Foreword

In the name of Allah, the most Merciful, the compassionate.

Almighty Allah created the universe which includes both physical and biological world. Life is bestowed on all organisms by the Creator of the Universe. It is the most complex attribute of the living world whose many aspects are unexplainable despite much advancement made in the field of biological sciences.

Man is the most exalted and biologically complex being of the whole living world. He is endowed with such faculties which have not been granted to any other organism. No other living organism possesses so much developed brain as human being. That is why, only he is held responsible for his deeds in the life hereafter.

Allah raised prophets from the human beings through whom He revealed His message for the guidance of humanity. The revealed message of Allah was conveyed to the human race through the prophets and later on the messages given to every prophet was compiled into a book or a booklet. The Holy Qur'an is the last divine message of Allah which was revealed to the prophet Muhammad of Arabia (peace be upon him) so it is the infallible and inerrant book of guidance for humanity till the day of judgment.

Primarily, the Holy Qur'an is not a book of science; it is truly a divine guidance for man who is the most distinguished creature of this universe. Man cannot spend his life alone, and he has to interact with different other non-living things as well as living things (plants and animals). in consequence of this, a number of vegetative and animal species have been described in the Holy Qur'an. 

Life has been studied by the philosophers, scholars and scientists from the very beginning. Man has always been fond of knowing his beginning as well as his final destiny. The Holy Qur'an has described the origin of life very lucidly. The phenomenon of reproduction has also been discussed in detail. Biologists think that the death is a mere cessation of life, but the Qur'an has refuted this concept vehemently. According to the Qur'an, life does not cease when death occurs. There is another life, the life after death, which is beyond the realm of biology and other sciences.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS RESEARCH

This research has been undertaken in consequence of the following reasons:-

Old Topic of Philosophy:

How life originated on the earth? How different animals and plants have gained the present structure? Can living organisms evolve from non-living matter spontaneously? Philosophers of yore times did try to answer these important questions. They pondered over the composition of living objects and put forth hypotheses. great philosophers like Thales (625-545 B.C.), Hippocrates (345-460 B.C.), Plato (436-428 B.C.) and Aristotle (322-384 B.C.) offered some postulates about concept of life and its origin. Later on, these hypotheses were abandoned by subsequent researchers. Muslim philosophers also pondered over this topic and presented their views in prose and poetry.

It would be pertinent to mention the names of Maulana Rum, Al-Farabi, Ibn Sina and Ibn Miskawaih here.

Importance of the Topic in Biology:

Before 1700 A.D., no significant research appeared to have been conducted regarding the origin of life. Very little was known about life and living matter, due to lack of experimentation and observation. After 1700 A.D., a large number of biologists performed various experiments to know about the life and its origin. Redi, Spalanzani, Leeuwenhoek, Joblot, Pouchet, Pasteur, Sidney Fox, Oparin, Arthur Kornberg and many others made investigations. Louis Pasteure, Stanley Miller and Arthur Kornberg were awarded the Noble Prize for their out-standing achievements about the composition and origin of life. The discoveries made by these biologists are significantly supported by the facts so comprehensively elucidated in the Holy Qur'an.

The Qur'an and the Proposed Topic:

The Holy Qur'an not only comprises Divine injunctions, but also gives some hints about different branches of  sciences. The holy Quran contains complete code for guidance of man .This fact has  been explicitly underlined in the following verse:

The Qur'an expresses a detailed exposition of all things.

          (Al-Qur'an XII:111)

At another place Allah announces:

Nothing have been omitted from the Book.

                                                (Al-Qur'an VI:38)

          The Holy Qur'an has directed man to travel through this wide earth and observe the facts regarding the origin of life.

Say: Travel through the earth and see how Allah did originate creation.                   (Al-Qur'an XXIX: 20)

The Holy Qur'an contains a great number of verses about modern sciences, especially about biological sciences. Almighty Allah has told us about the life and its origin through the Holy Qur'an – how this universe was made and how life was created and how embryo is developed in female uterus. Seven stages of developing embryo have been very clearly described in the Holy Qur'an. The process of inorganic evolution before the creation of man is also discussed in it. Although the data regarding the origin of life and its continuity is scattered in the Holy Qur'an, it covers some of its aspects.

Cessation of Wrong Ideas:

The misunderstanding that science opposes religion or religion is not scientific in its approach needs to be resolved. Our religion (Islam) is an immaculate truth. The science aims at knowing the truth, hence, there should be no contradiction between science and Islam. In this thesis an attempt has been made to erase this misunderstanding concerning biology. Some of our improperly educated ‘Ulama’ tend to reject science. On the other hand scientists of the West never had a chance to explore the depth of the relevant verses of the Holy Qur'an. Due to this, the study of science and that of the Holy Qur'an has remained segregated and led the Muslims to backwardness in the field of science. This research will break the barriers of misconception both among the Muslims and non-muslims. It will also help to eradicate superstitions among the Muslims.

To Appreciate  the Islamic Approach :

The result of this research would be fruitful in appreciation  of Islam and help non-Muslims to think that Islam is a combination of 'Ibadat' (Services) and 'Mu'amlat' (all dealings besides service of Allah) and it alludes to  different  branches of knowledge. The West needs further study of Islam to know that Islam is neither unscientific nor outdated; on the contrary it is relevant and living rather it is ever new and living having been sent and preserved by Allah, the Alive (Al-Hayy).

The Muslim community had never lagged behind the western nations in the field of science. In the past the Muslim scientists made great contributions to science when Europeans were passing through Dark Ages. In fact, the Muslims by following the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and sunnah in true letter and spirit had been pioneer of different  branches of science. Later on, they deviated from the path of their forefathers. That is why they have developed inferiority complex now.

The West is Turning towards the Holy Qur'an:

The Europeans are turning towards the Holy Qur'an since they are obviously not satisfied by any western philosophy. Furthermore, the facts described by the Holy Qur'an are comprehensive in all respects. Many orientalists are presently researching over this Great Book especially with respect to science. Dr. Maurice Bucaille of Paris University (France) and Dr. Keith Moore of Torento University (Canada) are some of the eminent contemporary names conducting research over the Qur'anic sciences.

Food for Thought:

This research is a food for thought for the world of science and would provide a scientific basis. The Westerners mostly believe in Christianity and Judaism. The Bible contains information regarding life and its origin. By the lapse of time, several truths of these books have either been amalgamated with human made notions or misinterpreted contrary to the truth revealed by Allah. the Holy Qur'an is in the same form as it was revealed to our Holy Prophet (upon whom be peace). That is why the Holy Qur'an testifies the facts of modern sciences.

Dr. Sultan Shah
GC University Lahore