Quran, the Miraculous Book calls our attention to the multifarious
phenomena of nature occurring around us. It keeps on diverting the
attention of its reader from the day its revelation started to Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) till present and future generations to the
search for existence of God. It picks up examples and observations we
have in our close environment. Here to quote one example for people who
would know God from the phenomena of combustion and fire we kindle. The
Quran reads and claims as;
More special in the verse above is the word ‘green trees’ which has challenged the 7th century reader to contemplate and as an answer for the 21st or later century readers. The second point that needs more attention is the Arabic word ‘Min’ meaning “from” or “out of”. What
is that which the green trees produce for burning through which we
kindle our fire? Is it not explaining the end process of photosynthesis
in green trees with which we burn our fire? (Oxygen as one of the end
product of photosynthesis is a common knowledge for today’s man but for a
reader of 7th century, the phenomenon was yet to be
discovered). It is up to you the men of Science and knowledge. What name
you choose for it. You call it element of life, fire or "Oxygen". It is
the property Almighty Allah has put in green trees for you as a sign
and a lesson to understand God. If there were no green trees, there
would have been no oxygen and no combustion. Nomadic people of desert
had no knowledge of oxygen. All they knew was their observation of
burning, either it was dry wood or a by-product of a green tree such as
coal or oil. Oxygen was not known to them but they were challenged with
the word ‘fire’ from green tree and were asked to uncover the knowledge
that would lead you to the belief of existence of God after all their
discoveries submit to the power of God who put such properties in green
trees.
"أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ{71} أَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِؤُونَ{72}" (الواقعة : 21-72)
“See ye the fire which ye kindle? Is it ye who grow its tree or do We grow it” (56: 71-72).
Attention
of the reader is diverted to the phenomena of fire burning in relation
to a tree with a question that who created its tree that produce fire.
What is the use of the word ‘tree’ Quran relates with the fire? Why not
Quran choose the word ‘wood’ because fire burns dry wood as we observe
in our daily life. What is the relation of tree with a fire to occur?
Simpler, for a 7th century reader is that fire burns dry wood
and that is our common observation too. But a very close reading of the
passage would mean something different for a person who is more
specialized in science and would seek the existence of God in his/ her
scientific discoveries. He/she would put the question why does Quran not
explain the exact process of fire if it has taken it as something that
would guide mankind to the existence of God. What all science knows is
neither tree nor wood but ‘Oxygen’ that is released by plants during
photosynthesis which means ''putting together with light.'' The best
known form of photosynthesis is the one carried out by higher plants and
algae, and some cyanobacteria responsible for a major part of
photosynthesis in oceans. All green plants on the surface of earth have
green coloring chlorophyll which contains chloroplast in them.
Chlorophyll absorbs the sunlight and combines carbon dioxide and water
in a process called photosynthesis. The end products of this
photosynthesis are carbohydrate (sugar) and oxygen (Figure
Photosynthesis).
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The
carbohydrate or glucose which plants produce is utilized by the plants
for making starch, fats, and proteins. The second product of this
process is oxygen. All oxygen we have in the environment for respiration
and combustion comes from this process of photosynthesis. And all this
what science has found is correct. He/ she then would say ‘what is God and how would I perceive His existence if I were to take this example of fire?
The
Quran answers this question in a more concise manner and shows its
reader to know GOD from your scientific discoveries and read the verse
below;
"الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَاراً فَإِذَا أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ{80}" (يس : 80)
Know that “God is One Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold! You kindle therewith”. (36:80).
We
notice here two remarkable features of the Quran. The first feature is
that it expresses scientific truths that will be verified centuries
later. The second feature is that the Quran expresses those truths using
terms and expressions that would avoid confusing its first readers in
the 7th century. The 7th century reader easily relates it to the image of fire from a tree and the 21st century scientist can easily interpret the word ‘fire from green trees’ as Oxygen.
Thus Quran fulfills the curiosity and mental capabilities of both 7th and succeeding century readers.
In
the last message, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) said, "All
those who listen to me shall pass on my words to others and those to
others, again; and may the last ones understand my words better
than those who listen to me directly”. In the preceding verses from the
Holy Quran we can observe this fact that the words of Prophet Muhammad
(Peace be Upon Him) were correct. The Quran revealed to him is the last
book and has the miraculous capacity of answering questions of all ages
present and future and that Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him) was chosen as
the last prophet of God who would fulfill this responsibility of
prophecy to the present and future generations as well. Indeed Quran is
for all ages, and all kinds of people. It is a source of knowledge. It
provides hints to humanity for contemplation and knowing about the
Creator.
“Allah has taught man that which he knew not” (96: 5)
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