I Found Scientific Facts in the QUR’AN I had to double-check to believe
7 Biological Miracles from the QUR’AN that are Proven
Back when I was at school, one of the subjects that I studied was Biology. This was an area that particularly interested me because it gave me an in-depth understanding of life, the natural world, and how our body functions. And I do remember when I first read the Qur’an fifteen years ago, and it was reading the Qur’an that motivated me to embrace Islam. One of the things that stuck in my head, and I remember it until today was coming across the descriptions in the Qur’an of humans and other created beings.
What does the Qur’an say before there were powerful microscopes and all the means to discover this information?
I would like to share with you some of the facts that can be found in the Qur’an that leave us awestruck.
The development of the human fetus in the womb
“When the drop of (semen) remains in the womb for forty or forty-five nights, the angel comes and says: My Lord, will he be good or evil? And both these things would be written. Then the angel says: My Lord, would he be male or female? And both these things are written”. (Sahih Muslim 2644, Book 46, Hadith 3)
So, it is at the 42nd day or just after the 40th day that it only then becomes identifiable and this is a fact, this is a scientific fact [1]. Now this piece of information was only known after the invention of powerful microscopes only decades ago. But what I thought I would do is to mention a quote from one of the acknowledged experts in the field of the developing human being in its embryonic form.
Keith Moore, professor and chairman of the department of anatomy from the university of Toronto in Canada, was shown some of the statements in the Qur’an and the Hadith concerning the development of the human embryo. And this is what he said:
“It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from god, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of god or Allah” [2].
He is saying that not only is it impossible for this information to have been known by anyone 1400 years ago, but he also suggests that modern embryology should follow the system of development that has been mentioned in the Qur’anic verses. This is what Keith Moore is saying, who by the way has become a Muslim.
“We have created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him a sperm-drop in a firm resting place. Then We turned the sperm-drop into a clot, then We turned the clot into a fetus-lump, then We turned the fetus-lump into bones, then We clothed the bones with flesh; thereafter We developed it into another creature. So, glorious is Allah, the Best of the creators”. (Qur’an, 23: 12–14)
Living things formed from water
“Did the unbelievers (who do not accept the teaching of the Prophet) not realize that the heavens and the earth were one solid mass, then We tore them apart, and We made every living being out of water? Will they, then, not believe (that We created all this)?”. (Qur’an, 21:30)
Biological studies have confirmed that water is not only the first and the main compound in all living things, but also it precedes the existence of all created beings [1]. You and I are about seventy to eighty percent water. A fact that has been mentioned in the Qur’an one thousand four hundred years ago.
“Allah has created every moving creature from water. So, some of them move on their bellies; and some of them move on two legs, and some of them move on four. Allah creates what He wills. Surely, Allah is powerful over everything”. (Qur’an, 24:45)
Female honeybee
Research now shows that honeybees have three various forms [2]; The queen bee is the reproductive female. The drone bee which is the male. The worker bees are the non-reproductive females. Each of these have their role. The non-reproductive female bee is responsible for making the honey and that’s what the Qur’an speaks about in Surah 16 verses 68 to 69.
“Your Lord revealed to the honeybee: “Make homes in the mountains, in the trees and in the structures they raise. Then, eat from all the fruits, and go along the pathways of your Lord made easy for you.” From their bellies comes out a drink of various colors in which there is cure for people. Surely, in that there is a sign for a people who ponder”. (Qur’an, 16:68/69)
وَأَوْحَىٰ رَبُّكَ إِلَى النَّحْلِ أَنِ اتَّخِذِي مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا وَمِنَ الشَّجَرِ وَمِمَّا يَعْرِشُونَ ثُمَّ كُلِي مِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ فَاسْلُكِي سُبُلَ رَبِّكِ ذُلُلًا ۚ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بُطُونِهَا شَرَابٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ لِلنَّاسِ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
In this verse the verbs (take اتَّخِذِي, eat كُلِي, follow فَاسْلُكِي) are written in the female form in the original Arabic language. The Qur’an refers to bees that make the honey as females, because the male bees don’t generate honey.
Honey brings healing
In the previous verse Allah said:
“From their bellies comes out a drink of various colors in which there is a cure for people”. (Qur’an, 16:69)
Modern scientific studies and research [5] have shown that antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties are found in honey. It also helps against infections and in the regrowth of tissue when our body is healing. Honey also contains antioxidants that help to prevent heart problems and cancer.
Gender
The Qur’an states that one’s masculinity or femininity is actually created out of a drop of sperm that has been ejected.
“That He Himself created the two sexes, male and female, from an ejected drop of sperm” (Qur’an, 53:45/46)
So here we have the Qur’an, one thousand four hundred years ago, talking about biological sex and genetics. Now it’s widely known that human sex is determined by the male’s sperm [6], with the female cells playing really no role in the sex determination process.
The prefrontal cortex
The front part of the brain is called a prefrontal cortex. It’s responsible for coming up with lies [7]. According to pubmed.gov, people who just lie known as pathological liars have more prefrontal white matter. And the Qur’an said that the disbelievers will be dragged from their lying forehead.
“No! If he does not stop, we shall drag him by his forehead, his lying, sinful forehead”. (Qur’an, 96: 15/16)
This is in a book one thousand four hundred years old, mentioning facts that scientists have only begun to discover today.
Fasting has medical benefits
Nowadays we know that intermittent fasting has been linked to numerous health benefits [8]. Some of those benefits include reducing the risk of diabetes, reducing inflammation in the body, as well as lowering the blood pressure and balancing your weight. However, it is recommended that you consult with a medical professional when it comes to fasting, but studies do show that yes fasting does have many benefits.
“O you who believe, the fasts have been enjoined upon you as they were enjoined upon those before you, so that you may be God-fearing, fast for a specific number of days, but if one of you is ill, or on a journey, on other days later. For those who can fast only with extreme difficulty, there is a way to compensate- feed a needy person. But if anyone does good of his own accord, it is better for him, and fasting is better for you, if only you knew”. (Qur’an, 2: 183/184)
Final Thoughts
The question that we got to ask ourselves is: How did the prophet Muhammad develop this information? How on earth could a man living in the desert one thousand four hundred years ago have known about such detailed information about a science like biology, anatomy, apiology…
My dear readers, you need to think about this.
I’m always open to any ideas and perspectives, so feel free to leave your opinion in the comments.
References
- The Qur’an (the holy book of Islam)
- The Hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad ‘saw’)
1. What to Expect When You’re Expecting, 5th edition, Heidi Murkoff.
2. Prof Keith Moore converts to Islam after finding scientific facts about embryology in the Quran
3. The Ancient Greek and Roman Philosophy; Translation by Department of Philosophy of Peking University; SDX Joint Publishing Company: Beijing, China, 1957.
4. Bee Colony Life, Christopher M. Jernigan, Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist.
5. Lusby PE, Coombes AL, Wilkinson JM. Bactericidal activity of different honeys against pathogenic bacteria. Arch Med Res. 2005;36:464–467.
6. https://genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Sex-Chromosome,%20Carla%20Easter,%20Ph.D.
7. Abe N, Suzuki M, Mori E, Itoh M, Fujii T. Deceiving others: distinct neural responses of the prefrontal cortex and amygdala in simple fabrication and deception with social interactions, J Cogn Neurosci, 2007, vol. 19 (pg. 287–295)
8. De Cabo R and Mattson MP. Effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease. New England Journal of Medicine.
