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Some of the Quran's verses make references to now known scientific facts or theories. Despite the fact that people in the seventh century held all kinds of mistaken beliefs about the universe, it seems none of those ideas made it into the scripture. The following is a sample of verses demonstrating the Quran's conformity with modern science.
The responsible brain?
Indeed, unless he refrains, we will take him by the front of the head; a lying, misguided front of the head. [96:15 - 96:16]
We know that the cerebral section in the front part of the brain is responsible for the planning, motivation, and initiation of behavior. Considering this, it becomes evident why the front of the head, specifically, might be labeled here as blameworthy.
Tall clouds.
Rain clouds assume a general pattern of formation. The wind pushes the clouds so that they converge. They join and form larger clouds, which then grow vertically when updrafts push against them. Drops of water accumulate in the newly formed upper parts of the clouds, and when they get heavy enough they fall as rain. In the following verse, the Quran seems to be certain of the generally unobservable fact that clouds grow vertically.
Do you not behold that God drives the clouds, then combines them, then makes them a heap, then you see the rain coming out of them?... [24:43]
Origin of the universe.
It is theorized that the universe started as a very small ball of mass. A violent explosion triggered the gradual expansion of this ball. Thus, what was once together has now been separated.
Do the renegers of faith not behold that the heavens and the earth were together, then We tore them apart?... [21:30]
A couple centuries ago, the invention of the microscope enabled us to discover that life cells are composed mainly of water. Encarta(R) 98 Encyclopedia says, "Water is the major constitutent of living matter. From 50 to 90 percent of the weight of living organisms is water".
The composition of life.
...From water We made all living things... [21:30]
Light source of the sun, moon, and stars.
The sun and stars give off their own light, while the moon does not shine on its own (it reflects light from the sun). The Quran points to this fact by referring to the sun and stars as "lamps" and to the moon as merely a "light".
Thus, He completed seven heavens in two eras, and set up the laws for every heaven. And We adorned the lowest heaven with lamps (stars), and placed guards around it. Such is the design of the Almighty, the Omniscient. [41:12]
He designed the moon therein to be a light, and placed the sun to be a lamp. [71:16]
