Qur’an and Science
Review by Syed Masood Hassan, PhD
Glendale , CA
The Qur’an invites us to see how all of His creations, both animate and inanimate, worship God and obey His laws.
Seest thou not that it is Allah whose praises all beings in the heaven and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise. And Allah knows well all that they do. (Sura 24: verse 41)
Syed Sharief Khundmiri has done Islamic literature a service by providing a multitude of reflections on all kinds of natural phenomena: from astronomy, the Earth, human evolution, human reproduction to the Islamic Renaissance. Although there are several other books on this subject, what I like about this study is that he takes you step by step to show that what we have learned in the last century or two was indeed documented fourteen centuries ago in the Holy Qur’an and thus establishing that it is transcendental and divine in origin.
The first chapter of the book gives an overview of the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a splendid introduction – carefully researched and comprehensive. It presents a balanced view of the man whose religion continues to dramatically affect the course of history. This is followed by an extensive and in-depth examination of the Creation of the Universe as outlined in the Qur’an and then with clarity and thoroughness showing that it is totally in keeping with modern scientific knowledge.
One of the difficulties in addressing subjects like this is that the Qur’an does not provide a unified description of the Creation. Instead of a continuous narration, there are passages scattered all over the book, which deal with certain aspects of the Creation and provide information on the successive events marking its development with varying degrees of detail. This dispersal throughout the book of references to the same subject is not unique to the theme of the Creation. Many important subjects are treated in this manner in the Qur’an such as the earthly or celestial phenomena. To gain a clear idea of how these events are presented, the fragments scattered throughout a large number of verses have all to be brought together. Mr Khundmiri has painstakingly assembled all the verses relevant to the subjects discussed in this book and has presented his material in a clear and coherent manner.
The confrontation between the texts of the Scriptures and scientific data has always provided man with food for thought. In the next section, Khundmiri tackles the question of Creation vs. Evolution – a subject of much debate. Our current social and moral problems are largely a result of the humanistic philosophy, which has been spawned by evolutionary thinking. The so-called new morality we are presently witnessing is actually no morality, the inevitable result of the atheistic, evolutionary philosophy.
The solutions to man’s massive social problems depend on a correct understanding of origins. If the evolutionary philosophy is correct, then life is without purpose. On the other hand, if we were created by Allah, our lives have meaning, direction and purpose. Clearly, the proposition of origin is the foundation of all other convictions, actions and beliefs. Thus, the question of origin is a vital issue that can be ignored only at great peril. Khundmiri has convincingly debunked Darwin’s theory of evolution and at the same time showed that facts of science correlate much better with Qur’an creationism.
Furthermore, what initially strikes the reader of the Holy Qur’an is the sheer abundance of subjects discussed. Khundmiri cites several verses to illustrate a wide range of subject matter ranging from Astronomy, Oceanography, Metallurgy, Anatomy or Obstetrics to Archeology that are discussed in the Qur’an while emphasizing that the Qur’an is not a book that has object of explaining laws governing the universe but it has an absolutely basic religious objectives. And when comparison is made between scientific data and statement contained in the scripture, as the author has done in this book, the only conclusion that can be drawn is that the Holy Qur’an does not contain a single proposition at variance with the most firmly established modern knowledge.
The final sections of this book deal with the rise and fall of various civilizations and the impact of Qur’anic teaching on the cultural and scientific upsurge in the Muslim world
The purpose of this book is to promote Qur’anic teaching and to clarify misconceptions about Islam. Especially, in the aftermath of the tragic events of 9/11, 2001, the most popular image of Islam in the minds of many is that it is, to some extent, a religion of violence, fanaticism and terrorism. This negative image of Islam among the American and the European public is essentially due to ignorance and hypocrisy. At a time when Islam is frequently misunderstood and often maligned, this sensitive and insightful book comes as a ray of sunshine. The book has dispelled many of these misconceptions and has provided ready access to several venerable verses that contain the essential worldview of the Qur’an as it relates to the meaning of life and possibility of justice – the two interconnected themes that are central to the Islamic thought.
Mr Khundmiri has cited more than two hundred verses in this book and has mediated seriously upon the relations between science and belief. He has presented the sparkling results of this mediation in a gracefully written, clear and coherent exposition.
This book which sheds new lights on previously neglected and/or less understood aspects of Qur’anic teachings should have appeal for all young readers and adults who are interested in the relationship between science and Islam.
Qur’an and Science – Their Implication on the Mankind
By Syed Sharief Khundmiri, MA, B Com, Osmania, India
Cost $15
Available at 1314 E. Tujunga Ave. Burbank Ca 91501. Phone (818)953-8922
Email: resourcesusa@gmail.com. Also available at: www.booksurge.com, www.ama zon.com
