The Qur’an is the final revelation from God to humanity. Although the Qur’an, (revealed over fourteen centuries ago), is not primarily a book of science, it does contain scientific facts that have been scientifically discovered only recently through the advancement of technological equipment. Moreover, it does not promote an anti-scientific stance, but rather, encourages scientific research. Indeed, studying and understanding the nature of creation enables people to further appreciate their Creator and the extent of His Sovereignty.
40 Days in the Womb
Professor Simpson is the Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Professor of Molecular and Human Genetics at the Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. Upon studying the following two sayings of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):
“In every one of you, all components of your creation are collected together in your mother’s womb by 40 days…”
and;
“If 42 nights have passed over the embryo, God sends an angel to it, who shapes it and creates its hearing, vision, skin, flesh, and bones….”
he noted that the first 40 days constitute a clearly distinguishable stage of embryo-genesis.
According to modern science, the end of the sixth week (42 nights) is the time where the foetal development of the limbs is at its height. This is the peak of the rapid development that occurs between the fourth and eighth week.
He was particularly impressed by the absolute precision and accuracy of Prophet Muhammad’s sayings (peace be upon him).
The Two Seas that do not Intermix
Regarding the seas, God says: “He has let loose the two seas, converging together, with a barrier between them [which] they do not break through.” Qur’an, 55:19-20. The scientific fact that seas of different properties do not intermix has only very recently been discovered by oceanographers. A physical force called surface tension prevents the waters of neighbouring seas from mixing, due to the difference in the density of these waters. It is as if a thin wall were between them.
The Creation of Living Things from Water
“Allah created every [living] creature from water. Some of them go on their bellies, some of them on two legs, and some on four. Allah creates whatever He wills. Allah has power over all things.”Qur’an, 24:45
Water is the main component of organic matter. Between 50-90% of the weight of living things consists of water. Furthermore, 80% of the cytoplasm (basic cell material) is water. The analysis of cytoplasm took place hundreds of years after the revelation of the Qur’an.
Mountains as Stabilisers
Mountains play an important role in stabilising the crust of the earth, by hindering its shaking. God has said in the Qur’an:
“And He has set firm mountains in the earth so that it would not shake with you…”Qur’an, 16:15
Likewise, the modern theory of plate tectonics agrees that mountains work as stabilisers for the earth. The knowledge about the role of mountains as stabilisers has just begun to be understood by scientists in the framework of plate tectonics.
What do Modern Scientists say?
Dr Keith L. Moore, Professor Emeritus of Anatomy and Cell Biology, was Associate Dean of Basic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine as well as the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy. He is the author of the book entitled The Developing Human, which has been translated into eight languages and was chosen by a special committee in the United States as the best book authored by one person.
During one conference, Professor Moore stated: “It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur’an about human development. 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 later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.”
Dr. T. V. N. Persaud, Professor of Anatomy, Professor of Pediatrics and Child Health, and Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Manitoba, Canada, was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy for 16 years. He is the author or editor of 22 textbooks and has published over 181 scientific papers. He received the most distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the J.C.B. Grant Award, from the Canadian Association of Anatomists.
When he was asked about the scientific miracles in the Qur’an which he has researched, he stated the following: “You have someone illiterate making profound pronouncements and statements that are amazingly accurate about scientific nature. And I personally can’t see how this could be a mere chance. There are too many accuracies and, like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which led him to these statements.”
In Conclusion
This pamphlet has provided a mere glimpse of the many scientific facts mentioned in the Qur’an. Due to space limitations, topics such as what the Qur’an says about the water cycle, the oceans, astronomy, history, the human anatomy, flora and fauna, could not be included. These scientific facts were revealed over 1400 years ago, when technological equipment and knowledge was inadequate to make such discoveries. This proves that not only these facts but the remaining contents of the Qur’an were divinely revealed from the One True God who created the Universe and all that it contains. Be of those who read and discovers the beauty and truth of the Qur’an, so that you may discover the beauty and truth of this world and the world of the afterlife to come!