Some questions must be arise in the mind of a reader when a book talks of the embryological development of the foetus, or of the formation of the clouds and rain, or of the seas and their properties many miles below the surface. Yet all of this without man having created a microscope, plane or submarine.

The Qur`an was revealed to a man in the middle of the Arabian desert, over 1400 years ago. A man who could neither read nor write.

What questions does this raise about the Qur`an and its miraculous nature? In today’s age of science and modern technology, we are constantly learning new facts and fgures.

By taking a minute to think of what role religion has played in teaching us about the world around us, you may be surprised to know what information we have received through the Qur`an.

From the beginning stages of development, the Qur`an accurately portrays the growth of the embryo. Firstly, you have the `Nutfah’ or drop stage: this is when a sperm combines with the female egg to form the zygote which has the shape of a drop of fuid; hence the name `Nutfah’. The following stage is the ‘Alaqah’; which in Arabic has three meanings; leech, suspended thing and blood clot.

The embryo not only resembles a leech, but it also uses the mother’s blood to feed from. As it grows, it starts to take on a form which holds onto the womb of the mother, as if suspended. The fnal step of the ‘Alaqah’ stage is where the embryo takes on large amounts of blood from the mother; the fact that the blood does not begin to circulate at this time makes it look like a blood clot.

Next you have the ‘Mudghah’ stage. In Arabic this has the same meaning as a chewed like substance. The growing spine of the baby resembles that of a chewed substance. After that comes `Izam’ bone formation. The next stage described in the Qur`an is that of the bones being clothed with fesh which accurately describes how the muscles start to form around the bones.

What has been revealed to us in the Qur`an about embryology over 1400 years ago has only been discovered by modern science in the last few decades. Even as late as the 17th Century with the invention of the microscope it was believed that sperm contained miniature human beings.

“And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then we placed him as a sperm – drop in a frm lodging [i.e. the womb]. Then we made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of Creators.” (Qur`an 23, 12-14)

In the time of Prophet Moses Pharoah was a dominant force, who refused to believe in the Oneness of Allah. He was haughty and arrogant and spent his life threatening the life of the Prophet.
Even when Moses warned him he would be drowned, he still refused to believe. Only when faced with certain death did he proclaim he believed in Allah;

“We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Pharaoh and his soldiers pursued them in tyranny and enmity until, when drowning overtook him, he said: «I believe that there is no deity except that in whom the Children of Israel believe and I am of the Muslims.” (Qur`an 10, 90)

Allah responded;
“Now? And you disobeyed [Him] before and were of the corrupters? So today We will save you in body that you may be to those who succeed you a sign. And indeed, many among the people, of Our signs, are heedless.” (Qur`an 10, 91-92)

When making a tent using pegs to hold the ropes and material up, you will know that the majority of the peg disappears into the soil, whilst a small amount remains above the ground.
This technique is used to support the tent and to stop it from falling down.

The Qur`an describes mountains as pegs, a theory that Sir George Airy only introduced in 1865. Modern advances in geology show that mountains sit on deep bedded roots, which hold them up and stabilise the crust of the earth.

Allah tells us in the Qur`an;
“Have We not made the earth a resting place? And the mountains as pegs?” (Qur`an 78, 6-7)

“And He has cast into the earth frmly set mountains, lest it shift with you, and (made) rivers and roads, that you may be guided.” (Qur`an 16, 15)

Scientists have recently proven that where two bodies of water come together there is a barrier undetectable to the human eye which maintains the salinity, temperature and density of each, with neither transgressing the other.

This can be observed where the Mediterranean meets the Atlantic Ocean. When it comes to sweet water meeting salt water in estuaries this is also true.
This `barrier’ was mentioned in the Qur`an over 1400 years ago.

“He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; Between them is a barrier [so] neither of them transgresses.” (Qur`an 55, 19-20)

“And it is He who has released [simultaneously] the two seas [i.e. bodies of water], one fresh and sweet and one salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier and prohibiting partition.” (Qur`an 25, 53)

What is interesting is that pearl divers in the Gulf knew of this natural phenomena. There are in the salty waters of the Arabian Gulf, `springs’ of sweet water that lay about four to six meters below sea level.

During the long months at sea pearl divers would frequent these springs, where they would dive to replenish their stores of fresh water. One such famous spring is `Ain Ighmisa’ which lies to the north-east of the city of Jubail in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

After the modern day study of clouds, scientists have deduced that rain clouds are formed and shaped according to certain systems. An example of this is the cumulonimbus cloud and how they produce rain, hail and lightening taking the following steps:

Smaller cumulus clouds are pushed together by winds to an area where they start to join together to form into larger cumulonimbus clouds. They are then stacked one on top of each other where updrafts within the larger clouds cause the body to grow vertically in size. The cloud stretches into cooler regions of the atmosphere causing drops of water and hail to formulate – and begin to grow larger and larger. After the weight of these reaches a certain point, they fall to the earth.

“....And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills, and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.” (Qur`an 24, 43)

The Holy Qur`an was revealed at a time where people used poetry and words to dazzle their audience, resulting in contests between people and the emergence of a high level of eloquence in the Arabic language.

Mohammad was a man who for 40 years of his life to the point of receiving revelation, stayed away from the poets of Arabia. Yet the words that were revealed to him and were passed to the people around were fner, more tremendous and more rhythmical than anyone had heard before.

To those who doubted the source of the Qur`an, a challenge was set out by Allah, to produce a single chapter like the chapters of the Qur`an with their beauty, eloquence, splendor, wise legislation, true information, true prophecy, and other perfect attributes. No one has ever been able to meet this challenge, then or today.

Allah says in the Qur`an;
“Then do they not reflect upon the Qur`an? If it had been from (any) other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.” (Qur`an 4, 82)

“And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down [the Qur`an] upon Our Servant [Prophet Mohammad], then produce a surah (a chapter) the like thereof and call upon your witnesses [supporters] other than Allah, if you should be truthful. But if you do not – and you will never be able to – then fear the Fire..” (Qur`an 2, 23-25)

“So when the Qur`an is recited, then listen to it and pay attention that you may receive mercy.” (Qur`an 7, 204)

“[This is] a blessed Book which We have revealed to you [O Mohammad], that they might reflect upon its verses and those of understanding would be reminded.” (Qur`an 38, 29)

It is interesting to note that scientists in the 1930’s started to discover the functions of diferent parts of the brain. One such part, located at the front is called the prefrontal cortex.

Scientists discovered that this area is used in planning and initiating good and bad behaviour and also it is connected to speaking truth or falsehood.

Allah chose to inform us of this 1400 years ago. The verse below informs us that Allah will take a person by the front of the head or forelock;

“No! If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock. A lying, sinning forelock.” (Qur`an 96, 15-16)