Qur'an and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible?

Ever since the dawn of human life on this planet, Man has always sought to understand Nature, his own place in the scheme of Creation, and the purpose of Life itself. In this quest for Truth, spanning many centuries and diverse civilizations, organized religion has shaped human life and determined, to a large extent, the course of history.

Al-Qur'an, the main source of the Islamic faith, is a book believed by Muslims to be of completely Divine origin. Muslims also believe that it contains Divine guidance for all humankind. Since the message of the Qur'an is believed to be for all times, it should be relevant to every age. Does the Qur'an pass this test?

A book, claiming Divine origin, is in effect, claiming to be a miracle. Such a claim should be easily verifiable in any age, according to the standards of that age. Muslims believe that the Qur'an is the last and final revelation of God, the miracle of miracles revealed as a mercy to humankind.

According to the famous physicist and Nobel Prize winner, Albert Einstein, 'Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.' The Qur'an is not a book of science but a book of 'signs' — Ayaat. There are more than six thousand 'signs' in the Qur'an, of which more than a thousand deal with science. In this article, only established scientific facts are considered — not mere hypotheses and theories based on assumptions.

Muslims as well as non-Muslims agree that the Qur'an is Arabic literature par excellence — that it is the best Arabic literature on the face of the earth. The Qur'an challenges mankind to produce even a single chapter like it:

The challenge to produce a Surah which, in beauty, eloquence, depth, and meaning is at least somewhat similar to a Qur'anic Surah remains unmet to this day. A modern rational man, however, would not accept extraordinarily beautiful language alone as proof of Divine origin. Any scripture claiming divine revelation must also be acceptable on the strength of its own reason and logic.

Creation of the Universe: The Big Bang

The creation of the universe is explained by astrophysicists in the widely accepted phenomenon known as the 'Big Bang.' According to this model, the whole universe was initially one big mass (Primary Nebula). Then there was a 'Big Bang' (Secondary Separation) which resulted in the formation of galaxies, which then divided to form stars, planets, the sun, the moon, etc.

The striking congruence between the Qur'anic verse and the 'Big Bang' is inescapable. How could a book, which first appeared in the deserts of Arabia 1400 years ago, contain this profound scientific truth?

Initial Gaseous Mass Before the Creation of Galaxies

Scientists say that before the galaxies in the universe were formed, celestial matter was initially in the form of gaseous matter — huge gaseous clouds. The word 'smoke' is more appropriate than 'gas' to describe this initial celestial matter.

The Spherical Shape of the Earth

In early times, people believed that the earth was flat. Sir Francis Drake was the first person who proved that the earth is spherical when he sailed around it in 1577. The Qur'an, however, described a spherical earth long before:

Merging here means that the night slowly and gradually changes to day and vice versa. This phenomenon can only take place if the earth is spherical. If the earth were flat, there would have been a sudden change from night to day.

The Arabic word used here is Kawwara meaning 'to overlap' or 'to coil' — the way a turban is wound around the head. The overlapping or coiling of the day and night can only take place if the earth is spherical.

The Arabic word Dahaha also means an ostrich-egg. The shape of an ostrich-egg resembles the geo-spherical shape of the earth — flattened at the poles. Thus the Qur'an correctly describes the shape of the earth, though the prevalent notion when it was revealed was that the earth is flat.

The Light of the Moon is Reflected Light

It was believed by earlier civilizations that the moon emanates its own light. Science now tells us that the light of the moon is reflected light. However this fact was mentioned in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago:

The Arabic word for the sun, Shams, is referred to as Siraj (a 'torch'), Wahhaj ('a blazing lamp'), or Diya ('shining glory') — all appropriate since it generates intense heat and light by internal combustion. The moon, Qamar, is described as Muneer — a body that gives reflected light (Noor). Not once in the Qur'an is the moon described as Siraj, Wahhaj, or Diya, nor the sun as Noor or Muneer. This precise linguistic distinction recognizes the difference between the nature of sunlight and moonlight.

The Sun Rotates

For a long time it was believed that the sun was stationary. In 1512, Copernicus put forward his Heliocentric Theory; in 1609, Kepler concluded that planets rotate upon their axes. But it was thought the sun itself did not rotate.

The Arabic word Yasbahoon is derived from Sabaha, which carries the idea of motion from any moving body. For a celestial body like the sun, it means not just flying through space but also rotating as it goes. The sun takes approximately 25 days to rotate around its axis, travels through space at roughly 150 miles per second, and takes about 200 million years to complete one revolution around the center of the Milky Way Galaxy.

The Sun Will Extinguish

The light of the sun is due to a chemical process on its surface that has been taking place continuously for the past five billion years. It will come to an end at some point in the future.

The Arabic word Mustaqarr means a place or time that is determined. Thus the Qur'an says the sun runs towards a determined place and will do so only up to a predetermined period of time — meaning it will eventually end or extinguish.

The Presence of Interstellar Matter

Space outside organized astronomical systems was earlier assumed to be a vacuum. Astrophysicists later discovered the presence of bridges of matter in interstellar space called plasma — completely ionized gas containing equal numbers of free electrons and positive ions, sometimes called the fourth state of matter.

The Expanding Universe

In 1925, American astronomer Edwin Hubble provided observational evidence that all galaxies are receding from one another, implying that the universe is expanding. Stephen Hawking, in his book 'A Brief History of Time,' says: 'The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century.'

The Arabic word Musi'oon is correctly translated as 'expanding it.' The Qur'an mentioned the expansion of the universe before man even learned to build a telescope.

The Existence of Subatomic Particles

The ancient 'Theory of Atomism,' originally proposed by the Greek philosopher Democritus (about 23 centuries ago), held that the smallest unit of matter was the atom. The Arabic word Dharrah most commonly meant an atom. Modern science has discovered that it is possible to split even an atom — a development of the 20th century.

This verse clearly shows that it is possible for something smaller than the atom to exist — a fact discovered only recently by modern science.

The Water Cycle

In earlier times, people did not understand the source of underground water. Aristotle's theory — that water condensed in cool mountain caverns to form underground lakes — was prevalent until the nineteenth century. Today, we know that rain water seeping into cracks in the ground is responsible.

No other text dating back 1400 years gives such an accurate description of the water cycle.

Winds Impregnate the Clouds

The Arabic word Lawaqih is the plural of Laqih from Laqaha, meaning 'to impregnate' or 'fecundate.' In this context, the wind pushes the clouds together, increasing condensation that causes lightning and thus rain. The Qur'anic descriptions agree perfectly with modern data on hydrology.

Mountains Are Like Pegs

In geology, the phenomenon of 'folding' is a recently discovered fact responsible for the formation of mountain ranges. The earth's crust, on which we live, is like a solid shell, while the deeper layers are hot and fluid. Geologists tell us the crust ranges between 1 to 30 miles thick and has a high possibility of shaking. Mountains act like stakes or tent pegs that hold the earth's crust and give it stability.

The word Awtad means stakes or pegs (like those used to anchor a tent) — they are the deep foundations of geological folds. This book 'Earth' by Frank Press (former Science Advisor to US President Jimmy Carter) illustrates mountains in a wedge-shape with deep roots entrenched in the ground.

The Qur'anic descriptions are in perfect agreement with modern geological data.

Barrier Between Sweet and Salt Waters

Modern science has discovered that in places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them dividing the two seas so that each has its own temperature, salinity, and density. This barrier is not a physical partition — the Arabic word Maraja literally means 'they both meet and mix with each other.' There is a slanted unseen water barrier through which water from one sea passes to the other, losing its distinctive characteristics.

This scientific phenomenon was confirmed by Dr. William Hay, a well-known marine scientist and Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, USA.

When the Qur'an speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions an additional 'forbidding partition' with the barrier:

Modern science has discovered that in estuaries, where fresh and salt water meet, what distinguishes them is a 'pycnocline zone with a marked density discontinuity separating the two layers.' This partition has a salinity different from both the fresh water and the salt water — precisely matching the Qur'anic description.

Darkness in the Depths of the Ocean

Prof. Durga Rao, an expert in Marine Geology, explained that this layered darkness in the deep ocean results from two causes. First, a light ray composed of seven colours (VIBGYOR) undergoes refraction when it hits water — red is absorbed at 10-15 metres, orange at 30-50 metres, yellow at 50-100 metres, green at 100-200 metres, and blue, violet, and indigo above and beyond 200 metres. Below 1000 metres there is complete darkness.

Second, the sun's rays are absorbed by clouds which scatter light rays, creating a layer of darkness. The surface waves reflect light and cause additional darkness. Internal waves cover the deep waters of seas because deep waters have higher density than the waters above — exactly as the Qur'an describes: 'darkness in a vast deep ocean overwhelmed with waves topped by waves.'

Prof. Durga Rao concluded: '1400 years ago a normal human being could not explain this phenomenon in so much detail. Thus the information must have come from a supernatural source.'

Every Living Thing Is Made of Water

Modern research has revealed that cytoplasm, the basic substance of the cell, is made up of 80% water. Most organisms consist of 50% to 90% water, and every living entity requires water for its existence. Would such a statement be conceivable by a human being in the deserts of Arabia where there has always been scarcity of water?

Plants Created in Pairs, Male and Female

Previously, humans did not know that plants have male and female gender distinctions. Botany states that every plant has male and female gender — even unisexual plants have distinct elements of both.

Fruit is the end product of reproduction in superior plants. The stage preceding fruit is the flower, which has male and female organs (stamens and ovules). Once pollen has been carried to the flower, they bear fruit. All fruits therefore imply the existence of male and female organs — a fact mentioned in the Qur'an.

Everything Made in Pairs

This may refer to phenomena like electricity, in which atoms consist of negatively and positively charged electrons and protons. The Qur'an says everything is created in pairs, including things that humans do not know at present and may discover later.

Animals and Birds Live in Communities

Research has shown that animals and birds live in communities — they organize, live, and work together.

The Flight of Birds

Modern scientific data has shown the degree of perfection attained by certain species of birds with regard to the programming of their movements. The existence of a migratory program in the genetic code of birds explains how very young birds, without any prior experience and without any guide, are able to accomplish long and complicated journeys and return to the departure point on a definite date.

The Bee

Von Frisch received the Nobel Prize in 1973 for his research on the behaviour and communication of bees. The bee, after discovering a new garden or flower, returns and communicates the exact direction and location to its fellow bees through what is known as the 'bee dance.'

Notably, in Surah An-Nahl (16:68-69), the gender used for the bee is feminine (Fasluki and Kuli), indicating that the bee that leaves its home for gathering food is a female bee. In Shakespeare's play 'Henry the Fourth,' characters speak of bees as soldiers answerable to a king bee. It took modern investigations in the last 300 years to discover that worker bees are females reporting to a queen bee — a fact the Qur'an stated 1,400 years ago.

Honey Has Healing Properties

Honey has healing and mild antiseptic properties. The Russians used honey to cover their wounds in World War II — the wound would retain moisture and leave very little scar tissue. Due to the density of honey, no fungus or bacteria would grow. A person suffering from an allergy to a particular plant may be given honey from that plant to develop resistance. Honey is rich in fructose and vitamin K.

The Spider's Web Is Fragile

Besides describing the spider's web as physically flimsy, the Qur'an also alludes to the flimsiness of relationships in the spider's house — the female spider often kills its mate, the male spider.

Lifestyle and Communication of Ants

Modern research has revealed that the lifestyle of ants is closest in resemblance to that of human beings among all insects: they bury their dead; they have a sophisticated system of division of labour with managers, supervisors, and workers; they meet to 'chat'; they have advanced methods of communication; they hold regular 'markets' to exchange goods; and they store grains, cutting roots if they begin to bud and drying them in sunlight if they get wet.

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also confirmed the healing properties of honey:

Blood Circulation and the Production of Milk

The Qur'an was revealed 600 years before the Muslim scientist Ibn Nafees described the circulation of the blood and 1000 years before William Harvey brought this understanding to the Western world. Chemical reactions occur in the intestines, and from there, substances extracted from food pass into the bloodstream, which transports them to all organs — including the milk-producing mammary glands.

The Qur'anic description of the production of milk in cattle — from between excretions and blood — is strikingly similar to what modern physiology has discovered about the digestive absorption process that feeds mammary glands.

Man Is Created from 'Alaq — a Leech-like Substance

All embryological information from the Qur'an was presented to Prof. Keith Moore, Professor of Embryology and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto, Canada — one of the highest authorities in embryology. He said that most of the information in the Qur'an concerning embryology is in perfect conformity with modern discoveries.

The word 'Alaq' besides meaning a congealed clot of blood, also means something that clings — a leech-like substance. Dr. Keith Moore studied the initial stage of the embryo under a powerful microscope and compared it with a diagram of a leech — he was astonished at the striking resemblance between the two.

In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Moore said: 'It has been a great pleasure for me to help clarify statements in the Qur'an about human development. It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad ﷺ from God or Allah, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad ﷺ must have been a Messenger of God or Allah.'

Human Beings Created from a Minute Quantity (Nutfah)

The Qur'an mentions no less than eleven times that the human being is created from Nutfah, meaning a minute quantity of liquid. Science has confirmed that only one out of an average of three million ejaculated sperms is required for fertilizing the ovum — only 0.00003% of the quantity.

Created from Sulalah (Quintessence of Liquid)

The Arabic word Sulalah means quintessence or the best part of a whole. Only one single spermatozoon out of several millions penetrates the ovum for fertilization — the Qur'an refers to this as Sulalah.

Sex Determination

The sex of a foetus depends on whether the 23rd pair of chromosomes is XX (female) or XY (male). The Qur'an correctly states that the male or female sex is determined from the Nutfah (sperm) — the 'Y' bearing sperm produces a male and the 'X' bearing sperm produces a female.

Foetus Protected by Three Veils of Darkness

According to Prof. Keith Moore, these three veils of darkness refer to: (i) the anterior abdominal wall of the mother, (ii) the uterine wall, and (iii) the amnio-chorionic membrane.

Embryonic Stages

The uterus (Qararin Makin — 'a place of rest, firmly fixed') is well protected from the posterior by the spinal column and the back muscles. The embryo is further protected by the amniotic sac. The small quantity of fluid is made into 'Alaqah (something that clings, a leech-like substance, and a blood clot) — all scientifically accurate descriptions of the early embryo.

The 'Alaqah is transformed into Mudghah (something that is chewed). Prof. Keith Moore took a piece of plaster seal, made it into the size and shape of the early-stage foetus, and chewed it — the teeth marks resembled the 'somites' which form the early spinal column. The Mudghah is then transformed into bones (Izam), clothed with flesh (Lahm), and then developed into another creature.

Embryo Partly Formed and Partly Unformed

At the Mudghah stage, some cells are differentiated and some are undifferentiated — some organs are formed and others are not yet formed. Prof. Marshall Johnson of Thomas Jefferson University noted that there is no better description of this stage than the Qur'anic description 'partly formed and partly unformed.'

Sense of Hearing and Sight

The first sense to develop in a human embryo is hearing — the foetus can hear sounds after the 24th week. Subsequently, the sense of sight develops, and by the 28th week the retina becomes sensitive to light.

In all Qur'anic verses mentioning these senses, hearing is always mentioned before sight — matching the sequence discovered in modern embryology.

These Qur'anic descriptions are confirmed by the hadith of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who described the stages of embryonic development:

Fingerprints

In 1880, fingerprinting became the scientific method of identification after research by Sir Francis Galton. No two persons in the world can ever have exactly the same fingerprint pattern — that is why police forces worldwide use fingerprints to identify criminals. 1,400 years ago, who could have known the uniqueness of each human's fingerprint? Surely it could have been none other than the Creator Himself.

Pain Receptors Present in the Skin

It was thought that the sense of feeling and pain was only dependent on the brain. Recent discoveries prove that there are pain receptors present in the skin — without them, a person would not be able to feel pain. When a doctor examines a burn patient with a pin prick: if the patient feels pain, the burns are superficial and the pain receptors are intact; if not, it is a deep burn and the pain receptors have been destroyed.

Prof. Tagatat Tejasen, Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at Chiang Mai University in Thailand, was so impressed by the scientific accuracy of this Qur'anic verse regarding pain receptors in the skin that at the 8th Saudi Medical Conference, he publicly declared his acceptance of Islam.

To attribute the presence of scientific facts in the Qur'an to coincidence would be against common sense and a true scientific approach.

The scientific evidences of the Qur'an clearly point to its Divine origin. No human could have produced a book fourteen hundred years ago that would contain profound scientific facts discovered by humankind centuries later. The Qur'an, however, is not a book of science but a book of 'Signs' — these signs invite Man to realize the purpose of his existence on earth and to live in harmony with Nature.

The Qur'an is truly a message from Allah, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It contains the same message of the Oneness of God that was preached by all Prophets — from Adam, to Moses, to Jesus, to Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon them all).