Qur’an and ScienceProfessor Seyed E. Hasnain

(www.seyedehasnain.org)

Molecular Infection and Functional Biology LaboratorySchool of Biological Sciences

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi;

and

Dr Reddy’s Institute of Life Sciences University of Hyderabad Campus, Hyderabad, India

More than 1400 years ago Allah revealed Qu'ran to his messenger Muhammad (S.A.W.)

It is a book of pure guidance and wisdom sent down to help all human beings realize the true purpose and meaning of life.

Qur’an

From the day of its revelation to the day of judgement this last divine book will remain as the sole guide for humanity.

Ever since the Quran was revealed, it has possessed countless scientific, mathematical and historical miracles

It also contains many prediction which have been proven true

The divine knowledge is contained in the “Mother of the Book” (Ummul Kitab) and “Tablet Preserved” (Lohul Mahfooz): “Nay, this is a Glorious Quran (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved” [The Holy Quran 85:21-22]

Many of the verses revealed in the Quran more than 1400 years ago have been only recently discovered by science and the use of modern technology today.

The Quran is not a book of science but a book of 'signs'Let us therefore analyze whether the Qur'an and Modern Science are compatible or incompatible?

The world in which we live today:

Physical world, and the

Bio World

Both are interconnected and impact each other

The Physical world

"Do not the Unbelievers see That the heavens and the earth Were joined together (as one Unit of Creation), before We clove them asunder?" [Al-Qu'an 21:30]The striking congruence between the Quranic verse and the 'Big Bang' is inescapable!

According to the 'Big Bang', the whole universe was initially one big mass (Primary Nebula). Then there was a 'Big Bang' (Secondary Separation) which resulted in the formation of Galaxies. These then divided to form stars, planets, the sun, the moon, etc. The origin of the universe was unique and the probability of it occurring by 'chance' is zero.

Quran & Astronomy-Creation of the Universe: 'The Big Bang‘

The Quran contains the following verse, regarding the origin of the universe:

The following Qur'anic verse refers to this state of the universe by the word dhukhan which means smoke:

"Moreover, He Comprehended In His design the sky, And it had been (as) smoke: He said to it And to the earth: 'Come ye together, Willingly or unwillingly.' They said: 'We do come (Together), in willing obedience.' " [Al-Qur'an 41:11]

There was Initial Gaseous Mass Before the Creation of Galaxies

Scientists say that before the galaxies in the universe were formed, celestial matter was initially in the form of gaseous matter. In short, huge gaseous matter or clouds were present before the formation of the galaxies. To describe initial celestial matter, the word 'smoke' is more appropriate than gas.

Again, this fact is a corollary to the 'Big Bang' and was not known to the Arabs during the time of Prophet Muhammad

(peace be upon him). What then, could have been the source of this knowledge?

Consider the following Qur'anic verse regarding the alternation of day and night: 

"Seest thou not that Allah merges Night into Day And He merges Day into Night?" [Al-Qur'an 31:29]

Merging here means that the night slowly and gradually changes to day and vice versa. This phenomenon can only take place if the earth is spherical. If the earth was flat, there would have been a sudden change from night to day and from day to night.

The Spherical Shape of the Earth

 "He created the heavens And the earth In true (proportions): He makes the Night Overlap the Day, and the Day Overlap the Night." 

[Al-Qur'an 39:5]

The Arabic word used here is Kawwara meaning 'to overlap' or 'to coil'– the way a turban is wound around the head. The overlapping or coiling of the day and night can only take place if the earth is spherical.

The Spherical Shape of the Earth

The earth is not exactly round like a ball, but geo-spherical i.e. it is flattened at the poles. The following verse contains a description of the earth's shape:

"And the earth, moreover, Hath He made egg shaped." [Al-Qur'an 79:30]

The Arabic word for egg here is dahaha, which means an ostrich-egg. The shape of an ostrich-egg resembles the geo-spherical shape of the earth. Thus the Qur'an correctly describes the shape of the earth, though the prevalent notion when the Qur'an was revealed was that the earth is flat.

Science tells us that the light of the moon is reflected light. However this fact was mentioned in the Qur'an 1,400 years ago in the following verse:

The Light of the Moon is Reflected Light

"Blessed is He Who made Constellations in the skies, And placed therein a Lamp And a Moon giving light.“[Al-Qur'an 25:61]

Consider the following verses related to the nature of light from the sun and the moon:

"It is He who made the sun To be a shining glory And the moon to be a light (of beauty)."[Al-Qu'an 10:5]

"See ye not How Allah has created The seven heavens One above another, And made the moon A light in their midst, and made the sun As a (Glorious) Lamp?" [Al-Qu'an71:15-16]

The Protected Roof miles above Earth

"And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away." (Quran 21:32)

In 20th century modern science proved hat the atmosphere surrounding the earth plays an important role in protecting earth from small and big meteors causing destruction of earth and living things

Scientific newsUniversity of Colorado Boulder (November 26, 2014): Star Trek-like invisible shield found thousands of miles above Earth

Barrier between Sweet and Salt Waters

Early commentators of the Qur'an were unable to explain the two opposite meanings for the two bodies of water, i.e. they meet and mix, and at the same time, there is a barrier between them. Modern Science has discovered that in the places where two different seas meet, there is a barrier between them. This barrier divides the two seas so that each sea has its own temperature, salinity and density. [Principles of Oceanography, Davis, pp. 92-93]

"He has let free the two bodies of flowing water, meeting together: between them is a barrier which they do not transgress." [Al-Qur'an 55:19-20]

This scientific phenomenon mentioned in the Qur'an was also confirmed by Dr. William Hay who is a well-known marine scientist and Professor of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado, USA.

The Qur'an mentions this phenomenon also in the following verse: "And made a separating bar between the two bodies of flowing water?" [Al-Qur'an 27:61]

When the Qur'an speaks about the divider between fresh and salt water, it mentions the existence of "a forbidding partition" with the barrier.

"It is He Who has let free the two bodies of flowing water: one palatable and sweet, and the other salty and bitter; Yet has He made a barrier between them, and a partition that is forbidden to be passed." [Al-Qur'an 25:53]

This phenomenon occurs in several places, including Egypt, where the river Nile flows into the Mediterranean Sea.

Barrier between Sweet and Salt Waters

The world in which we live today:

Physical world, and the

Bio World

Both are interconnected and impact each other

The Biological world

Plants Created in Pairs - Male and Female

Fruits Created in Pairs - Male and Female

Once pollen has been carried to the flower, they bear fruit, which in turn matures and frees its seed. All fruits therefore imply the existence of male and female organs; a fact that is mentioned in the Qur'an.

"And fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two." [Al-Qur'an 13:3]

"And has sent down water from the sky. With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others." [Al-Qur'an 20:53]

"And of everything We have created pairs.“ [Al-Qur'an 51:49]

Honey has Healing Properties

The Russians used honey to cover their wounds in World War II. Honey is rich in fructose and vitamin K. The knowledge

contained in the Qur'an regarding honey, its origin and properties, was far

ahead of the time it was revealed.

A couple of centuries ago man came to know that honey comes from the belly of the bee. This fact was mentioned in the Qur'an

1,400 years ago in the following verse:

"There issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for men." [Al-Qur'an 16:69]

"Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones? Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." [Al-Qur'an 75:3-4]

Fingerprints

In 1880, fingerprinting became the scientific method of identification, after research done by

Sir Francis Golt.

1676- van Leeuwenhoek: described single celled organisms

1859- Charles Darwin:“The Origin of Species”

1862- Louis Pasteur:Microorganisms responsible for

contamination, heating kills microorganisms

1866- Gregor Mendel:Phenotype determined by

inheritable units

1944- Avery, MacLeod, McCarty: DNA is the genetic materia

1953- James Watson , Francis Crick: solve structure of DNA

1955- Frederick Sanger: Complete sequence of insulin

1910-1920: Morgan established the basis of

modern genetics

1973- Stanley Cohen: Produced first recombinant DNA organism

1997- Ian Wilmut :Cloning of a sheep

2001– Completion of a, "rough draft," of the human genome

BIOLOGY HAS COME A LONG WAY ... ...

. ... ... YET, MANY MORE MILES TO GO

1735- Carl Linnaeus: classification of species

2012–Personalized human genome sequencing !!

23andYou

2014- 100,000 human genomes

2015- Genome Editing: CRISPR Cas9

Molecular Biology Overview

Cell Nucleus

Chromosome

Protein Gene (DNA)Gene (mRNA), single strand

“The molecule is so beautiful. Its glory was reflected on Francis and me.” - James Watson on DNA

The “blueprints” (genetic information) for making proteins is stored within our DNA. It is

the job of DNA to control the order in which these 20 different amino acids are put

together.

The DNA of every human being on the planet is 99.9% the same.

It is the 0.1% that makes all the difference!

Any type of organism can be identified by examination of DNA sequences which is

unique to that species.

The molecule of life: DNAMIFBL

Today DNA is one of the most amazing molecule

DNA unifies, DNA diversifiesHow can the differential arrangement of ATGC make such a huge difference?

• Different arrangements of NUCLEOTIDES in a nucleic acid (DNA) provides the key to DIVERSITY among living organisms

Genetic Diversity…

COMPARTIVE GENOMICS: Find the differences and similarities in DNA of related organisms

MIFBL

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms(SNPs)

0.1% frequency in the human genome

Bases at the polymorphic site

Drug metabolism

Efficiency of medication

TACGTGG

TACATGG

Fast

Slow

High

Low

e. g. Cyp 2D6 locus vis-a-vis codein metabolism

MIFBL

Primary Congenital Glaucoma (PCG)

is a severe form of childhood blindness causes by developmental defect(s) of the trabecular meshwork and anterior chamber angle of the eye

Onset : present at birth or early childhood

MIFBL

The Central Dogma of Life

DNA makes RNA makes Protein

Transcription

Translation

•DNA as gene•The Double Helix Structure of DNA: Inspired by Nature;:everything is in pair!!

In Qu'ran Allah Almighty spoke about the development of an embryo in the following way:

“….We made the drop into an Alaqah (leech-like structure), and then We changed the Alaqah into a Mudghah (chewed-like substance), then We changed the Mudghah into Idhaam (bones, skeleton), then We clothed the Idhaam with Lahm (flesh, muscles), then We caused him to grow and come into being as another creation.” (23:14)

The Development Of Embryo

Figure 1: External Structure of a Leech compared to the Embryo Figure 2: Internal Structure of a Leech

compared to the Embryo

According to Prof. Keith Moore these three veils of darkness in the Qur'an refer to:

• anterior abdominal wall of the mother

• the uterine wall • the amnio-chorionic

membrane.

Foetus Protected by Three Veils of Darkness

"He makes you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness." [Al-Qur'an 39:6]

The single cell transforms itself in nine months to become a child with three trillion cells

Limbal Cells: The LVPEI experience

MIFBL

Programmed cell death

Apoptosis in development

Sydney Brenner, H. Robert Horvitz and John E. Sulston”Genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death"

Nobel Prize 2002

Brain marvels: can we beat nature?

...our brain consists of about 100 billion neurons! That's about 166 times the number of people on the planet! 

...the number of internal thought pathways that our brain is capable of producing is: one followed by 10.5 million kilometers of standard typewritten zero's!

...information travels at different speeds within different types of neurons. Transmission can be as slow as 0.5 meters/sec or as fast as 120 meters/sec.

...our brain can have more ideas than the number of atoms in the known universe!

...the power used by our brain is that used to light a 10-watt bulb.

….the brain has no pain. There are no nerves that register pain within the brain itself, neurosurgeons can probe the brain while a patient is conscious. They can then use feedback from the patient to identify important regions, such as those used for speech.

…. Our brain continues to produce new neurons throughout our lives, and it does so in response to stimulation (exercise). This is referred to as brain plasticity or neuro-plasticity, and it is one of the most encouraging of these "brain facts."

Our heart beats about 80,000 to 100,000 times in one day and about 35 million times in a year.

During an average lifetime (70-90 years), human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times.

Our body has about 5.6 l of blood. This 5.6 liters of blood circulates through the body thrice/min.

In one day, the blood travels a total of 19,000 km (12,000 miles)-- that's more than the distance across the world..

The heart pumps about 1 million barrels of blood during an average lifetime--that's enough to fill more than 3 super tankers.

Nature’s most efficient pump: The Heart

A microbiota is “the ecological community of commensal, symbiotic and pathogenic microorganisms that literally share our body space”

The human body contains over 10 times more microbial cells than human cells

MIFBL

Microbiota: More than our own DNA

Singh et al Gut Pathogens, 2013

The human microbiome may have a role in diseases like

DiabetesAsthmaRheumatoids arthritisMuscular dystrophyMultiple SclerosisFibromyalgiaCancerObesityDepressionNeuro-chemical imbalances

MIFBL

Role of Microbiota in different diseases

How do we define a living form ?

• Reproduction (Ability to replicate, giving origin to similar kinds )

• Growth (i.e., reduction of internal entropy at the expense of environmental entropy)

• Metabolism (i.e., capacity of maintaining lower internal entropy)

FIVE ELEMENTS: C, H, O, N, P, S

What constitutes life?

“An honest man, armed with all the knowledge available to us now, could only state that in some sense, the origin of life appears at the moment to be almost a miracle, so many are the conditions which would have had to have been satisfied to get it going”

Francis Crick, Nobel Laureate[Life Itself: Its Origin and Nature, Simon and Schuster, p88, New York] 

So, How did Life Begin?

Living Organism is a “natural biocomputer”: with hardware and software

IS DNA EVERYTHING? On a genetic level, humans and apes are nearly identical sharing > 96 % of their DNA. So what makes us different? It is where, when and how intensely our genes are expressed. It is the Genetic programming. Chemical structure carries a particular “chemical information” which determines its properties.  Assemble the DNA strictly as a chemical entity entity: It will not show any life (biological) properties because the chemical structure does not encode any biological information.

A major issue raised by the critics of this technology is that if the synthesized products are subjected to natural selection and potentially gene flow, the mutations in the genome of the synthetic organisms could produce unexpected interactions with the environment and other living, natural organisms.

The other major concern is that if scientists can create life ‘at will’ it will have huge societal impact.

MIFBL

SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY: Creating Life in a test tube

and Allah further Says “When I have fashioned him (in due proportion) and breathed into him of My spirit…”[The Holy Quran 15:29] It is Allah who creates you and takes your souls at death; and of you there are some who are sent back to a feeble age, so that they know nothing after having known (much): for Allah is All-Knowing, All Powerful. [The Holy Quran 16:70] “Allah does blot out (delete) or confirm (retain) what He pleases: With Him is the Mother of the Book” [The Holy Quran 13:39]

Life and Death

When one dies, the ‘hardware’ remains but ‘software’ is deleted.  The biological software is known only to Allah Living Organism is a “natural biocomputer”: with hardware and software The divine knowledge base with all the softwares is contained in the “Mother of the Book” (Ummul Kitab) and “Tablet Preserved” (Lohul Mahfooz): “Nay, this is a Glorius Quran (inscribed) in a Tablet Preserved” [The Holy Quran 85:21-22]

“It is the only book revealed by God that has not changed (not a single word) from the time it has been revealed”

There are more than six thousand 'signs' in the Qur'an of which more than a thousand

deal with science.

A totally objective examination of the Qur’an, in the light of modern knowledge, leads us to recognize the agreement between the two, as has already been noted on repeated occasions

throughout this presentation.

Conclusion

“Quran encourages seeking of knowledge and the modern science is not something that is out of Islam or

that is discouraged in the religion that so dearly encourages the spirit of enquiry and contemplation

over things”

Thank You

I dedicate this lecture to the loving memory of my late parents

Professor Syed Mohammad Hasnainand

Dr Naushaba Hasnain

I am grateful to the ALMIGHTY ALLAH, and am indebted to...