its probably conjecture...guesswork.
Yunus: For the sake of a discussion I won't argue. Anyway, let us
proceed....... When I was in school in the 80's, my teacher told me that
the Sun remains stationary whilst the planets although rotating around
their axes do revolve around the Sun as well.
Bob: Is that what your Quraan says, that the Sun is
stationary....Ha!
Yunus: No, the Holy Quraan does not say this. This is what I
learned in
school.
Bob: Today, science has advanced. We have come to know that the Sun
does in fact revolve around its own axis. You see, the Sun if observed
with the appropriate scientific apparatus reveals to possess the "Black
spots". Continuous observation shows that these black spots take 25 days
to complete a revolution. Therefore we conclude that the Sun rotates and
that it takes approximately 25 days to complete one full rotation around
its axis.
Yunus: Well, this is nothing new to the Muslim for it is revealed
in the Holy Quraan in chapter 21, verse 33, "(God is) the One who created
the night, the day, the Sun and the Moon, each one spinning around its own
axis traveling in an orbit)". Here it is evident that the Sun and the Moon
both rotate and further the celestial law of orbital movement is made
mention of. You tell me who could have mentioned these scientific facts in
the Holy Quraan which you say was discovered recently by your scientists?
Before you answer that question, tell me......is there a difference
between a star and a planet?
Bob: Yes, today we know that stars are heavenly bodies like the Sun
in that they produce their own light, while planets on the other hand, do
not produce their own light....like the earth on which we live.
Yunus: The Holy Quraan mentions scientific facts not only in the
field of astronomy.
Bob: I'm listening.
Yunus: In several verses of the Holy Quraan the details of the
water cycle is mentioned. It explains that the water from the earth and
ground rises up and forms clouds .............. these clouds condense,
there is lightning and rain falls from the clouds. This is evident from
the following quotations ...........chapter 39, verse 21, "Have you not
seen that Allah sent rain down from the sky and caused it to penetrate the
ground, and come forth as springs.......", In chapter 23, verse 18, "We
sent down water from the sky measure and lodged it in the ground and we
certainly are able to withdraw it", and also in chapter 24, verse 43,
"Have you not seen that God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them
together, then makes them a heap. And you see rain drops falling from the
midst of it ........"
Bob: According to my knowledge, the first coherent account of the
water cycle was presented by Bernard Palissy in 1580.
Yunus: This is the exact distinction that the Holy Quraan makes
between stars and planets. In chapter 86, verse 1-3, "By the sky and the
night visitor, who will tell you what the night visitor is, the star of
piercing brightness", which obviously refer to the stars. The planets are
described as ornaments in chapter 37, verse 6, as it reads, "We have
indeed adorned the lowest heaven with ornaments, the planets".
Bob: Hmmmmmm.........................It is no secret that the Arabs
were advanced in the field of astronomy, and perhaps it was these learned
astronomers that passed their findings to the Prophet.
Yunus: I do agree that the Arabs were advanced in astronomy, but
I'm afraid that you have the order or sequence of events incorrect.
Bob: What do you mean?!
Yunus: Let me remind you that the Holy Quraan was revealed
centuries before the Arabs became advanced in this field of astronomy, so
it was the Arabs who learnt about astronomy from the Quraan and most
definitely not vice versa. The Holy Quraan in chapter 30, verse 48
mentions that, "God is the one who sends forth the winds which raised up
the clouds. He Spreads them in the sky as he wills and breaks them into
fragments. Then you see rain drops issuing from within them.....". While
on the topic of Geography,I am sure you understand what is meant by the
term "Folding".
Bob: Yes, you see.... the crust of the earth is relatively thin and
mountain ranges due to the phenomenon of folding provides stability for
the earth.
Yunus: The Holy Quraan in chapter 78, verse 6-7 gives us an
indication of the very same phenomenon as it says, "Have we not made the
earth an expanse and the mountains stakes". Here the word "stakes" is
synonymous with the word pegs as in holding the earth in place. Further
the first part of this verse shows us that the earth is not flat for it is
an expanse ..... meaning that you can walk and walk without falling off.
The former idea is clarified in chapter 21, verse 31....."We placed the
ground (mountains) standing firm so that it does not shake with them".
Here we are told that mountains allow for the maintenance of the earths
stability by preventing the earth's shape to change in such a way so as to
cause it to move out of its orbit. Permit me to go on ...scientists
pointed out recently that salt water and fresh water do not mix.......is
that correct?
Bob: That is correct.....this phenomenon is observed at various
locations......for example the region where the Nile river meets with the
Mediterranean sea and more especially in the Gulf stream where these two
bodies of water flow together for thousands of kilometers.
Yunus: In chapter 25, verse 53 it reads, ....... "God is the one
that has let free two seas, one is sweet and palatable and the other is
salty and bitter. He placed an unseen barrier between them, a partition
that is forbidden to pass". A similar message is given in chapter 55,
verses 19 and 20, "He has loosed the two seas. They meet together. Between
them
there is an unseen barrier which they do not transgress........"
Bob: Maybe some Arabs whist diving or swimming made such an
observation.
Yunus: Unlikely, what you fail to realize is that the Holy Quraan
too testifies that it is an unseen barrier and therefore it could not and
still cannot be observed.
Bob: I see..... according to Darwinism and the theory of evolution,
it is claimed that all life began in the sea or oceans.........can you
tell me what does your Quraan say about this.....if anything at all.
Yunus: Yes, but first tell me just why does this theory have such a
conclusion.....that life began in the Oceans....
Bob: Well, one of the reasons is that the chemical make-up or
composition of human and animal life shows that water is the chief
constituent. In fact between 50 and 90 %.
Yunus: In chapter 21, verse 30, it also says.............."And We
made every living thing from water. Will they still not believe". Can you
imagine that in the deserts of Arabia, where there is obviously a scarcity
of water, who would have guessed that not only man but every living thing
is made from water.
Bob: I am aware that Cytoplasm, the main constituent of the cell is
composed of approximately eighty percent water and that every living
creature is of fifty or ninety percent water.
Yunus: Who could have mentioned these facts in the Quraan over 1400
years ago ?...there are over hundreds of facts in the Holy Quraan that
modern science cannot find fault with today. On the topic of
theories....Can you explain to me just what is meant by the theory of
drifting continents.
Bob: Sure, all our continents were at one time parts of one
consolidated land mass, then following an explosion, they were scattered
or rather pushed away all over the surface of the earth. Therefore if you
look carefully at the world map, you would see for example that the East
coast of South America would fit neatly against the West coast of Africa.
Yunus: A similar idea is reflected in the Holy Quraan in the
chapter 79, verse 30, "and the earth He extended after that and then drew
from it water and pastures". It says that the Earth passed through a stage
when God had caused the land masses to drift apart.
Bob: Are you using scientific knowledge to prove the Quraan ?
Yunus: No, the Quraan is not a book of science but rather a book of
signs. In fact, it has over 6000 signs (verses) out of which 1000 of these
deal with scientific knowledge. I am not using science to prove something
correct, you need a yardstick or knowledge that is absolute, something
ultimate.....
Yunus: To the educated men like yourself, those that do not believe
in God, science is generally your yardstick.....but to the Muslim, the
Holy Quraan is our ultimate yardstick....the Quraan is also referred to as
the "Furqaan" which is the Arabic word meaning, the criterion between that
which is right and that which is wrong. Therefore I am using your
yardstick 'science' to prove to you what is said in the Holy Quraan. What
your yardstick has said in relatively recent times .. mine has said 14
centuries ago. Can we agree, therefore, that the Quraan is superior to
science and that the Quraan is the ultimate yardstick.
Bob: Tell me more.
Yunus: The Quraan says in chapter 20, verse 53, "(God is the one)
who sent down rain from the sky and with it brought forth a variety of
plants in pairs". Here the Holy Quraan mentions a scientific fact which
was discovered much later in history ..... that is .......the plant
kingdom too has male and female types. This is also echoed in chapter 13,
verse 3, ".....and of all fruits (God) placed on the earth two
pairs......"
Yunus: A branch of the field of Zoology has recently pointed out
that there exists various social dynamics in the animal world. The Holy
Quraan tells us the same, that the animals and birds live in communities
in chapter 6, verse 38, "There is no animal on earth, no bird which flies
on wings, that (does not belong to) communities like you .....".
Yunus: If I tell you that the Holy Quraan tells us of ants talking
to one another, you will probably laugh, but the branch of Zoology that I
am telling you about, has found the animal or insect which closely
resembles the dynamics of the human, is the ant ....... for apart from an
extremely 'advanced' system of communication (as is mentioned in the Holy
Quraan, chapter 27, verse 18), They ..... the ants bury the dead and can
have what can be said to be an equivalent of a market place.
Bob: Perhaps your Prophet was a very observant man who made notes
of them.
Yunus: First I would like to inform you that history years witness
that the Prophet of Islam was an illiterate man in that he had no formal
schooling and therefore could not read nor write. In fact at that time a
great majority of Arabs were illiterate with only a negligible number who
were literate. Nonetheless, it is also mentioned that it is the female bee
that collects honey ........ Do you think that anybody could be so
observant as to pick this up? You have just reminded me about something
even more significant; in chapter 16, verse 69, it reads, ".. from their
(bees) bodies comes a liquor of different colors wherein is a remedy for
men." Today the medical scientist tell us that there are antiseptic
qualities and applications of honey. Furthermore, I believe that it is
used in the treatment of various allergies.
Bob: No wonder the Russian soldiers used to apply honey on their
wounds. Yes, and as a result, the wounds left very little scar tissue.
Yunus: In chapter 16, verse 66, the Holy Quraan described blood
circulation with regard to the production of milk in the cow ....... a
thousand years before William Harvey made it famous to the western world.
Let us examine the above mentioned reference, "Verily, in cattle too is a
lesson for you, we give to you to drink of what is in their bodies, coming
from a conjugation between the contents of the intestine and the blood, a
milk, pure and pleasant for those who drink it."
Bob: Tell me ...... what does the Quraan say about human beings?
Yunus: This question calls for a dissertation, for the Quraan deals
with humans from before the time of conception until after death. .....But
will you accept a brief exposition on some of the human embryo logical
data or proofs presented in the Quraan?
Bob: Please go on. This is interesting.
Yunus: We know that after fertilization, the egg or ovum descends
from the fallopian tube to lodge itself inside the uterus for gestation.
This is described in chapter 22, verse 5, ".... We cause whom we will to
rest in the womb for an appointed term......". As you know, there are
structures or elongations from the egg which develops to draw nourishment
from the uterus which is necessary for growth. These structural formations
make the egg or rather the zygote seem to be literally clinging to the
uterus ....... this, doubtedly, is a scientific discovery of modern times
for the western world. Did you know this appearance of clinging is
described five times in the Holy Quraan. For example, in chapter 96,
verses 1 & 2, "Read, in the name of your Lord who fashioned man from
something which clings". Similar ideas are found in chapter 22, verse 5 -
chapter 23, verse 14 and chapters 40 & 75. Furthermore, fetal growth is
described in great detail in chapter 23, verse 14, with regard to the
development of the skeleton. "Then We made the sperm into a clot of
congealed blood; Then made that clot into a lump (fetus); then We made out
of that lump Bones and clothed the bones with flesh ...." ........ the
verse goes on further in this manner of description. Also with regard to
the order or sequence of the senses, the Holy Quraan in chapter 32, verse
9 says, "..... He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and of sight.....".
Today, medical science cannot argue with this sequence development of the
senses in the fetus for it confirms that the development of hearing is
completed by five months of pregnancy and that the eye is split open by
the seventh month of pregnancy. These facts and more have been brought to
light by the western world as late as 1940. Furthermore, Professor Keith
More, an embryologist at the university of Toronto in Canada, was asked to
make a comparative study of the Embryo logical data in the Holy Quraan
with that of modern scientific knowledge and he responded as follows, "The
1300 year old Quraan contains messages so accurate about embryonic
development that Muslims can reasonably believe them to be from God."
Bob: If this is true then how come it has not been recorded in the
media?
Yunus: But it was ....... check the archives ......for
example....the citizen, a Canadian Newspaper dated 22 November 1984, under
the heading "Ancient Holy Book 1300 years ahead of its time". Or the times
of India, New Delhi ...... dated 10 December 1984 under the caption "Koran
scores over modern sciences."
Bob: This is really fascinating ...... don't stop ..........
continue
Yunus: At this point I am reminded of a very powerful verse of the
Holy Quraan which appears in chapter 41, verse 53, "Soon shall we show
them our signs in the (furthest) regions of the earth , and in their own
souls, until it becomes manifest to them that this is the truth......".
Yunus: The holy Quraan even speaks about diabetics.
Bob: What do you mean?
Yunus: You see, certain foodstuffs are declared unfit for human
consumption and are therefore prohibited.
Bob: While we are on the topic of food ....... tell me why is it
that a Muslim is very particular about the words Halaal and Haraam
........What do they mean?
Yunus: That which is permissible is termed Halaal and that which is
not permissible is termed Haraam and it is the Quraan which draws the
distinction between the two.
Bob: Can you give me an example ?
Yunus: Yes, Islam has prohibited blood of any type. You will agree
that a chemical analysis of blood shows that it contains an abundance of
uric acid, a chemical substance which can be injurious to human health.
Bob: You're right about the toxic nature of uric acid, in the human
being it is excreted as a waste product....... in fact we are told that
98% of the bodies uric acid is extracted from the blood by the kidneys and
removed through urination.
Yunus: Now I think that you'll appreciate the special prescribed
method of animal slaughter in Islam.
Bob: What do you mean ?
Yunus: You see ..... the wielder of the knife, whilst taking the
name of the Almighty, makes an incision through the jugular veins, leaving
all other veins and arteries of the neck intact.
Bob: I see ....., this causes the death of the animal by a total
loss of blood from the body, rather than an injury to any vital organ.
Yunus: Yes, were the organs, example the heart, the liver, or the
brain crippled or damaged, the animal could die immediately and its blood
would congeal in its veins and would eventually permeate (spread
throughout) the flesh. This implies that the animal flesh would be
permeated and contaminated with uric acid and therefore very poisonous
...... only today did our dietitians realize such a thing. ( At this
juncture I want to add one more point. As a matter of fact the 64 % of
total body blood is in the veins. So by cutting Jugular Vein the amount of
bleeding will be more rather than cutting any other artery, and the dying
body will bleed far more before death.)
Bob: Again, while on the topic of food........ Why do Muslims
condemn the eating of pork or ham or any foods related to pigs or swine.
Yunus: Actually, apart from the Quraan prohibiting the consumption
of pig flesh, ......in fact the Bible too in Leviticus chapter 11, verse
8,....regarding swine it says, "of their flesh (of the swine) shall you
not eat, and of their carcass you shall not touch; they are unclean to
you." Further, did you know that a pig cannot be slaughtered at the neck
for it does not have a neck ..........that is according to its natural
anatomy. A Muslim reasons that if the pig was to be slaughtered and fit
for human consumption the creator would have provided it with a neck.
Nonetheless, ........all that aside, I am sure you are well informed about
the harmful effects of the consumption of pork, in any form, be it pork
chops......ham ...... bacon.......
Bob: The medical sciences find that there is a risk for various
diseases as the pig is found to be a host for many parasites and potential
diseases.
Yunus: Yes, even apart from that ....as we talked about uric acid
content in the blood.....it is important to note that the pig's
biochemistry excretes only 2% of its total uric acid content...... the
remaining 98% remains as an integral part of the body. This explains the
high rate of Rheumatism found in those who consume pork.
Bob: Let's fasten our seatbelts ......I think we are going to land
shortly .... I guess its true - time does fly when you're having fun. I've
never heard these arguments before and I'd like to hear more.......just
what is the basic theme of the Holy Quraan anyway ?
Yunus: The basic theme is of salvation, in this life and in the
life hereafter..... it does not fall into the category of any known arts
or sciences of the world, but since it addresses itself to mankind, it
touches on almost all the disciplines which concern Him. Thus the Quraan
surprisingly encompassed truths which were to be discovered and confirmed
much later as our discussion has shown.
Yunus: This reminds me of the wise words of Sir Francis, who said,
"It is a little knowledge of science that makes you an Atheist, and it is
an in-depth study of science that makes you a believer in God Almighty".
Thereafter nobody said a word ........they each sat back and looked
forward waiting for touch down.........
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