Generally, Muslims believe that science contradicts Islamic beliefs and concepts and it is an act of sin to study science. In fact, Islam invites us to ponder over the nature’s phenomena and the universe. The Creator has pointed out an attribute of the believers that: They contemplate the wonders of creation in the heavens and the earth. (Al-e-Imran: 191)
And further said:
Do not you see, do not you contemplate, do not you ponder.
The beliefs and theories espoused by Islam some 1400 years ago today stand validated by science and nowhere we clash between Islam and science. Below is an overview of these theories.
1. Creation of Universe
The creation of universe itself speaks of the beingness of a God. Allah Almighty said in the Qur’an: Heaven and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder). (Al-Anbiya: 30)
Modern science tells us that 15 billion years ago there took place a big bang. According to this theory two massive bodies collided with each other and as a result the universe came into being.
2. Expanding Universe
Almighty Allah says:
With power and skill did we construct the firmament: for it is We Who create the expanding space. (Az-Zariyat: 4)
It was discovered in 1948 that the universe is expanding, this discovery confirmed the Islamic theory of expansion of universe.
3. A non-stationary sun
In 15th century a polish astronomer Copernicus advanced the theory that the sun is stationary. Muslims were concerned when this theory gained currency among scientists and other people because the Qur’an says: And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: That is the decree of Him, the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. (Yasin: 38)
They theory of Copernicus remained popular for three centuries until an 18th-century astronomer William Herschel discovered that the sun is moving along with the entire solar system towards an unknown destination at a speed of 68000 miles per hour.
4. Creation of Life
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an: We created every living thing from water. Then why don’t you believe. (Al-Anbiya: 30)
Modern science says that 4.6 billion years ago seas came into being on our earth due to drop in temperature and then a living cell, virus, came into existence.
5. Water of two oceans does not mix
A French mariner discovered that Atlantic ocean and Adriatic see meet but there waters do not mingle then a stream falls in the sea off the Moroccan coast but its water does not mingle either.
Allah Almighty had already pointed out this fact.
It is He Who has left free the two bodies of flowing water: One palatable and sweet, and the other salt and bitter; yet he has made a barrier between them, a partition that is forbidden to be passed. (Al-Furqan: 53)
This verse verifies the discovery made by the French mariner.
6. Chlorophyll in plants
Modern science holds that there is a green compound in plants which helps them in the preparation of food. The Qur’an explained this phenomenon 14 centuries ago:
It is He who sent down rain from skies: with it we produce vegetation of all kinds: For some we produce green out of which we produce grain. (Al-Anam: 99)
7. Anti-clockwise movement of the
universe including circumambulation
Everything in this universe is moving in determined pattern and direction. The Qur’an says:
Verily, all thing We have created in proportion and measure. (Al-Qamar: 49)
Today modern science has proved that everything in this universe is moving anti-clockwise, for instance circumambulation of Ka’aba, revolution of sun, moon and other stars, and electrons in an atom. Therefore there is a determined pattern which everything follows.
8. How the universe will end?
All western scientists unanimously believe that when the universe will end, the sun will become cold and all stars will digress from their orbits and collide with each other and the water of the oceans will swell and people will run towards oceans for refuge, and in this way everything will be destroyed. The Qur’an had already presented this scene:
When the sun is folded up. When the stars fall losing their lustre when the mountains vanish. (At-Takweer: 1-3)
All these facts make it clear that science is based on theories and when these theories become a reality, they testify Islamic beliefs. Therefore we should not believe such theories as go against the Islamic beliefs as Allah Almighty said: And believe in the unseen and investigate but do not lose sight of the fact that Allah is the creator.
A professor of sociology at Harvard writes:
“The clash between religion and science is not only dangerous but also unnecessary. If we have the true concept of God and moral values, it will become clear that science and religion are the same and have the same objective, that is to unravel the natural phenomena of God.”
This is quite obvious that Islam and the Qur’an have described scientific theory the most. May be at one point of time a scientific theory seem to be contradicting Islam but when that theory is finally improved and rectified then it becomes in consonance with the sayings of the Qur’an. Until today all established facts of science have endorsed the sayings of the Qur’an. The knowledge of Allah Almighty is a finality and human reason is limited and it takes human reason some time to fully understand the sayings of Almighty Allah but this has to be admitted that the Word of Allah is an undeniable truth, and they are the fortunate souls who believe in the unseen and the saying of Allah.
check this site,..plz,… http://markazdawa.org/English/magazines/VOICE/Jan2001/islam_and_scientific_theories.htm
[This message has been edited by TARIQ786USA (edited June 17, 2001).]
