NUTRITION IN ISLAM & SCIENCE

Islamic dietary principles perfectly mirror modern nutritional science, establishing a holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual health. Rather than treating nutrition as a mere physical necessity, Islam frames mindful eating as an act of worship and a fundamental component of maintaining bodily balance (Mīzān). 

When we analyze the Quran and Sunnah through the lens of modern biology, the correlation between 1,400-year-old revelations and current medical advice becomes clear. 

1. The Core Paradigm: Halal and Tayyib

Islamic jurisprudence mandates that food must not only be Halal (lawful) but also Tayyib (pure, wholesome, and nutritious).

• Halal (Permissible): Foods that are explicitly allowed under Islamic law. This excludes prohibited items (Haram) such as pork, blood, alcohol, intoxicants and meat from animals not slaughtered according to Islamic rites. 
• Tayyib (Wholesome/Pure) : this goes beyong mere legality. It dictates that food must be clean, nutritious, ethically sourced, hygienic and free from harm. A food item can be technically Halal, but if is ultra-processed, toxic or damaging to the body, it falls short of being Tayyib. 
• Surah Al-Maidah (5:3) : "Forbidden to you are carrion, blood, and swine; what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah; what is killed by strangling, beating, a fall, or by being gored to death; what is partly eaten by a predator unless you slaughter it; and what is sacrificed on altars. You are also forbidden to draw lots for decisions.This is all evil. Today the disbelievers have given up all hope of ˹undermining˺ your faith. So do not fear them; fear Me! Today I have perfected your faith for you, completed My favour upon you, and chosen Islam as your way. But whoever is compelled by extreme hunger—not intending to sin—then surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
• Surah Al-Maidah (5:4) : "They ask you, [O Prophet], what is permissible for them [to eat]. Say, 'What is good and lawful. Also what is caught by your hunting animals and birds of prey which you have trained as instructed by Allah. So eat what they catch for you, but mention the Name of Allah over it [first].' And be mindful of Allah. Surely Allah is swift in reckoning."
• Surah Al-Maidah (5:5) : People of the Book > "Similarly, the food of the People of The Book is permissible for you and yours is permissible for them. And permissible for you in marriage are chaste believing women as well as chaste woman of those given the Scripture before you. "
• The Specific Forbidden Categories: (Surah Al-Maidah 5:3)
• Carrion (Dead Meat) - animals that die of natural causes, illnesses of accidents withou being properly slaughtered. 
• Type of Carrion :> Animals killed by strangling, killed by violent blow, killed by head-long fall, killed by the goring of horns, animals partially eaten by wild beasts. 
• Running Blood: liquid blood that flows out of an animal during its slaughter or due to injury. 
• Flesh of Swine (Pork) : all parts of the pork, including its meal, fat and any by-products. 
• Immolated to other than Allah: meat from animals sacrified to idols, stone altas or slaughtered in the name of anyone other than God. 
• Intoxicants: Alcohol and any intoxicating substances, which are strictly forbidden for consumption under Surah Al-Maidah (5:90).
• The Divine Command: In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:168), humanity is told to eat what is "lawful and good" on the earth.
• The Scientific Parallel: Science categorizes food into nutrient-dense options versus empty calories. Choosing Tayyib foods translates directly to eating organic, unprocessed, and toxin-free whole foods while eliminating chemically modified or contaminated substances. 

ISLAMIC DIETARY SPECTRUM

HALAL (Lawful) & TAYYIB (Pure) > Whole foods, fruits, grains, lean meats

HARAM (Prohibited & Harmful) > Alcohol, blood, carrion and swine

2. Portion Control and Macronutrient Balance

Excessive calorie consumption is the primary driver of the global metabolic health crisis. Islamic teachings anticipated this by establishing strict guidelines for moderation.

• The One-Third Rule: The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) famously stated: "A human being fills no vessel worse than his stomach. It is sufficient for a son of Adam to eat what will sustain his spine. If he must defeat that, then one-third for his food, one-third for his drink, and one-third for his breath." (Sunan al-Tirmidhi). 
• The Scientific Parallel: Modern health organisations like the World Health Organization (WHO) advocate against overconsumption to avoid chronic diseases. Keeping the stomach partly empty prevents the extreme stretching of gastric walls, reduces the risk of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), prevents insulin spikes, and allows digestive enzymes to break down food efficiently. 

3. Dietary Diversity vs. Malnutrition

Islam explicitly discourages eating monotonous diets and instead promotes drawing nutrition from varied, natural sources. 

• The Quranic Palette: The Quran repeatedly highlights structural food groups including fresh fruits (dates, grapes, pomegranates, olives), vegetables, grains (wheat, barley), milk, and proteins (fish, poultry, and meat). 
• The Scientific Parallel: Modern clinical nutrition relies on Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS). Consuming varied food groups ensures that the body receives a full spectrum of macro- and micronutrients (vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants), reducing the prevalence of micro-nutrient deficiencies. 

4. Prohibited Substances (Haram)

The foods strictly forbidden in Islam are linked to distinct biomedical and public health hazards. 

• Intoxicants (Alcohol) :Causes liver cirrhosis, cognitive decline, neurotoxicity, and high addiction risk (Surah Al-Maidah 5:90) 
• Swine (Pork) : High risk of parasitic infections (such as Trichinella spiralis) and specific fatty acid profiles linked to cardiovascular stress.
• Al-Baqarah (2:173) - "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah."
• Surah Al-Maidah (5:3) - "Forbidden to you are carrion, blood and swine, what is slaughtered in the name of any other than Allah. "
• Surah Al-An'am (6:145) - "unless it be a dead animal or blood spilled out or the flesh of swine - for indeed, it is impure. "
• Surah An-Nahl (16:115) - "He has only forbidden to you dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah."
• Blood & Carrion : Dead animal tissue and blood act as excellent culture media for pathogenic bacteria, endotoxins, and metabolic waste products.

Pork : The Divine Reason: Rijs (Impure)

In Surah Al-An'am (6:145), the Quran provides the explicit reason for the prohibition, describing the flesh of swine as Rijs. In Arabic, this means inherently unclean, filthy, and detrimental to human health.

The Scientific Parallel

Modern clinical medicine and biology heavily validate the description of pork as a uniquely high-risk meat:

• Resilient Parasites: Pigs are biological hosts for highly dangerous pathogens, most notably Taenia solium (the pork tapeworm). If ingested, its larvae can exit the gut and form cysts in human muscles or even travel to the brain, causing a serious neurological condition called neurocysticercosis. 
• Toxin Retention: Pigs possess a highly rapid digestive system (taking roughly 4 hours), meaning their bodies do not eliminate metabolic toxins as thoroughly as ruminants (like cows or sheep, which digest food over 24 hours). A higher concentration of these toxic elements ends up stored directly in the animal's adipose (fat) tissues. 
• Latent Biological Risks: Pork is dense in saturated fats and contains specific biological markers that modern epidemiological studies continue to link to elevated risks of cardiovascular stress and systemic inflammation. 

5. Prophetic Superfoods and Modern Research

Several foods highly recommended in the Sunnah have undergone rigorous laboratory evaluations.

• Dates: The Prophet recommended breaking fasts with dates. Science confirms that dates are exceptionally high in easily digestible simple carbohydrates (fructose and glucose), which rapidly restore blood glucose levels after a long period of fasting without shocking the pancreas. They are also dense in fiber, potassium, and magnesium.
• Honey: Described in the Quran as a source of "healing for mankind" (Surah An-Nahl-16:69). Medical research validates honey's potent antibacterial properties (via hydrogen peroxide production), its rich antioxidant profile, and its efficacy as a wound-healing agent and antitussive.
• Olive Oil: Highly praised in Islamic texts, extra virgin olive oil is verified by contemporary cardiology as a powerhouse of monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid) and polyphenols that drastically reduce systemic inflammation and lower LDL cholesterol. (Surah At-Tin 95:1)

6. The Physiology of Fasting

Islamic fasting (Sawm) provides a brilliant intersection between spiritual discipline and metabolic optimization. 

• The Spiritual Routine: Muslims fast from dawn to sunset during Ramadan, and are encouraged to observe voluntary fasts on Mondays and Thursdays. 
• The Scientific Parallel: This practice perfectly mirrors Intermittent Fasting (IF) and time-restricted feeding protocols. Medically, after roughly 12 hours without food, the body depletes its glycogen stores and switches to lipolysis (breaking down stored fat for energy). This process triggers autophagy—a crucial cellular housecleaning mechanism where the body degrades and recycles damaged proteins and old cellular components, lowering the risk of metabolic syndromes. 

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

14 August 2026: 8.27 p.m

MY NOTEBOOK: ISLAM, ALQURAN AND SCIENCE

The relationship between the Al-Quran and science is a prominent topic in Islamic theology, focusing on how a text revealed 1,400 years ago aligns with modern scientific discoveries. While the Quran is primarily a book of spiritual guidance and ethics, it contains numerous verses describing natural phenomena that mirror contemporary understandings of cosmology, embryology, and geology. 

Islamic scholarship generally classifies the intersections of the Quran and science into several major categories. 

There is no human work in existence that contains statements as far beyond the level of knowledge of its time as the Qur’an. Scientific opinions comparable to those in the Qur’an are the result of modern knowledge.

Human Embryology

One of the most heavily analyzed areas of correlation is the description of human prenatal development found in Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:12-14). 

Science has only proved this with the help of the latest technology. It is Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore who is one of the world’s most well-known scientists in the fields of anatomy and embryology, who said that “It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later.”

• Nutfah: The initial stage is described as a drop of mixed fluid, corresponding to the fertilization process and zygote formation. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:5)
• Alaqah: The embryo is next described as a "clinging substance" or "leech-like" structure, which matches the physical appearance and function of the blastocyst implanting into the uterine wall. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:5)
• Mudghah: The next stage translates to a "chewed lump," closely resembling the somite-stage embryo which takes on a segmented, indented appearance. (Surah Al-Hajj 22:5)
• Sulalatin min Tin:  Extract of clay - often interpreted as the physical, chemical components of humanity.
• Qararin Makin : Secure Place - the uterus where implantation occurs. 
• Izam & Lahm: Bones & Fresh - the formation of the skeleton (week 5-6) followed by muscle tissue formation (weeks 7-8).
• Khalqan Akhar : New creation - the transition to a distinct human fetus.

BIOLOGY

The Al-Quran contains numerous verses that touch upon biological concepts, many of which aligh closely with modern scientific discoveries in embryology, botany, zoology and physiology. 

• Animal Societies: Surah Al-An'am (6:38) - Animal & birds live in highly sturctured and social sytems, complete with hierarchies and communication lines > "There is not and animal upon the earth nor a bird tht flies with its wing but that they are communities like you. "
• Female Honeybee: Surah An-Nahl (16: 68-69) > the Arabic verbs used for the bee building its hive and gathering food are in the female singular form (itakhidhi, sukuli). Entomologists later discovered that worker bees, which perform all the building and foraging, are exclusively female.
• Biological Origins: Surah At-Tariq :5-7 > The Quran directs humanity to contemplate its humble biological origins as proof of God's power to resurrect the dead - "Let people then consider what they were created from!  They were created from a spurting fluid (Sperm),  stemming from between the backbone and the ribcage.”
• The Skin - Pain receptors  : Surah An-Nisa (4:56) - "We shall send those who reject our revelations to the (hell) fire. When their skins have been burned away, We shall replace them with new ones so that they may continue to feel the pain.: - It has been discovered that there are pain receptors present in the skin. Without these pain receptors, a person would not be able to feel pain.

Divine Creation & Natural Science

• Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30) - "Do the disbelievers not realize that the heavens and earth were ˹once˺ one mass then We split them apart? And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?" - Origin of life and the "Big Bang Theory".
• Water: Surah Al-Furqan (25:54): "And He is the One Who creates human beings from water, then establishes for them bonds of kinship and marriage. For your Lord is Most Capable."
• Human Reproduction: 
• Az-Zumar (39:6) : Biological development within the womb > "He created you from one soul. Then He made from it its mate, and He sent down for you from the cattle eight mates. He creates you in the wombs of your mothers, creation after creation, within three darknesses. That is Allah, your Lord; to Him belongs dominion. There is no deity except Him, so how are you turned away?"
• Surah At-Tariq (86:5-7) - “Let people then consider what they were created from! They were created from a spurting fluid, stemming from between the backbone and the ribcage.” - Spurting Fluid refers contextually to reproductive fluids containing semen and sperm. 
• Surah Al-Hajj (22:5) - “O humanity! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then ˹consider that˺ We surely created you from dust, then from a drop of fluid (nutfah), then from a clinging clot (’alaqah), then from a lump of flesh (mudghah)—partly formed and partly unformed—so that We may make ˹Our power˺ clear to you...”
• Surah As-Sajdah (32:8-9) : "Then He made his posterity from an extract of a liquid disdained." "Then He proportioned him and breathed into him from His soul and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful.">the reproduction of mankind occurs through a humble, extracted fluid. 
• Surah An-Najm (53:45-46): "And that He creates mates - the male and the female. From a spem-drop when it is emitted." >highlights that gender determination and the initiation of human life occur when a drop of fluid is emitted. 
• Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13): "O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted." > human diversity in gender, race and nationality is a deliberate divine design intended for mutual recognition, not conflict. 
• Surah Al-Hijr (15:26-27) - "An indeed, We created humanity from sounding clay moulded from black mud. As for the Jinn, We created them earlier form smokeless fire."
• Surah As-Saffat (37:11) : "Then inquire of them, [O Muḥammad], 'Are they a stronger [or more difficult] creation or those [others] We have created?' Indeed, We created them [i.e., men] from sticky clay." > human beings were originally created from sticky clay (teenin laazib) to humble those who reject the concept of resurrection. The verse serves as a direct rhetorical argument against the disbelievers by comparing human frailty to the vast, complex wonders of the universe
• Surah Ar-Rahman (55:14-15) - "He created man from sounding clay like pottery, and He created the Jinn from a piercing flame of fire. "
• Surah Al-Insan (76:2) : "Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; so We made him hearing and seeing." > human being are created from a mixed drip of fluid (nuftatin Amshaj) to test their obedience. 
• Surah An-Nisaa (4:1): "O mankind, fear your Lord, who created you from one soul and created from it its mate and dispersed from both of them many men and women. And fear Allah, through whom you ask one another, and the wombs. Indeed Allah is ever, over you, an Observer." - despite variations in race, color, nationality or status, everyone originates from the exact same human root that is Adam and Eve. 
• Surah Nuh (71:14)  "While He has created you in stages?" >  human creations did not happen all at once, but rather developed in progressive stages. 
• Surah Al-A'raaf (7:12) - "Allah asked, What prevented you from bowing when I commanded you" He (Iblis) replied, 'I am better than he is :  You created me form fire and him from clay.".
• the description of human prenatal development found in Surah Al-Mu'minun (23:12-14). 

Breastfeeding

• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:233) : "Mother may breastfee their children for two complete years for whoever wishes to complete the Nursing."
• Surah Luqman (31:14): "and his weaning is in two years. "

Physiology and the Circulatory System
The Quran describes the production of milk in nursing animals, pointing directly to the interaction between the digestive and circulatory systems. 

• The Verse: "And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretions and blood - pure milk, palatable to a drinker." (Surah An-Nahl 16:66). 
• Scientific Parallel: Nutrients from digested food are absorbed through the intestinal walls into the bloodstream. The mammary glands then filter these nutrients directly from the blood to synthesize milk, a precise sequence captured by the phrasing "between excretions (intestine contents) and blood".

Astronomy & Cosmology

The Quran contains several verses describing the origin, expansion, and mechanics of the universe that align closely with modern astrophysics. 

• The Big Bang: Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30) describes the heavens and the earth as being a "joined-together mass" before being cloven asunder, resembling the singularity model of cosmology. 
• The Big Crunch: Surah Al-Anbiya (21:104) : "The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a (written) sheet for the records.. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it (That is) a promise binding upon Us. Indeem We will do it." - This fit in with the theory of Big Crunch which talks about how the universe will be pulled back into the black holes and again form a tiny mass. 
• Expanding Universe: Surah Adh-Zhariyat (51:47) states, "And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander," mirroring modern discoveries regarding cosmic expansion. According to Stephen Hawking in his book "A Brief History of Time", the discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century. 
• Stars and Planets: The word "Star"(Najm) in the phrase "An-najm ath-Thaqib". Surah As-Saffat (37:6) - describes the lowest heaven adorned with kawakib, often interpreted as planest or shining celestial bodies. 
• Solar Apex: surah Yasin (36:38) : “The sun runs its coarse to a settled place That is the decree of the Almighty, the All Knowing.”
• Orbits: Surah Al-Anbiya (21:33) - “(God is) the one who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion.”
• Celestial Orbits: Surah Al-Anbiya (21:33) notes that the sun and the moon swim along their own defined, self-propelled orbits. 
• Sun and Moon:Surah Nuh (71:15-16) - “Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?”

Earth Sciences & Geology

The text frequently references 

natural terrestrial mechanisms, urging readers to observe environmental processes. 

• Earth: 
• Surah Al Baqarah (2:22) : "Who has made the earth a resting place (bed/couch) for you...."
• Surah Al Baqarah : 2:29 - Allah created everyting on the Earth for humanity before fashioning the heavens > "He is the One Who created everything in the earth for you.Then He turned towards the heaven, forming it into 7 heavens. And He has perfect knowledge of all things."
• Surah Al-Imran (3:190-191) > the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for those of understanding(Ulul Albab). 
• Surah Thahaa (20:6)  : "To Him belongs whatever is the heavens and whatever is on the earth and whatever is in between and whatever is underground." Similar verses in the Quran : Al Furqan (25:2), Al-Maaidah (5:17) Al-Anbiya (21:16), and At-Talaw (65:12). 
• Surah Ash-Syura (42:29) : "And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and all living beings He dispersed throughout both. And He is Most Capable of bringing all together whenever He wills." 
• Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:10) - Allah describes the Earth as a cradle or resting place equipped with pathways to guide humanity. " > “[He is the One] Who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided.”
• Surah Abasa (80:26) - Allah describes the biological and geological preparation of the Earth's soil, specifically how it splits open to let plant life sprout." - "And meticulously split the earth open (for sprouts). "
• Surah Al-Ghaasyiyah (88:20) : "and the earth - how it was levelled out?" > the earth is obviously outstretched and made suitable for human life and its full and varied range of activities. 
• Surah Ar-Ra'd (13:3) - Allah transtitions from the signs in the heavens to the interconnected natural systems of the Earth, detailing how geology, water, vegetaton and time work together. > "And He is the One Who spread out the earth and placed firm mountains and rivers upon it, and created fruits of every kind in pairs. He covers the day with night. Surely in this are signs for those who reflect.”
• Creation of Earth : Fussilat (41:9-12) : The most detailed, sequential accout of 6-day creation is found in this surah verses 9-12. 
• Verses 9 : "Say, 'Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two Days and attribute to Him equals?'"
• Verses 10: : "And He placed on the earth firmly stabilizing mountains above it, and blessed it and determined therein its provisions in four Days...". (Note: Classical scholars clarify that these four days include the initial two days of the earth's creation).
• Verses 11-12:  "Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, 'Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion.' They said, 'We have come willingly.' So He completed them as seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its command."
• Nebula Rose: Surah Ar-Rahman (55:37) > "How horrible will it be when the heavens will split apart, becoming rose-red like 'burnt' oil!" In recent decades, this verse gained massive global attention when NASA released Hubble Space Telescope images of planetary nebulae—specifically the Cat's Eye Nebula and the Rosette Nebula.
• Allah created the Earth in 6 days: 
Surah Hud (11:7) - Allah created the heavens and the earth in six days (or periods) while His Throne (Ars) was over the water, explicity establishing that the primary purpose of this creation is to test humanity's deeds > "He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days—and His Throne was upon the waters—in order to test which of you is best in deeds. And if you ˹O Prophet˺ say, “Surely you will ˹all˺ be raised up after death,” the disbelievers will certainly say, “That is nothing but pure magic!”
• Surah Al-A'raf (7:54)
• Surah Yunus (10:3)
• Surah Al-Furqan (25:59)
• Surah As-Sajdah (32:4)
• Surah Qaf (50:38)
• Surah Al-Hadid (57:4)
• Cosmic Creation : Surah Fussilat :9-12 - provide the most granular, step-by-step breakdown of cosmic creation. 
• Verses 9 mentioned Allah created the earth in 2 days. 
• Verses 11: describes an early stage of cosmis reaction where heavens existed as smoke (Dukhan) > “Then He turned towards the heaven when it was smoke, saying to it and to the earth, 'Submit, willingly or unwillingly.' They both responded, 'We submit willingly.'” 
• The Role of Mountains: 
• Surah An-Naba (78:6-7) refers to mountains as "pegs" (awtad), which aligns with the geological discovery of continental crustal roots that anchor tectonic plates deep within the earth's mantle. 
• Surah Al-Ghasiyah : 17-20 - Allah dirests human attention to four specific signs in nature : including mountains-to prove His ultimate creative power and the inevitability of the Day of Judgement > "Do they not look at the camels—how they are created? And at the sky—how it is raised? And at the mountains—how they are erected? And at the earth—how it is spread out?"
• Origin of Water: The absolute reliance of all organic life on water is explicitly highlighted in Surah Al-Anbya (21:30), matching modern biological and astrobiological criteria for life. >"We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?"
• Water Cycle in Surah Az-Zumar (39:21) - "Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky—channeling it through streams in the earth—then produces with it crops of various colors, then they dry up and you see them wither, and then He reduces them to chaff? Surely in this is a reminder for people of reason."
• Rain: 
Surah Fatir : 9 - Water cycle to illustrate the reality of the Resurrection > "And it is Allah Who sends the winds, which then stir up vapour, forming clouds, and then We drive them to a lifeless land, giving life to the earth after its death. Similar is the Resurrection."
• Surah Az-Zukhruf (43:11) - "And ˹He is the One˺ Who sends down rain from the sky in perfect measure, with which We give life to a lifeless land. And so will you be brought forth ˹from the grave˺."
• Atmospheric Protection: Surah Al-Anbya (21:32) describes the sky as a "protected ceiling," corresponding to the protective functions of the Earth's atmosphere and magnetosphere against harmful solar radiation.
• The Star:
• Surah At-Taqwir (81:2) :describes the chaotic events taking place at the end of the universe and the beginning of the Day of Judgement > "And when the stars fall, losing their lustre (or disperse)."
• Surah At-Taqwir (81:15-16) > "So I sweat by the retreating stars (al-khunnas), those that move swiftly (al-jawari), and sweep/hide away."
• Surah Waqiah (56:75-76) : "Then I swear by the setting place of the stars. "
• Surah Al-A'raaf (7:54) : mentions the sun, the moon and the stars to illustrate God's complete ownership, control and ordering of the universe  > "and (He created) the sun, the moon and the stars, subjected by His command. "
• Surah Al-Nahl (16:16) : highlights how humanity uses the cosmos for physical travel and navigation across the Earth > "And landmarks. And by the stars they are guided."
• Surah At-Tariq (86: 1-3) > "By the heaven and the nightly star ! And what will make you realize what the nightly star is? The star of piercing brightness."
• Black Holes: Modern science shows that black holes form at the end of a massive star's life cycle. Surah Al-Mursalat (77:8) > "When the stars are extinguished."
• The Sun : 
• Chapter 91 of the Quran is named Surah Ash-Shams meaning "The Sun". Verses 1 : "By the sun and its brightness."
• Surah An-Naba (78:13) : "and placed in them a shining lamp (Sun)."
• Surah Nuh (71:15-16) : "Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and placed the moon within them as a reflected light (Noor), and the sun as a radiant lamp (Siraaj)?" 

• The Sky: 
• Surah An-Nazi'at : 27-30 - highlights the grandeur of the sky and the universe as a direct proof of God's creative power " Which is harder to creat: you or the sky? He built it, raising it high and formint it falwlessly. He dimmed its night, and brought forth its daylight. As for the Earth, He spreat it out as well."
• Surah Al-Anbiya (21:32) : "And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away." - It is a scientific fact that the sky, with all of its gasses, protectd the earth and life that is present on it from the harmful rays of the sun. If there was no protective layer, life on earth would cease  to exist as the temperature on earth would be freezing at 270.556 degree celcius, the same as the temperature in space. 

• Night and Day: 
• Surah Az-Zumar (39:5) - "He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. He wraps the night around the day, and wraps the day around the night."
• Surah Luqman (31:29) - "Do you not see that Allah causes the night to merge into the day and the day into the night., and has subjected the sun and the moon, each orbiting for an appointed term."
• Orbits: Surah Al-Anbiya (21:33) - “(God is) the one who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion.”

Oceanography: The Barrier Between Seas

The Quran describes specific physical dynamics of marine environments that were only fully understood after the advent of modern marine science.

"He released the two seas, meeting [side by side]; Between them is a barrier [barzakh] so neither of them transgresses."

— Surah Ar-Rahman (55:19-20)

In Surah An-Nur (24:40), Allah (SWT) has revealed: “Or [they are] like darknesses within an unfathomable sea which is covered by waves, upon which are waves, over which are clouds – darknesses, some of them upon others. When one puts out his hand [therein], he can hardly see it. And he to whom Allah has not granted light – for him there is no light”.

Incredibly, oceanographers have stated that unlike the belief that waves only occur on the surface, there are waves that take place internally in the oceans, below the surface of the water. Invisible to the human eye, these can only be detected through special equipment.

• Scientific Context: In physical oceanography, when two different bodies of water meet (such as the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean), they do not immediately mix.
• The Mechanism: Because of differences in salinity, temperature, and density, a distinct physical barrier or transition zone forms between them, maintaining the unique characteristics of each body of water.

Botany: The Dual Nature of Plant Life

The text references the reproductive structures of plants, highlighting a fundamental biological rule.

Progress in botany at the time of Muhammad (S) was not advanced enough in any country for scientists to know that plants have both male and female parts.

"Glory be to Him Who created all pairs, from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know."

— Surah Ya-Sin (36:36)

“(God is the One who) sent down rain from the sky and with it brought forth a variety of plants in pairs.” Qur’an," 

-Taa Haa (20:53)

“… and of all fruits (God) placed (on the earth) two pairs.” Qur’an,Ar-Raad: 13:3

"And We cause every noble pair (of plants) to grow therein" - Quran Surah Luqman (31:10)

"And We caused to grown therein every kind of beautiful pair. - Quran Surah Qar (50:7).

Fertilizing : "And We have sent the fertilizing winds, and sent down water from the sky and given you drink from it. And you are not its retainers." : Quran Surah Al Hijr : 22

• Scientific Context: For centuries, reproduction in the plant kingdom was poorly understood. Modern botany confirms that plants possess male and female parts (stamen and pistil) necessary for reproduction.
• The Mechanism: Even in monoecious plants (where both sexes live on the same plant), the distinct male and female components function as "pairs" to achieve pollination and produce fruit.

Physics: Subatomic Particles

Classical physics once held that the atom was the absolute smallest, indivisible unit of matter. The Quran implies a deeper layer of physical reality.

• Surah Yunus (10:61) : "And not absent from your Lord is any [part] of an atom's weight within the earth or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but that it is in a clear register."
• Surah Az-Zalzalah (99:7) - "So whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it" 
• Surah Saba (34:3) - "But those who disbelieve say, 'The Hour will not come to us.' Say, 'Yes, by my Lord, it will surely come to you. [Allah is] the Knower of the unseen.' Not absent from Him is an atom's weight within the heavens or within the earth or [what is] smaller than that or greater, except that it is in a clear register."

• Iron with Meteorites: Surah Al-Hadid (57:25) - "We sent down Iron with its great inherent strength and its many benefits for humankind" - According to M.E. Wairath, iron is not natural to the earth. Scientists state that billions of years ago, the earth was struck by meteorites. It was this meteorites that iron was present and due to explosion on earth, we now have iron available to uas. 
• Scientific Context: The Arabic word used here is Zharrah, historically translated by scholars as an ant or a tiny speck, and later used to mean an "atom."
• The Mechanism: The explicit mention of something "smaller than that" directly mirrors the 20th-century discovery of subatomic particles, including protons, neutrons, electrons, and quarks.

Theological Perspectives

Scholars and thinkers approach these parallels through three main intellectual frameworks: 

• Concordism (I'jaz Scientific): The belief that these verses represent literal scientific miracles meant to validate the divine origin of the Quran to later generations equipped with advanced technology.
• Non-Concordism: A cautionary approach emphasizing that science shifts constantly based on new theories, whereas the Quran is timeless. Tying the text too tightly to modern science might undermine it if those scientific theories change.
• Integrationism: A middle path asserting that while the Quran is not a textbook of science, it actively commands humanity to use reason, observation, and scientific inquiry to understand the universe. 

References:

1. The Muslim Vibes: 13 Scienctific Facts in the Holy Quran.
2. Why Islam: The Quran and Modern Science. 
3. Al Hakam: Quran and Science: Evolution, Big Bang, Embryology, ET Life and Beyond.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

10 August 2026: 9.42 p.m

CARLY FIORINA : TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE: WHAT'S NEXT

Excerpt: Hewlett-Packard CEO Praises Islamic Civilization

(Carly Fiorina says the West is indebted to Islam) (620)

The contributions of the Islamic world are very much a part of Western civilization's heritage, said Carly Fiorina, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard Company.

"The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership," Fiorina said in a speech, "Technology, Business and Our Way of Life: What's Next," delivered in Minneapolis, Minnesota September 26.

Speaking two weeks after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Fiorina said, "In dark and serious times like this, we must affirm our commitment to building societies and institutions that aspire to this kind of greatness."

Following is an excerpt from Fiorina's 26 September speech:

(begin excerpt)

CARLY FIORINA

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

SEPTEMBER 26, 2001

"TECHNOLOGY, BUSINESS AND OUR WAY OF LIFE: WHAT'S NEXT"

There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world.

It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins.

One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilization's commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between.

And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.

Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things.

When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others.

While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I'm talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.

Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage. The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians. Sufi poet-philosophers like Rumi challenged our notions of self and truth. Leaders like Suleiman contributed to our notions of tolerance and civic leadership.

And perhaps we can learn a lesson from his example: It was leadership based on meritocracy, not inheritance. It was leadership that harnessed the full capabilities of a very diverse population -- that included Christianity, Islamic, and Jewish traditions.

This kind of enlightened leadership -- leadership that nurtured culture, sustainability, diversity and courage -- led to 800 years of invention and prosperity.

In dark and serious times like this, we must affirm our commitment to building societies and institutions that aspire to this kind of greatness. More than ever, we must focus on the importance of leadership -- bold acts of leadership and decidedly personal acts of leadership.

(end excerpt)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

C&P

29 June 2026: 10.50 a.m

TRADISI ASTRONOMI UMAT ISLAM DARI TAMADUN BARAT?

Oleh: Helmy Effendy II

Antara kesombongan segelintir bukan Islam dalam negara kita dalam mempertikaikan pencapaian umat Islam, ialah dengan mereka mereka menempelak, bahawa kenapa kita masih pakai teknologi Barat dalam urusan agama kita?

Nah ni nak bagitahu tradisi segala aparatus dan teknologi astronomi yang Sains Moden pegang, semuanya berakar kepada umat Islam. Dalam tradisi Islam, cerapan langit bukan benda asing. Sejak awal lagi, umat Islam sangat bergantung pada ilmu falak/astronomi untuk menentukan waktu solat, arah kiblat, takwim hijrah, musim haji, awal Ramadan dan Syawal. Sebab itu astronomi berkembang pesat dalam dunia Islam sebagai keperluan agama dan pentadbiran. Dari sini kau kena tahu dah bahawa Orang Islam bukan semata-mata “menumpang ilmu orang”, tetapi membina tradisi ilmu mereka sendiri.

Orang Islam boleh berbangga dengan nama-nama saintis mereka yang terlibat dalam bidang astronomi! Lihat sahaja nama-nama besar dalam sejarah astronomi Islam. Al-Battani memperhalusi pengiraan pergerakan matahari dan bulan dengan jauh lebih tepat berbanding warisan terdahulu. Al-Sufi menghasilkan katalog bintang yang penting dan memperbetulkan data lama. Al-Biruni menulis secara mendalam tentang bumi, longitud, latitud, dan fenomena langit dengan ketelitian luar biasa. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi pula membina tradisi matematik astronomi yang kemudian memberi kesan besar kepada perkembangan astronomi selepasnya. Ulugh Beg di Samarkand menghasilkan jadual bintang yang sangat maju untuk zamannya. Semua ini bukan pinggiran sejarah. Ini inti sejarah sains dunia.

Lebih penting lagi, dunia Islam membina balai cerap yang hebat jauh sebelum era moden. Balai cerap Maragha, Samarkand dan lain-lain menunjukkan umat Islam sudah lama menjadikan cerapan sistematik sebagai budaya ilmu. Mereka menghasilkan zij, iaitu jadual astronomi yang kompleks untuk pengiraan langit. Mereka juga memperhalusi penggunaan instrumen seperti astrolab, kuadran dan pelbagai alat cerapan. Maksudnya, tradisi melihat, mengukur dan mengira kedudukan objek langit itu memang sudah berakar dalam tamadun Islam. Jadi, apa yang kami orang Islam di Malaysia lakukan ialah menyambung tradisi nenek moyang kami jer.

Kalau nak sentuh soal teleskop pula, ya, teleskop optik dalam bentuk yang kita kenal hari ini muncul di Eropah awal moden. Tetapi itu tidak bermaksud asas ilmunya tiba-tiba jatuh dari langit tanpa sumbangan tamadun lain. Bidang optik sendiri menerima sumbangan besar daripada sarjana Islam seperti Ibn al-Haytham, tokoh agung yang mengubah kefahaman manusia tentang cahaya, penglihatan, pembiasan dan kaedah pemerhatian. Karya beliau menjadi antara asas penting perkembangan optik kemudian. Maknanya, bila orang sebut teleskop, jangan sempitkan sejarah seolah-olah semuanya bermula dan berakhir di Barat sahaja.

Jadi, naratif yang lebih jujur ialah ini hasil tradisi ketamadunan umat Islam bukan menumpang buta pada “alat Barat”, tetapi meneruskan tradisi falak mereka sendiri dengan memanfaatkan teknologi semasa. Cerapan hilal hari ini ialah kesinambungan daripada warisan astronomi Islam yang panjang. Teleskop cuma sambungan moden kepada budaya melihat langit yang sudah hidup dalam peradaban Islam sejak berabad-abad.

Jadi, saya harap takdelah bukan Islam lain sebenak orang dalam gambar ni. Kalau sahabat bukan Islam, malahan saudara seagama Islam saya nak belajar pasal apa sumbangan Tamadun Islam pada dunia, bolehlah beli buku saya, ZAMAN KEEMASAN TAMADUN ISLAM, yang saya susun untuk anda faham betapa besarnya sumbangan tamadun Islam ini pada pautan di laman web kami: https://shorturl.at/RTzVC

C&P

9.44 p.m

Carly Fiorina Teaches about Islamic Civilization

Credit : The Faith

In one of her lectures, Carly Fiorina, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard, said: ‘I’ll end by telling a story.’ And this is the story:

‘There was once a civilization that was the greatest in the world. It was able to create a continental super-state that stretched from ocean to ocean, and from northern climes to tropics and deserts. Within its dominion lived hundreds of millions of people, of different creeds and ethnic origins.

One of its languages became the universal language of much of the world, the bridge between the peoples of a hundred lands. Its armies were made up of people of many nationalities, and its military protection allowed a degree of peace and prosperity that had never been known. The reach of this civilization’s commerce extended from Latin America to China, and everywhere in between.

And this civilization was driven more than anything, by invention. Its architects designed buildings that defied gravity. Its mathematicians created the algebra and algorithms that would enable the building of computers, and the creation of encryption. Its doctors examined the human body, and found new cures for disease. Its astronomers looked into the heavens, named the stars, and paved the way for space travel and exploration.

Its writers created thousands of stories. Stories of courage, romance and magic. Its poets wrote of love, when others before them were too steeped in fear to think of such things.

When other nations were afraid of ideas, this civilization thrived on them, and kept them alive. When censors threatened to wipe out knowledge from past civilizations, this civilization kept the knowledge alive, and passed it on to others.

While modern Western civilization shares many of these traits, the civilization I’m talking about was the Islamic world from the year 800 to 1600, which included the Ottoman Empire and the courts of Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo, and enlightened rulers like Suleiman the Magnificent.

Although we are often unaware of our indebtedness to this other civilization, its gifts are very much a part of our heritage.

The technology industry would not exist without the contributions of Arab mathematicians.’

~~~~~

Reference: A lecture titled: What does our future demand of leaders today?

Who is Carly Fiorina?

Carleton S. (Carly) Fiorina is chairman and chief executive officer of Hewlett-Packard Company. HP is a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services and is focused on making technology and its benefits accessible to all.

Since joining HP in July 1999, Fiorina has led HP’s reinvention as a company that makes the Internet work for businesses and consumers. Under her leadership, HP has returned to its roots of innovation and inventiveness and is focused on delivering the best total customer experience.

Prior to joining HP, she spent nearly 20 years at AT&T and Lucent Technologies, where she held a number of senior leadership positions in sales and marketing. As president of Lucent’s Global Service Provider Business, she expanded the company’s international business and spearheaded the planning and execution of its initial public offering and subsequent spin-off from AT&T.

Fiorina holds a bachelor’s degree in medieval history and philosophy from Stanford University; a master’s degree in business administration from the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland at College Park, Md.; and a Master of Science degree from MIT’s Sloan School. In July 2001, she was named an Honorary Fellow of London Business School. She serves on the board of Cisco Systems and was previously a board member of the Kellogg Company and Merck & Company.

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14 October 2025: 8.13 a.m

Buku Cendekiawan Islam Jadi Inspirasi Niccolo Macchiavelli

Oleh: Moustapha Abbas

THE PATRIOTS

Sebut saja nama Niccolo Macchiavelli, ramai membayangkan mahakarya beliau iaitu ‘The Prince’. Siapa sangka, buku tersebut sebenarnya diinspirasikan daripada sebuah buku yang dikarang seorang cendekiawan Islam dari Sicily.

Secara ringkas, ‘The Prince’ ialah sebuah buku yang dihasilkan Macchiavelli sebagai garis panduan buat pemerintah atau pewaris takhta. Buku tersebut menyebut pelbagai bab dari kebijaksanaan pemerintah hinggalah ciri yang patut dimiliki seorang pemerintah.

Buku tersebut memberi impak besar kepada para pemerintah terutama di Eropah bila ia diterbitkan di Eropah pada 1532. Malah, ia turut memberi impak kepada perkembangan politik zaman moden di timur dan barat.

Ada yang mengatakan falsafah ‘The Prince’ dicedok Macchiavelli daripada kelompok filsuf Yunani seperti Xenophon, Democritus dan Epicurus. Walau bagaimanapun, saintis politik Itali, Gaetano Mosca mengesyaki beliau sebenarnya menjadikan karya Sulwan yang dikarang Ibnu Zafar al-Siqqili sebagai inspirasinya.

Jadi, siapa Ibnu Zafar ini?

Beliau ialah seorang cendekiawan Islam yang berada di Sicily ketika wilayah itu diperintah kerajaan Norman pada abad ke-12 Masihi. Lahir pada awal abad ke-12, Ibnu Zafar dikatakan dibesarkan dan belajar di bumi Makkah al-Mukarramah.

Salah satu nama gelarannya ialah Si Pengembara. Ini disebabkan Ibnu Zafar gemar mengembara ke serata tempat untuk menuntut ilmu. Beliau pernah mengembara hingga ke Mesir, Tunisia dan Aleppo, Syria. Semasa di Aleppo, Ibnu Zafar menjadi tenaga pengajar sebuah madrasah di bawah naungan Safi al-Din pada 1046.

Lapan tahun selepas itu, beliau kembali ke kampung halamannya dan menabur bukti di Sicily. Meskipun begitu, kekacauan yang tercetus di Sicily mendorongnya kembali ke Syria dan kekal di situ sebelum meninggal dunia antara 1170 atau 1172.

Jadi, apa kena-mengena Ibnu Zafar dengan Macchiavelli?

Mosca percaya cendekiawan berdarah Florence itu menjadikan kitab Sulwan sebagai inspirasi kepada ‘The Prince’. Ini kerana hampir kebanyakan bab yang disentuh dalam buku tersebut turut muncul dalam kitab Sulwan.

Apa yang membezakan karya kedua-dua cendekiawan itu ialah Ibnu Zafar menjadikan agama sebagai teras kepada nasihat dan panduan kepada para pemerintah. Ini sama sekali berbeza dengan Macchiavelli yang memilih pendekatan realpolitik yang patut dijadikan sebagai panduan golongan pemerintah.

Edisi pertama kitab Sulwan didedikasikan kepada seorang raja yang tidak diketahui. Raja tersebut berkemungkinan merujuk kepada pemerintah Damsyik yang diusir oleh Nuruddin Mahmud Zengky. Edisi kedua pula didedikasikan kepada penaung beliau, Abu’l-Qassim ibnu Hammud ibnu al-Hajjar.

Tidak mustahil kitab ini menjadi inspirasi kepada para pemerintah Islam seterusnya termasuk pengasas Dinasti Ayubiyah, Salahuddin Yusuf Al-Ayubi. Meskipun begitu, nama Ibnu Zafar langsung tidak dikenali di dunia Barat.

Malah, terjemahan pertama kitab Sulwan dalam Bahasa Itali dibuat pada 1851 oleh pejuang Sicily, Michele Amari. Terjemahan Amari turut mengandungi biografi Ibnu Zafar. Terjemahan kitab Sulwan dalam Bahasa Inggeris pula dibuat setahun selepas itu oleh Richard Bentley.

___

Persamaan antara The Prince dan Kitab Sulwan menunjukkan betapa besarnya impak saintis Islam kepada karya yang menjadi bahan kajian ahli politik sehingga hari ini.

Ini baru sedikit pasal Saintis-Saintis Agung Islam. Nak tahu lagi, dapatkannya di Shopee sekarang: https://s.shopee.com.my/9znuNw3u44

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28 Ogos 2025: 11.36 p.m