A Quranic Vision of Scientific Knowledge
By Kazi Wadud Nawaz, New Age Islam
04 August, 2014
“In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent and Merciful”
“He it is Who has sent down to thee the Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say: “We believe in the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:” and none will grasp the Message except men of understanding.”
(Sura: Al-e-Imran: Ayat-7 Ref: Tafseer by Abdullah Yusuf Ali)
Recently a tendency to verify truthfulness of the Holy Quran on the basis of its compatibility with modern scientific inventions is growing amongst a section of Muslim intellectuals influenced by materialist school of thoughts. This trend is risky and misleading for us with inherent danger of creating confusion and conflict between the fundamentals and allegorical aspects of the Holy Quran as stated in Sura Al-e-Imran Ayat-7.
To go for verification of genuineness of the Holy Qur’an as the Divine Book of Revelation on the basis of modern scientific inventions is a wrong and misleading approach counter to Faith and fundamental teachings of the Holy Quran. The conviction that, the Holy Quran is a Divine Book of Revelation is the Foundation of Faith of a Muslim which does not need any scientific authentication or certification from any mortal whatever may be his status in respect of worldly position and scientific knowledge.
The holy Quran is not a book of Natural Science. The Qur'anic verses pertaining to the natural world are not intended to provide detailed descriptions of nature, its laws and interrelations, rather they are meant to encourage thinking and reflection, and inspire scientific research.
The following are a few of many verses that clearly reflect Holy Quran’s concern on Scientific Research and out-right rejection of one sided materialistic world out-look as a step forward towards spiritual ascension of mankind.
“Soon we will show them our signs in the farthest regions of the earth and in their own souls, until it becomes manifest to them that it is the Truth. Is it not enough that thy Lord doth witness all things?”
(Sura: Ha-Meem, Ayat 53. Ref: Tafseer by Abdulla Yusuf Ali)
“And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the skies and on the earth, beholds, in that are signs indeed for those who reflect.” (Sura: Al-Jasiyah, Ayat: 13. Ref: Tafseer by Abddulla Yusuf Ali)
“And in the Alternation of the night and day, and in the fact that Allah sends down sustenance from the skies, and revives therewith the Earth after its death, and in the change of winds, are signs for those that are wise.” (Sura: Al-Jasiyah, Ayat: 5. Ref: Tafseer by Abddulla Yusuf Ali)
“Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs; perhaps you will understand. (Sura: Al-Hadeed: Ayat 17)”
“And the firmament has He raised high and He has set the Balance (of Justice). In order that you may not transgress (due) Balance. So establish weight with justice and fall not short in Balance.” (Sura: Ar-Rahman, Ayat: 7-9. Ref: Tafseer by Abddulla Yusuf Ali)
“(And they say, ‘what is there but our life in this world? We shall die and we live, and nothing but time can destroy us.’ But of that they have no knowledge: they simply conjecture” (Sura: Al-Jasiyah, Ayat: 24. Ref: Tafseer by Abddulla Yusuf Ali).”
These verses clearly refer to nature and universe as a vital subject of scientific endeavours leading towards spiritual ascension of mankind. These verses stimulate human imagination and inspire scientific research as means to win over supremacy on all things of the heaven and earth. Subjugation of the Skies and the earth and all that are in between to mankind through scientific inventions, is the greatest signs of Allah's attributes of might and mercy.
The thoughts of the great Muslim philosophers like Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, Imam Ghazzali and Allama Iqbal help us look deeper into ourselves and understand the inherent relation between Science and Mysticism as two faces of the same mirror that support each other in understanding the reflection of infinite attributes of the ultimate reality.
Allah has provided all the elements of the physical world in miniature form within us. One can find the conditions of all by looking within one-self. The Scientific knowledge will help us look deeper into our inner self and will ultimately lead us towards greater understanding of the spiritual unity of the objective world.
The Quranic concept of ‘Meezan’ (Balance of Justice) reflects the central principle of divine governance governing the entire universe. The very Concept of ‘Meezan’ (Balance of Justice) constitutes the most fundamental law underlying all physical processes on earth that involves man, nature, and objective world as a whole. Balancing material and spiritual life of mankind as “Viceroy of Allah” is the fundamental principle of the Holy Quran, aimed at creating a peaceful and balanced environment favourable for existence of all His creations.
So far as scientific knowledge is concerned, it is the product of human intellect the greatest of all blessings and bounties bestowed on mankind by Allah. Scientific knowledge is a continuous process of revelation of the divine knowledge that Allah taught Adam just after his creation to establish his supremacy over Angels as Viceroy of Allah. The Names of ‘things’ that Allah taught Adam relate to infinite attributes of Allah translated into reality in the form of physical process of the universe. Adam’s knowledge is centered exclusively on Allah’s Attributes, whereas, Allah’s Essence (Zaat) is beyond the reach of science. So, from Qur'anic point of view, Allah's infinite attributes (SIFAT) form the exclusive Domain of Science. The scientific knowledge is in continuous process of development. The scientific theories of to-day, is replaced by more advanced theories to-morrow. In consideration of the eternal flow of time, the history of emergence of mankind and period of his existence on earth is very small and limited in respect of time and space. The scientists however genius they might be, have human limitations. The longevity of mankind on earth as a living being is also limited, with its maximum limit up to the period of final destruction of the universe. So, scientific knowledge can never claim to attain climax of perfection and be capable of unravelling the Absolute Truth.
The following comments of the Great Einstein are very much relevant in this context. In an interview published in 1930 in G.S. Vierece’s Book, “Glimpses of the Great Einstein’, in response to a question about whether or not he believed in God, Einstein said, “Your question (about God) is the most difficult in the world. It is not a question I can answer simply with Yes or No, I am not an atheist.-----The problem involved is too vast for our limited mind.-----------The human mind no matter how highly trained, cannot grasp the universe.--------We see a Universe marvellously arranged, obeying certain Laws but we understand the Laws only dimly. Our limited minds cannot grasp the mysterious force that sways the constellations----------”
In spite of the Divine Limitation imposed on it, the scientific knowledge is the greatest blessing or mercy bestowed on mankind by Allah. It’s a powerful tool for understanding nature of application of the Divine Law of Balance throughout the Universe and applying the Law to establish Divine Justice in the world, nature and society.
The scientific knowledge in the hand of a True Believer is a powerful tool for maintaining Balance of justice and that in the hands of fake believers and Non believer tyrants is a dangerous vehicle for transgressing the Balance.
Allah's provision of life and death, Quranic provision of Laws regulating the social and personal lives of mankind on earth, provision of accountability as Viceroy of Allah, provision of the “Day of Judgement”, provision of the Reward in the Heaven and Punishment in the Hell- all are directed towards maintaining balance for the benefit of all His creations in the Universe.
The Holy Quran does not permit any materialistic approach towards cognition of the objective realities. Unity of matter and spirit is the foundation of Qur'anic Philosophy and Theory of Knowledge. Separation of one from the other is a misleading and dangerous approach towards understanding of the objective reality.
Man as a reality is the greatest embodiment of Allah’s attributes and hence a vital subject of scientific research. The Eternal life-cycle of mankind has three different phases: Life here before (before the process of integration in mother’s womb starts), life Here on Earth (during and after completion of the process of integration), life Here After - life in the grave during the process of disintegration and life after integration or Resurrection, on and after the ‘Final Day of Judgment.’ The Holy Quran has given explanation of all the three phases of eternal life cycle of mankind through fusion of material and spiritual processes standing on the logic of ‘Divine Purpose’ set by the ‘Universal Will’.
The science deals with Nature and Life Here on Earth in all its interrelations. It cannot give any explanation for the Life Before and After beyond Time and Space.
So far as the significance of the creation of the universe is concerned, the Holy Quran proclaims: “We have not created the heavens and the earth and whatever in between in sport. We have not created them but for a serious end, but the greater part of them understand not.”(41:38-39).
The Scientific knowledge alone that deals exclusively with the material process of the universe and the lives there in, cannot explore that ‘Serious End’. To explore that Serious End or Divine Purpose set by the Universal Will, integration of scientific and spiritual knowledge is necessary.
The Holy Quran provides moral and spiritual guidance for mankind to regulate his life on earth to serve the Divine Purpose as viceroy of Allah for which he is created, and also forms the philosophical foundation for integration of the scientific and spiritual knowledge to unfold the mysteries of the physical world for human welfare and spiritual ascension of mankind .
Engr. Kazi Wadud Nawaz is an NGO Development Consultant
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-science/a-quranic-vision-scientific-knowledge/d/98415