Science in the Quran
The writer, Saleha Suleman (Cape Town, South Africa) is a scientist and Public Health specialist and has been involved in leadership and community service positions from a young age.
This is a transcript of a radio interview
A
lot of people think science and religion are two separate worlds that cannot overlap. As a woman in science, I know this isn’t true at all. The more I study science, the more I see how much it aligns with the Quran, and the more my faith deepens.
Science is, at its heart, meticulous and precise. It seeks to understand the laws that govern our universe. And the Quran reveals a Creator who is equally meticulous and precise in His work. The overlap between the two is not just occasional; it’s often in agreement.
When I was last on this platform, I spoke about how Islam is a very logical religion. Science is also based on logic. Both use reasoning to explain phenomena, and both invite us to explore, question, and understand.
In Islam, knowledge (Al-Ilm) is described as a guiding light that helps us separate right from wrong. Just as the sun allows us to see the world around us, Al-Ilm allows us to see the signs of Allah (SWT) in the world.
The Quran says: “We will show them Our signs in the universe and in their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that this (the Quran) is the truth” (Quran 41:53).
This verse encourages us to observe and study creation to find the signs of Allah (SWT). That is why the Quran often invites us to reflect on nature, seek knowledge, and understand our world, an encouragement for scientific inquiry long before the modern scientific method existed.
The Quran is filled with reminders:
- “God will exalt those of you who believe and those who have knowledge to high degrees” (Quran 58:11)
- “O my Lord! Increase me in knowledge” (Quran 20:114)
- “As God has taught him, so let him write” (Quran 2:282)
It even reminds us that our understanding will always be limited: “And of knowledge, you mankind have been given only a little” (Quran 17:85).
Some scholars note that around 750 verses in the Quran deal with natural phenomena. For many Muslim thinkers, studying science is a form of Tawheed, recognizing the unity between the signs of Allah in nature and His words in the Quran. Fourteen centuries ago, the Quran described details about the natural world that science would only confirm centuries later.
Here are just a few examples:
- Origin of Life in Water – “We made every living thing from water…” (Quran 21:30) — confirmed by modern biology.
- Big Bang and Expansion of the Universe – “…the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them” (Quran 21:30) and “…We are [its] expander” (Quran 51:47).
- Embryology – The stages described in Quran 23:12–14 match what modern embryology confirms with microscopes.
- Protective Sky – The atmosphere as a “protected ceiling” (Quran 21:32).
- Mountains as Stakes – Geological findings confirm mountains have deep roots (Quran 78:6–7).
- Barrier Between Seas – Different seas meet but don’t mix (Quran 55:19–20).
- Iron Sent Down – The Quran mentions iron “sent down” (Quran 57:25), consistent with meteorite origins.
- Pain Receptors in Skin – The Quran (4:56) mentions skin as central to feeling pain.
- Internal Ocean Waves – “Waves upon waves” deep under the sea (Quran 24:40).
- Formation of Clouds – A precise description of cloud development and rainfall.
Each of these is not just a “fun fact” but a reminder that the same God who revealed the Quran is the Creator of the universe. Of course, interpretations vary, and it’s important to approach this topic with humility. Scientific understanding evolves, and so does our interpretation of these verses. But whether one sees science as confirming the Quran’s wisdom or as a separate path of knowledge, the fact remains: for many of us, science strengthens faith.
For me, science is not just about discovering how the world works. It’s about getting to know our Creator through His work. Every new discovery is another reason to say Subhanallah. And in that way, seeking knowledge is not only an intellectual pursuit—it’s an act of worship.
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