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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books The Scientific Dimension of the Quran Qur’anic Message for Muslim Scientists ========================================= As it is well-known, there are more than 750 Qur’anic verses dealing with natural phenomena. We think that these verses involve an important message for Muslim scientists.

In our view, the following are the essential points of that message: a) In these verses, the study of all aspects of nature and the discovery of the mysteries of creation is recommended. And in your creation and in what He spreads abroad of animals there are signs for a people that are sure. (45:4) Say, consider what is it that is in the heavens and the earth. (10:101) Say, travel on the earth and see how He made the first creation.

(29:20) According to the Holy Qur’an, we have to use our senses and intellect for the understanding of nature, and this shall lead us to appreciate the glory and majesty of Allah. As Allamah Tabataba’i puts: The Qur’an invites reflection about heavenly signs, the brilliant stars and the differences in their conditions and the systematic order that governs them.

It encourages meditation concerning the creation of the earth, seas, mountains, the creation of plants and animals, human beings and their inner world. Thus it invites to a study of natural and mathematical sciences and all other fields, the learning of which is in the interest of humanity and brings felicity to human society. The Qur’an invites to these branches of knowledge on condition that people are guided by this knowledge of truth.

Otherwise a knowledge that serves as an amusement and hinders one from knowing God and truth is equivalent to ignorance in the vocabulary of the Qur’an.17 When the Holy Qur’an recommends that we look around the earth to find out the origin of creation, this means that we have to obtain scientific facts through our efforts.

It is against the spirit of the Qur’an that Muslims should remain idle while others get access to some of the mysteries of nature, and then we use their results and depend on them. According to the Holy Qur’an, we can get access to cognition of nature if we use our senses and intellect. In fact the main reason our great scholars, in the glorious period of Islamic civilization, paid attention to foreign (e.g., Greek) sciences was due to the Qur’an’s emphasis on the study of nature.

They studied nature to discover the mysteries of creation and to become aware of Allah’s wisdom and power.