The Qur’aan and Modern Sciences

INTRODUCTION

E ver 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. While some religions have

been based on books, claimed by their adherents to be divinely inspired,

others have relied solely on human experience.

Al-Qur’aan, 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 guidance for all mankind. Since the message of the Qur’aan is

believed to be for all times, it should be relevant to every age. Does the

Qur’aan pass this test? In this booklet, I intend to give an objective analysis of

the Muslim belief regarding the Divine origin of the Qur’aan, in the light of

established scientific discoveries.

There was a time, in the history of world civilization, when ‘miracles’, or

what was perceived to be a miracle, took precedence over human reason and

logic. But how do we define the term ‘miracle’? A miracle is anything that

takes place out of the normal course of life and for which humankind has no

explanation. However, we must be careful before we accept something as a

miracle. An article in ‘The Times of India’ Mumbai, in 1993 reported that ‘a

saint’ by the name ‘Baba Pilot’ claimed to have stayed continuously

submerged under water in a tank for three consecutive days and nights.

However, when reporters wanted to examine the base of the tank of water

where he claimed to have performed this ‘miraculous’ feat, he refused to let

them do so. He argued by asking as to how one could examine the womb of a

mother that gives birth to a child. The ‘Baba’ was hiding something. It was a

gimmick simply to gain publicity. Surely, no modern man with even the

slightest inkling towards rational thinking would accept