As a Specialist Physician and Associate Professor of Medicine, I consider it my duty to examine the Qur’an from a scientific perspective. Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, is the Owner and Creator of all science. It is inconceivable that the Quran—which He revealed as a “mercy” to humanity and which, in the words of the Almighty Allah, is a proof—would not point to scientific truths that could be considered miracles; such a situation is also incompatible with reason. For this reason, I hope that my frequent references to scientific findings in my articles will not bore you; perhaps you, too, can delve into these topics to expand your knowledge. Since I began studying the Quran, I have observed that scientific findings are in complete harmony with it, and, God willing, I would like to share some of these as time permits. I am sure there will be errors and omissions; for these, I seek forgiveness from Almighty Allah. I am deeply grateful to Prof. Dr. İbrahim Esinler and Mustafa Kılavuzoğlu, whose work I have drawn upon in my research. May Almighty Allah be pleased with them and with all believers who spare no effort on this path, working day and night without rest.
Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, knows best.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Engin Eren Desteli
An Examination of Verses 1–4 of Surah Ar-Rahman in Light of Current Scientific Findings
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
55/1 The First Verse of Surah Rahman
The Most Gracious.
Al-Rahman,
Al-Rahman
The fact that the surah begins with our Lord’s attribute “Al-Rahman” indicates that the manifestation of this attribute of the Exalted Allah is revealed in the surah. The attribute “Rahman” of the Exalted Allah expresses His supreme mercy. Our Lord’s attribute “Rahim,” on the other hand, is the manifestation and embodiment of this mercy. Our Lord’s attribute “Rahman” signifies mercy that encompasses all beings without distinction. The mercy of the Almighty Allah encompasses all universes and all beings in every dimension He has created. He has provided sustenance in this worldly life to all His creations—whether they are disbelievers, hypocrites, or polytheists—without distinction. Thus, the attribute “Rahman” also encompasses the Almighty Allah’s attribute “er-Rezzak.” This name demonstrates that Allah’s mercy extends not only to believers but to all people, animals, plants, and all beings. The rising of the sun, the falling of rain, the provision of air, sustenance, health, intellect, family, and love are all manifestations of the Almighty Allah’s attribute of “Rahman.”
What messages does the attribute of “Rahman” convey to humanity?
- One must not fall into despair; believers must never fall into despair, for the mercy of the Almighty Allah is boundless.
- Believers must always be mindful of the blessings their Lord bestows. People do not attain anything they possess through their own strength, but rather through Allah’s grace.
- Believers must be merciful and treat people, animals, and nature with compassion to the best of their ability.
- We must be grateful. Every breath, every bite of food, and every act of kindness comes from Allah’s mercy.
- We must place our trust in Allah. Allah, the Most Merciful, does not abandon His servants; He guides them, provides for them, and keeps the door to repentance open.
The name “Rahman” also encompasses our Lord’s attribute of “creation” (Rahman/3). The Surah of Rahman contains the most beautiful examples of the manifestation of Almighty Allah’s mercy.
The mercy of our Exalted ALLAH encompasses all beings.
17/18 Surah Al-Isra
Whoever desires this transient world, We give him therein as much as We will to whom We will. But then We will condemn him to Hell, disgraced and cast out.
مَنْ كَانَ يُر۪يدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ ف۪يهَا مَا نَشَٓاءُ لِمَنْ نُر۪يدُ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَا لَهُ جَهَنَّمَۚ يَصْلٰيهَا مَذْمُوماً مَدْحُوراً
Men kane yuridul acilete accelna lehu fiha ma neşau li men nuridu summe cealna lehu cehennem, yaslaha mezmumen medhura
17:19 Surah Al-Isra
Whoever chooses the Hereafter and strives as a believer—their striving will be rewarded.
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it with the effort it deserves, while being a believer—it is those whose efforts will be rewarded.
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it with the effort it deserves, while being a believer—it is those whose efforts will be rewarded
55:2, Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 2
He taught the Qur’an.
He taught the Qur’an.
He taught the Qur’an
The Teacher of our Qur’an is Almighty Allah.
In the verse following this one, it is stated that Almighty Allah, the “Rahman,” created humankind. This means that humankind learned the Qur’an before being brought to life in this world. In one of my previous articles titled “The Creation of Man and the Responsibilities of the Believer,” I provided examples of the process of human creation according to the Qur’an and the verses regarding the covenant—or “misak”—we made with the Almighty Allah. We learned the Qur’an and made a pledge to Almighty Allah before we came into this world; we placed our trust in ourselves.
There is wisdom indicated in the verses of our Quran, whose Teacher is Almighty Allah; If we recall some of the attributes of the Quran frequently mentioned in the Quran itself: “The Quran is a ‘burhan’—an indisputable proof (Nisa/174)—a ‘beyyine’ (Beyyine/1), and a clear book, a ‘mubin.’” (Al-Hijr 1, Al-Shu’ara 2, Al-Qasas 2, Az-Zukhruf 2, Ad-Dukhan 2), and it is a detailed, or “mufassal,” book (Fussilat 3). It is the absolute truth, “Hak” (Al-Baqarah 147, Ar-Ra’d 2, Al-Jathiyah 6). It is a guide to guidance for those who are righteous, that is, the “virtuous.” (Al-Baqarah 2). It confirms the scriptures that came before it (Al-Imran 3); it is the scripture through which warning is commanded (Al-A’raf 2); it is the “Hakim”—that is, “full of wisdom, with rulings in their proper place”—scripture (Yunus 1, Luqman 2). It is the book that brings people out of darkness into light (Ibrahim 1). It is a book that contains no contradictions (Nisa 82, Al-Kahf 1). It is a reminder (Zikr) (Taha 3, Al-Takwir 27, Al-Muddaththir 54, Sad 2, Fussilat 4). It distinguishes right from wrong like a beam of light (Al-Furqan 1). It is the good news, or “Bushra” (An-Naml 2). It is a book free from doubt (As-Sajdah 2). It reveals the truth (Al-Jathiyah 20). It is mercy (Al-Jathiya/20). It is the Majestic One—“the Possessor of the highest glory and honor, worthy of praise”—(Al-Buruj/21, Qaf/1). It was written line by line as soon as it was revealed (At-Tur/2, Al-Qalam/1). It is a book that inspires awe when recited (Al-Jinn/1).
85/21 Surah Al-Buruj
On the contrary, it is a “Majid”—a Qur’an of exalted glory and honor
بَلْ هُوَ قُرْاٰنٌ مَج۪يدٌۙ
Bel huve kur’anun mecid.
72/1 Surah Al-Jinn
Say: “It has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened and then said, ‘We have indeed heard a wondrous Qur’an.’”
Say, “It has been revealed to me that a group of the jinn listened and said, ‘Indeed, we have heard a wondrous Qur’an.’”
Kul uhıye ileyye ennehustemea neferun minel cinni fe kalu inna semi’na kur’anen aceba
52:2 Surah At-Tur
To the Book written line by line
And a Book written down,
And a Book that is inscribed
52/3 Surah Tur
which is on a parchment that is spread out
On a parchment that is spread out
On a parchment that is spread out
Verses 2 and 3 of Surah Tur explicitly state that the “Qur’an” was written line by line on parchment “at the very moment it was revealed.” This was essential for the preservation of the Qur’an; the opposite is simply unthinkable. Never forget this.
81:27 Surah al-Takwir
It (the Qur’an) is nothing but a reminder for the worlds.
It is nothing but a reminder for the worlds.
In huwa illa zikrun lil alemin.
18:1 Surah Al-Kahf
Praise be to Allah, who has revealed the Book in which there is no contradiction.
All praise is due to Allah, who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make it crooked.
All praise is due to Allah, who revealed the Book to His servant and did not make it contain any deviation.
2:2 Surah Al-Baqarah
This Book is a guide for the righteous (those who fear Allah), a Book free from doubt.
That is the Book; there is no doubt in it; it is a guidance for those who are righteous.
That is the Book; there is no doubt in it; it is guidance for the righteous.
2:147 Surah Al-Baqarah
The truth comes from your Lord. Do not be among those who doubt.
Al-Haqqu min Rabbika, fa la takunanna min al-mumtarina.
El hakku min rabbike fe la tekunenne minel mumterin.
4:174 Surah An-Nisa
O people! A clear proof has certainly come to you from your Lord. And We have sent down a light to you.
O people, a clear proof has come to you from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a manifest light.
Ya eyyuhan nasu kad caekum burhanun min rabbikum ve enzelna ileykum nuran mubin
12:1 Surah Yusuf
Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book.
Alif. Lam. Ra. These are the verses of the clear Book.
Alif, Lam, Ra. These are the verses of the Clear Book.
36:69 Surah Yasin
We did not teach him poetry. Nor is that befitting him. It is merely a “reminder” and a “clear” Qur’an.
And We have not taught him poetry, nor is that befitting him. It is nothing but a reminder and a clear Qur’an.
And We did not teach him poetry, nor is that befitting him; indeed, it is nothing but a reminder and a clear Qur’an.
7:52 Surah Al-A’raf
Indeed, We have brought them a Book—detailed based on knowledge for a people who wish to believe—which serves as guidance and mercy.
And indeed, We have brought them a Book which We have elaborated based on knowledge—as guidance and mercy for a people who believe.
Ve lekad ci’nahum bi kitabin fassalnahu ala ilmin huden ve rahmeten li kavmin yu’minun
6:55, Surah Al-An’am
We explain the verses in detail so that the path of the criminals may become clear.
And thus do We explain the verses in detail, so that the path of the criminals may become clear.
And thus We explain the verses in detail so that the path of the criminals may become clear
11:1 Surah Hud
Alif-Lam-Ra This (Qur’an) is a Book from Allah—the One who always renders just judgments and knows the innermost secrets of all things—whose verses have been made firm (containing rulings) and explained in detail
Alif-Lam-Ra. A Book whose verses have been made firm and then explained in detail by a Wise and All-Knowing One.
Alif, Lam, Ra. A Book whose verses have been made firm and then explained in detail from the source of the All-Wise, the All-Aware
14:1 Surah Ibrahim
Alif, Lam, Ra. This is a Book We have revealed to you so that, by the permission of your Lord, you may bring people out of darkness into light and guide them to the path of the All-Mighty, the One Worthy of All Praise.
Alif, Lam, Ra. A Book We have revealed to you so that you may bring people out of the darkness into the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.
Alif Lam Ra. A Book which We have revealed to you so that you may bring people out of the darkness into the light, by the permission of their Lord, to the path of the Almighty, the Praiseworthy.
55:3 Surah Ar-Rahman, Verse 3
He created man.
He created man.
Halakal is human.
The attribute of Rahman also encompasses “creation.” In one of my previous articles titled “The Creation of Man and the Responsibilities of the Believer,” I explained “the process of human creation according to the Quran.” If you haven’t read it, I recommend that you do so; however, it is worth revisiting some important points mentioned in the Quran regarding the process of human creation.
When our Lord created humankind, humankind also came to know the manifestation of His Names. The reason humankind is superior to the angels is their ability to learn. Humankind has counted the Names of the Exalted Allah and has borne witness to His attribute of “Subhan.”
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 31
Allah taught Adam all the names. Then He presented them to the angels and said, “If you are truthful, tell Me the names of these.”
وَعَلَّمَ اٰدَمَ الْاَسْمَٓاءَ كُلَّهَا ثُمَّ عَرَضَهُمْ عَلَى الْمَلٰٓئِكَةِ فَقَالَ اَنْبِؤُ۫ن۪ي بِاَسْمَٓاءِ هٰٓؤُ۬لَٓاءِ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِق”
And He taught Adam all the names; then He presented them to the angels and said, “Tell Me the names of these, if you are truthful.”
Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 32
The angels said, “Glory be to You. We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing.”
They said, “Glory be to You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, You are the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.”
Kalu subhaneke la ilme lena illa ma allemtena inneke entel alimul hakim
In verses 28 of Surah Al-Baqarah and 11 of Surah Al-Mu’min, Allah states that before creating humanity in this universe, humankind lived in another paradise-like universe where they did not feel hunger or thirst, and their skin did not burn [Surah Taha, verses 118–119], and that in that paradisiacal universe, they could reproduce and existed as male and female, yet were still mortal—as our Lord states in the Qur’an.
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 28
How can you disbelieve in Allah? He brought you into being when you were dead; then He will cause you to die, and then He will bring you back to life and return you to Him.
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللّٰهِ وَكُنْتُمْ اَمْوَاتاً فَاَحْيَاكُمْۚ ثُمَّ يُم۪يتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْي۪يكُمْ ثُمَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Keyfe tekfurune billahi ve kuntum emvaten fe ahyakum, summe yumitukum summe yuhyikum summe ileyhi turceun
“emvaten” means “the dead”; in this verse, Almighty Allah states that before being resurrected on this planet and in this universe, we lived and died in another universe or dimension. Then we will die in this world as well and be resurrected again in the Hereafter.
Surah Al-Muminun, Verse 11
They said, “Our Lord! You have caused us to die twice and brought us to life twice. We have now confessed our sins. Is there any way to be saved from this situation?”
They said, “Our Lord, You caused us to die twice and brought us back to life twice; so we have confessed our sins. Is there any way out?”
Kalu rabbena emettenesneteyni ve ahyeytenesneteyni fa’terefna bi zunubina fe hel ila hurucin min sebil
In this verse as well, Almighty Allah states that a person dies twice and is resurrected twice. The verb “emettena” (to cause to die) is in the past tense. It refers to the absolute act of causing the death of a being that was previously alive.
Surah Taha, Verse 118
“There you will neither go hungry nor be left naked.”
Indeed, you will neither go hungry nor be exposed to the elements therein.
Inna laka alla tecua fiha wa la ta’ra
Surah Taha, Verse 119
“You will not be thirsty there, nor will you be harmed by the heat.”
And that you will not be thirsty there, nor will you be scorched
And indeed, you will neither be thirsty nor suffer from the heat there
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 35
We said, “O Adam! Dwell in Paradise with your wife. Eat freely from whatever you wish there. But do not approach this tree; otherwise, you will have committed an injustice.”
And We said, “O Adam, dwell you and your spouse in Paradise, and eat from it in abundance wherever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the wrongdoers.”
And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise, and eat from it in abundance wherever you wish; but do not approach this tree, lest you become among the wrongdoers.”
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 20
Then Satan whispered to them to make their evil deeds appear attractive to them. “Your Lord has forbidden you this tree only so that you may not become kings or be among those who remain forever,” he said.
Then Satan whispered to them to reveal to them what had been concealed from them regarding their private parts, and he said, “Your Lord has not forbidden you from this tree except so that you might become angels or to become among the immortal ones
So Satan whispered to them to reveal to them what had been concealed from them regarding their private parts, and he said, “Your Lord has not forbidden you from this tree except that you might become angels or be among the immortal ones.”
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 21
And he swore to them, “I truly wish only your well-being.”
And he swore to them, “Indeed, I am one of your sincere advisors.”
And He swore to them, “Indeed, I am truly one of your well-wishers.”
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 22
Thus, he deceived and led them astray. When they tasted from the tree, their nakedness became apparent. They began to cover themselves by piling the leaves of Paradise on top of one another. Their Lord called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree? Did I not tell you that Satan is a clear enemy to you?”
So he led them astray with deception. And when they tasted of the tree, their private parts became visible to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. And their Lord called out to them: ““Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you both that Satan is indeed a clear enemy to you both?”
So Satan deceived them with his trickery; and when they touched the tree, their private parts became visible to them, and they began to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Then their Lord called out to them, “Did I not forbid you from that tree and tell you, ‘Indeed, Satan is a clear enemy to you both’?”
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 23
“‘O our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers,’ they said.”
They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.”
They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves; and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers.”
Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 37
Then Adam received words from his Lord. Thus, He accepted Adam’s repentance. Indeed, He is the Acceptor of Repentance, the Ever-Merciful.
So Adam received words from his Lord, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, He is the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful.
Fe telekka ademu min rabbihi kelimatin fe tabe aleyh, innehu huvet tevvabur rahim
Every human being has departed from the first Paradise through death. Humanity has failed to keep the oath it made to Almighty Allah and has not remained faithful to its covenant. Consequently, unfortunately, Satan won the first battle.
Since the Arabic grammar in these verses uses the plural form, we understand that this refers not only to Adam and his wife (the name “Eve” is not mentioned in the Quran) but to all people living on earth who were expelled from the Paradise realm. Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 38
Surah al-Baqarah, Verse 38
“We said, ‘Descend from there, all of you together.’ When guidance comes to you from Me, there will be no fear for those who follow that guidance, nor will they grieve.”
قُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا مِنْهَا جَم۪يعاًۚ فَاِمَّا يَأْتِيَنَّكُمْ مِنّ۪ي هُدًى فَمَنْ تَبِعَ هُدَايَ فَلَا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
Kulnahbitu minha cemia, fe imma ye’tiyennekum minni hudenfe men tebia hudaye fe la havfun aleyhim ve la hum yahzenun
In this verse, our Lord informs us that He will send guides to humanity while they live their worldly lives, and that those who follow them will be successful. These guides are the messengers and scriptures of Almighty Allah.
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 24
“Go down, some of you being enemies to others,” He said. “You have a place of settlement and sustenance on earth for a specified time,” He said.
He said, “Go down, some of you as enemies to others. And for you on earth is a place of settlement and sustenance for a time.”
He said, “Go down, some of you as enemies to others; and for you on the earth is a place of settlement and provision for a time.”
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 25
Say: “You will live there, you will die there, and you will be brought forth from there.”
He said, “In it you live, and in it you die, and from it you will be brought forth.”
He said, “In it you live, and in it you die, and from it you will be brought forth.”
From verses 37–38 of Surah al-Baqarah and verses 24–25 of Surah al-A’raf, we understand that all created human beings repent before Adam, peace be upon him. The Exalted Allah, in His mercy, accepted their repentance and resurrected us once again on this planet—meaning that we were all defeated by Satan in our first life, and this is our second and final chance.
The Almighty Allah created the universe in which we live through His attribute of Subhan—which manifests all His names—and His Sunnatullah, and the second battle against Satan has begun. This is humanity’s second resurrection and the final chance for humankind.
Verses 28 of Surah Al-Baqarah and 11 of Surah Al-Muminun point to this matter.
Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 28
How can you disbelieve in Allah? He brought you into being when you were dead; then He will cause you to die, and then He will bring you back to life and return you to Him.
كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللّٰهِ وَكُنْتُمْ اَمْوَاتاً فَاَحْيَاكُمْۚ ثُمَّ يُم۪يتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْي۪يكُمْ ثُمَّ اِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Keyfe tekfurune billahi ve kuntum emvaten fe ahyakum, summe yumitukum summe yuhyikum summe ileyhi turceun
Surah Al-Muminun, Verse 11
They said, “Our Lord! You have caused us to die twice and brought us to life twice. Now we have confessed our sins. Is there any way out of this situation?”
They said, “Our Lord, You caused us to die twice and brought us to life twice. We have now confessed our sins. Is there any way out of this?”
Kalu rabbena emettenesneteyni ve ahyeytenesneteyni fa’terefna bi zunubina fe hel ila hurucin min sebil
All people who have lived and will live on this earth made a covenant with Almighty Allah; we trusted in ourselves, accepted Satan’s challenge, and pledged to Almighty Allah that we would never follow Satan again—we made a covenant with our Lord. Let us cite two verses as examples regarding this:
Surah Al-A’raf, Verse 172
So that on the Day of Resurrection you may not say, “We were unaware of this.” Your Lord took the descendants of the children of Adam from their backs and made them bear witness against themselves. He said, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes, You are our Lord; we bear witness.”
And [remember] when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their backs—their descendants and made them testify against themselves: “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes.” They testifiedthat you might not say on the Day of Resurrection, ‘Indeed, we were unaware of this.’
And when your Lord took from the children of Adam—from their backs—their descendants and made them bear witness against themselves, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes.” “We bear witness,” so that you may not say on the Day of Resurrection, “Indeed, we were unaware of this.”
In verse 172 of Surah Al-A’raf, our Lord clearly states that He took a pledge from humanity. As mentioned in the verse, on the Day of Resurrection, humankind will not be able to say, “We had no knowledge of this, O our Lord!”
Surah Ar-Rad, Verse 20
They fulfill their covenant with Allah and do not break their pledge.
Those who fulfill the covenant of Allah and do not break the pledge,
Ellezine yufune bi ahdillahi ve la yenkudunel misak.
The Creation of Mankind Through Stages
The Almighty Allah created the Children of Adam—to whom a Second Chance was granted—in this world by passing them through stages, step by step. This process is the Sunnatullah of our Lord, and our Lord has declared that, out of justice and mercy toward the human being He has resurrected in this world, He will send Reminder (Zikr) Scriptures, Prophets, and Messengers.
The Qur’an points to the evolution of life and the creation of the God-fearing human being with the most beautiful examples. The creation of humankind begins with the emergence of life on planet Earth. 3.5–4 billion years ago, the first simple single-celled organisms were created in water; over time, some organisms began to produce energy and reproduce. Over millions of years, more complex cells emerged; multicellular organisms developed in the oceans, and fish-like creatures formed. Almighty Allah enabled certain organisms to adapt to life on land and created the first amphibians. Then He brought forth the reptiles. During the age of the dinosaurs, small mammals also began to live. Our Almighty Lord brought about the extinction of the dinosaurs, and mammals rapidly diversified. Primates evolved, and the human lineage diverged approximately a few million years ago. Following early human-like species such as Australopithecus, the genus Homo emerged. Species such as Homo habilis and Homo erectus began using tools, and finally, “Homo sapiens”—the human with a developed prefrontal cortex—was created approximately 300,000 years ago.
The fact that life began in water is clearly indicated in the verses of the Quran listed below.
24:45, Surah An-Nur
Allah created every living creature that moves from water. Some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walk on four legs. Allah creates whatever He wills. Undoubtedly, Allah has power over all things.
And Allah created every living creature from water. Some of them crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some walkon all fours. Allah creates whatever He wills. Indeed, Allah is All-Powerful over all things
And Allah has created every living creature from water; among them are those that walk on their bellies, and among them are those that walk on two legs, and among them are those that walk on four. Allah creates whatever He wills; indeed, Allah has power over all things.
21:30 Surah Al-Anbiya
Do the disbelievers not see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, and We parted them? And We created every living thing from water. Will they still not acknowledge the truth?
Have those who disbelieve not seen that the heavens and the earth were joined together as a single entity, and then We split them apart? And We created every living thing from water. Will they not believe?
E ve lem yerellezine keferu ennes semavati vel arda kaneta retkan fe fetaknahuma, ve cealna minel mai kulle şey’in hayy, e fe la yu’minun
Water, H₂O, is a molecule formed by the combination of two hydrogen and one oxygen atom. It exists in a liquid state within a specific temperature range. Due to certain chemical and physical properties, it differs from the liquid states of other substances. Because of these properties, it offers unique characteristics essential for the origin and continuation of life.
- It is an excellent solvent. It ensures that atoms are sufficiently mobile to form the carbon-hydrogen bonds necessary for life, allowing these bonds to form and the first molecules of living organisms to emerge.
- It serves as an excellent mediator for the chemical reactions necessary for the origin of life. It enables three-dimensional hydrogen bonding.
Modern science confirms the statement made by Almighty Allah 1,400 years ago: “We created every living thing from water.”
It is now a well-established fact that life began in water with single-celled organisms. Almighty Allah began life in water because He endowed water with the properties necessary to give rise to life. Molecules formed from carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms. Later, cell membranes formed, giving rise to the first single-celled organisms. However, the “evolutionary process” did not emerge entirely by chance, as the theory suggests. Over millions of years, these organisms diversified under Allah’s guidance of the evolutionary process and evolved into multicellular organisms. I will address how this topic—which is often exploited by atheists—actually unfolded in one of my future articles, but let me provide a brief overview for those interested: First of all, the Theory of Evolution has not been fully articulated or substantiated with evidence, and its details are by no means clear. There are numerous sources that serve as examples on this topic, but due to the depth of his research, the studies and books by Prof. Stephen Meyer of the University of Cambridge—a geophysicist and philosopher of science—which are also available online, are highly recommended.
Stephen Meyer argues that DNA is a created, sophisticated design. He argues that evolution occurred not only through natural processes but also through God’s interventions at specific times. According to him, God made critical interventions in the evolutionary process. Meyer’s views on this subject are discussed in detail in his books, such as *Signature in the Cell*, *Darwin’s Doubt*, and *Return of the God Hypothesis*. These books present approaches that claim evolution cannot provide a sufficient explanation without divine design. Stephen Meyer’s YouTube channel features detailed documentary videos on the subject. I highly recommend them to anyone interested.
Let’s examine whether there is any possibility that evolution occurred by chance, “on its own,” or, similarly, that DNA and biological diversity arose on their own. First, of course, let’s begin with a verse from the Quran: In verse 23 of Surah Az-Zumar, the Lord of the Worlds, Almighty Allah, states “ahsenel hadis.” The remainder of the same verse also refers to the “book in pairs” and the “layered structure of the Quran.” In light of this, does the concept of “ahsenel hadis” mentioned in the verse refer only to the Quran, or—when considered alongside the Quran’s layered structure—could it also be pointing to the “genetic code” of living beings, that is, “DNA”? I will try to explain why we view DNA as a word or a book.
DNA, however, is not just an ordinary, random book. Let’s take an example: if we were to line up all the DNA strands in every cell of a single human body end to end, how long do you think it would be? 1 km? 10 km? 100 km?
If we were to line up all the DNA in just one person’s body end to end, it would reach a length hundreds of times greater than the distance between the Earth and the Sun. “Take note—just one person.” SubhanALLAH
39:23, Surah Az-Zumar
Allah has revealed the most beautiful of hadiths as a book composed of similar pairs of verses. The skins of those who fear their Lord shudder at this, and then their skins and hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah—the “Qur’an.” This is the Book; it is Allah’s guidance. He guides His servants who do what is required to the right path through this guidance. No one can set aright those whom Allah has led astray.
Allah has revealed the best of narratives—a Book in which verses are repeated, so that the skins of those who fear their Lord shiver at it; then their skins softenand their hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah; with it He guides whom He wills. And whoever Allah leads astray—for him there is no guide
Allah has revealed the best of narratives—a Book containing parables—from which the skins of those who fear their Lord tremble; then their skins and hearts soften at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah; with it He guides whom He wills, and whoever Allah leads astray—for him there is no guide
It is abundantly clear that the phrase “Ahsenel Hadis” in this verse refers to the Qur’an, but do not forget that the verse also points to the Qur’an’s layered structure.
Can the genetic code of life—DNA—be a word, a book, or “Ahsenel Hadis”?
DNA and the genetic code can be likened to a book. DNA has “letters”: Just as a book uses letters like A, B, and C, DNA uses four chemical “letters”: A, T, C, and G—that is, adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine.
DNA has “words”: Groups of three letters in DNA can be thought of as a kind of “word.” These are called codons. For example: ATG. A codon can tell the cell which amino acid to use when making a protein.
DNA has “sentences” or “instructions”: A gene can be thought of as a sentence or paragraph that gives instructions for making something—usually a protein.
DNA has sections: Chromosomes can be thought of as large sections or “volumes” containing many genes.
The cell reads DNA: Molecular mechanisms within the cell “read” the DNA, copy it into RNA, and use this information to make proteins.
In this sense, DNA is like an information storage system. DNA can be likened to a book because it stores information encoded in sequences of letters. However, unlike an ordinary book, DNA is a living chemical information system that is read, copied, repaired, and utilized by cells. So where does the information encoded in DNA come from? How and why is it encoded to specify which protein will be produced? For those with reason, the answers to these questions are clear.
Why does DNA appear “too orderly to be explained by chance alone”?
DNA contains sequences made up of four bases called A, T, C, and G. These sequences can be copied, read, repaired, and translated into proteins. The genetic code is a system that pairs three-letter codons with amino acids.
For example:
• DNA/RNA sequence → information storage
• Genetic code → translation rule
• Ribosomes, tRNA, and enzymes → reading and construction mechanism
• Proteins → functional molecules
This raises a “chicken-and-egg” problem:
• DNA carries the instructions for proteins.
• Proteins help with the replication and utilization of DNA.
• But a translation system is already needed to make proteins.
• And the translation system also requires genetic information.
For this reason, it does not seem reasonable to explain DNA solely by blind chance.
The probability of random formation is astronomically low
If one were to imagine that a modern gene or genome formed instantly through completely random shuffling, the probability would be extremely small.
For example, the number of possible amino acid sequences for a small protein consisting of 100 amino acids:
20100
.
This is approximately:
1.27 ×10¹³⁰
different possibilities.
So, if we ask the following question:
“What is the probability of randomly obtaining a specific 100-amino-acid protein?”
The answer is approximately:
1 in 10¹³⁰
. Even the number of atoms in the universe is many times smaller than this number.
This is an unimaginably small probability.
Moreover, a living cell requires not just a single protein, but many molecules that interact with one another. Therefore, if we assume that the first cell arose by chance in its fully formed state, this probability appears practically impossible.
The genetic code itself is a difficult concept to explain
The genetic code is a system of rules in which codons correspond to amino acids.
For example:
• AUG codes for methionine.
• UUU codes for phenylalanine.
• GGG codes for glycine.
The origin of this code is still a matter of debate.
So what is the probability of DNA evolving?
There is no definitive figure accepted by the scientific community regarding the probability of the evolution of DNA and genetic life.
This is because we do not know the following:
• Exactly what the initial chemistry was,
• How many chemical experiments took place on the early Earth,
• What the first self-replicating system was,
• How large the first functional molecules needed to be,
• How strong natural selection was at each stage,
• Whether similar chemical processes occurred elsewhere in the universe.
The probability that modern DNA arose through completely random combinations is astronomically small.
Sources
1. Koonin & Novozhilov, Origin and evolution of the genetic code: the universal enigma, 2009.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3293468/
2. Nobel Prize, The RNA World.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1989/altman/article/
3. Robertson & Joyce, The Origins of the RNA World, 2012.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3331698/
4. UC Berkeley Evolution 101, But it’s not random either!
https://evolution.berkeley.edu/misconceptions-about-natural-selection-and-adaptation/but-its-not-random-either/
5. MedlinePlus Genetics, How Are Gene Variants Involved in Evolution?
https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/mutationsanddisorders/evolution/
6. Daubin & Szöllősi, Horizontal Gene Transfer and the History of Life, 2016.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4817804/7. Nobel Prize, Altman & Cech / Catalytic RNA and Ribozymes.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/1989/8986-ribonucleic-acid-rna-the-biomolecule-which-can-do-it-all/
I will share with you two more verses from the Quran that seem to refer to DNA
13:41, Surah Rad
Do they not see that We are reducing the earth from its edges? Allah judges, and there is none who can alter His judgment. He is the Swiftest in reckoning.
اَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا اَنَّا نَأْتِي الْاَرْضَ نَنْقُصُهَا مِنْ اَطْرَافِهَاۜ وَاللّٰهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِه۪ۜ وَهُوَ سَر۪يعُ الْحِسَابِ
E ve lem yerev enna ne’til arda nenkusuha min etrafiha, vallahu yahkumu la muakkıbe li hukmih, ve huve seriul hısab
21:44 Surah Al-Anbiya
Yet We bestowed blessings upon them and their forefathers until they grew old, and granted them a long life. Do they not see that We are gradually reducing the earth from its edges? Will they, despite this, prevail?
“Rather, We have granted these people and their forefathers a good life until their lifespan was prolonged. Do they not see that We come to the earth and reduce it from its edges? Are theyare the victors
Bel metta’na haulai ve abaehum hatta tale aleyhimul umur, e fe la yerevne enna ne’til arda nenkusuha min etrafiha, e fehumul galibun.
Very interesting—what could “diminishing the earth from its edges” possibly mean?
The phrase “diminishing the earth from its edges,” which appears in Surah Al-Anbiya’ 44 and Surah Ar-Ra’d 41, can be considered to have a strong metaphorical parallel with the phenomenon of “telomere shortening”—the protective DNA sequences found at the ends of chromosomes.
Telomeres are protective DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes. Every time a cell divides, DNA is copied; however, since the very ends of the chromosomes cannot be copied exactly, telomeres shorten over time. This process is called “telomere shortening.”
What is striking about this process is this: the depletion begins at the ends, not at the center.
“Diminishing from the ends” Telomeres, located at the ends of chromosomes, act as protective regions to prevent immediate damage to the main region carrying genetic information. However, with each cell division, these end regions shorten slightly. When telomeres reach a critical level, the cell can no longer divide healthily; processes such as aging, cessation of division, or cell death come into play.
From this perspective, telomeres serve as a molecular indicator of time and mortality in biological systems.
This analogy can be illustrated as follows:
• Telomeres at the ends of chromosomes shorten.
• With each division, the cell loses a little of its lifespan.
• As a person lives, their biological capacity gradually declines over time.
• Societies and civilizations, too, often begin to weaken not from the center but from the periphery.
• Life on Earth—bodies, generations, and powers—is subject to an invisible yet constant decline over time.
Therefore, telomere shortening provides a biological example that counters the notion that “their lives will never end.” Even the human body is not limitless at the cellular level. As cells divide, the telomeres at the ends of chromosomes shorten; this demonstrates that biological life is finite.
In summary, “telomere shortening” is the gradual loss of nucleotides at the ends of chromosomes that occurs in eukaryotic cells after each DNA replication. This loss limits the cell’s capacity to divide and is associated with the organism’s aging processes. Therefore, this biological phenomenon can be regarded as a molecular-level counterpart of the expression “diminishing from the ends” as observed in living systems.
Allah knows best.
71:14 Surah Nuh
“Yet He created you in stages, step by step.”
وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ اَطْوَاراً
Ve kad halakakum etvara
The root of the word “etvaran” means “to develop further,” “to evolve gradually,” “stage by stage,” or “phase by phase.” Hans Wehr, 4th ed., page 669 (of 1303)
71:17 Surah Nuh
“Allah has caused you to grow from the earth like a plant.”
وَاللّٰهُ اَنْبَتَكُمْ مِنَ الْاَرْضِ نَبَاتاًۙ
Vallahu enbetekum minel ardı nebata.
The root of the word “nebaten” means “plant.” Hans Wehr, 4th ed., page 1100 (of 1303)
The root of the word “enbeteha” means “to grow plants.” Hans Wehr, 4th ed., page 1100 (of 1303)
These verses in the same surah indicate that the evolution of life is being pointed out. When considered together with Verse 30 of Surah Al-Anbiya, it tells us that life began in water, that humanity went through a period in its evolutionary process where it was just like a plant, and that Almighty Allah developed humanity step by step, advancing it toward a state of piety (with a developed prefrontal cortex). It is stated that, just as plants possess both female and male reproductive cells on the same plant, humanity also went through such a stage (true hermaphroditism) in the early stages of its evolution. When Almighty Allah wills something, He simply says, “Be!” and it comes to be; however, since our Almighty Allah is transcendent of the concept of time, His Sunnatullah—or, so to speak, the way He carries out His work—in this universe is entirely based on scientific methods. For example, it is not that a person’s death is caused by a disease, nor that a baby appears suddenly, but rather that it is created by passing through stages over nine months (A human is also created in the mother’s womb by passing through stages, and the verse emphasizes this as well) or the process by which two hydrogen atoms fuse through nuclear fusion reactions in stars to form a helium atom, emitting energy in the form of heat and light during this reaction—these are all examples of the Almighty Allah’s Sunnatullah.
55:4, Surah Ar-Rahman
He taught him eloquence (speech, expression).
عَلَّمَهُ الْبَيَانَ
Allemehul beyan
In verse 4 of Surah Ar-Rahman, the fact that the Almighty Allah taught humans to speak and reminded people of this in the verse is a great miracle. Our Lord has developed human speech over time through evolution.
Human speech is not a trait that emerged all at once. It appears to have developed through the long-term co-evolution of many factors, such as the structure of the brain, throat, and mouth; hearing; breath control; arm and hand movements; social life; and learning. Speech is not merely the production of sound; it is the transformation of thought into symbols, the meaningful arrangement of these symbols, and their communication to others.
During the course of human evolution, Almighty Allah enlarged the human brain and made its connections more complex; over time, brain volume and, in particular, the connections between brain regions have developed within the human lineage. Areas such as Broca’s area, Wernicke’s area, the motor cortex, and the auditory cortex are important for speech. The Broca’s area is associated with speech production and sentence formation; the Wernicke’s area with comprehension; the motor cortex with movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and larynx; and the auditory cortex with the discrimination of sounds. Today, it is accepted that language operates not through a single center but through a broad neural network.
Human speech requires very precise movements. The lips, tongue, palate, jaw, pharynx, and larynx produce different sounds through millimeter-scale movements. In humans, the reduction in the size of the face and jaw, the more flexible positioning of the tongue, changes in the structure of the larynx and pharynx, and the development of breath control have facilitated speech. This suggests that speech may have provided a strong evolutionary advantage.
Speech is not merely about producing sound; it also requires hearing the other person’s voice in fine detail. The human ear is highly suited to distinguishing speech frequencies. The FOXP2 gene plays a role in certain neural processes related to the planning of speech and tongue movements. Certain defects in this gene can lead to speech and language disorders in humans. However, FOXP2 alone does not explain language. Language is a complex ability that arises from the combined influence of numerous genes, brain development, learning, and the social environment.
According to some researchers, the origins of speech lie not only in sounds but also in hand movements and gestures. Early humans had to communicate through gestures while hunting together, making stone tools, sharing food, and cooperating to face dangers. Hand gestures, facial expressions, simple sounds, imitations, and joint attention may have evolved over time into more sophisticated forms of communication. Stone toolmaking is also important because it requires planning sequential movements, learning, and teaching others. Humans are highly social creatures. For our ancestors, who lived in small groups, communication provided a major advantage. Indicating the location of food, warning of danger, conveying which plants were poisonous, planning joint hunts, and teaching children became more effective through speech. In this way, knowledge was passed down from generation to generation, culture accumulated, and human communities became more successful.
Early primate ancestors produced emotional sounds and alarm calls. In early hominins, gestures, facial expressions, and joint attention developed. In the Homo genus, toolmaking, group hunting, and more controlled vocalizations emerged. With Homo erectus and subsequent species, a larger brain, more complex social structures, and a longer learning period became significant. Advanced vocal communication may have existed during the Neanderthal and early Homo sapiens periods. In modern Homo sapiens, symbolic thought, grammar, storytelling, religion, art, and abstract concepts developed.
Human speech appears to have emerged through the co-evolution of the brain’s capacity for symbolic thought; the motor system that precisely controls sounds; changes in the structure of the larynx, tongue, mouth, and respiratory system; the auditory system capable of distinguishing speech sounds; the contribution of genes such as FOXP2; toolmaking; learning; social cooperation; and cultural transmission. Therefore, speech is not merely the result of the evolution of the mouth or throat; it is the result of Almighty Allah’s simultaneous evolution of the human body, brain, and social life.
As a result of this process, humans began to express their thoughts and ideas to others. As a natural consequence of this process, humans discovered the ability to pass on their acquired experiences to the next generation, which enabled humankind to become an advanced species. For these reasons, the emphasis on the human ability to express oneself in the verse is truly a great miracle.
Sources
Lieberman, P. (2007). The evolution of human speech: Its anatomical and neural bases. Current Anthropology, 48(1), 39–66.
Fitch, W. T. (2010). The Evolution of Language. Cambridge University Press.
Hauser, M. D., Chomsky, N., & Fitch, W. T. (2002). The faculty of language: What is it, who has it, and how did it evolve? Science, 298(5598), 1569–1579.
Berwick, R. C., & Chomsky, N. (2016). Why Only Us: Language and Evolution. MIT Press.
Dediu, D., & Levinson, S. C. (2013). On the antiquity of language: The reinterpretation of Neanderthal linguistic capacities and its consequences. Frontiers in Psychology, 4, 397.
Martínez, I. et al. (2013). Communicative capacities in Middle Pleistocene humans from the Sierra de Atapuerca in Spain. Quaternary International, 295, 94–101.
Lai, C. S. L., Fisher, S. E., Hurst, J. A., Vargha-Khadem, F., & Monaco, A. P. (2001). A forkhead-domain gene is mutated in a severe speech and language disorder. Nature, 413, 519–523.
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