We will show them Our Si8ns in the H universe and within themselves, until it becomes manifest unto them that this (The Qyran) is the truth. (Al-Quran, 41 : 53) ,'" &~1-I:,r ..t..'l'-.n:. r~,:_":"'''~;~I''4:'» -' THE DIVINE PLAN HAS RAISED YOU UP FROM THE EARTH IN HE FORM OF A (GENEALOGICAL) TREE: (AL-QURAN 71 : 17) CETACEA THE MO.T SPECIALISED AQUATIC MAMMALS WHALes • PORPOISES INANTIA D·CHEWING DIVISION OF UNGULATA~ PINNIPEDIA •W eAALRLU. SAEN.SD WHIC ..'~i. J"" 'lI'tT'"'~ ~"1C0J'-:"', "... HAVe SPf.CIAL1SED -HOOFED ANIMALS WITH T.ETH AND LIMBS CONveRTED INTO MODII"I£D LIMB.BONf.•• FLIPPERS. TYPICALLY ONLV ONE OR RODENTIA RATS, MICE, SQUIRRELS WITH GNAWING T ••T .... LAGOMORPHA RABalTS, HARES. WITH GNAWING TEETH. TREE·SHREW INSECTIVORA MARSUPIALIA PRIMITIV. MAMMALS HAVING POUCH BEARERS CHARACTERISTICS MUCH LIKE (LIKE KANG AROO. WOMBAT) THOU 0 .. FO$$'L MA....AL. (SH••W., MOL... H.DGEHOG.) MONOTREMATA EGG LAVING MAMMALS IPLATYPUS. ECHIDNA) A BRANCH OF GENEALOGICAL TREE REPRESENTING .lAWLESS FISH SU.-PHYLUM VERT••RATA ~~:~I~~r."'I~:.':"';'I"" .. 1Or.1tltlJV!~!...' Tree-like PQltn'n 0/ evolution PHENOMENA OF NATURE AND THE QURAN BY SAYED ABDUL WADUD. M.C., M.B.B.S. KHALID PUBLISHERS 50-Usman Block, New Gardon Town, Lahore -54600 All Rights Reserved by the Author 1ST EDITION --NOVEMBER, 1971 2ND EDITION -- 1994 Compoaed by MONIR AHMED Tel: 042-7570051 Printed in Pakistan by Dost Associates At Tari! Printers Tape Road, Lahore STOCKIST Dost Associates Ai-Karim Market, Urdu Bazar Lahore. Ilmi Kitab Ghar Urdu /Ja:uJr, Karachi. To My talented teacher Allama Ghulam Ahmad Parwez whose brilliant and fascinating exposition of the Holy Quran inspired me to earnestly explore the Divine Message. THE AUTHOR IX Preface -- to the First Edition This book does not pretend to be more than what its title implies. It is not a textbook of science but an explanation of certain Quranic verses, on the basis of science. It could be produced in two different forms. Firstly by taking the verses related to the phenomena of nature as they occur successively in the Quranic text and by explaining each of them in the light of modern scientific knowledge; secondly by taking up separate chapters en the various branches of science, describing the scientific basis first and then stating what the Quran has said about it. I have adopted the latter course, so that the non-scientist readers may be able to follow it with ease. The main object, however, in writing this book is to present the Holy Quran to the world scientists. As far as the scientific data is concerned, I have not added anything to it. It is the outcome of the research and observations by the eminent scientists in different ages. However, I have projected the Quranic verses in order to bring into light the harmony between the Quran and the scientific studies and to show that an intelligent approach to the study of the Holy Book demands knowledge of the modern sciences. I have not given a literal translation of the Quranic verses, since in the words of Gibb, "the Quran is essentially untranslatable'''; but interpretations thereof are based on reason or a deeper broad-based study of the general teachings of the Book, which might differ in some places from their orthodox meanings. I have however the authority of the most reliable Arabic 1exicons for what I have said. I am indebted to Allama Ghulam Ahmad PaIWez whose explanatory lectures on the Holy Quran, spread over years together, provided an intiative for this venture, and whose vast and valuable literature on the Holy Quran, advice and moral support maintained the impetus behind my humble efforts: to late Professor S.S. Ahmad, ex­ head of the Biology Departmen4 Government College, Lahore, for his affectionate guidance in completing the figure work and for taking pains in spite of his poor health: to late Professor Hamid Askari for hints on certain physiea1 aspects of natural phenomena: to Dr. Badrud-Din, Director, Institute of Chemistery, Punjab University, for checking up the chapter on Chemical Evolution: to Mr. Jafar Ali Qureshi for checking up the typed matter: to Hafiz Mohammad Yousaf and Munshi Saeed Ahmad for calligraphy of certain Quranie verses: to the Ripon Printing Press Ltd. for their devoted care and cooperation: to my wife for her solicitude that eased the strain of what was added to my professional work: to my deceased parents who kindled in me the tlame of love for the Holy Quran and the last word on the subject is -­ Absolute praise is for Allah, the Nourisher of all domains of existence. This cry comes spontaneously from the believers who ponder over phenomena of nature. /,' 1'" ... " .~,,,,, .... '1\ ... , .Jt I') ... JI" \..­ • ~\ ~...J a.u V + "'" ~\ ~..".c:.~...".,;\ -' '" (10:10) •• ,. ", "" ,. .. Lahore,1971 ABDUL WADUD "B.R. Gibb, Modern Trends in Islam, University of Chicago Press, 1945, page 4. Preface -- to the Second Edition In addition to the minor changes, certain detailed discussions have been added to the second edition of the book. . A narration in chapter-n related to "The end of the Universe", has been omitted. This is present in more details in my book titled "The Iteavens, the Earth and the Quran". Chapter-m has been revised, under the new heading, "The Well­ Gaurded Roof." In chapter-V "Chemical Evolution", the pre-biological phase of chemical evolution has been revised. In chapter-IX "Enviornments and Nutrition" the verse (25:53) of the holy Quran has been explained in further details, by quoting a particular event that occured in the year 1915 AD., on the sea of Marmara. In chapter-XI pattern of "Reproduction", after the heading "Significance (of Sex" an explanation of the word ....:::,..... 7:,. ,.. as it occurs in the Quran ...:...-.a~,.. 30:31, .),,..#. ,,.:,J­I 85:14) has been added. In chapter-XII "Reproduction of Multicellular animals" the viable age of fetus has been discussed with reference to the Quranic verses 2:233,46:15, and 31:14, and also with reference to Ahadith literature. I am indebted to my friend Mr. Mohammad Omar Darz the Chief Executive ot Annoor Printing Press, for taking special pain in the n!-arrangement of the text of the work, and for the setting and re-setting of the figure work. Lahore, 1992 ABDULWADUD xi Contents Chapter Page Introduction 1-4 1. THE QURAN ON THE CREATION OF THE ~RSE 5-9 Stages of creation 'Amr' ..,........\ and 'Khaliq' ~ -­ 'Taqdir'-t..Ml.­ Immutability of Divine IaWII--Allah's creation is perfect. 2. A BIRD'S EYE VIEW O}li THE UNIVERSE 10-23 The Solar S)'Btem-The Sun, The Planets, Satellites, Astroids, Comets ~\..J~ and Meteors. Stars -- Galaxy -- Structure of the Earth -- Movements of the Earth's Crust --How the universe came into existence --The scale oftime. 3. THE WELL-GAURDED ROOF 24-31 Certain Quranfc terms in connection with the celestial bodies. ,.~:. .. Guards protecting life on the Earth. ... .. -- Recession ~--The Balance u~ The Orbits. 4. PHYSICALt A.N,D CH\E...M ICAL ,B.A S\IS OF THE UNIVERSE 32-48 !.)-A ~l1.v.... - .1>"4 ...::,... I. ... ' •.• .. Atoms -- Molecules -- Compounds -- Engery (with Quranic references), Radiation --Radio -activity --Atomic Energy -- ~':)L. the forces of nature. 5. CHEMICAL EVOLUTION ON THE EARTH 49-67 (in relation to the appearance of life). The story of~~Compositionof Stars and Planets -­ Formation of first compounds on Earth -- Role of first compounds in the origin of life - Early Organic Compounds--Later Organic Compounds -- Prebiological stage of Chemcial Evolution and origin of life -- The Holy Quran disclosed the story of the origin of life and its evolutionleadingtothe emergence of Man, 1400 years ago. XlI 6. LIFE APPEARS ON THE EARTH 68-75 Basic properties of life -- Viruses -- Early Cell Types -­ Nutrition of Early Cell Types ",;:.;';'~~-- Appearance offree oxygen on the Earth and its effects -- Summary of Earth's early evolutionary history. 7. CELLS 76-83 Chemical Organisation -- Pigments (Quranic references) ­ -Meaning of 'Colour'. 8. BIOLOGICAL ORGANISATION 84-103 Cell Theory -- The Basic Structure of Cell --Organisms -­ Nature of Organisms: Tissues: Organs and Organ Systems -- Cellular Activities: Metabolism: Self­ Perpetuation ;.. ~ ,Steady State Control, Reporduction, Adaptation' -- Levels of Organisation: Human Aspect -- Division of Labour and Efficiency of Performance: Human Aspect -- Societies: Revelation amongst creatures other than Man -- Honeybee Society -­ Vertebrate Societies --Human Society --Communities. 9. ENVIRONMENTS AND NUTRITION 104-123 .. , #I oM "," ",. ,.Ii '" ~_ "",,",7\\,,, ." ... l) II ". t1J\~~'?'~-'~ ~~Ir~ Change in Earth's Evironments and their effects on Life. Hydrosphere: Etiects of hydrosphere on climate: Oceanic Environments and their effects on life: Fresh Water: Fresh surface water: Ground Water, Destruction work of ground water: Human Aspect with Quranic references - ­ Lithosphere -- Atmosphel'e: Physical Cycle: Chemcial Cycles, Oxygen Cycle, Carbon Cycle,Nitrogen Cycle. 10. SELF-PERPETUATION: THE STEADY STATE 124-134 Gene Function -- Gene Characteristics -- Genetic Code -­ Control Agents of Organisms -- Hormones -- Human Aspect -- Unity of action in human society. 11. SELF-PERPETUATION: REPRODUCTION Pattern ofReproduction Reproduction of cells: Types of Cellular Reproduction -­ Mitotic Cell Division -- Reproduction of Organisms: Asexual Reproduction -. Sexual Reproduction -­ Significance of Sex --. The explanation of the Quranic word . The Holy Quran on Sexual Reproduction -­ v-b Meiosis --Meaning of the Quranic term i ~ "