The matchless
style of the Qur'an and the superior wisdom in it are definite evidence that
it is the word of God. In addition, the Qur'an has many miraculous attributes
proving that it is a revelation from God. One of these attributes is the fact
that a number of scientific truths that we have only been able to uncover by
the technology of the 20th century were stated in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago.
Of course the
Qur'an is not a book of science. However, many scientific facts that are
expressed in an extremely concise and profound manner in its verses have only
been discovered with the technology of the 20th century. These facts could
not have been known at the time of the Qur'an's revelation, and this is still
more proof that the Qur'an is the word of God.
In order to
understand the scientific miracle of the Qur'an, we must first take a look at
the level of science at the time when this holy book was revealed.
In the 7th
century, when the Qur'an was revealed, Arab society had many superstitious
and groundless beliefs where scientific issues were concerned. Lacking the
technology to examine the universe and nature, these early Arabs believed in
legends inherited from past generations. They supposed, for example, that
mountains supported the sky above. They believed that the earth was flat and
that there were high mountains at its both ends. It was thought that these
mountains were pillars that kept the vault of heaven high above.
However all
these superstitious beliefs of Arab society were eliminated with the Qur'an.
In Sura Sad, verse 2, it was said:
"God is He who raised up the heavens without any support..."(The Qur'an, 38:2). This verse invalidated the belief that the sky remains above because of the mountains. In many other subjects, important facts were revealed at a time when no one could have known them. The Qur'an, which was revealed at a time when people knew very little about astronomy, physics, or biology, contains key facts on a variety of subjects such as the creation of the universe, the creation of the human being, the structure of the atmosphere, and the delicate balances that make life on earth possible. |