Quran and Science

Qur’an and Modern Science Conflict or Conciliation- V I

Qur’an is Scientific

So let us analyze whether the Qur’an is compatible with or whether it contradicts Modern Science. As far as this article is concerned, I have commented only on those scientific facts which have been established and not on those scientific theories or hypothesis which don’t have scientific backing. Further I would like to tell you that the Qur’an is not a ‘Book of Science’ but it is ‘the Book of Signs’- it is a book of ‘Ayaats’. ‘Ayaats’ mean signs and many of these signs of Allah (S.W.T.) can be proved scientifically.

Then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then of that clot we made a (foetus) lump, then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature; so blessed be Allah, the Best to create!

(a) In this verse Allah states that man is created from a small quantity of liquid which is placed in a place of rest. The word "Qararin Makin" is used. The uterus is well protected posteriorly by the spinal column supported firmly by the back muscles. The embryo is further protected by the amniotic sac containing the amniotic fluid. Thus the foetus has well protected dwelling places.

(b) This small quantity of fluid is made into "Alaqa", meaning something which clings. It also means a leech. Both descriptions are scientifically acceptable as in the very early stages the foetus clings to the wall and also appears to resemble the leech in shape. It also behaves like a leech (blood sucker) and acquires its blood supply from the mother through the placenta.

In earlier centuries, scientists thought that the sperms contained a miniature human being which grew in the uterus to form a new born. Later in the 18th century when they discovered that the ovum was bigger than the sperm, it was thought that the foetus existed in a miniature form in the ovum.

(c) The "Alaqa" is transformed into "Mudga" which means `something that is chewed (having teeth marks)’ and also something that is tacky and small which can be put in the mouth like gum. Both these explanations are scientifically correct. Prof. Keith Moore took a piece of plaster seal and made it into the size and shape of the early stage of foetus and chewed it between the teeth to make it into a "mudga". He compared this with the photograph of the early stage of foetus. The teeth marks resembled the "somites" which is the early formation of the spinal column.

FIG Left: a plasticine model of the human embryo which has the appearance of chewed flesh.
Right: a drawing of a 28 day-old human embryo showing several bead-like somities which resemble the teeth marks in the modle shown to the left.

(d) This "mudga" is transformed into bones (Izaman).

(e) The bones are clothed with intact flesh or muscles (lahm).

(f) Then Allah made it into another creature.

The foetus of humans, in its early embryonic stages, is similar to the foetus of fishes, rabbits and other animals. It is only at a subsequent stage, as mentioned in the Qur’an "Allah made it into another creature", that the human foetus looks different and has its distinct characteristics with the head and the shape of the human body.

"We created you out of dust, then out of a small quantity of liquid, then out of a leech like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed, partly unformed" (differentiated and undifferentiated). Scientifically we know that at this early stage of development there are some cells which are differentiated and there are some cells that are undifferentiated-some organs are formed and yet others unformed.

"And He gave you the faculty of hearing, sight and feeling (understanding)." The first sense to develop is hearing; by the 22nd day the inner ear formulates and the ear is almost completed by the 5th month of pregnancy; and then is developed the sense of sight (the eye splits open in the seventh month of pregnancy).

(b) In surah Al-Insan chapter no. 76, verse no. 2 (76:2)
"Verily we created man from a drop of mingled sperm, in order to try him: So We gave him (the gifts), of Hearing and Sight."

In this verse also the sense of hearing is mentioned before that of sight.

1. Finger Prints:

"Does man think that we cannot assemble his bones? Nay, we are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers."

When unbelievers argue regarding resurrection taking place after bones of dead people have disintegrated in the earth and how each individual would be identified on the day of judgement, Almighty Allah answers, "We not only can assemble the bones, but we can also reconstruct the very tip of the fingers."

Why does the Qur’an, while speaking about determination of the identity of the individual speak specifically about fingertips? In 1880, fingerprinting became the scientific method of identification after research done by Sir Francis Golt on millions of individuals. No two persons have exactly the same finger prints pattern. That is the reason why police forces world-wide use fingerprints to identify the accused.

When a doctor examines a patient suffering from burns injuries he verifies the degree of burns by a pin prick. If the patient feels pain, the doctor is happy, because it indicates that the burns are superficial and the pain receptors are intact. On the other hand if the patient does not feel any pain it indicates that it is a deep burn and the pain receptors have been destroyed.

In surah Al-Nisa chapter no. 4, verse 56 (4:56)

"These who reject our signs, We shall soon cast into the fire; as often as their skins are roasted through, We shall change them for fresh skins that they may taste the penalty! For Allah is exalted in power, Wise."

Prof. Tagashawn, a scientist from Thailand, who spent a great amount of time on research of pain receptors could not initially believe that the Qur’an mentioned this scientific fact 1,400 years ago. Later, on verification of the translation of this particular verse of Qur’an, he was so impressed that he accepted Islam publicly in a conference held in Cairo on the scientific signs of Qur’an and Sunnah and he proclaimed.

"There is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger."