Among the works of God are [also] the determination of...

Among the works of God are [also] the determination of [man’s] knowledge of the sun and the moon and of their stages according to a fixed reckoning, as God-may He be exalted-said “The sun and the moon move according to a fixed reckoning.” “He ordained stages for the moon so that you might learn the method of calculating years and determining time….” The real meaning of the movements of the sun and the moon according to a fixed reckoning and of the eclipses of both, of the merging of the night into day and the manner of wrapping one of them around the other, can only be known by him who knows the manner of the composition of the heavens and the earth, and this itself is a science (i.e., astronomy)….Should we go on narrating the details of Divine works to which the verses of the Qur’an point, it would take a long time.

Only an indication of their confluence is possible [here], and we have done this where we have mentioned that knowledge of Divine works is among the sum total of knowledge of God-may He be exalted. That sum total includes these details.

Likewise, every division we have briefly described, will, if further divided, branch off into many details.2 Reflect, then, on the Qur’an and seek its wonderful meanings, so that perchance you may encounter in it the confluence of the sciences of the ancients and the moderns and the sum total of their beginnings. Reflection on the Qur’an is intended only for reaching from the brief description of these sciences to their detailed knowledge and it is [like] an ocean that has no shore.

Al -Suyuti (d. 911/1505) too, has the same view.3 In his book al-Itqan fi ‘ulum al-Qur’an, he tries to argue that the Qur’an contains all sciences. Using verses like: “…We have not neglected anything in this Book…” (6:38) “…And We have revealed the Book to you explaining clearly everything.” (16:89) and also prophetic traditions such as: The Prophet said, “There shall be evils”.

He was asked, “What can save us from them?” He answered, “Allah’s Book; there is in it the news of what happened before you and the news of what shall happen after you…. he argues that the Qur’an contains the sciences of the ancients and of the moderns. Furthermore he says: Allah’s Book contains everything. There is no basic section or problem of any science for which there is no indication in the Qur’an.