The Science of the Quran: Proving God's Existence through Established Modern Science
Five Stars (out of Five). In Western culture, the rift between science and scripture has often been contentious. During the Renaissance, when the discoveries of Copernicus and Galileo directly challenged the science of the Bible, the dichotomy became seemingly irreparable. One solution recognized the independence between scientific theories and scriptural truth. In The Science of the Quran, Ahmad Hassan approaches the religion-versus-science predicament in a completely opposite manner. He states that not only are science and religion compatible, but that a careful examination of the Quran demonstrates that God's revealed word to Mohammed proves the existence of a supreme being since the verses in the Quran validate modern scientific discoveries. After a brief autobiographical introduction, Hassan devotes the first part of the text to a thorough and thoughtful examination of the Quran and explains the ways in which the ideas in his book differ from the teachings of Islam. He continues with a biographical chapter on Mohammed and how God revealed the Quran to him. In the second section of the book, Hassan summarizes the history of scientific thought from Archimedes to Einstein. In the third section, Hassan briefly explains more than three dozen scientific theories from the fields of astronomy, physics, biology, geology, and technology. After each explanation he notes the appropriate verse of the Quran which supports that particular theory. In the field of Quranic hermeneutics, it is generally agreed that the verses of the Quran may have many meanings beyond their literal expression; the validity of these meanings have long been debated by scholars. Hassan admits that he is well aware of these discussions. He notes that some readers may not accept that the Quran provides modern-day natural world insights and reject the conclusions arrived at in this book. Hassan's concern is valid. The translation of the Quran he uses is his own, and his conclusions are based on how a particular word is rendered. For example, the Arabic word sema'a is usually translated as sky, but Hassan expands the concept by noting that the word can mean Earth's upper atmosphere, distant stars, faraway planets and the like. Additionally, Hassan uses verb forms for nouns to bolster his interpretations. Within such broad etymologies, Hassan translates verse 51:47 as, And the sky we [the god] built with [or through] hands, and we are surely expanding [or enlarging]. Hassan concludes that the verse explains the expanding universe that is also a part of the big bang theory. The arguments for the other scientific facts continue in much the same manner, and some, Hassan admits, will raise a few eyebrows. He states that verse 2:74, about rivers gushing, refers to the Grand Canyon, and that verses 87:1-5, about a black scum, indicate the formation of crude oil. Readers of the Quran who delight in discovering esoteric meanings in its verses will enjoy Hassan's interpretations. General readers with little knowledge of the Quran and the prophet Mohammed will find the first sections of the book instructive and enlightening. The Science of the Quran won the silver prize in the category of religion in the 2012 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Thomas H. Brennan --ForeWord Clarion ReviewsBooks on religion sometimes miss the mark. The Science of the Quran looks at how the Quran predicted scientific discoveries, focusing in on the issues that translators have had with the language involved. It picks through the language, sometimes breaking it down and showing how the need for followers to interpret the Quran has affected the translation. It also looks at the Islamic tradition in a number of different areas, showing that it is more than the followers in today's news. Although there are a number of examples that were a little stretched, this book, overall, makes for some interesting reading. If nothing else, it gives a fresh look at translations of the Quran, demonstrating that the interpretation of the Quran depends on its translation. The linguistic breakdown of the verses presented makes for some interesting reading, as does the clarification of the so-called grey verses, which no doubt make for some interesting discussions. The importance of looking at the translation is important in a book like this, and Hassan deserves kudos for his work in that area. As for the science content itself, there are some minor issues. Some of the scientific terms are a little off, but that was bound to happen, given the amount of material covered. Also, there are some areas where the science was stretched a little, especially when it came to sections where the predictions would have been pretty obvious, such as the increase in boats to gigantic size. However, the look at how the Quran predicted much of our science is fascinating, especially given the strong Islamic scientific tradition; that the Quran did predict as much science as it did is remarkable. This is a great book to read through, especially for those looking for something that combines science and religion. San Francisco Book ReviewAhmad Hassan's well written volume on the subject of The Science of the Quran is a personal journey in the realm of faith in God's existence through a meticulous analysis of the passages from the Quran that have relevance to the appreciation of the natural science. It is inspiring to see a penetrating mind, with no claim to any academic specialization in either the Quranic or scientific studies, undertaking to chart the spiritual excursion of a modernly educated practitioner who cares to share his educated and deeply personal insights in the workings of God and mysteries of science. Ahmad Hassan's sincere love for his own scriptural tradition, in addition to his intellectual appreciation of the world of science, makes this volume a must read for anyone in search of the divine truth and its manifestation in the entire nature. The Science of the Quran is one of the most accessible readings on the subject of the Quran for lay and educated readers. --Abdulaziz Sachedina, Renowned Muslim Scholar, Author, and Professor and Endowed IIIT Chair in Islamic Studies, George Mason University, Fairfax, VirginiaScience does not disprove religion, as Ahmad Hassan believes. The Science of the Quran: Proving God's Existence through Established Modern Science is the research of Iraqi-American Ahmad Hassan, as he presents his own study and how he believes that modern science establishes the truths of the Quran, that he believes are linked to proof of a supreme being behind it all. For followers of the faith or those curious of a different take on the debate between science and religion, The Science of the Quran is an enticing read worth considering. Midwest Book Review, Small Press Bookwatch, November 2012Initially I found the idea of reading a book about the connection between science and the Quran to be intimidating, especially since it is written by an Iraqi-American electrical engineer. Having very little knowledge of the Quran and a little more of science, I was intrigued, however, still concerned that it would be written beyond my level of comprehension. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I was totally incorrect. Ahmad Hassan has written The Science of the Quran, in a manner that can be appreciated and understood by both beginners and experts. He begins the book by providing a basic understanding of what the Quran is about, and how it evolved historically. He also gives an in-depth discussion about the prophets of the time, especially the Last Prophet Muhammad. He allows for some comparisons between the Christian Bible and prophets; however, he does not try to change one s beliefs, he just uses the information to strengthen the discussion. It really helped me relate my historical Christian knowledge to what was happening at the time. I felt that his discussion was respectfully neutral. After explaining the Quran and the history behind it, Hassan then begins a basic discussion about scientific principles and how they are mentioned in the Quran. He discusses a wide variety of over thirty scientific topics and relates them to verses in the Quran. Believing the Quran to be created directly from revelations directly from God to Muhammad, over 1,400 years ago, Hassan believes that this proves that a Supreme Being exists. Personally, I found The Science of the Quran to be a fascinating, well-written book. It gave me a greater appreciation and understanding of my friends who follow the teachings of the Quran. I also truly enjoyed seeing the connection between the verses presented in the Quran and the beliefs of modern science. I felt that some of the comparisons seemed to be more valid than others. Overall, I was definitely fascinated. The author does not have to rely on blind faith to know that there is a higher power. I feel that The Science of the Quran by Ahmad Hassan is an excellent resource for people of various backgrounds who have an interest in understanding the Quran. The connection between the verses that were written well before we truly understood science and modern science as we know it today presents a wealth of support for a belief in a Supreme Being. Considering the political climate that we are facing today, I think it is extremely important for individuals to gain an understanding of a religion that they might know nothing about. The Science of the Quran is a great resource with which to begin. People who already follow the Quran will find this book very interesting and enjoy gaining a greater understanding of how science is linked to their spiritual text. --Paige Lovitt, Reader Views Book Reviews