5 Minute Presentation Tafseer Class 29 th June 2007

1. UNITY OF SCIENCE & RELIGION 5 Minute Presentation Tafseer Class 29th June 2007

2. MODERN SCIENCE • Definition of Science – Knowledge that has been established through observations & experiments • Science is constantly evolving as new theories and ideas are introduced • Hence, science is never really stable or grounded, as one may say!

3. Progress of Science • The 20th century has seen many scientific discoveries and inventions • Man constantly strives to achieve greater feats e.g. Travel to the Moon, Cloning of Dolly the sheep, the Human Genome Project etc. • Inevitably, people are slowly starting to see science as the answer to their questions!

4. Progress of Science • Science is a powerful tool that urges mankind to understand himself and his environment better • Ideally, it should lead mankind to reflect deeper onto his existence & the appreciation of his surroundings

5. Western Science • ‘Western’ science, however, subconsciously strives one away from the path of religion • ‘Western’ science here refers to ideas and thoughts influenced by the West, which has permeated most walls of academia today!

6. ‘Western’ Science • Mostly deals with the ‘what,’ ‘how’ but conveniently omits the bigger question of ‘WHY?’ • E.g. Force of Gravitation : ‘ As physics students, we are thought what this force is, complete with its definition, formulae and effects. But try asking the teacher the nature of the force and where it comes from? ’

7. ‘Western’ Science • Modern science, thus, is never really successful is explaining the ‘reality aspects’ of situations • Somehow seems to avoid the supernatural/ spiritual dimension • Hence, we come to understand that science can never explain religion but rather its the inverse!

8. Quran and Modern Science • Islam encourages insan to do ta’akal and ta’ffakur (contemplation) إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لآيَاتٍ الألْبَابِ ‘Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.’ (3:190)

9. Quran & the Big Bang Theory • Theory holds that the universe began with an explosive expansion of a single extremely condensed state of matter (singularity) • Only confirmed by modern science in the 20th Century, with the help of modern instruments! أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ‘Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (rataq) before We clove them asunder (fataqa)?’ (21:30)

10. And the expanding Universe.. ‘And it is We who have constructed the heaven with might, and verily , it is We who are steadily expanding it’ (51:47) • Confirmed by American astronomer, Edwin Hubble, in 1923 with his discovery of the red shift of the galaxies. • Red shift phenomenon occurs when the light source moves away from the observer • Modern telescopes have proven that distant galaxies & stars emit red light

11. All life originates from water.. وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاء كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ‘ We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?’ (21:30) • Confirmed only in the 20th Century that water is the precursor to all life • A biological discovery only made possible with the invention of modern instruments • Till today, modern science proves that water remains a pivotal medium for all chemical reactions in living beings!

12. All life originates from water.. • Probes that go out into space are specially design to search for water for where water can be found, there is a possibility of the existence of life • Subhanallah, the Quran speaks of this vosiphorously, in direct terms, 1400 years ago when no modern apparatus existed!

13. Conclusion • Use science to expand yourself and do not be constrained by it! • Science allows us to appreciate our existence better and not take things for granted هَذَا خَلْقُ اللَّهِ فَأَرُونِي مَاذَا خَلَقَ الَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِ بَلِ الظَّالِمُونَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ • ‘Such is the Creation of Allah; now show Me what is there that others besides Him have created; nay, but the Transgressors are in manifest error.’ (31:11)