A new book on the scientific aspects of the holy Qur’ān and Cosmos written by Qari Wasi Ahmad Nomani, Advocate of Supreme Court of India, was released at India Islamic Cultural Centre in New Delhi on 29 September.
The writer, who is not in good health, gave his message through an old video speech. He said whatever the Qur’ān has said about the man, his environment and universe has been proved by modern science. There is no contradiction between the Qur’ānic revelations and modern scientific discoveries. What modern science reveals now had been mentioned in the Qur’ān over 1400 years ago. Education is instrumental to understand the self, the Creator and the functioning of this universe. Man has been made the vicegerent of Allah in this world. He has been given necessary knowledge by God to explore the earth and run its business.
Sirajuddin Quraishi, president of India Islamic Cultural Centre, appreciated the writer and his interest in the Qur’ān and science. He said despite his illness, the learned writer Nomani wrote the very meaningful and beneficial book. A lot of things have been explained in this book which were not known previously. Most of the Muslims just read the Qur’ān without understanding it and contemplating on it.
Emphasising the scientific education, Ejaz Ahmed Aslam, Editor-in-Chief of Radiance, said we should focus on scientific education as it reinforces our faith in Allah. As we study this universe, we come across the wonderful complexities which make it possible for us to know about Allah, the great planner and creator of this universe. There are a lot of things in the universe which are still unknown to scientists. We thank Allah that He made us His representatives on this wonderful earth. He also said that basically the Qur’ān is not a book of science but a book of guidance. But it mentions innumerable scientific facts so that human beings may acquire guidance from that. He appreciated the writer for writing this book which explains how the facts mentioned in the Qur’ān are compatible with modern discoveries and explanations. He further stressed that we need more such books. In the past, during the golden age of Muslim civilization, we made many discoveries in different fields of science but when we left it, our downfall started.
Criticising the division of knowledge into Islamic and non-Islamic, Maulana Anees Ahmad Qasmi, the commentator (Mufassir) of the Qur’ān, said we needlessly divided knowledge and education into Islamic and non-Islamic. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) made the division of knowledge only on the basis of beneficial and non-beneficial. He further said that if we ponder on our birth and food, we will come to know the greatness of the creator. He also said that in Islam, there is no compulsion because there is so much connection between Islam, the Universe and human being that people will themselves reach the truth through their study.