The holy Quran is believed to be first revealed in 609 C.E. to the Prophet SAW. Despite appearing when science held little value, one can find several scientific facts in the Quran. The sacred book sheds information on the Theory of Relativity, Big Bang Theory, Genetics, Black Holes, and more. The mention of certain scientific inquiries in the Holy Quran that were not known 14 centuries ago is noteworthy.
1. The Big Bang Theory in Quran
The theory of the universe's origin is one of the most noteworthy scientific things mentioned in the Quran. Until 100 years ago, it was believed that the universe had no creator and had always existed. But Albert Einstein, during his field equations study, challenged this belief when he presented the theory that the universe is an expanding force that is growing like a balloon. Later, a mathematician and Belgian priest proposed that this expansion must have begun from an initial and dense point.
In the Quran, it is stated:
“Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were a closed-up mass (Ratqan), then we opened them out?” (Quran 21:31).
The word Ratqan used in the text hints at darkness and closed-up mass. This is exactly how the universe must have looked before the big bang happened.
2. Oceanic Division mentions
The meeting of two oceans is termed conflux. When two seas meet, their waters retain individual properties like temperature, color, and density. At a point of conflux, one can see two different water bodies running side by side. Even though this discovery is recent, the Holy Quran informed the readers about this phenomenon in its 55:19-20 passage:
“He released the two seas, meeting [side by side], between them, is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.” (Quran 55:19-20)
3. Embryology in Quran
Embryology is a branch of biology concerned with the study of fertilization and embryo development. The central religious text, at one point, talks about embryology and states a significant scientific fact in the Quran. It says,
“We created man from an extract of clay. Then we made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then we made the drop into an Alaqah (blood clot), then we made the Alaqah into a Mudghah…”(Quran 23:12-14).
Here the word ‘Alaqah’ can be defined as a leech, blood clot, or something suspended in the air. According to science, a fetus gets nutrients and oxygen from the mother. In this sense, it is not unlike a leech that sucks blood. Also, in the early stages, the fetus stays stationary, and the blood does not flow, which renders it similar to a blood clot. Lastly, in the womb, the baby hangs from the uterus wall by the placenta and lies suspended.
4. Formation Of Clouds
The Quran still aptly describes the process of the formation of clouds. The book says,
“Have you not seen how Allah makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stack, and then you see the rain come out of it?” Quran (24:43)
This is an accurate description of what happens. In reality, the small clouds are pushed by the winds (moved gently), and the ones near each other amalgamate. At this point, a vertical updraft happens, and the cloud's upper part expands in the sky. As a result, different parts of the cloud are raised to divergent points and look as if many clouds are piled on top of each other (stacking).
5. Pain Receptors in Quran
For a long time, it was believed that the sense of feeling and pain is because of the brain. But, a scientific study recently found out that our skin features pain receptors, due to which we feel pain and agony. Surprisingly, the holy text of the Quran hinted at this occurrence a long time ago. It states,
“We shall send those who reject our revelations to the (hell) fire. When their skins have been burned away, we shall replace them with new ones so that they may continue to feel the pain.” Quran (4:56)
This passage clearly suggests that we feel pain because of our skin.
Notably, the holy text of the Quran, written many centuries ago, hints at several discoveries ahead of their time. Many scientific facts in the Quran are mentioned that could not have been known by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) who was born in the 7th century C.E. and did not know how to read or write. This indeed is proof of the divinity of the central text of Islam.
