Quranic Science

Family of the Heart - DIALOGUE & DISCUSSIONS 

Dear Dr. Dale: 
    

 It is my considered opinion that you are wasting whole lot of your reasoning (which I wonder if Dr. Jamil understands it) and effort (which is hardly appreciated by Dr. Jamil).  In the past I have argued in a number of discussion on Human Evolution and Origin of life with various "Koranic Science Promoters" (for lack of a better term) on this and other fora.   Unfortunately, most of them (including, unfortunately, Dr. Jamil) are "cut and paste" "born again" Koranic scientists who have already made up their mind.  They twist and turn the meaning of various Koranic words and expression (including coining new meaning for the old Arabic words) to prove that the Koran is a book of science.

A number of time, I have asked a simple question:"Can they offer any reasoning whether God was seeking to reform the Arab society through his prophet (that is teaching them morality, ethics, and promotion of good deeds) or was his objective to produce astronomers, biologists, chemists or physical scientists?"

 

         The Koran, in my understanding (and even according to the wording of God, in the very first chapter "the Cow," --- "This is the Book which contains no doubt; it means guidance for those who do their duty who believe in the Unseen, keep up prayer, and spend something from whatever We have provided them with; who believe in what has been sent down to you as well as what was sent down before you, While they are convinced about the Hereafter; such people hold on to guidance from their Lord; those will be successful)  is a book of morality and ethics that preaches that the righteous path to become a "good human being."  Nothing more, nothing less.  No doubt that at times the Koran does through a sentence of two concerning some biological or physical phenomena (as they were known 1500 years ago to Arabs through oral travelers’ gossips) [for example, The Koranic Chapter 26: "Congealed blood" -- "Read, in the name of thy Lord! Who creates, 2 creates man from congealed blood!"] to support its statements on morality (For example: Again citing the Koranic chapter on "the Cow:"

God does not hesitate to compare things to a mosquito nor to anything bigger than it. Those who believe realize that it is the Truth from their Lord, while those who disbelieve say: "What does God want in such a comparison?").   

 

        Nevertheless, in the last few years, some Muslims, with their half-baked knowledge of Natural Selection, DNA and a few physical

science theories, and following the examples of Christian "Creationists," has taken upon themselves that the Koran in the second line of

the chapter on "Congealed Blood" by using the term "congealed blood" is describing the "structure and the physiology of the human sperm," and in support they offer both light and electron micrographs of the sperm (and long scientific details, copied either from books on Human Physiology or embryology).

 

        The problem, unfortunately, with these "born again Muslim Creation scientists" is that already have made up their mind,  and no amount of well supported scientific arguments will budge from their position, and they keep on bringing in age-old controversies (which were resolved years ago) to argue their point.  I, therefore, have written them off as "crack-pots" (for the want of a better term).

 

         I am sure, in the end (whenever it comes) you will find that Dr. Jamil will go on to the bitter end, in spite of the most logical arguments you may counter him with.  Many a "Muslim writers" have wasted money, resources and time in writing books on embryology, Big Bang theory, Origin and fate of Universe,  the ending of the Earth and the Day of Judgment, including the description of paradise complete with virgin girls and young boys for sexual pleasure of the pious men, and the detailed description of the night the Prophet visited heavens and hell, and all of them have ended up on the garbage heaps.  I am sure Dr. Jamil and his contemplated will have a fate no better than those of the past.

 

        I will, therefore, rather than educating him on his pitfall, let him buy his own rope. 

 

 Best regards

Akhtar Ali Khan 

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