The Holy Book of Islam, the Quran, contains a lot of glimpses and insights into science and nature. This lecture aims to introduce the scientific verses of the Quran. Presented by a seasoned speaker/author whose passions are writing and Islamic science.
2. A. Rahman Basrun
PRESENTER
Ex-Chief Sub-Editor, Singapore Press HoldingslColumn writer on
Islamic sciencelFounder of Scholastica, an enterprise dedicated
to promote intellectualismlDesigns and teaches curricula on
preliminary science to Primary School students within the school
curriculumlDesigns and teaches curricula for higher ability
students similar to Singapore’s Ministry of Education’s Gifted
Education ProgrammelHas groomed more than 4,000 students
within three yearslAuthor of Muslims Must Write!
arahmanbasrun@yahoo.com
3. OBJECTIVES
lTo highlight that the Quran is a book of signs of God’s creations.
lTo help participants be aware and be able to identify scientific
verses in the Quran
lThis is done by focusing on Quranic verses that bear the word
‘ayat’ (sign) in them and then exploring the probable scientific
meaning of those verses
lTo inspire participants to look out for such verses and more
importantly to gain inspiration from them.
Need help? Contact me at
arahmanbasrun@yahoo.com
4. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“In time We shall make them understand Our Signs
in the universe and within themselves,
so that it will become clear to them
that this is the truth.
Is it not enough that Allah sees everything?”
(Fussilat 41: 53)
5. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
But what does the word mean?
Many Quranic verses contain this word:
6. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“…Send a messenger from
themselves who will recite to them
Your verses and teach them the
Book and wisdom...”
(Al-Baqarah 2: 129)
1
One meaning of the word ‘ayat’ is ‘sentence’.
7. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
(Prophet Zakariya) said: “Oh God! Give me a sign.”
“Your sign shall be that you cannot speak to
anyone for three nights,
even though you are not dumb.”
(Maryam 19:10)
2
Another meaning of the word ‘ayat’ is ‘miracle’.
8. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
So We made the sign of the night devoid of
light, and We made the sign of the day
bright, so that you may seek the bounty
of your Lord and know the number of
years and calculation of time...”
(Al-Isra 17: 12)3
There is a third meaning of the word ‘ayat’.
11. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And among His signs is that He shows you the
lightning which causes fear and hope,
and He sends down water from the sky, then He
gives life to the earth with it after it dies.
Surely in this there are signs
for a people who understand.”
(Ar-Rum 30: 24)
4
14. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And of His signs is your sleep
by night and day
and your seeking of His bounty.
Indeed in that are signs
for a people who listen.”
(Ar-Rum 30: 23)
5
15. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And of His signs is your sleep
by night and day
and your seeking of His bounty.
Indeed in that are signs
for a people who listen.”
(Ar-Rum 30: 23)
16. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And of His signs is the creation of the
heavens and the earth and the
diversity of your languages and your
colors. Indeed in that are signs
for those of knowledge.”
(Ar-Rum 30: 22) 6
18. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And of His signs is this:
The heavens and the earth stand fast
by His command,
and then when He calls you,
from the earth you will emerge.”
(Ar-Rum 30: 25) 7
20. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And He is the One Who has made
the stars as your guide through the
darkness of land and sea.
We have already made the signs
clear for people who know.”
(Al-An-am 6: 97)8
21. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
How many observatories are there
today in the Muslim world?
https://www.natureasia.com/en/nmiddleeast/article/10.1038/nmiddleeast.2014.258
Today, the whole Arab world is home to only one astronomical
observatory hosting a telescope with a diameter of more than 1
metre (in Qattameya, Egypt), which was built 50 years ago and
produces very little publishable research.
22. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“It is He who made the sun a shining light and
the moon a derived light and determined for it
phases - that you may know the number of
years and account [of time]. Allah has not
created this except in truth. He details
the signs for a people who know.”
(Yunus 10: 5)
9
24. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“Do they not see the birds made to fly
through the air in the sky? Nothing
holds them up except God. There truly
are signs in this for those who
believe.”
(An-Nahl 16: 78-79)
10
26. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“Tell them: 'Observe carefully all that is
in the heavens and the earth.' But no
signs and warnings can help those
who do not want
to believe.”
(Yunus 10: 101)11
27. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“Those who remember Allah standing and
sitting and lying on their sides and reflect
on the creation of the heavens and the
earth: Our Lord! You have not created this
in vain! Glory be to You; save us then from
the fire.”
(Al-Imran 3: 191)
29. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
There are many more verses with
the word ‘ayat’.
The Quran contains a lot of
inspiration for creativity, innovation,
science and invention.
30. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“[But] We said: O fire! Be thou cool, and [a source of]
inner peace for Abraham!”
(Anbiya 21: 69)
32. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“…Till, when they came upon a valley [full] of ants, an
ant exclaimed: “O you ants! Get into your dwellings,
lest Solomon and his hosts crush you without [even]
being aware [of you]!”
(Naml 27: 18)
33. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“But [the hoopoe] tarried but a short while; and
[when it came] it said: “I have encompassed [with my
knowledge] something that thou hast never yet
encompassed [with thine] - for I have come to thee
from Sheba with a tiding sure!”
(Naml 27: 22)
34. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“And if you are in doubt about what We
have revealed to Our servant, then produce
one surah like it and call your helpers
other than Allah, if what you say is true.”
(Al-Baqarah 2: 23)
No one is able to replicate the Quran,
made up of 114 surahs and 6,236 verses (ayat):
35. Signs In Al-Quran A. Rahman Basrun
“In time We shall make them understand Our Signs
in the universe and within themselves,
so that it will become clear to them
that this is the truth.
Is it not enough that Allah sees everything?”
(Fussilat 41: 53)
