Apparent Scientific Errors in the Qur'an
Question:
Assalam alikum
I was just wondering what do these verses mean because 67:5 makes it sound like that stars or planets are used as missiles and we know stars and planets don't move like missiles and 11:7 sounds like water was created before the universe but that doesn't make any sense how is water older than the universe and what is Allah's throne and was it created and if it means Kingdom does it mean his creation Kingdom is on earth because I don't understand that sorry for all the questions
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum
Since you have also sent me a few other questions related to the Qur’an and science, allow me to answer the above question and any other similar questions by listing some general points:
1. The Qur’an is not a book of science. When the Qur’an refers to any thing related to universe or natural phenomenon the intention is not to reveal a scientific fact. Rather, the intention is to bring the attention of its primary addressees to the fact that God is the creator and there is a wisdom behind His creation.
2. In order for the above objective to be fulfilled, any references to the universe or natural phenomenon in the Qur’an is made in a way that its primary addressees (i.e. Arabs in Arabia, 1400 years ago) could appreciate and relate to it. If for instance the Qur’an was referring to Black Hole, no one would have understood what that actually meant and therefore the above objective was not met.
3. Consequently, many of the references to the universe and natural phenomenon in the Qur’an are made with the style of life of the Arabs at the time in consideration. Think about it, how similar is expressions like ‘stretching the earth’, ‘sky as a roof’, ‘mountains as nails’, to the life of many Arabs in sahara within tents. This is talking in their own language rather than stating a scientific fact.
4. A number of expressions in the Qur'an related to God and His work are among symbolic expressions. This is simply because us human beings can never understand these concepts fully.
Verses 67:5 and 11:7 in my understanding belong to the category mentioned in point 4 above. 67:5 simply means that evil creatures will not be able to interfere with the process of God’s revelation to the prophet (pbuh). Verse 11:7 simply refers to the dominant of the Almighty to His creation, by using the symbolic expression of a throne that goes on water (again, imagine how easily an Arab in Arabia could relate to this symbolic expression).
Never apologise for asking questions. As Jeffrey Lang writes, even angels ask!
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September 2016
Farhad Shafti
Assalam alikum
I was just wondering what do these verses mean because 67:5 makes it sound like that stars or planets are used as missiles and we know stars and planets don't move like missiles and 11:7 sounds like water was created before the universe but that doesn't make any sense how is water older than the universe and what is Allah's throne and was it created and if it means Kingdom does it mean his creation Kingdom is on earth because I don't understand that sorry for all the questions
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum
Since you have also sent me a few other questions related to the Qur’an and science, allow me to answer the above question and any other similar questions by listing some general points:
1. The Qur’an is not a book of science. When the Qur’an refers to any thing related to universe or natural phenomenon the intention is not to reveal a scientific fact. Rather, the intention is to bring the attention of its primary addressees to the fact that God is the creator and there is a wisdom behind His creation.
2. In order for the above objective to be fulfilled, any references to the universe or natural phenomenon in the Qur’an is made in a way that its primary addressees (i.e. Arabs in Arabia, 1400 years ago) could appreciate and relate to it. If for instance the Qur’an was referring to Black Hole, no one would have understood what that actually meant and therefore the above objective was not met.
3. Consequently, many of the references to the universe and natural phenomenon in the Qur’an are made with the style of life of the Arabs at the time in consideration. Think about it, how similar is expressions like ‘stretching the earth’, ‘sky as a roof’, ‘mountains as nails’, to the life of many Arabs in sahara within tents. This is talking in their own language rather than stating a scientific fact.
4. A number of expressions in the Qur'an related to God and His work are among symbolic expressions. This is simply because us human beings can never understand these concepts fully.
Verses 67:5 and 11:7 in my understanding belong to the category mentioned in point 4 above. 67:5 simply means that evil creatures will not be able to interfere with the process of God’s revelation to the prophet (pbuh). Verse 11:7 simply refers to the dominant of the Almighty to His creation, by using the symbolic expression of a throne that goes on water (again, imagine how easily an Arab in Arabia could relate to this symbolic expression).
Never apologise for asking questions. As Jeffrey Lang writes, even angels ask!
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September 2016
Farhad Shafti
