Who are we humans, and what is our place in the world? Where are we coming from, where are we going, and why are we to exist? We can increase this questions if we want. People had wanted this kind of questions all the time. How can we know about this question that science and religious books discuss. İs it possible or not? Do science and religion complement and/or contradict each other? What are scientists and religion scholars thinking about this problem? Are their answers positive or negative? We will endeavour to answer this question from Quranic perspective.
According to Quran life and mankind had begun with the order of Allah (God). Quran said that about this topic in 50/38:
“We created the skys and the earth and all between them in six days, nor did any sense of weariness touch us” [1]
It is showing that Quran and Holy Bible should not contradict each other’s perspective of creation topics.[2] Neverthless we don’t forget that muslim scholars comment on this six days as six periods. It does not matter. As a result, according to Abrahamic religions cosmos was created by Allah in six terms and step by step. Also today scientists think that cosmos was created/made different step by step. For example firstly our planet was partly formed from gas and dust cloud, secondly it got cold, after that it came into existence with mountains, oceans, and everyhing. Obviously cosmos and our planet had created with different periods. It was forgotten than in different passages of Quran.
“... Verily a day in the sight of Rab (Allah) is like a thousand years of your reckoning”[3]
In other passage :
“And ye certainly know already the first form of creation: why then do ye not take heed? (62) See ye the seed that ye sow in the ground? (63) Is it ye that cause it to grow, or are we the cause? (64) Were it our will, we could make it broken orts. And ye would be left in wonderment (65), (saying), we are indeed left with debts (for nothing) (66) : ‘indeed we are deprived’.(67) See ye the water which ye drink? (68) Do ye bring it down (in rain) from the cloud or do we? (69) Were it our will, we could make it saltish (and unpalatable) : Then why do ye not give thanks? (70) See ye the fıre which ye kindle? (71) Who grow the three which feeds the fire, or do we grow it? (72) We have made it a reminder and an article of comfort and convenience for the denizens of deserts. (73) Then glorify the name of thy Rab (Allah), the supreme! (74) ”[4]
Above 62. ayet[5] explain that the world was first created within mothers abdomen for this world. This sentence evokes that it will be a new world. 63-67. ayets attracts attention to agricultural events, 68–70. ayets mentions climate and rains, 71–73. ayets talk about fire and its fuel. Finally in each end of ayets attracts attention power of Creator. 74. ayet explains that the owner of all this jobs is Allah and we have to remember Allah.
Sciences (learning/teaching) are divided into two parts in Islam tradition:
1. Science (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Astronomy etc.)
Firstly is the brain and secondly it is the heart that both have to get married to each other. However in this situation each one is like a bird’s wing. If I want to fly with a wing it is impossible. We have to own two wings, sciences and religious study at the same time. So from this and suchlike ayets we learn that we have to own both wings. Why? For the benefit of our life not only for this world, but also for both worlds.
Quran talks about creation/make-up frequently. One of the very famous of the Quran’s passages is 23/12. Allah here makes a statement about the creation of different humans with phrases in this passage:
“Man we did create from a quintessence (of clay); (12) Then we placed him as (a drop of) nutfe[10] in a place of rest, firmly fixed; (13) Then we made the nutfe into a clot of alaka[11]; then of that clot we made a mudga[12] (foetus); then we made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then we developed out of it another creature. So blessed be Allah, the best to create! (14) ” [13]
“The growth in the foetal stage is silent and unseen. The foetus is protected in the mother’s womb like a king in a casle; it is firmly fixed, and gets the protection of the mother’s body, on which it depends for its own growth until birth.”[14]
12. verse had has been commented on in two forms by Islam scholars:
Firstly Adam was created from mud/dirt by Allah. After than humans were created from Adam and Eve.[15]
Secondly, human cells are renewable just as the soil produces (fruit, vegetables, creals) everytime.
Then, Quran talk about nutfe exactly. This is very interesting situation that it is impossible to know about in the 6th century. In addition to this, there are other levels. For example like alaka. How can know Prophet Muhammed that or is there anyone who say him everything? Yes, Allah was explaining everything and creation of human.[16]
One of very famous of Quran passages is 39/6.
“He created you (all) from a single person: Then created, of like nature, his mate; and He sent down for you eight head of cattle in pairs: He creates you, in the wombs of your mothers, in stages, one after another, in three veils of darkness. Such is Allah, your Rab and cherisher: To him blongs (all) dominion. There is no god but he: then how are ye turned away (from your true Rab) ?”[17]
It was shown that Allah had created all of us within three dark part (bay/portion). Today gynaecologists explain that in this dark part are the waters that serve to isolate new babies from heat, and also from other dangerous conditions. Air and heat also exist in the mother for these purposes. Allah provides the mother with these to protect the newborn.
“The three veils of darkness which cover the unborn child are: the caul or membrane, the womb, and the hollow in which the womb is enclosed.”[18] This is another of Quran of miracle.
As a result there is between science and Quran agreement. Creation of humans and their life is only possible with Allah. Sciences and Islam are not contrary or contradictary with each other, and they also agree with the Holy Bible in creation topics.
[1] See: Quran, 57/4. [2] See: Genesis, 1: 1-31. [3] Quran, 22/ 47. [4] Quran, 56/ 62-74. [5] Verse of the Quran [6] Tefsir, commentory / interpretation of Quran. [7] Hadith, Prophet Muhammed’s (sav) words and behaviours. [8] Kelam, Islam belief system. [9] Fıkıh, worship system (like sacraments) [10] Nutfe: one drop / drip water (liquid, sperm) [11] Alaka: Sticky thing / obje, congealed blood, embrio. [12] Mudga: Meat for once only to chew, small piece of meat, lump. [13] Quran, 23:12-14. [14] Quran-ı Kerîm, (Translate) The Presidency of Islamic Researches, ITFA, Madinah 1989, p. 979. [15] In this situtation Quran countenances Holy Bible. See: Genesis, 2:21-25. [16] See, 22/5; 32/7-9;35/11; 40/67; 53/45-46; 56/57; 76/1; 77/20-23; 86/5; 96/1-2. [17] Quran 39/6. [18] Quran-ı Kerîm, (Translate) The Presidency of Islamic Researches, ITFA, Madinah 1989, p. 1395.
Comments