By Alifia Afflatus, 13, homeschooler from Indonesia
“Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind.” ~ Albert Einstein
A few weeks ago was the new school year in Indonesia – my country – as I turned into a 10th grader in homeschool. I decided to take the Social Studies major instead of Science because it is my passion! As you know – when you’re homeschooled – you are free to pick more subjects out of the national or international curriculum. Instead of taking the national curriculum as the main subject, I picked religion study and holy book for my main curriculum. (You can apply this in your homeschool, too, if appropriate with your learning vision.)
For the next year, I plan to memorize the entire holy book called Quran or The Koran. There are 30 parts of Quran. I put this as my main curriculum to scrutinise, study the commentary, and compare it to other holy books. In fact, this unordinary book is frequently discussed, debated, and is being a global issue. Some groups of people mention its mistakes, and another group mentions the righteousness inside it.
But in this month’s article, I am not going to do any debate. I am going to discuss this book which I claimed appropriate as a student curriculum.
First is, why? Why is this holy book a brilliant classic masterpiece and a good source for students?
This is not just a holy book…
This book is historically descended by The Almighty, like the Bible was. The book titled Quran had been ‘published’ about 1,400 years ago before the modern civilization emerged into the social life of humans, before facts and ideologies were believed because science verified it. And yet in this modern world, the teachings are – still – compatible to apply. What is more important, modern science has corroborated these teachings which means this masterpiece is logic, and scientific.
How can it be logic?
Quran is claimed logical and scientific because the modern Muslim and Western scientists have tested the facts inside this book to see if it contradicts the logic and science or not – even if it is not a book of science, but a book of signs. Instead of discarding science, this book is conveying the scientific facts, for this is the word of God undisputedly. Before rockets were invented to observe about space, or there was a submarine to observe underwater, and neither was there sophisticated technology for detailed science information about living things, Quran explained scientific facts. It is impossible if Muhammad the son of Abdullah (Peace be Upon Him) as the messenger making this book. For he is an illiterate man, and he has no power to ‘explain these facts’ except just to convey them, as the Bible also confirmed about it certainly:
Isaiah 29:12 – “Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I am not literate.”
So below here are the fascinating scientific signs inside Quran.
i) Earth Science signs about mountain
And He has cast great mountains in the earth lest it might be convulsed with you, and rivers and roads that you may go aright. (The Bees/An-Nahl;15)
Have We not made the earth an even expanse? And the mountains as projections (thereon) (The News/An-Naba`;6-7)
Modern science confirmed that below a mountain are its roots as wedge which maintain it to embed on the earth surface.
ii) Earth Science signs about sea
And the two seas are not alike; the one sweet that subdues thirst by its excessive sweetness, pleasant to drink; and the other salt, that burns by its saltness; yet from each of them you eat fresh flesh and bring forth ornaments which you wear; and you see the ships cleave through it that you may seek of His bounty and that you may be grateful (Originator/Fathir;12)
He has made the two seas to flow freely (so that) they meet together. Between them is a barrier which they cannot pass. Which then of the bounties of your Lord will you deny? (The Most Beneficient/Ar-Rahman;19-21)
Earth science experts already explained about barriers under the sea for the different types of water – the salt and fresh water, the different density and temperature between two seas.
iii) Earth Science signs about spherical shape of earth
And the earth, moreover, Hath He made egg-shaped (Those Who Drag Forth/An-Naziaat;30)
It is also signed in The Troops;5.
iv) Earth Science signs about Big Bang Theory
Moreover He comprehended in His design as sky, and it had been (as) smoke (The Explained/Al-Fussilat;11)
More signs about ‘Big Bang’ also mentioned in The Prophets;30
v) Embriology, Zoology and other branch of Biological Facts inside Quran
And Allah has created from water every living creature; so of them is that which walks upon its belly, and of them is that which walks upon two feet, and of them is that which walks upon four…(The Light/An-Noor;45)
He has created you from a single being, then made its made of the same (kind), and He has made for you eight of the cattle in pairs. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers – a creation after a creation – in triple darkness… (The Troops/Az-Zumar;6)
Az-Zindani once debated with an American scientist, Professor Marshall and discussed about this before finally, Professor Marshall agreed about Zindani`s argument and confirmed the theory about how humans were created in some stages. Not only in The Troops;6, in Noah/Nuh;13-14 this embryology theory is mentioned again.
And certainly We created man of an extract of clay. Then We made him a small seed in a firm resting-place. Then we made the seed a clot, then We made (in) the lump of flesh bones, then we clothed the bones with flesh, then We caused it to grow into another creation… (The Believers/Al-Muminoon;12-14)
And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned (The Rome/Ar-Room;22)
vi) The Harm of Pork
In The Cow/Al-Baqarah;173, God prohibits humans from consuming carcass, blood, and pork. Modern science discovered how pork’s containing type of worms and bacteria which cannot be perished in any temperature that it is harmful for health. This Quran verse is supported by a Bible verse in Deutronomy 14:8…The pig is also unclean; although it has a divided hoof, it does not chew the cud. You are not to eat their meat or touch their carcasses.
vii) Sign that moon doesn’t have its own light
There are three verses giving sign or implied about this theory. In The Criterian/Al-Furqan;61, Jonah/Yunus;5, also in Noah;15-16. This is different with the sign in the Bible which says moon gives its own light, for example in Ezekiel 32:7, Matthew 24:29, Mark 13:24.
Besides these scientific signs, there are more factual sciences inside Quran or The Koran. Like how the sun rotates in The Prophets;33, hydrology in The Believers;18, pain receptor on the skin in The Women;56, and others.
Note: If you have question you can mail me on alifia.afflatus@gmail.com. I will be pleased discussing with you.