Is There Science In The Quran?

Muslims are proud that there is “Science” in the Quran.  They believe this is supposedly miraculous evidence that their book comes from God.

When I ask about history or chronology in the Quran, they say Quran is not a history book. When I ask about names of people and names of places, they say Quran is not a book that needs to give such facts and details.

When I ask about prophesies in the Quran, they say Quran is not a book of prophecy. When I point out that not a single story of the prophets is complete (except the story of Joseph), they say Quran is not a story book and that the incomplete stories are sufficient.

But, somehow when it comes to Science, Muslims are adamant Quran has science in it. Why did Allah think that Science would help mankind know this book is from him?

When a Muslim argues that Science “proves” the Qur’an, this actually means that he is acknowledging that Science can likewise refute the Quran! If the Quran contains just one scientific error, then the Quran has condemned itself! Verification and falsification go hand in hand.

Let’s take a closer look at this claim.  If it is from an all-knowing deity, THERE CANNOT BE EVEN ONE SINGLE SCIENTIFIC ERROR.

The Sun Sets In A Muddy Pool Of Water.
Sura 18:86
“Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water. And he found near it a people.” (Mohsin Khan)

(Some Muslims will argue and say, “Well that is only a metaphor.” Not true. If you read the verse carefully, you will see that it is a specific location, that can be reached. Not only that. There are actually people living near that muddy pool where the sun sets.  This  is confirmed in the authentic Islamic sources of the hadiths.)

Semen Originates From Between The Spine And Ribs.
Sura 86:6-7
“He is created from a drop emitted- Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.” (Yusuf Ali)

The Earth Is Spread Out Flat Like A Carpet.
Sura 71:19
“And God has laid the earth for you as a carpet.” (Arberry)

There Are Seven Heavens And Seven Earths.
Sura 65:12
“It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven)” (Mohsin Khan)

The Sun Orbits The Earth And Follows The Moon.
Sura 36:38-40
“How the sun moves in its orbit and this is the decree of the Majestic and All-knowing God; how We ordained the moon to pass through certain phases until it seems eventually to be like a bent twig; how the sun is not supposed to catch-up with the moon, nor is the night to precede the day. All of them are to float in a certain orbit; (Muhammad Sarwar)

Human Embryo Is A Blood Clot Formed From A Sperm Drop.
Sura 22:5
“O men, if you are in doubt as to the Uprising, surely We created you of dust then of a sperm-drop, then of a blood clot, then of a lump of flesh, formed and unformed that We may make clear to you.” (Arberry)

Stars Are Missiles Which Allah Shoots At Demons.
Sura 67:5
“And certainly We have adorned this lower heaven with lamps and We have made these missiles for the Shaitans, and We have prepared for them the chastisement of burning.”(Shakir) 

Allah Is Holding Up The Sky So That It Won’t Fall On The Earth.
Sura 22:65
“Hast thou not seen how Allah hath made all that is in the earth subservient unto you? And the ship runneth upon the sea by His command, and He holdeth back the heaven from falling on the earth unless by His leave. Lo! Allah is, for mankind, Full of Pity, Merciful.” (Pickhall)

Is this Science. This is more like some 7th century desert superstitions! Perhaps one clear night someone saw a meteorite streaking across the night sky and imagined it was missiles being shot at the devil!

Like I said, one error is enough for the whole pile to come tumbling down.

Read this from the authentic Islamic sources.

And from his narration on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah’s saying (Nun): ‘(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya’; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called ‘Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah’s name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam.. (source )

 

Here is a list of the scientific claims and errors in the Quran. Check it out.

Any claims of scientific miracles must be clear for a non-muslim to see and acknowledge as a miracle.  If it needs Muslim explanation and interpretation, then it only works for a Muslim.

Otherwise, it is possible to force science into anything and then explain and interpret it to fit anything you want.

 

In closing, a word on the so-called miraculous coincidences in the Quran.

A fatwa by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid on the well respected traditional Islamic site (Islam Q and A) saying that claims for miraculous coincidences of word occurences in the Qur’an are to be discounted:

“Writing a book which contains a specific number of certain words is something that anyone can do; what is so miraculous about that?…

All of that is toying with the Book of Allah which is caused by ignorance of the true nature of the miracle of the Book of Allah.

By examining the statistics presented by those who have published these numbers, we find that they did not get the numbers of some phrases right, and some of them have been selective in the way they counted the words, and that is so that they might reach the conclusion they want and that they think is in the Book of Allah.”