Scientific Miracles of ''Quran''

Monday, April 6, 2009



Human Embryonic Development

“We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed, lump).”(Qur’an, 23:12-14)

In comparing a leech to the embryo at the transitory stage (alaqah) we find similarity between the two. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech that feeds on the blood of others. The second meaning of the word alaqah is “suspended thing.” Suspension of an Embryo during the early stages in the womb of the mother. (About 15 days old). The actual size of the embryo is about 0.6 mm. When comparing the appearance of an embryo at the mugdah stage with a piece of gum that has been chewed, we find similarity between the two. We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs during the transitory stage (alaqah) is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo during this stage. The blood in the embryo does not circulate until the end of the third week. Thus the embryo is like a clot of blood at this stage!

The embryo at the mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed-like substance because of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teeth marks in a chewed substance.”

40 DAYS IN THE WOMB
As we know, chromosomes contain all the characteristics which the new human being will have such as the color of the eyes, skin, hair, etc. Hence, many of the details in the human being’s make-up are determined in his chromosomes. Chromosomes begin to form during the early nutfah stage of embryonic development. In other words, the distinguishing features of the new human being are determined from the very beginning at the nutfah stage. During the first 40 days of gestation, all the body parts and organs are completely, though consecutively formed.

The Prophet Muhammad, (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), has informed us in a hadith that: “In every one of you, all components of your creation are gathered together in your mothers’ womb by 40 days”. (Narrated in Saheeh Muslim and Al-Bukhaari).

In another hadith, Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “When forty-two nights have passed over the drop (nutfah), Allah sends an angel to it, who shapes it and makes its ears, eyes, skin, flesh and bones. Then he says, “O Lord, is it male or female?” and your Lord decides what he wishes.” (Narrated in Saheeh Muslim).

The first 40 days constitute a clearly distinguishable stage of embryogenesis. The absolute precision and accuracy of those hadiths particularly impress us. So the two hadiths that have been noted can provide us with a specific timetable for the main embryological development before 40 days. These hadiths could not have been obtained on the basis of the scientific knowledge that was available at the time of their recording. It follows, that not only is there no conflict between genetics and religion, but in fact religion can guide science by adding revelation to some traditional scientific approaches. That there exists statements in the Qur’an shown by science to be valid, which supports knowledge in the Qur’an having been derived from Allah.

How did Mohammad (pbuh) know about the 20th century’s Medical fact 1400 years back?

Say: He has revealed it Who knows the secret in the heavens and the earth;surely He is ever Forgiving, Merciful. (Qur’an, 25:6)


Nerve Endings & Pain Sensation



The Quran on the sensory characteristic of the skin: “Indeed, those who disbelieve in our signs, we will roast them at a fire. As often as their skins are wholly burned, we will give them in exchange other skins, that they may taste the punishment.” (Qur’an, 4:56)

Regarding the scientific facts concerned with pain sensation in the skin; it was believed until recently that the whole body is sensitive to pain, and it was not known that there are specific nerves in the body which are pain receptors. Modern science discovered that there are about 15 centers for different types of nerve sensation. Medical scientists divided sensation into three groups: Superficial sensation, deep sensation, and compound sensation. Superficial sensation is specific for touch, pain and heat. As for deep sensation, it is specific for muscles and joints. Anatomy has proven that the nerve endings for pain and heat are very close and that the nerve endings for pain sensation are abundant in the skin. So, the skin is the most important part of humans in relation to pain sensation, because of these numerous nerve endings.

There are first and second degree burns, and each is divided into superficial and deep burns. Then there are third degree burns, in which we find that the skin layer is totally damaged and it may even reach to muscles or bones and the skin loses its elasticity and becomes very dry and hard. In this case the patient does not feel much pain because nerve endings are damaged due to burning. It is well known to specialists today that full thickness burns destroy nerve endings, so that further burning a person after that won’t cause any pain. How such information could have been known at the time of Muhammed is baffling to people who would attribute a human origin to the Quran. The Quran states clearly that people will be given a “new skin” for the purpose of pain, thereby linking skin loss with the loss of nerve endings that cause pain. The Quran informed us about this over 1400 years back when people knew nothing about full thickness and partial thickness burns and their anesthetic effect.

The skin is the center of sensitivity to burns. Thus, if the skin is completely burnt by fire, it loses its sensitivity. It is for this reason that Allah will punish the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment by returning to them their skins time after time, as He, the Exalted and Glorified, said in the Quran.“This is no less than a reminder to (all) the worlds. And you shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a while.” (Qur’an, 38:87-88)


The Coccyx Bone
Coccyx is a curved, semi flexible lower end of the backbone (vertebral column) in humans, representing a vestigial tail. It is composed of three to five successively smaller caudal (coccygeal) vertebrae. The first is a relatively well-defined vertebra and connects with the sacrum; the last is represented by a small nodule of bone. The spinal cord ends above the coccyx. In early adulthood the coccygeal vertebrae fuse with each other; in later life the coccyx may fuse with the sacrum. Coccyx, the last bone in the vertebral column was mentioned in many Hadiths that this bone is the origin of humans and the seed from which they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment and that this part doesn’t decay in the earth.

Stages of foetus formation:
When the sperm fecundate the ovule, foetus formation starts. The fecundated ovule or the zygote divides into 2 cells, and each cell divides into another 2 cells. Cells division and growth continue until the formation of the embryonic disk that contains 2 layers:

• External “Epiblast”: contains the cytotrophoblasts that fix the embryo in the uterus wall and enable its nutrition from the blood and the secretions of the glands of the uterus wall.

• Internal “Hypoblast”: From which the foetus is formed with the Will of Allah The Almighty. On the day15 the primitive streak appears in the dorsal aspect of the embryo with a pointed end called the primitive node.

The side on which the primitive streak appears is known as the back of the embryonic disc. From the primitive streak and node all the foetus tissues and organs are formed as follows:

• The Ectoderm: gives the skin and the central nervous system

• The Mesoderm: gives the digestive tract smooth muscles, the skeletal muscles, the circulation system, the heart, the bones the sexual and urinary systems (except the bladder), the subcutaneous tissues, the lymphatic system, the spleen and the cortex.

• The Endoderm: the linings of the digestive tract and the respiratory system, the organs related to the digestive tract (ex: liver and pancreas), the bladder, the thyroid gland, the hearing canal.
After that, the primitive streak and node become emaciated and reside in the sacral zone, in the last vertebrae, so that the coccyx is formed.

Foetus malformation is a proof that the coccyx contains the mother cells for all the human tissues:

After the creation and formation of the foetus from the primitive streak and the primitive node, those reside in the last vertebrae of the sacrum (the coccyx) and retain their characteristics. If those are motivated somehow, they start to grow similarly to the foetus growth and so give a tumour (Teratoma) that resembles a defective foetus with some organs fully formed (hands or feet with nails). Therefore the sacrum indeed contains the mother cells and what the prophet (PBUH) said about the Resurrection of humans from their coccyx on the Day of Judgment has been proved.

The conclusion: the coccyx contains the primitive streak and primitive node and those are able to grow giving the three layers that form the foetus: ectoderm, mesoderm and endoderm and so can give all the organs as the surgeon when opening the tumour previously mentioned found fully formed organs inside it like teeth, hair…

Humans can be then recreated from their coccyx that contains the primitive streak and node of the overall potential.

And so the coccyx can not get decayed:
Researchers found that foetus cells’ formation and organisation are exerted by the primitive streak and node and before their formation no cells’ differentiation could have taken place. One of the most famous researchers who proved this was the German scientist Hans Spemann.

After his experiments on the primitive streak and node he found that those organise the creation of the foetus and so he called them “The primary organiser”. He cut this part from one foetus and implanted it in another one in the primary embryonic stage (third and fourth week). This lead to the formation of a secondary foetus in the guest body due to the influence and organisation exerted by the surrounding guest’s cells on the implant.

The German scientist started his experiments on the amphibians by implanting the primary organiser in a second foetus, which led to the growth of a secondary embryo. The implantation of the cut primary organiser was in another foetus of the same age under the Epiblast layer and lead to the apparition of a secondary embryonic anlage.

In 1931, when Spemann crushed the primary organiser and implanted it again, the crushing did not affect the experiment as again, a secondary embryonic anlage grew.

In 1933, Spemann and other scientists conducted the same experiment but the primary organiser was boiled this time. A secondary embryonic anlage grew in spite of the boiling showing that the cells were not affected. In 1935, Spemann was awarded the Nobel Prize for his discovery of the Primary Organiser.

Narrated By Al-Amash: Abu Huraira said, "Allah's Apostle said, 'Between the two sounds of the trumpet, there will be forty." Somebody asked Abu Huraira, "Forty days?" But he refused to reply. Then he asked, "Forty months?" He refused to reply. Then he asked, "Forty years?" Again, he refused to reply. Abu Huraira added. "Then (after this period) Allah will send water from the sky and then the dead bodies will grow like vegetation grows, There is nothing of the human body that does not decay except one Bone; that is the little Bone at the end of the coccyx of which the human body will be recreated on the Day of Resurrection." (Shahi Bukhari)
The Female Honey Bee


“And your Lord revealed to the bee saying: Make hives in the mountains and in the trees and in what they build: Then eat of all the fruits and walk in the ways of your Lord submissively. There comes forth from within it a beverage of many colours, in which there is healing for mankind; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect.” (16:68-69)

The Quran mentions that the female bee leaves its home to gather food. Now, a person might guess on that, saying, "The bee that you see flying around - it could be male, or it could be female.

But it also happens that it was not what most people believed at the time when the Quran was revealed. Can you tell the difference between a male and a female bee? Well, it takes a specialist to do that, but it has been discovered that the male bee never leaves his home to gather food.

However, in Shakespeare's play, Henry the Fourth, some of the characters discusses bees and mentions that the bees are soldiers and have a king. However, that is not true at all. The fact is that they are females, and they answer to a queen. Yet it took modern scientific investigations in the last 300 years to discover that this is the case.

Fon Frisch, who is a scientist, he got the Noble Prize in 1973, when he described the behavior of the animals, specially the communication method of the bee. And today we have come to know that when ever a worker bee finds a new flower or a new garden from where it can take nectar, it goes and tells its fellow bees, the exact direction and map of that new flower or garden by a way called as the ‘bee dance’. Only today by using high photographic method we have come to know about this communication. The gender used in the Holy Qur'an in these Verses is a female gender ‘Quli’, or ‘Fasluki’ which means for a ‘Female bee’. Imagine! Qur'an speaks about the gender of the worker bee 1400 years ago, which we have discovered today.

In the field of Medicine, it is recently we have come to know that the honey we have is derived from the bee. It is the bee which is responsible for the honey - We did not know about this before. And today we know honey has got high nutritive values. It is rich in vitamin K and Fructose, and it has got mild antiseptic properties. Any person suffering from an allergy of a particular plant - if honey produced from that plant is given, that person starts developing resistance to that allergy.

The bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.

When a flower has already been visited, the honeybee can understand that another bee has earlier consumed the nectar of that flower, and leave the flower immediately. This way, it saves both time and energy. Well, how does the bee understand, without checking the flower, that the nectar has earlier been consumed? This is made possible because the bees which visited the flower earlier marked it by leaving a drop on it with a special scent. Whenever a new bee looks in on the same flower, it smells the scent and understands that the flower is of no use and so goes on towards another flower. Thus, bees do not waste time on the same flower.

We should not forget that it is impossible for this fact to have been known about the honey bees in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Yet, Allah has pointed at this fact and shown us yet another miracle of the Qur'an.


Signs of Allah in Birds
Signs of Allah in Birds

A bird uses great energy when it takes flight because it has to lift all its body with its tiny wings. Yet, once it is up in the air, Allah has made it easy for it to remain aloft without expending too much effort. Birds can fly for a long time by allowing themselves to rely on the wind. This way, they hardly tire since they consume very little energy. When the effect produced by the wind diminishes, they begin to flap their wings again. By means of this feature Allah has given birds, they can cover very long distances and migrate to remote destinations.

"Do they not see the birds suspended in mid-air up in the sky? Nothing holds them there except Allah. There are certainly Signs in that for people who have faith." (Quran 16:79 Translated meaning)

The eyes of water fowl have been created for clear underwater vision. While we can't keep our eyes open underwater for even 45 seconds, water birds can easily catch insects and molluscs in water as they plunge their heads into it. Since this is the only way for them to feed themselves, they must have clear vision underwater. For this reason, Allah has created a special structure in their eyes, which permits seeing underwater.

Almost all birds sleep on one leg. This does not upset their balance since their body weight is concentrated on this one leg. Allah has created birds with the features that enable them to maintain such a delicate balance.

It is interesting that birds' legs, so slender and little in comparison to their bodies, can carry their entire bodies. It is amazing that so many muscles, veins and nerves can exist in such a slender leg! If birds' legs were thicker and relatively more bulky, it would be more difficult for them to fly.

“Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in? None upholds them except the Most Beneficent (Allah). Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything. Who is he besides the Most Beneficent that can be an army to you to help you? The disbelievers are in nothing but delusion. Who is he that can provide for you if He should withhold His provision? Nay, but they continue to be in pride, and (they) flee (from the truth). Is he who walks without seeing on his face, more rightly guided, or he who (sees and) walks on a Straight Way (i.e. Islamic Monotheism). Say it is He Who has created you, and endowed you with hearing (ears), seeing (eyes), and hearts. Little thanks you give.” (Quran 67:19-23 Translated meaning)