User:Tauhidaerospace/Quran and science


 * See Scientific foreknowledge in sacred texts for the belief that the Quran scriptural foreknowledge prophesied scientific theories and discoveries - known as 'Ijaz al-Qur'an''

The Quran has been interpreted as encouraging of scientific investigation. According to the Quran, natural phenomena comprise a large portion of the divine signs; nature itself praises God, and God proclaims that he will show humankind his signs on the furthest horizons as well as deep within themselves. The scientific signs claimed to be in the Quran exist in different subjects, including astronomy, the animal and plant kingdoms, and human reproduction. Scientific investigation is viewed as the process of discovering these signs. Discussions of the meanings of verse may hinge upon subtle shades of meaning, and yet translation of the Quran has always been a problematic and difficult issue. Many argue that the Quranic text cannot be reproduced in another language or form. Furthermore, an Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on the context, making an accurate translation even more difficult.

Scientific exegesis of the Quran
Scientific exegesis of the Quran is the assumption that many findings of the modern natural sciences have been anticipated in the Quran and that many references to these can be discovered in its verses. Many Islamic authors, classical and modern, believe that all the sciences are contained in the Quran. The practise of tafsir 'ilmi, or scientific exegesis, which was almost forgotten, has been revived in modern times; the classical attempt to incorporate all streams of human knowledge into the Quran has been updated with a special focus on the natural sciences.

Some authors have criticised this method of scientific interpretation. Some classical Muslim commentators and scientists, notably al-Biruni, assign to the Quran a separate and autonomous realm of its own and hold that the Quran "does not interfere in the business of science nor does it infringe on the realm of science." These medieval scholars argued for the possibility of multiple scientific explanation of the natural phenomena, and refused to subordinate the Quran to the laws of science.

Embryology
In the Qur’an reference is made to fetal development and growth, explanations of these verses express the view that "semen" and "safe lodging" refer to sperm within the uterus, corresponding to the modern terms used to explain mammalian reproduction: spermatozoon, ovum, fertilisation and zygote.

The Quran says: “Man We did create From a quintessence (of clay); Then We placed him As (a drop of) sperm In a place of rest, firmly fixed; 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!” [Al-Qur’aan 23:12-14]

Prior to fertilization, sperm bind to the zona pellucida or outer covering of the ovum. Following such lines of interpretation, clot could be a reference to this, i.e. to sperm clinging to the ovum. However, clot is also interpreted by some exegetes as blood clot and taken to refer to "something that clings" to the uterus. For those modern commentators who then extrapolate this interpretation scientifically, the blood clot could be taken to represent the fertilized ovum or early embryo implanting itself in the endometrium or uterine lining. Earle Waugh has acknowledged the leech-like qualities implied by the mention of blood clot in these verses and sees them as connoting religious meanings

Three Dark Stages of the Baby in the Womb
Some modern interpreters combine these verses with, seeing in the reference to the “three veils of darkness” a reflection of the three anatomical layers Embryo that protect the fetus — the abdominal wall, the uterus wall and amniotic sac.

Creation and evolution
The Quran contains many verses describing creation of the universe; God created heavens and earth in six heavenly days (approx. six millennium on earth), the earth was created in two days, and in two other days (into a total of four) God furnished the creation of the earth with mountains, rivers and fruit-gardens. Then heavens and earth formed from an integrated disk-shaped mass which had to be split, the seven heavens were created from smoke , forming layers, one above the other. The angels inhabit the seventh heavens. The lowest heaven is adorned with lights, the sun and the moon (which follow a regular path) , the stars  and the constellations of the Zodiac.

Expansion of Universe
Verse says in one translation "And the sky was built by Us with might; and indeed We are the expanders", and in another "We will continue to expand it." Some have interpreted it to be a reference to what is now know as the metric expansion of space. However, the clause is more commonly translated as "for it is We Who create the vastness of space", or "We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof)", or "We are the makers of things ample."

Barrier between sweet and salt water
“He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together: Between them is a Barrier which they do not transgress.” [Al-Qur’an 55:19-20] In accordance with ancient Near Eastern models the earth is viewed as being surrounded by waters separated by the creator through a barrier. which are themselves divided into two “oceans,” the waters of one being fresh and sweet, those of the other being bitter.

Darkness in depth of ocean
"Or (the Unbelievers' state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: depths of darkness, one above another: if a man stretches out his hands, he can hardly see it! for any to whom Allah giveth not light, there is no light!" . Further explained at Deep_sea the deep and dark waters below, the layers of wave upon wave all around, the layers of dark clouds above, resulting in darkness so complete that sight is practically impossible.

The ratio of the sea to the land
The term “sea” is mentioned thirty-two times in the Qurān, and the term “land” thirteen times; the ratio thirteen to thirty-two, the author asserts, is equal to the actual ratio of land to water on the surface of the earth

Criticisms of consistency
Not all thinkers agree that the Quran really contains many of the alleged scientific discoveries. Taner Edis, author of An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam, describes this point. He argues that Muslims are more likely to view the Quran as the direct word of God, and so it must be reconciled with their growing respect for science and technology. Edis suggests that Muslims often have a vested interest in finding passages whose interpretation can be stretched to describe modern understanding. He warns that reading into books like this can be misleading, since the method can be used to support any number of contradictory facts. Russel Glasser (a Skeptic from the "The Atheist Experience" TV show with Matt Dillahunty and Jeff Dee) likewise suggests that reading into the Quran like this amounts to cherry picking and risks simply confirming the biases of the investigator.