Re: “Does the Qur’an , revealed in seventh-century Arabia , address today’s needs?”
It is a myth. The actual translation of Quran from Arabic is different, what we have are vague interpretations. And I can bat that these interpretations differ from each other in different centuries, even in different decades. Who proves that Quran is a complete science? Semi-literate Mullahs, or some unknown scientists, or sometime the Islamic media prints some matter on behalf of any established scientist, mostly who is dead, and further the claim is not countered, that helps the Islamic media.
I pick up the first two examples of Madam Muslim queen, let us see how some other learnt Muslims interpret the same suras….
051.047 Adh-Dharyat
YUSUFALI: With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of pace.
PICKTHAL: We have built the heaven with might, and We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof).
SHAKIR: And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and most surely We are the makers of things ample.
086.011 Al-Tariq
YUSUFALI: By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
PICKTHAL: By the heaven which giveth the returning rain,
SHAKIR: I swear by the raingiving heavens,
It is not translation, but interpretation, where the interpreters have tried to put up their own words into the suras. So, where is science?
Quran does not need an update. It needs to be taken away from the grip of semi-literate Mullahas, or at least if Muslims do not send their minors to Madrisa for learning Quran, half of the work will be done.*