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The Holy Quran
The Qur’an And Modern Science
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<blockquote data-quote="genc_kalem" data-source="post: 179603" data-attributes="member: 15919"><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: red"><strong>The Qur’an And Science</strong></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">For many centuries, humankind was unable to study certain data contained in the verses of the Qur’an because they did not possess sufficient scientific means. It is only today that numerous verses of the Qur’an dealing with natural phenomena have become comprehensible. A reading of old commentaries on the Qur’an, however knowledgeable their authors may have been in their day, bears solemn witness to a total inability to grasp the depth of meaning in such verses. I could even go so far as to say that, in the 20th century, with its compartmentalization of ever-increasing knowledge, it is still not easy for the average scientist to understand everything he reads in the Qur’an on such subjects, without having recourse to specialized research. This means that to understand all such verses of the Qur’an, one is nowadays required to have an absolutely encyclopedic knowledge embracing many scientific disciplines.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I should like to stress, that I use the word science to mean knowledge which has been soundly established. It does not include the theories which, for a time, help to explain a phenomenon or a series of phenomena, only to be abandoned later on in favor of other explanations. These newer explanations have become more plausible thanks to scientific progress. I only intend to deal with comparisons between statements in the Qur’an and scientific knowledge which are not likely to be subject to further discussion. Wherever I introduce scientific facts which are not yet 100% established, I will make it quite clear.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">There are also some very rare examples of statements in the Qur’an which have not, as yet, been confirmed by modern science. I shall refer to these by pointing out that all the evidence available today leads scientists to regard them as being highly probable. An example of this is the statement in the Qur’an that life has an aquatic origin <strong>(</strong> <strong>“And I created every living thing out of water” Qur’an, 21:30 ).</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">These scientific considerations should not, however, make us forget that the</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an remains a religious book par excellence and that it cannot be expected to have a scientific purpose per se. In the Qur’an, whenever humans are invited to reflect upon the wonders of creation and the numerous natural phenomena, they can easily see that the obvious intention is to stress Divine Omnipotence. </span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The fact that, in these reflections, we can find allusions to data connected with scientific knowledge is surely another of God’s gifts whose value must shine out in an age where scientifically based atheism seeks to gain control of society at the expense of the belief in God. But the Qur’an does not need unusual characteristics like this to make its supernatural nature felt. Scientific statements such as these are only one specific aspect of the Islamic revelation which the Bible does not share.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Throughout my research I have constantly tried to remain totally objective. I</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">believe I have succeeded in approaching the study of the Qur’an with the same objectivity that a doctor has when opening a file on a patient. In other words, only by carefully analyzing all the symptoms can one arrive at an accurate diagnosis. I must admit that it was certainly not faith in Islam that first guided my steps, but simply a desire to search for the truth. This is how I see it today. It was mainly the facts which, by the time I had finished my study, led me to see the Qur’an as the divinely-revealed text it really is.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: darkred"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>by</strong></span></span></strong></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="color: darkred"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Dr. Maurice Bucaille</strong></span></span></strong></span></p><p><strong></strong></p><p><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: darkred"><strong>Edited by Dr. A. A. B. Philips</strong></span></span></span></strong></p><p><strong></strong></p><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: #0000ff">ASTRONOMY</span></span></span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Whenever I describe to Westerners the details the Qur’an contains on certain</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">points of astronomy, it is common for someone to reply that there is nothing</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">unusual in this since the Arabs made important discoveries in the field of</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">astronomy long before the Europeans. But, this is a mistaken idea resulting from an ignorance of history. In the first place, science developed in the Arab World at a considerable time after the Qur’anic revelation had occurred. Secondly, the scientific knowledge prevalent at the highpoint of Islamic civilization would have made it impossible for any human being to have written statements on the heavens comparable to those in the Qur’an. The material on this subject is so vast that I can only provide a brief outline of it here.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p> <p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">The Sun and Moon.</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></strong></em><em><strong></strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></strong></em></p> <p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Whereas the Bible talks of the sun and the moon as two lights differing only in size, the Qur’an distinguishes between them by the use of different terms: light (noor) for the moon, and lamp <em>(siraaj) </em>for the sun.</span></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">"Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the</span></span></strong></strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?"</span></span></strong></strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 78:12-13</span></span></strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The moon is an inert body which reflects light, whereas the sun is a celestial</span></span></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">body in a state of permanent combustion producing both light and heat.</span></span></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Stars and Planets </span></span></span></strong></em></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The word ‘star’ <em>(najm) </em>in the Qur’an ( 86:3 ) is accompanied by the adjective</span></span></p><p></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">thaaqib </span></span></em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">which indicates that it burns and consumes itself as it pierces through the shadows of the night. It was much later discovered that stars are heavenly bodies producing their own light like the sun.</span></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In the Qur’an, a different word, <em>kawkab, </em>is used to refer to the planets which are celestial bodies that reflect light and do not produce their own light like the sun.</span></span></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><strong><strong>“We have adorned the lowest heaven with ornaments, the planets.” </strong></strong><strong>Qur’an,</strong></span></span></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">37:6</span></span></strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong></p></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Orbits</span></span></span></strong></em></strong></p><p><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Today, the laws governing the celestial systems are well known. Galaxies are</span></span></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">balanced by the position of stars and planets in well-defined orbits, as well as the interplay of gravitational forces produced by their masses and the speed of their movements. But is this not what the Qur’an describes in terms which have only become comprehensible in modern times. In chapter <em>al-Ambiyaa </em>we find:</span></span></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“(God is) the one who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon.</span></span></strong></strong></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion.” </span></span></strong></strong></em></p><p></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an,21:33</span></span></strong></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The arabic word which expresses this movement is the verb <em>yasbahoon </em>which</span></span></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">implies the idea of motion produced by a moving body, whether it is the</span></span></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">movement of one’s legs running on the ground, or the action of swimming in</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">water. In the case of a celestial body, one is forced to translate it, according to its original meaning, as ‘to travel with its own motion.’</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In my book, <em>The Bible, The Qur'an and Science, </em>I have given the precise</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">scientific data corresponding to the motion of celestial bodies. They are well</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">known for the moon, but less widely known for the sun.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">The Day and Night</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Qur’anic description of the sequence of day and night would, in itself, be</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">rather commonplace were it not for the fact that it is expressed in terms that are today highly appropriate. The Qur’an uses the verb <em>kawwara </em>in chapter <em>az-Zumar </em>to describe the way the night ‘winds’ or ‘coils’ itself around the day and the day</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">around the night.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">“He coils the night upon the day and the day upon the night.”</span></span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">Qur’an, 39:5</span></span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The original meaning of the verb <em>k</em>is to coil a turban around the head. This is a</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">totally valid comparison; yet at the time the Qur’an was revealed, the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">astronomical data necessary to make this comparison were unknown. It is not until man landed on the moon and observed the earth spinning on its axis, that the dark half of the globe appeared to wind itself around the light and the light half appeared to wind itself around the dark.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">The Solar Apex</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The notion of a settled place for the sun is vividly described in chapter <em>Yaa Seen </em>of the Qur’an:</span></span></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">"The sun runs its coarse to a settled place That is the decree</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">of the Almighty, the All Knowing.” Qur’an, 36:38</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></strong></em></p></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Settled place” is the translation of the word <em>mustaqarr </em>which indicates an exact</span></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">appointed place and time. Modern astronomy confirms that the solar system is indeed moving in space at a rate of 12 miles per second towards a point situated in the constellation of Hercules ( <em>alpha lyrae </em>) whose exact location has been precisely calculated. Astronomers have even give it a name, the solar apex.</span></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Expansion of the Universe</span></span></span></strong></em></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Chapter <em>ath-Thaariyaat </em>of the Qur’an also seems to allude to one of the most</span></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">imposing discoveries of modern science, the expansion of the Universe.</span></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">“I built the heaven with power and it is I, who am expanding</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">it.” </span></span></strong></strong></span></p></strong></em></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="color: red"></span></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">Qur’an,51:47</span></span></span></strong></strong></em><strong></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The expansion of the universe was first suggested by the general theory of</span></span></em></p><p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">relativity and is supported by the calculations of astrophysics. The regular</span></span></p><p></em><p style="text-align: left"></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">movement of the galactic light towards the red section of the spectrum is</span></span></em></p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">explained by the distancing of one galaxy from another. Thus, the size of the</span></span></em></p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">universe appears to be progressively increasing.</span></span></em></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Conquest of Space</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Among the achievements of modern science is the “conquest” of space which</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">has resulted in mans journey to the moon. The prediction of this event surely</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">springs to mind when we read the chapter <em>ar-Rahmaan </em>in the Qur’an:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“O assembly of Jinns and men, if you can penetrate the</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them!</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black"><strong>You will not penetrate them except with authority.”</strong></span></span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black"><strong>Qur’an,55:33</strong></span></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Authority to travel in space can only come from the Creator of the laws which govern movement and space. The whole of this Qur’anic chapter invites humankind to recognize God’s beneficence.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 18px"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">GEOLOGY</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 18px"></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Let us now return to earth to discover some of the many amazing statements</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">contained in Qur’anic reflections about our own planet. They deal, not only with the physical phenomena observed here on earth, but also with details concerning the living organisms that inhabit it.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">As in the case of everything we have discussed so far, we shall see that the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an also expresses concepts in the field of geology that were way ahead of those current at the time of its revelation.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">At this point, we must ask ourselves the following question: How could an</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">uneducated man in the middle of the desert accurately tackle so many and such varied subjects at a time when mythology and superstition reigned supreme?</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">How could he so skillfully avoid every belief that was proven to be totally</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">inaccurate many centuries later?</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Water Cycle</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The verses dealing with the earthly systems are a case in point. I have quoted a large number of them in my book, <em>The Bible, The Qur’an and Science, </em>and have paid special attention to those that deal with the water cycle in nature. This is a topic which is well known today. Consequently, the verses in the Qur’an that refer to the water cycle seem to express ideas that are now totally self-evident. But if we consider the ideas prevalent at that time, they appear to be based more on myth and philosophical speculation than on observed fact, even though useful practical knowledge on soil irrigation was current at that period.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Let us examine, for example, the following verse in chapter <em>az-Zumar:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">“Have you not seen that Allah sent rain down from the sky and</span></span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">caused it to penetrate the ground and come forth as springs,</span></span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">then He caused crops of different colors to grow...”</span></span></span></strong></strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black">Qur’an,39:21</span></span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Such notions seem quite natural to us today, but we should not forget that, not so long ago, they were not prevalent. It was not until the sixteenth century, with Bernard Palissy, that we gained the first coherent description of the water cycle.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Prior to this, people believed that the waters of the oceans, under the effect of winds, were thrust towards the interior of the continents. They then returned to the oceans via the great abyss, which, since Plato’s time was called the <em>Tartarus.</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In the seventeenth century, great thinkers such as Descartes still believed in this myth. Even in the nineteenth century there were still those who believed in Aristotle’s theory that water was condensed in cool mountain caverns and formed underground lakes that fed springs. Today, we know that it is the infiltration of rain water into the ground that is responsible for this. If one compares the facts of modern hydrology with the data found in numerous verses of the Qur’an on this subject, one cannot fail to notice the remarkable degree of agreement between the two.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Mountains</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In geology, modern science has recently discovered the phenomenon of folding which formed the mountain ranges. The earth’s crust is like a solid shell, while the deeper layers are hot and fluid, and thus inhospitable to any form of life. It has also been discovered that the stability of mountains is linked to the phenomenon of folding. The process of mountain formation by folding drove the earth’s crust down into the lower layers and provided foundations for the mountains.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Let us now compare modern ideas with one verse among many in the Qur’an</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">that deals with this subject. It is taken from chapter <em>an-Naba’:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: red">“Have We not made the earth an expanse and the mountains</span></span></span></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: black"><span style="color: red">stakes?”</span>Qur’an, 78:6-7</span></span></span></strong></em></p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></p></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Stakes ( <em>awtaad </em>), which are driven into the ground like those used to anchor a tent, are the deep foundations of geological folds.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Here, as in the case of all the other topics presented, the objective observer</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">cannot fail to notice the absence of any contradiction to modern knowledge.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: blue">BIOLOGY</span></span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">More than anything else, I was struck by statements in the Qur’an dealing with living things, both in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, especially with regard to reproduction. We should really devote much more time to this subject, but, due to the limited scope of this presentation, I can only give a few examples.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I must once again stress the fact that it is only in modern times that scientific progress has made the hidden meaning of some Qur’anic verses</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">comprehensible to us. Numerous translations and commentaries on the Qur’an</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">have been made by learned men who had no access to modern scientific</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">knowledge. It is for this reason that scientists find some of their interpretations unacceptable.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">There are also other verses whose obvious meanings are easily understood, but which conceal scientific meanings which are startling, to say the least. This is the case of a verse in chapter <em>al-Ambiyaa, </em>a part of which has already been quoted:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Do the unbelievers not realize that the heavens and the earth</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">were joined together,</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">then I clove them asunder and I made every living thing out of</span></span></strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">water. Will they still not believe?”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></em></p><p><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p> <em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 21:30</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">This is a dramatic affirmation of the modern idea that the origin of life is aquatic.</span></span></p><p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Botany</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Progress in botany at the time of Muhammad (S) was not advanced enough in any country for scientists to know that plants have both male and female parts.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Nevertheless, we may read the following in the chapter <em>Taa Haa:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“(God is the One who) sent down rain from the sky and with it</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">brought forth a variety of plants in pairs.”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 20:53</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Today we know that fruit comes from plants that have sexual characteristics even when they come from unfertilized flowers, like bananas. In the chapter <em>ar-Ra‘d</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">we read the following:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“... and of all fruits (God) placed (on the earth) two pairs.”</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 13:3</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue"><strong>Physiology</strong></span></span></span></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In the field of physiology, there is one verse which appears extremely significant to me. One thousand years before the discovery of the blood circulatory system, and roughly thirteen centuries before it was determined that the internal organs were nourished by the process of digestive , a verse in the Qur’an described the source of the constituents of milk, in conformity with scientific facts.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">To understand this verse, it must first be known that chemical reactions occur between food and enzymes in the mouth, the stomach and the intestines releasing nutrients in molecular form which are then absorbed into the circulatory system through countless microscopic projections of the intestinal wall called villi.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Blood in the circulatory system then transports the nutrients to all the organs of the body, among which are the milk-producing mammary glands.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">This biological process must be basically understood, if we are to understand a verse in the Qur’an which has for many centuries given rise to commentaries that were totally incomprehensible.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Today it is not difficult to see why! This verse is taken from the chapter <em>an-Nahl:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Verily, in cattle there is a lesson for yon. I give you drink from</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">their insides, coming from a conjunction between the digested</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">contents ( of the intestines ) and the blood, milk pure and</span></span></strong></strong></span><strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">pleasant for those who drink it.”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 16:66</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The constituents of milk are secreted by the mammary glands which are</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">nourished by the product of food digestion brought to them by the bloodstream.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The initial event which sets the whole process in motion is the conjunction of the contents of the intestine and blood at the level of the intestinal wall itself.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">This very precise concept is the result of the discoveries made in the chemistry and physiology of the digestive system over one thousand years after the time of Prophet Muhammad (S).</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: blue">EMBRYOLOGY</span></span></span></strong></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">There are a multitude of statements in the Qur’an on the subject of human</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">reproduction which constitute a challenge to the embryologist seeking a human explanation for them. It was only after the birth of the basic sciences which contributed to our knowledge of biology and the invention of the microscope, that humans were able to understand the depth of those Qur’anic statements. </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It was impossible for a human being living in the early seventh century to have accurately expressed such ideas. There is nothing to indicate that people in the Middle-East and Arabia knew anything more about this subject than people living in Europe or anywhere else. Today, there are many Muslims, possessing a thorough knowledge of the Qur’an and natural sciences, who have recognized the amazing similarity between the verses of the Qur’an dealing with reproduction and modern scientific knowledge.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I shall always remember the comment of an eighteen-year-old Muslim, brought up in Saudi Arabia, commenting on a reference to human reproduction as described in the Qur’an. He pointed to the Qur’an and said, “This book provides us with all the essential information on the subject. When I was at school, my teachers used the Qur’an to explain how children were born. Your books on sexeducation are a bit late on the scene!”</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">If I were to spend as long on all the details of reproduction contained in the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, as the subject merits, this pamphlet would become a book. The detailed linguistic and scientific explanations I have given in <em>The Bible, The Qur’an and Science </em>are sufficient for the person who does not speak Arabic nor know much about embryology to be able to understand the meaning of such verses in the light of modern science in more depth.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It is especially in the field of embryology that a comparison between the beliefs present at the time of the Qur’an’s revelation and modern scientific data, leaves us amazed at the degree of agreement between the Qur’an’s statements and modern scientific knowledge. Not to mention the total absence of any reference in the Qur’an to the mistaken ideas that were prevalent around the world at the time.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Fertilization</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Let us now isolate, from all these verses, precise ideas concerning the</span></span></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">complexity of the semen and the fact that an infinitely small quantity is required to ensure fertilization. In chapter <em>al-Insaan </em>the Qur’an states:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Verily, I created humankind from a small quantity of mingled</span></span></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">fluids.”</span> Qur’an, 76:2</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Arabic word <em>nutfah </em>has been translated as "small quantity”. It comes from the verb meaning ‘to dribble, to trickle’ and is used to describe what remains in the bottom of a bucket which has been emptied. The verse correctly implies that fertilization is performed by only a very small volume of liquid.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">On the other hand, mingled fluids ( <em>amshaaj </em>) has been understood by early</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">commentators to refer to the mixture of male and female discharges. Modern</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">authors have corrected this view and note that the sperm is made up of various components.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">When the Qur’an talks of a fertilizing fluid composed of different components, it also informs us that human progeny will be formed from something extracted from this liquid. This is the meaning of the following verse in chapter <em>as-Sajdah:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Then He made [ man’s ] offspring from the essence of a</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">despised fluid.”</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 32:8</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Arabic word translated by the term ‘essence’ is <em>sulaalah </em>which means</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">‘something extracted, the best part of a thing’. In whatever way it is translated, it refers to part of a whole. Under normal conditions, only one single cell, spermatozoon, out of over 50 million ejaculated by a man during sexual intercourse will actually penetrate the ovule.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Implantation</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Once the egg has been fertilized in the fallopian tube, it descends to lodge itself inside the uterus. This process is called the ‘implantation of the egg’. Implantation is a result of the development of <em>villosities, </em>which, like roots in the soil, draw nourishment from the wall of the uterus and make the egg literally cling to the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">womb. </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The process of implantation is appropriately described in several verses</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">by the word <em>‘alaq, </em>which is also the title of the chapter in which one of the verses appears:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><strong><strong><span style="color: red">“God fashioned humans from a clinging entity.”</span> </strong></strong><strong>Qur’an, 96:2</strong></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">I do not think there is any reasonable translation of the word <em>‘alaq </em>other than to use it in its original sense. It is a mistake to speak of a ‘blood clot’ here, which is the term Professor Hamidullah uses in his translation. It is a derivative meaning which is not as appropriate in this context.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Embryo</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">The evolution of the embryo inside the maternal uterus is only briefly described, but the description is accurate, because the simple words referring to it correspond exactly to fundamental stages in its growth. This is what we read in a verse from the chapter <em>al-Mu’minoon:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“I fashioned the clinging entity into a chewed lump of flesh</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">and I fashioned the chewed flesh into bones and I clothed the</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">bones with intact flesh.”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 23:14</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The term ‘chewed flesh’ <em>(mudghah) </em>corresponds exactly to the appearance of the embryo at a certain stage in its development.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It is known that the bones develop inside this mass and that they are then</span></span></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">covered with muscle. This is the meaning of the term ‘intact flesh’ (lahm).</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The embryo passes through a stage where some parts are in proportion and</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">others out of proportion with what is later to become the individual. This is the obvious meaning of a verse in the chapter <em>al-Hajj, </em>which reads as follows:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“I fashioned (humans) a clinging entity, then into a lump of</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">flesh in proportion and out of proportion.”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 22:5.</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'">Next, we have a reference to the appearance of the senses and internal organs in the chapter <em>as-Sajdah:</em></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">“... and (God) gave you ears, eyes and hearts.”</span> Qur’an, 32:9</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Nothing here contradicts today’s data and, furthermore, none of the mistaken</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">ideas of the time have crept into the Qur’an. Throughout the Middle Ages there were a variety of beliefs about human development based on myths and speculations which continued for several centuries after the period. The most fundamental stage in the history of embryology came in 1651 with Harvey’s statement that “all life initially comes from an egg”. At that time, when science had benefited greatly from the invention of the microscope, people were still arguing about the respective roles of the egg and spermatozoon. Buffon, the great naturalist, was one of those in favor of the egg theory.Bonnet, on the other hand, supported the theory of ‘the ovaries of Eve’, which stated that Eve, the mother of the human race, was-supposed to have had inside her the seeds of all human beings packed together one inside the other.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: red"><strong>BIBLE, QUR’AN AND SCIENCE</strong></span></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We have now come to the last subject I would like to present in this short</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">pamphlet: it is the comparison between modern knowledge and passages in the Qur’an that are also referred to in the Bible.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Creation</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">We have already come across some of the contradictions between scripture and science regarding the creation of the universe. When dealing with that topic, I stressed the perfect agreement between modern knowledge and verses in the Qur’an, and pointed out that the Biblical narration contained statements that were scientifically unacceptable. This is hardly surprising if we are aware that the narration of the creation contained in the Bible was the work of priests living in the sixth century BC, hence the term ‘sacerdotal’ ( priestly ) narration is officially used to refer to it. The narration seems to have been conceived as the theme of a sermon designed to exhort people to observe the Sabbath. The narration was constructed with a definite end in view, and as Father de Vaux (a former head of </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">the Biblical School of Jerusalem) has noted, this end was essentially legalist in character.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Bible also contains a much shorter and older narration of Creation, the socalled</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">‘Yahvist’ version, which approaches the subject from a completely different</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">angle. They are both taken from Genesis, the first book of the Pentateuch or</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Torah. Moses is supposed to have been its author, but the text we have today has undergone many changes.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The sacerdotal narration of Genesis is famous for its whimsical genealogies, that go back to Adam, and which nobody takes very seriously. Nevertheless, such Gospel authors as Matthew and Luke have reproduced them, more or less wordfor-word, in their genealogies of Jesus. Matthew goes back as far as Abraham, and Luke to Adam. These writings are scientifically unacceptable, because they set a date for the age of the world and the time humans appeared on Earth,which most definitely contradicts what modern science has firmly established.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Qur’an, on the other hand, is completely free of dates of this kind.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Earlier on, we noted how perfectly the Qur’an agrees with modern ideas on the formation of the Universe. On the other hand, the Biblical narration of primordial waters is hardly, nor is the creation of light on the first day before the creation of the stars which produce this light; the existence of an evening and a morning before the creation of the earth; the creation of the earth on the third day before that of the sun on the fourth; the appearance of beasts of the earth on the sixth day after the appearance of the birds of the air on the fifth day, although the former came first. All these statements are the result of beliefs prevalent at the time this text was written and do not have any other meaning.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">Age of the Earth</span></span></span></strong></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">As for the Biblical genealogies which form the basis of the Jewish calendar and assert that today the world is 5738 years old, these are hardly admissible either.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Our solar system may well be four and a quarter billion years old, and the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">appearance of human beings on earth, as we know him today, may be estimated in tens of thousands of years, if not more. It is absolutely essential, therefore, to note that the Qur’an does not contain any such indications as to the age of the world, and that these are specific to the Biblical text.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue"><strong>The Flood</strong></span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">There is a second highly significant subject of comparison between the Bible and the Qur’an; descriptions of the deluge. In actual fact, the Biblical narration is a fusion of two descriptions in which events are related differently. The Bible speaks of a universal flood and places it roughly 300 years before Abraham.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">According to what we know of Abraham, this would imply a universal cataclysm around the twenty-first or twenty-second century BC This story would be untenable, in view of presently available historical data. How can we accept the idea that, in the twenty-first or twenty-second century BC, all civilization was wiped off the face of the earth by a universal cataclysm, when we know that this period corresponds, for example, to the one preceding the Middle Kingdom in Egypt, at roughly the date of the first Intermediary period before the eleventh dynasty? </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It is historically unacceptable to maintain that, at this time, humanity was totally wiped out. None of the preceding statements is acceptable according to modern knowledge. From this point of view, we can measure the enormous </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">gap separating the Bible from the Qur’an.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">In contrast to the Bible, the narration contained in the Qur’an deals with a</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">cataclysm that is limited to Noah’s people. They were punished for their sins, as were other ungodly peoples. The Qur’an does not fix the cataclysm in time.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">There are absolutely no historical or archaeological objections to the narration in the Qur’an.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><em><strong><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="color: blue">The Pharaoh</span></span></span></strong></em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">A third point of comparison, which is extremely significant, is the story of Moses, and especially the Exodus from Egypt of the Hebrews. Here I can only give a highly compressed account of a study on this subject that appears in my book. I have noted the points where the Biblical and Qur’anic narrations agree and disagree, and I have found points where the two texts complement each other in a very useful way.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Among the many hypotheses, concerning the historical time-frame occupied by the Exodus in the history of the pharaohs, I have concluded that the most likely is the theory which makes Merneptah, Ramesses II’s successor, the pharaoh of the Exodus. </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The comparison of the data contained in the Scriptures with archeological evidence strongly supports this hypothesis. I am pleased to be able to say that the Biblical narration contributes weighty evidence leading us to situate Moses in the history of the pharaohs. Moses was probably born duringthe reign of Ramesses II. Biblical data. are therefore of considerable historical value in the story of Moses. A medical study of the mummy of Merneptah has yielded further useful information on the possible causes of this pharaoh’s death.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The fact that we possess the mummy of this pharaoh is one of paramount</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">importance. The Bible records that pharaoh was engulfed in the sea, but does not give any details as to what subsequently became of his corpse. The Qur’an, in chapter <em>Yoonus, </em>notes that the body of the pharaoh would be saved from the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">waters:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">“Today I will save your dead body so that you may be a sign</span></span></strong></strong></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="color: red"></span><strong><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="color: red">for those who come after you.”</span> </span></span></strong></strong></p></p> <p style="text-align: left"></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Qur’an, 10:92</span></span></strong></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">A medical examination of this mummy, has, shown that the body could not have stayed in the water for long, because it does not show signs of deterioration due to prolonged submersion. Here again, the comparison between the narration in the Qur’an and the data provided by modern knowledge does not give rise to the slightest objection from a scientific point of view.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Such points of agreement are characteristic of the Qur’anic revelation. But, are we throwing the Judeo-Christian revelation into discredit and depriving it of all its intrinsic value by stressing the faults as seen from a scientific point of view? I think not because the criticism is not aimed at the text as a whole, but only at certain passages. There are parts of the Bible which have an undoubted historical value. I have shown that in my book, <em>The Bible, The Qur’an and Science, </em>where I discuss passages which enable us to locate Moses in time.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The main causes which brought about such differences as arise from the</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">comparison between the Holy Scriptures and modern knowledge is known to</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">modern scholars. </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Old Testament constitutes a collection of literary works</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">produced in the course of roughly nine centuries and which has undergone many alterations. The part played by men in the actual composition of the texts of the Bible is quite considerable.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">The Qur’anic revelation, on the other hand, has a history which is radically</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">different. As we have already seen, from the moment it was first commto</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">humans, it was learnt by heart and written down during Muhammad’s own</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">lifetime. It is thanks to this fact that the Qur’an does not pose any problem of authenticity.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">A totally objective examination of the Qur’an, in the light of modern knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has already been noted on repeated occasions throughout this presentation.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a man of Muhammad’s time to have</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">been the author of such statements, on account of the state of knowledge in his day. </span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Such considerations are part of what gives the Qur’anic revelation its unique place among religious and non-religious texts, and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide an explanation based solely upon materialistic reasoning.</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Such facts as I have had the pleasure of exposing to you here, appear to</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 12px">represent a genuine challenge to human explanation leaving only one alternative:</span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow'"><span style="font-size: 18px"><span style="color: red">the Qur’an is undoubtedly a revelation from God.</span></span></span></p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p><p style="text-align: left"><em><strong><strong><strong><em></p><p></em></strong></strong></strong></em></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="genc_kalem, post: 179603, member: 15919"] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=red][B]The Qur’an And Science[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]For many centuries, humankind was unable to study certain data contained in the verses of the Qur’an because they did not possess sufficient scientific means. It is only today that numerous verses of the Qur’an dealing with natural phenomena have become comprehensible. A reading of old commentaries on the Qur’an, however knowledgeable their authors may have been in their day, bears solemn witness to a total inability to grasp the depth of meaning in such verses. I could even go so far as to say that, in the 20th century, with its compartmentalization of ever-increasing knowledge, it is still not easy for the average scientist to understand everything he reads in the Qur’an on such subjects, without having recourse to specialized research. This means that to understand all such verses of the Qur’an, one is nowadays required to have an absolutely encyclopedic knowledge embracing many scientific disciplines.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]I should like to stress, that I use the word science to mean knowledge which has been soundly established. It does not include the theories which, for a time, help to explain a phenomenon or a series of phenomena, only to be abandoned later on in favor of other explanations. These newer explanations have become more plausible thanks to scientific progress. I only intend to deal with comparisons between statements in the Qur’an and scientific knowledge which are not likely to be subject to further discussion. Wherever I introduce scientific facts which are not yet 100% established, I will make it quite clear.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]There are also some very rare examples of statements in the Qur’an which have not, as yet, been confirmed by modern science. I shall refer to these by pointing out that all the evidence available today leads scientists to regard them as being highly probable. An example of this is the statement in the Qur’an that life has an aquatic origin [B]([/B] [B]“And I created every living thing out of water” Qur’an, 21:30 ).[/B][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]These scientific considerations should not, however, make us forget that the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an remains a religious book par excellence and that it cannot be expected to have a scientific purpose per se. In the Qur’an, whenever humans are invited to reflect upon the wonders of creation and the numerous natural phenomena, they can easily see that the obvious intention is to stress Divine Omnipotence. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The fact that, in these reflections, we can find allusions to data connected with scientific knowledge is surely another of God’s gifts whose value must shine out in an age where scientifically based atheism seeks to gain control of society at the expense of the belief in God. But the Qur’an does not need unusual characteristics like this to make its supernatural nature felt. Scientific statements such as these are only one specific aspect of the Islamic revelation which the Bible does not share.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Throughout my research I have constantly tried to remain totally objective. I[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]believe I have succeeded in approaching the study of the Qur’an with the same objectivity that a doctor has when opening a file on a patient. In other words, only by carefully analyzing all the symptoms can one arrive at an accurate diagnosis. I must admit that it was certainly not faith in Islam that first guided my steps, but simply a desire to search for the truth. This is how I see it today. It was mainly the facts which, by the time I had finished my study, led me to see the Qur’an as the divinely-revealed text it really is.[/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=darkred][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][B]by[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][B]Dr. Maurice Bucaille[/B][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/COLOR][/LEFT] [B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=darkred][B]Edited by Dr. A. A. B. Philips[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [/B] [LEFT][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=#0000ff]ASTRONOMY[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Whenever I describe to Westerners the details the Qur’an contains on certain[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]points of astronomy, it is common for someone to reply that there is nothing[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]unusual in this since the Arabs made important discoveries in the field of[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]astronomy long before the Europeans. But, this is a mistaken idea resulting from an ignorance of history. In the first place, science developed in the Arab World at a considerable time after the Qur’anic revelation had occurred. Secondly, the scientific knowledge prevalent at the highpoint of Islamic civilization would have made it impossible for any human being to have written statements on the heavens comparable to those in the Qur’an. The material on this subject is so vast that I can only provide a brief outline of it here.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]The Sun and Moon.[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I][/B][/I][I][B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Whereas the Bible talks of the sun and the moon as two lights differing only in size, the Qur’an distinguishes between them by the use of different terms: light (noor) for the moon, and lamp [I](siraaj) [/I]for the sun.[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/I][/LEFT] [I][B] [LEFT][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]"Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?"[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 78:12-13[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The moon is an inert body which reflects light, whereas the sun is a celestial[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]body in a state of permanent combustion producing both light and heat.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Stars and Planets [/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The word ‘star’ [I](najm) [/I]in the Qur’an ( 86:3 ) is accompanied by the adjective[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT] [I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]thaaqib [/SIZE][/FONT][/I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]which indicates that it burns and consumes itself as it pierces through the shadows of the night. It was much later discovered that stars are heavenly bodies producing their own light like the sun.[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In the Qur’an, a different word, [I]kawkab, [/I]is used to refer to the planets which are celestial bodies that reflect light and do not produce their own light like the sun.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][B][B]“We have adorned the lowest heaven with ornaments, the planets.” [/B][/B][B]Qur’an,[/B][/FONT][/SIZE] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]37:6[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Orbits[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I][/B][/LEFT] [B] [LEFT][I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Today, the laws governing the celestial systems are well known. Galaxies are[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]balanced by the position of stars and planets in well-defined orbits, as well as the interplay of gravitational forces produced by their masses and the speed of their movements. But is this not what the Qur’an describes in terms which have only become comprehensible in modern times. In chapter [I]al-Ambiyaa [/I]we find:[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [I][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“(God is) the one who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon.[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/I] [I][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion.” [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/I][/LEFT] [/B] [B] [LEFT][I][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an,21:33[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/I] [I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The arabic word which expresses this movement is the verb [I]yasbahoon [/I]which[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]implies the idea of motion produced by a moving body, whether it is the[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]movement of one’s legs running on the ground, or the action of swimming in[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]water. In the case of a celestial body, one is forced to translate it, according to its original meaning, as ‘to travel with its own motion.’[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In my book, [I]The Bible, The Qur'an and Science, [/I]I have given the precise[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]scientific data corresponding to the motion of celestial bodies. They are well[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]known for the moon, but less widely known for the sun.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]The Day and Night[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Qur’anic description of the sequence of day and night would, in itself, be[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]rather commonplace were it not for the fact that it is expressed in terms that are today highly appropriate. The Qur’an uses the verb [I]kawwara [/I]in chapter [I]az-Zumar [/I]to describe the way the night ‘winds’ or ‘coils’ itself around the day and the day[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]around the night.[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]“He coils the night upon the day and the day upon the night.”[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]Qur’an, 39:5[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The original meaning of the verb [I]k[/I]is to coil a turban around the head. This is a[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]totally valid comparison; yet at the time the Qur’an was revealed, the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]astronomical data necessary to make this comparison were unknown. It is not until man landed on the moon and observed the earth spinning on its axis, that the dark half of the globe appeared to wind itself around the light and the light half appeared to wind itself around the dark.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]The Solar Apex[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The notion of a settled place for the sun is vividly described in chapter [I]Yaa Seen [/I]of the Qur’an:[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]"The sun runs its coarse to a settled place That is the decree[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]of the Almighty, the All Knowing.” Qur’an, 36:38[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Settled place” is the translation of the word [I]mustaqarr [/I]which indicates an exact[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]appointed place and time. Modern astronomy confirms that the solar system is indeed moving in space at a rate of 12 miles per second towards a point situated in the constellation of Hercules ( [I]alpha lyrae [/I]) whose exact location has been precisely calculated. Astronomers have even give it a name, the solar apex.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Expansion of the Universe[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Chapter [I]ath-Thaariyaat [/I]of the Qur’an also seems to allude to one of the most[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]imposing discoveries of modern science, the expansion of the Universe.[/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=red][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]“I built the heaven with power and it is I, who am expanding[/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]it.” [/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B] [/COLOR][/LEFT] [/B][/I][/LEFT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]Qur’an,51:47[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I][B] [LEFT][I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The expansion of the universe was first suggested by the general theory of[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/LEFT] [I] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]relativity and is supported by the calculations of astrophysics. The regular[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT] [/I][LEFT] [LEFT][I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]movement of the galactic light towards the red section of the spectrum is[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]explained by the distancing of one galaxy from another. Thus, the size of the[/SIZE][/FONT][/I] [I][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]universe appears to be progressively increasing.[/SIZE][/FONT][/I][/LEFT] [I] [LEFT][I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Conquest of Space[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Among the achievements of modern science is the “conquest” of space which[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]has resulted in mans journey to the moon. The prediction of this event surely[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]springs to mind when we read the chapter [I]ar-Rahmaan [/I]in the Qur’an:[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“O assembly of Jinns and men, if you can penetrate the[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them![/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black][B]You will not penetrate them except with authority.”[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black][B]Qur’an,55:33[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Authority to travel in space can only come from the Creator of the laws which govern movement and space. The whole of this Qur’anic chapter invites humankind to recognize God’s beneficence.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=5][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]GEOLOGY[/COLOR][/FONT][/B][/B] [/SIZE] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Let us now return to earth to discover some of the many amazing statements[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]contained in Qur’anic reflections about our own planet. They deal, not only with the physical phenomena observed here on earth, but also with details concerning the living organisms that inhabit it.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]As in the case of everything we have discussed so far, we shall see that the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an also expresses concepts in the field of geology that were way ahead of those current at the time of its revelation.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]At this point, we must ask ourselves the following question: How could an[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]uneducated man in the middle of the desert accurately tackle so many and such varied subjects at a time when mythology and superstition reigned supreme?[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]How could he so skillfully avoid every belief that was proven to be totally[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]inaccurate many centuries later?[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Water Cycle[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The verses dealing with the earthly systems are a case in point. I have quoted a large number of them in my book, [I]The Bible, The Qur’an and Science, [/I]and have paid special attention to those that deal with the water cycle in nature. This is a topic which is well known today. Consequently, the verses in the Qur’an that refer to the water cycle seem to express ideas that are now totally self-evident. But if we consider the ideas prevalent at that time, they appear to be based more on myth and philosophical speculation than on observed fact, even though useful practical knowledge on soil irrigation was current at that period.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Let us examine, for example, the following verse in chapter [I]az-Zumar:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]“Have you not seen that Allah sent rain down from the sky and[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]caused it to penetrate the ground and come forth as springs,[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B] [B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]then He caused crops of different colors to grow...”[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black]Qur’an,39:21[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Such notions seem quite natural to us today, but we should not forget that, not so long ago, they were not prevalent. It was not until the sixteenth century, with Bernard Palissy, that we gained the first coherent description of the water cycle.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Prior to this, people believed that the waters of the oceans, under the effect of winds, were thrust towards the interior of the continents. They then returned to the oceans via the great abyss, which, since Plato’s time was called the [I]Tartarus.[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In the seventeenth century, great thinkers such as Descartes still believed in this myth. Even in the nineteenth century there were still those who believed in Aristotle’s theory that water was condensed in cool mountain caverns and formed underground lakes that fed springs. Today, we know that it is the infiltration of rain water into the ground that is responsible for this. If one compares the facts of modern hydrology with the data found in numerous verses of the Qur’an on this subject, one cannot fail to notice the remarkable degree of agreement between the two.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Mountains[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In geology, modern science has recently discovered the phenomenon of folding which formed the mountain ranges. The earth’s crust is like a solid shell, while the deeper layers are hot and fluid, and thus inhospitable to any form of life. It has also been discovered that the stability of mountains is linked to the phenomenon of folding. The process of mountain formation by folding drove the earth’s crust down into the lower layers and provided foundations for the mountains.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Let us now compare modern ideas with one verse among many in the Qur’an[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]that deals with this subject. It is taken from chapter [I]an-Naba’:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=red]“Have We not made the earth an expanse and the mountains[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/LEFT] [B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=black][COLOR=red]stakes?”[/COLOR]Qur’an, 78:6-7[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Stakes ( [I]awtaad [/I]), which are driven into the ground like those used to anchor a tent, are the deep foundations of geological folds.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Here, as in the case of all the other topics presented, the objective observer[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]cannot fail to notice the absence of any contradiction to modern knowledge.[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=blue]BIOLOGY[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]More than anything else, I was struck by statements in the Qur’an dealing with living things, both in the animal and vegetable kingdoms, especially with regard to reproduction. We should really devote much more time to this subject, but, due to the limited scope of this presentation, I can only give a few examples.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]I must once again stress the fact that it is only in modern times that scientific progress has made the hidden meaning of some Qur’anic verses[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]comprehensible to us. Numerous translations and commentaries on the Qur’an[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]have been made by learned men who had no access to modern scientific[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]knowledge. It is for this reason that scientists find some of their interpretations unacceptable.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]There are also other verses whose obvious meanings are easily understood, but which conceal scientific meanings which are startling, to say the least. This is the case of a verse in chapter [I]al-Ambiyaa, [/I]a part of which has already been quoted:[/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Do the unbelievers not realize that the heavens and the earth[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]were joined together,[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]then I clove them asunder and I made every living thing out of[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/COLOR][B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]water. Will they still not believe?”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/LEFT] [/I][/LEFT] [I] [LEFT][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 21:30[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]This is a dramatic affirmation of the modern idea that the origin of life is aquatic.[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Botany[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [LEFT][LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Progress in botany at the time of Muhammad (S) was not advanced enough in any country for scientists to know that plants have both male and female parts.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Nevertheless, we may read the following in the chapter [I]Taa Haa:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“(God is the One who) sent down rain from the sky and with it[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/COLOR][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]brought forth a variety of plants in pairs.”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/LEFT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 20:53[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Today we know that fruit comes from plants that have sexual characteristics even when they come from unfertilized flowers, like bananas. In the chapter [I]ar-Ra‘d[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]we read the following:[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“... and of all fruits (God) placed (on the earth) two pairs.”[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/COLOR][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 13:3[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [I][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue][B]Physiology[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In the field of physiology, there is one verse which appears extremely significant to me. One thousand years before the discovery of the blood circulatory system, and roughly thirteen centuries before it was determined that the internal organs were nourished by the process of digestive , a verse in the Qur’an described the source of the constituents of milk, in conformity with scientific facts.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]To understand this verse, it must first be known that chemical reactions occur between food and enzymes in the mouth, the stomach and the intestines releasing nutrients in molecular form which are then absorbed into the circulatory system through countless microscopic projections of the intestinal wall called villi.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Blood in the circulatory system then transports the nutrients to all the organs of the body, among which are the milk-producing mammary glands.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]This biological process must be basically understood, if we are to understand a verse in the Qur’an which has for many centuries given rise to commentaries that were totally incomprehensible.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Today it is not difficult to see why! This verse is taken from the chapter [I]an-Nahl:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Verily, in cattle there is a lesson for yon. I give you drink from[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]their insides, coming from a conjunction between the digested[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]contents ( of the intestines ) and the blood, milk pure and[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/COLOR][B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]pleasant for those who drink it.”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/LEFT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 16:66[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The constituents of milk are secreted by the mammary glands which are[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]nourished by the product of food digestion brought to them by the bloodstream.[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The initial event which sets the whole process in motion is the conjunction of the contents of the intestine and blood at the level of the intestinal wall itself.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]This very precise concept is the result of the discoveries made in the chemistry and physiology of the digestive system over one thousand years after the time of Prophet Muhammad (S).[/SIZE][/FONT] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=blue]EMBRYOLOGY[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]There are a multitude of statements in the Qur’an on the subject of human[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]reproduction which constitute a challenge to the embryologist seeking a human explanation for them. It was only after the birth of the basic sciences which contributed to our knowledge of biology and the invention of the microscope, that humans were able to understand the depth of those Qur’anic statements. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]It was impossible for a human being living in the early seventh century to have accurately expressed such ideas. There is nothing to indicate that people in the Middle-East and Arabia knew anything more about this subject than people living in Europe or anywhere else. Today, there are many Muslims, possessing a thorough knowledge of the Qur’an and natural sciences, who have recognized the amazing similarity between the verses of the Qur’an dealing with reproduction and modern scientific knowledge.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]I shall always remember the comment of an eighteen-year-old Muslim, brought up in Saudi Arabia, commenting on a reference to human reproduction as described in the Qur’an. He pointed to the Qur’an and said, “This book provides us with all the essential information on the subject. When I was at school, my teachers used the Qur’an to explain how children were born. Your books on sexeducation are a bit late on the scene!”[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]If I were to spend as long on all the details of reproduction contained in the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, as the subject merits, this pamphlet would become a book. The detailed linguistic and scientific explanations I have given in [I]The Bible, The Qur’an and Science [/I]are sufficient for the person who does not speak Arabic nor know much about embryology to be able to understand the meaning of such verses in the light of modern science in more depth.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]It is especially in the field of embryology that a comparison between the beliefs present at the time of the Qur’an’s revelation and modern scientific data, leaves us amazed at the degree of agreement between the Qur’an’s statements and modern scientific knowledge. Not to mention the total absence of any reference in the Qur’an to the mistaken ideas that were prevalent around the world at the time.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Fertilization[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Let us now isolate, from all these verses, precise ideas concerning the[/SIZE][/FONT][/LEFT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]complexity of the semen and the fact that an infinitely small quantity is required to ensure fertilization. In chapter [I]al-Insaan [/I]the Qur’an states:[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][COLOR=red][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Verily, I created humankind from a small quantity of mingled[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [/COLOR][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]fluids.”[/COLOR] Qur’an, 76:2[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Arabic word [I]nutfah [/I]has been translated as "small quantity”. It comes from the verb meaning ‘to dribble, to trickle’ and is used to describe what remains in the bottom of a bucket which has been emptied. The verse correctly implies that fertilization is performed by only a very small volume of liquid.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]On the other hand, mingled fluids ( [I]amshaaj [/I]) has been understood by early[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]commentators to refer to the mixture of male and female discharges. Modern[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]authors have corrected this view and note that the sperm is made up of various components.[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]When the Qur’an talks of a fertilizing fluid composed of different components, it also informs us that human progeny will be formed from something extracted from this liquid. This is the meaning of the following verse in chapter [I]as-Sajdah:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Then He made [ man’s ] offspring from the essence of a[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]despised fluid.”[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/COLOR] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 32:8[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Arabic word translated by the term ‘essence’ is [I]sulaalah [/I]which means[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]‘something extracted, the best part of a thing’. In whatever way it is translated, it refers to part of a whole. Under normal conditions, only one single cell, spermatozoon, out of over 50 million ejaculated by a man during sexual intercourse will actually penetrate the ovule.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Implantation[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Once the egg has been fertilized in the fallopian tube, it descends to lodge itself inside the uterus. This process is called the ‘implantation of the egg’. Implantation is a result of the development of [I]villosities, [/I]which, like roots in the soil, draw nourishment from the wall of the uterus and make the egg literally cling to the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]womb. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The process of implantation is appropriately described in several verses[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]by the word [I]‘alaq, [/I]which is also the title of the chapter in which one of the verses appears:[/SIZE][/FONT] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][B][B][COLOR=red]“God fashioned humans from a clinging entity.”[/COLOR] [/B][/B][B]Qur’an, 96:2[/B][/FONT][/SIZE] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]I do not think there is any reasonable translation of the word [I]‘alaq [/I]other than to use it in its original sense. It is a mistake to speak of a ‘blood clot’ here, which is the term Professor Hamidullah uses in his translation. It is a derivative meaning which is not as appropriate in this context.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Embryo[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]The evolution of the embryo inside the maternal uterus is only briefly described, but the description is accurate, because the simple words referring to it correspond exactly to fundamental stages in its growth. This is what we read in a verse from the chapter [I]al-Mu’minoon:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“I fashioned the clinging entity into a chewed lump of flesh[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]and I fashioned the chewed flesh into bones and I clothed the[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/COLOR][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]bones with intact flesh.”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/LEFT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 23:14[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The term ‘chewed flesh’ [I](mudghah) [/I]corresponds exactly to the appearance of the embryo at a certain stage in its development.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]It is known that the bones develop inside this mass and that they are then[/SIZE][/FONT] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]covered with muscle. This is the meaning of the term ‘intact flesh’ (lahm).[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The embryo passes through a stage where some parts are in proportion and[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]others out of proportion with what is later to become the individual. This is the obvious meaning of a verse in the chapter [I]al-Hajj, [/I]which reads as follows:[/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“I fashioned (humans) a clinging entity, then into a lump of[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/COLOR][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]flesh in proportion and out of proportion.”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/LEFT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 22:5.[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow]Next, we have a reference to the appearance of the senses and internal organs in the chapter [I]as-Sajdah:[/I][/FONT][/SIZE] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]“... and (God) gave you ears, eyes and hearts.”[/COLOR] Qur’an, 32:9[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [LEFT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Nothing here contradicts today’s data and, furthermore, none of the mistaken[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]ideas of the time have crept into the Qur’an. Throughout the Middle Ages there were a variety of beliefs about human development based on myths and speculations which continued for several centuries after the period. The most fundamental stage in the history of embryology came in 1651 with Harvey’s statement that “all life initially comes from an egg”. At that time, when science had benefited greatly from the invention of the microscope, people were still arguing about the respective roles of the egg and spermatozoon. Buffon, the great naturalist, was one of those in favor of the egg theory.Bonnet, on the other hand, supported the theory of ‘the ovaries of Eve’, which stated that Eve, the mother of the human race, was-supposed to have had inside her the seeds of all human beings packed together one inside the other.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=red][B]BIBLE, QUR’AN AND SCIENCE[/B][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]We have now come to the last subject I would like to present in this short[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]pamphlet: it is the comparison between modern knowledge and passages in the Qur’an that are also referred to in the Bible.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Creation[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]We have already come across some of the contradictions between scripture and science regarding the creation of the universe. When dealing with that topic, I stressed the perfect agreement between modern knowledge and verses in the Qur’an, and pointed out that the Biblical narration contained statements that were scientifically unacceptable. This is hardly surprising if we are aware that the narration of the creation contained in the Bible was the work of priests living in the sixth century BC, hence the term ‘sacerdotal’ ( priestly ) narration is officially used to refer to it. The narration seems to have been conceived as the theme of a sermon designed to exhort people to observe the Sabbath. The narration was constructed with a definite end in view, and as Father de Vaux (a former head of [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]the Biblical School of Jerusalem) has noted, this end was essentially legalist in character.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Bible also contains a much shorter and older narration of Creation, the socalled[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]‘Yahvist’ version, which approaches the subject from a completely different[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]angle. They are both taken from Genesis, the first book of the Pentateuch or[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Torah. Moses is supposed to have been its author, but the text we have today has undergone many changes.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The sacerdotal narration of Genesis is famous for its whimsical genealogies, that go back to Adam, and which nobody takes very seriously. Nevertheless, such Gospel authors as Matthew and Luke have reproduced them, more or less wordfor-word, in their genealogies of Jesus. Matthew goes back as far as Abraham, and Luke to Adam. These writings are scientifically unacceptable, because they set a date for the age of the world and the time humans appeared on Earth,which most definitely contradicts what modern science has firmly established.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Qur’an, on the other hand, is completely free of dates of this kind.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Earlier on, we noted how perfectly the Qur’an agrees with modern ideas on the formation of the Universe. On the other hand, the Biblical narration of primordial waters is hardly, nor is the creation of light on the first day before the creation of the stars which produce this light; the existence of an evening and a morning before the creation of the earth; the creation of the earth on the third day before that of the sun on the fourth; the appearance of beasts of the earth on the sixth day after the appearance of the birds of the air on the fifth day, although the former came first. All these statements are the result of beliefs prevalent at the time this text was written and do not have any other meaning.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]Age of the Earth[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]As for the Biblical genealogies which form the basis of the Jewish calendar and assert that today the world is 5738 years old, these are hardly admissible either.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Our solar system may well be four and a quarter billion years old, and the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]appearance of human beings on earth, as we know him today, may be estimated in tens of thousands of years, if not more. It is absolutely essential, therefore, to note that the Qur’an does not contain any such indications as to the age of the world, and that these are specific to the Biblical text.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue][B]The Flood[/B][/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]There is a second highly significant subject of comparison between the Bible and the Qur’an; descriptions of the deluge. In actual fact, the Biblical narration is a fusion of two descriptions in which events are related differently. The Bible speaks of a universal flood and places it roughly 300 years before Abraham.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]According to what we know of Abraham, this would imply a universal cataclysm around the twenty-first or twenty-second century BC This story would be untenable, in view of presently available historical data. How can we accept the idea that, in the twenty-first or twenty-second century BC, all civilization was wiped off the face of the earth by a universal cataclysm, when we know that this period corresponds, for example, to the one preceding the Middle Kingdom in Egypt, at roughly the date of the first Intermediary period before the eleventh dynasty? [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]It is historically unacceptable to maintain that, at this time, humanity was totally wiped out. None of the preceding statements is acceptable according to modern knowledge. From this point of view, we can measure the enormous [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]gap separating the Bible from the Qur’an.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]In contrast to the Bible, the narration contained in the Qur’an deals with a[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]cataclysm that is limited to Noah’s people. They were punished for their sins, as were other ungodly peoples. The Qur’an does not fix the cataclysm in time.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]There are absolutely no historical or archaeological objections to the narration in the Qur’an.[/SIZE][/FONT] [I][B][SIZE=3][FONT=Arial Narrow][COLOR=blue]The Pharaoh[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE][/B][/I] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]A third point of comparison, which is extremely significant, is the story of Moses, and especially the Exodus from Egypt of the Hebrews. Here I can only give a highly compressed account of a study on this subject that appears in my book. I have noted the points where the Biblical and Qur’anic narrations agree and disagree, and I have found points where the two texts complement each other in a very useful way.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Among the many hypotheses, concerning the historical time-frame occupied by the Exodus in the history of the pharaohs, I have concluded that the most likely is the theory which makes Merneptah, Ramesses II’s successor, the pharaoh of the Exodus. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The comparison of the data contained in the Scriptures with archeological evidence strongly supports this hypothesis. I am pleased to be able to say that the Biblical narration contributes weighty evidence leading us to situate Moses in the history of the pharaohs. Moses was probably born duringthe reign of Ramesses II. Biblical data. are therefore of considerable historical value in the story of Moses. A medical study of the mummy of Merneptah has yielded further useful information on the possible causes of this pharaoh’s death.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The fact that we possess the mummy of this pharaoh is one of paramount[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]importance. The Bible records that pharaoh was engulfed in the sea, but does not give any details as to what subsequently became of his corpse. The Qur’an, in chapter [I]Yoonus, [/I]notes that the body of the pharaoh would be saved from the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]waters:[/SIZE][/FONT] [COLOR=red][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]“Today I will save your dead body so that you may be a sign[/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B] [/COLOR][B][B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][COLOR=red]for those who come after you.”[/COLOR] [/SIZE][/FONT][/B][/B][/LEFT] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3][/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [B][FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Qur’an, 10:92[/SIZE][/FONT][/B] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]A medical examination of this mummy, has, shown that the body could not have stayed in the water for long, because it does not show signs of deterioration due to prolonged submersion. Here again, the comparison between the narration in the Qur’an and the data provided by modern knowledge does not give rise to the slightest objection from a scientific point of view.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Such points of agreement are characteristic of the Qur’anic revelation. But, are we throwing the Judeo-Christian revelation into discredit and depriving it of all its intrinsic value by stressing the faults as seen from a scientific point of view? I think not because the criticism is not aimed at the text as a whole, but only at certain passages. There are parts of the Bible which have an undoubted historical value. I have shown that in my book, [I]The Bible, The Qur’an and Science, [/I]where I discuss passages which enable us to locate Moses in time.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The main causes which brought about such differences as arise from the[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]comparison between the Holy Scriptures and modern knowledge is known to[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]modern scholars. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Old Testament constitutes a collection of literary works[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]produced in the course of roughly nine centuries and which has undergone many alterations. The part played by men in the actual composition of the texts of the Bible is quite considerable.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]The Qur’anic revelation, on the other hand, has a history which is radically[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]different. As we have already seen, from the moment it was first commto[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]humans, it was learnt by heart and written down during Muhammad’s own[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]lifetime. It is thanks to this fact that the Qur’an does not pose any problem of authenticity.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]A totally objective examination of the Qur’an, in the light of modern knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has already been noted on repeated occasions throughout this presentation.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]It makes us deem it quite unthinkable for a man of Muhammad’s time to have[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]been the author of such statements, on account of the state of knowledge in his day. [/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Such considerations are part of what gives the Qur’anic revelation its unique place among religious and non-religious texts, and forces the impartial scientist to admit his inability to provide an explanation based solely upon materialistic reasoning.[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]Such facts as I have had the pleasure of exposing to you here, appear to[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=3]represent a genuine challenge to human explanation leaving only one alternative:[/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=red][/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial Narrow][SIZE=5][COLOR=red]the Qur’an is undoubtedly a revelation from God.[/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT] [/LEFT] [/I][/B][/B][/B][/I] [/QUOTE]
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