By Hassan Ali El-Najjar *
October 29, 2007
Introduction
At the beginning of the 21st Century, many people in the world no longer believe in God. Even some of those who profess such belief are not sure. Others have a distorted belief, which makes them behaving in misguided and dangerous ways. In brief, there is a lot of ignorance on this Planet, at this time, about the Creator of life and about His message to humanity, which has been told in the religious Holy Books.
But before addressing the problem of misguided believers, it is more essential to address the question of atheism, or the belief that God does not exist in the first place. This belief has developed as a result of lack of scientific evidence in teaching about God. Many world religions involve illogical myths and weird rituals that belittle the human mind, leading to the disbelief that these myths and rituals are from a Supreme Being, who is supposed to be more intelligent than the human beings He has created, and as a result is worthy of being worshipped by them.
A more important reason for atheism is that leaders of many religions, including the major ones, put themselves in a collision course with science. This has alienated the most educated and most intelligent people and made them susceptible to atheism, indifference, or at least not taking religion seriously.
So, how can this problem of God’s existence be resolved?
To convince the most intelligent beings on this Planet that there is a God and that He does exist, scientific evidence supporting this fact has to be brought to the discussion.
The Holy Quran (pronounced in two separate syllables Qur - an) is full of such evidence. Actually, the Islamic Holy Book can be broadly divided into two parts. The first involves the scientific evidence that its ultimate author is the Creator of life Himself, in order to convince humans that He exists and that the Holy Quran is His message to humanity. The second part involves His teachings, the Shari'a, which if followed by humans will lead them to happiness in this life and in the everlasting Hereafter.
The story of life on Planet Earth, including human life, is told in the Holy Quran in a way that would light up the eyes of scientists if they read it. It’s the same story, which is told to students of biology. It leaves no doubt about the fact that life started in a very simple way a long time ago and kept evolving ever since (See: Creation and Evolution in the Holy Qur'an).
The scientific story of creation of life is just one example of how the Holy Quran convinces its readers that no human on this Planet could have authored this Book. Many of the scientific facts revealed became known only in the last century or so. The Messenger of God, Prophet Muhammed (Peace and blessings of God be upon him) was an illiterate man. It was impossible for him or for any other human being 1428 years ago to know about such facts.
Examples of Verses with Scientific Evidence
Some of the Quran verses explain facts about Earth, humans, and other creatures.
1. For example, there is an invitation for humans to fly, indicating the possibility of flying, more than 1428 years ago.**
In Surat Al-Rahman (Chapter 55), Verse 33 states, we read:***
O You jinn and men, if you can penetrate zones of the heavens and the Earth, then penetrate! You will never penetrate them except with (the) power (of science).
يَا مَعْشَرَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنسِ إِنِ اسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا مِنْ أَقْطَارِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ فَانفُذُوا ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَانٍ
2. The Holy Quran tells us that there is intelligent life in outer space, where Allah (Praise to Him) is also worshipped and glorified.
In Chapter 30, Verse 26, Allah (Praise to Him) says:
To Him belongs whom are in the heavens and the Earth, all are devoutly obedient to Him.
وَلَهُ ۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلأرۡضِۖ ڪُلٌّ۬ لَّهُ ۥ قَـٰنِتُونَ
In Chapter 3, Verse 83, Allah (Praise to Him) also tells us about life in outer space saying:
Do they want other than the Religion of Allah? While (all) who are in the heavens and the Earth have willingly, or unwillingly, submitted to Him (as Muslims do), and to Him shall they be returned.
أَفَغَيۡرَ دِينِ ٱللَّهِ يَبۡغُونَ وَلَهُ ۥۤ أَسۡلَمَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلأرۡضِ طَوۡعً۬ا وَڪَرۡهً۬ا وَإِلَيۡهِ يُرۡجَعُونَ
In Chapter 19, Verse 93-95, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
There is none in the heavens and the Earth but comes (on the Day of Judgment) to the Beneficent (Allah) as a (helpless) slave.
He does take an account of them, and has counted them exactly.
And all of them (are coming to Him) on the Day of Resurrection individually (alone) (Maryam, 19: 92-95).
إِن كُلُّ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ إِلَّا آتِي الرَّحْمَـٰنِ عَبْدًا
لَّقَدْ أَحْصَاهُمْ وَعَدَّهُمْ عَدًّا
وَكُلُّهُمْ آتِيهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ فَرْدًا (مريم ، 19: 93-95).
In Chapter 24, Verse 41, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
Do not you see that Allah is praised by whoever in the heavens and the Earth, and (that) the birds are flying in lines? Each (category of creatures) knows its own prayer and praise. And Allah knows that they do.
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلأًرۡضِ وَٱلطَّيۡرُ صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍ۬ۖ كُلٌّ۬ قَدۡ عَلِمَ صلاتَهُ ۥ وَتَسۡبِيحَهُ ۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُونَ
3. Earth is described as egg-shaped (not a perfect circular globe), a fact which was discovered recently in the human history.
In Chapter 79, Verse 30, the Holy Quran mentions that:
And the Earth, after that, He made it egg-shaped.
وَالْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَاهَا
The noun "da'hya" is used by North African Arabs in reference to an "egg." The author heard it by himself in the early 1970s in Libya. Other translators missed the meaning of the verb (da'haha, دَحَٮٰهَآ) translating it into "extended."
4. In Verses 68-69, we are told that it is the female bee that makes honey, a very recent bit of knowledge for humans. We know now that male bees die after mating with the queen and live only for about 90 days. Only female bees survive to be the workers, which gather nectar and make honey. This bit of knowledge could never be known to humans before the invention and use of microscopes. It is another piece of evidence that the author of the Holy Quran could never be a human being about 1428 years ago. Rather, He is the All Knowledgeable One.
And your Lord inspired the female bees to take (build) its houses (hives) on mountains, trees, and in (people's) gardens
Then (you female bee) eat from all the fruits and (you female bee) follow the ways of your Lord laid down (for you). There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing (cure) for people. In that, (there) is a sign for a people who give thought (Al-Na'hl, 16: 68-69).
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ
ثُمَّ كُلِي مِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِن بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِّلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (النحل ، 16: 68-69).
In dealing with Verse 68, some translators did not pay attention to the feminine form of the Arabic verb (اتَّخِذِي), which refers to female bees in particular, not bees in general. The same meaning is confirmed in Verse 69, in verbs (كُلِي), which means "you female bee eat," and verb (فَاسْلُكِي), which means "you female bee follow."
5. In 27: 18, there is a reference to a female ant speaking to other ants, which is also a recent bit of knowledge. We know now that male ants die after mating with the queen and only female ants survive to be the workers, just like the case with bees mentioned above. This bit of knowledge could never be known to humans before the invention and use of microscopes and the advanced studies in biology.
" ... a female ant said: "O you ants enter your dwellings" (Al-Nahl, 27: 18).
ققَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ ۡ (النمل ، 27: 18).
Several translators, also in this verse, did not pay attention to the feminine form of the Arabic noun (نَمْلَةٌ), which refers to "a singular female ant."
6. The Holy Qur'an also provides us with an accurate description of deep waters in the ocean, where darkness prevails. Nobody could dive deep enough in the ocean 1428 years ago and come back to tell about what he saw there. Only the One who has created Earth and its oceans could know. For us, Philippe Causteau and his crew showed us some videos about only some parts of the ocean depth, in the 1980s.
In Chapter 24, Verse 40 of the Holy Quran, Allah (Praise to Him) says:
Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like layers of darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with waves topped by waves, topped by clouds: Layers of darkness, one above another, if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For anyone to whom Allahdoes not make light, he has no light (Al-Noor, 24: 40).
أَوۡ كَظُلُمَـٰتٍ۬ فِى بَحۡرٍ۬ لُّجِّىٍّ۬ يَغۡشَٮٰهُ مَوۡجٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ مَوۡجٌ۬ مِّن فَوۡقِهِۦ سَحَابٌ۬ۚ ظُلُمَـٰتُۢ بَعۡضُہَا فَوۡقَ بَعۡضٍ إِذَآ أَخۡرَجَ يَدَهُ ۥ لَمۡ يَكَدۡ يَرَٮٰهَاۗ وَمَن لَّمۡ يَجۡعَلِ ٱللَّهُ لَهُ ۥ نُورً۬ا فَمَا لَهُ ۥ مِن نُّورٍ (النور ، 24: 40).
7. In Chapter 24, Verse 43 of the Holy Quran, Allah (Praise to Him) vividly describes the water cycle, from winds to clouds, then to rain. He says:
Do not you see that Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a heap? Then, you will see rain coming out of it. And He sends down hail from the sky mountains (of clouds). He strikes with it whom He wills and He turns it away from whom He wills. The vivid flash of its lightning is close to blinding the sights (of people). (Al-Noor, 24: 43).
أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزۡجِى سَحَابً۬ا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيۡنَهُ ۥ ثُمَّ يَجۡعَلُهُ ۥ رُكَامً۬ا فَتَرَى ٱلۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ۬ فِيہَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ۬ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصۡرِفُهُ ۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرۡقِهِۦ يَذۡهَبُ بِٱلأًبۡصَـٰرِ (النور ، 24: 43).
In Chapter 30, Verse 48, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
It is Allah Who sends the Winds, and they raise the Clouds. Then, He spreads them in the sky as He wills, and break them into fragments, until you see rain-drops coming out from the midst of it. When He makes them reach whoever He wills of his servants,then they rejoice! (Al-Room, 30: 48).
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى يُرۡسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ فَتُثِيرُ سَحَابً۬ا فَيَبۡسُطُهُ ۥ فِى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيۡفَ يَشَآءُ وَيَجۡعَلُهُ ۥ كِسَفً۬ا فَتَرَى ٱلۡوَدۡقَ يَخۡرُجُ مِنۡ خِلَـٰلِهِۦۖ فَإِذَآ أَصَابَ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۤ إِذَا هُمۡ يَسۡتَبۡشِرُونَ (الروم ، 3(: 48).
8. The Holy Qur'an tells us in several verses that Allah (Praise to Him) has created plants in pairs (male and female) in order for plant reproductive activities to happen leading to giving us the fruits we enjoy on this Planet.
In Chapter 20, Verse 53, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
"... and (God) has sent down water from the sky. With it, We have produced diverse pairs of plants (Taha, 20: 53).
وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦۤ أَزۡوَٲجً۬ا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ۬ شَتَّىٰ (طه ، 20: 53).
In Chapter 13, Verse 3, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
"and of all fruits, He made in them pairs, two each (a male and a female).
وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِ جَعَلَ فِيہَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ ٱثۡنَيۡنِۖ (الرعد ، 13: 3).
In Chapter 31, Verse 10, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
We send down water from the sky, (in order that) We cause goodly pairs to grow out of it (of earth) (Luqman, 31: 10).
وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيہَا مِن ڪُلِّ زَوۡجٍ۬ كَرِيمٍ (لقمان ، 31: 10).
In Chapter 36, Verse 36, Allah (Praise to Him) also says:
Glory to Him, Who created all pairs, of what the earth produces, of themselves (humans), and of others unknown to them (Yaseen, 36: 36).
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (يس ، 36: 36).
***
More of the Scientific Evidence in the Holy Quran
4. A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam By I. A. Ibrahim and 12 others
6. The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science By Maurice Bucaille
***
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* Dr. Hassan Ali El-Najjar has a Ph.D. in Sociology and a Master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Georgia, USA. He is also a native speaker of Arabic.
** Yahiya Emerick mentioned some of the above verses on pages 24-27 of his educational book, "What Islam Is All About." (1997). New York: IBTS.
*** The author’s translation of the meanings of the verses mentioned in this article is solely his responsibility though he consulted with three other translations of the Holy Qur’an, namely those of Yusuf Ali, Mohsin, and Picthal, found at
www.quranexplorer.com. He also consulted later with the Sahih International translation, found at
www.tanzil.net. The author also made use of the famous
Bin Katheer’s interpretation of the Holy Qur’an.
Readers are advised that it is the meaning of the verses which is translated and interpreted here. It is a human effort that may be fallible and erroneous. Further, there are differences between a translator and another and between an interpreter and another due to differences in their linguistic, academic, and cultural backgrounds. There is no claim of ultimate accuracy in the translation, as verses of the Holy Quran can be best understood through the Arabic text of revelation.
***
The following is a chapter of a book authored by I. A. Ibrahim but assisted by 12 other editors.
It
is titled, "A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam," published at: www.islam-guide.com as below.
***
Internet links to the book sections:
***
Above book sections but without photos:
***
Author:
I. A. Ibrahim
General Editors:
Dr. William (Daoud) Peachy
Michael (Abdul-Hakim) Thomas
Tony (Abu-Khaliyl) Sylvester
Idris Palmer
Jamaal Zarabozo
Ali AlTimimi
Science Editors:
Professor Harold Stewart Kuofi
Professor F. A. State
Professor Mahjoub O. Taha
Professor Ahmad Allam
Professor Salman Sultan
Associate Professor H. O. Sindi
***
Publication Information on the Book:
Below is publication information on the book, A Brief Illustrated Guide To Understanding Islam:
ISBN: 9960-34-011-2
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 97-67654
Published by Darussalam, Publishers and Distributors, Houston, Texas, USA.
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