Here are established facts that the Quran anticipated before humanity fully discerned their implications and nuances.
Humans, therefore, face a choice: to believe in the word of the Creator, confirmed by the named elements, or to follow the assertions of those who attempt to refute this word by manipulating science selectively.
From a minute quantity to life
Does man think that he will be left neglected? Had he not been a drop of ejected seminal fluid? (Quran 75:36-37)
By mentioning ‘a drop’, the Quran teaches us that man originates from a minute quantity rather than a complete sequence. Modern science supports this idea: among hundreds of millions of sperm, only a tiny fraction participates in the creation process. This is a striking convergence between the Quran and contemporary biology.
The complex composition of sperm
We created man from a drop of fluid, mingling diverse components. (Quran 76:2)
Beyond sperm, male semen contains various fluids having decisive roles. These fluids provide the necessary energy to the sperm, neutralize acids at the entrance of the uterus, and facilitate their mobility. Here again, the Quran aligns with knowledge in reproductive biology.
The uterus as a safe resting place
Have We not created you from a despicable fluid and then placed it in a secure repository? (Quran 77:20-21)
The maternal uterus acts as a protective refuge for the fetus, preserving it from external elements, light, noise, and shocks. The Quran emphasized this protective property long before modern science.
Description of the embryo and fetus
...then from a drop (of sperm), then from an embryo (Alaqah), then from a fetus (Mudghah), to show you [My Omnipotence]. (Quran 22:5)
The verse mentions the stages of embryonic and fetal development using the terms 'Alaqah' and 'Mudghah'. In Arabic, 'Alaqah' has three meanings: leech, suspended substance, and blood clot. These descriptions correspond to the appearance of the embryo: similar to a leech, suspended in the uterus, and resembling a clot before the blood circulation. As for the word 'Mudghah', it refers to the fetus resembling a chewed substance, depicting the somites at the back of the fetus similar to tooth marks. These precise details, revealed long before modern science, underscore the omniscience of the Creator.
Water, essence of life
We made from water every living thing. Then will they not believe? (Quran 21:30)
This statement goes beyond the simple idea that life requires water or that every living being contains it; it demonstrates that water is at the very heart of existence. By examining the composition of organisms, we find that a large part of their structure is aqueous. Life does not merely depend on or contain water; it emanates from water. The mention of water as the fundamental essence of life testifies to the visionary perspective of the Quran.
The healing virtues of honey
From their bellies comes a drink of varying colors, containing healing for mankind. There is indeed a sign in that for people who reflect. (Quran 16:69)
The Quran highlighted the healing virtues of honey long before modern science confirmed it. In the 20th century, particularly at a beekeeping conference in 1993 in China, the medicinal benefits of honey were scientifically recognized. It stimulates circulation, has bactericidal properties, and is rich in nutrients.
Iron, legacy of the stars
And We sent down iron, in which is mighty war, as well as many benefits for mankind. (Quran 57:25)
When Allah mentions having sent down iron, it could be perceived as a metaphor. However, science validates this celestial origin. The iron on earth comes from stars that became unstable when producing iron through fusion, causing their explosion and the dispersion of this metal.
Anchoring of mountains
...and placed the mountains as pegs. (Quran 78:7)
The solid anchoring of the mountains stabilizes the earth's surface and provides equilibrium to the earth's crust, known as "isostasy" in geophysics. This means the height of a mountain is isostatically compensated by a proportionally deeper root. The Quran mentions this phenomenon that science only discovered much later.
The frontal lobe and lying
If he does not desist, We will surely drag him by the forelock — A lying, sinful forelock. (Quran 96:16-17)
Allah mentions the foremost hair above the forehead, indirectly referring to the frontal lobe beneath. This allusion is strengthened by the Arabic term "Nasejah," which designates the frontal area. This part of the brain is essential for reasoning or impulse control. Notably, lying, which requires both planning and reasoning, heavily engages this brain region, aligning the Quran with modern observations.
The seas that refuse to mix
He has let loose the two seas, converging together, with a barrier between them they do not break through. (Quran 55:19-20)
While dynamic waters of different densities finish by mix together with the time, the Quran describes an exception when mentioning the meeting of the freshwater of the Amazon with the salty waters of the Atlantic. A clear boundary persists due to their distinct densities and salinities. More than 14 centuries after this revelation, this barrier still remains, thus illustrating the timeless precision with which the Quran details this phenomenon.
The cycle of underground water
Have you not seen that Allah sends down water from the sky and makes it flow as springs in the earth, then He produces thereby crops of varying colors … Truly, in this, there is a reminder for those of understanding. (Quran 39:21)
This verse describes the cycle of underground water (hydrogeology), showing a deep understanding of natural processes. It narrates how rain, coming from the sky, feeds the springs in the earth, thus promoting plant growth. Long before humans understood these mechanisms, the Quran already highlighted the vital role of this hidden water for vegetation on earth.
Ocean layers and absence of light
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. (Quran 24:40)
Seas and oceans are composed of ocean layers. Near the surface, everything is illuminated, but as one goes deeper, light decreases, leading to total darkness in the abyssal depths. The Quran refers to these different layers of the sea, and the verse corresponds to what man discovered much later about the total absence of light in the depths of the oceans.
The uniqueness of fingerprints
Does man think that We will not assemble his bones? Indeed, We are capable of putting together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers. (Quran 75:3-4)
In the Quran, Allah mentions the capability to reconstruct the fingertips, thereby emphasizing their uniqueness and specificity. This notion is in alignment with what we know today: every person possesses unique fingerprints, and these are precisely used for identification due to their inimitable individual characteristics.
The ephemeral nature of water preservation
Then We cause water to descend from the sky, therewith providing you with water which you cannot store. (Quran 15:22)
Modern science confirms the impossibility of preserving water indefinitely in a drinkable state. Despite technological advancements, water remains susceptible to biological contamination, to chemical reactions with its container, and to other alterations over time. This verse, which depicted an obvious reality in its time, remains relevant despite technological progress, illustrating the timeless nature of the Quran.
Pure water from the sky
And We send down pure water from the sky. Thereby to bring to life a dead land and give it as drink to those We created of numerous livestock and humans. (Quran 25:48-49)
This verse resonates strongly today, in an era of increased pollution. When water evaporates from surfaces of the earth, be it seas, lakes, or rivers, even those polluted, it undergoes a process of distillation. This evaporation separates the water from its contaminants, leaving behind impurities, salts, and other substances. Thus, the water that condenses in clouds is intrinsically pure, confirming the Quran's description.
The fecundating winds
And We send the fecundating winds, then cause the rain to descend from the sky, therewith providing you with water (in abundance). (Quran 15:22)
Until the 20th century, it was believed that the primary role of the wind was simply to move the clouds. However, we have since recognized that its role is much more complex and significant. The wind carries moisture, primarily in the form of water vapor. It also transports particles such as sea salt and other aerosols, which act as condensation nuclei. The meeting of water vapor and these particles, facilitated by the wind, leads to the formation of water droplets in the clouds and, ultimately, to rain.
Creation reveals its Creator
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth are signs for those of understanding. (Quran 3:190)
Matter cannot form itself nor establish its own laws of development. For a system to emerge, information preceding the physical order is necessary, as every physical entity follows laws and can only accomplish what has been predetermined. If you take an object and let it fall, it will drop because it obeys a law. The object does not invent a rule at the moment of falling but obeys a law existing before the experience you make. In essence, every law and every phenomenon inevitably lead us to the presence of a Creator who is the origin of all things.