The Scientific Miracles of the Qur’an 3/3

The Cloning of Living Things

[Satan said:] "I will lead them astray and fill them with false hopes. I will command them and they will cut off cattle's ears. I will command them and they will change Allah's Creation." Anyone who takes satan as his protector in place of Allah has clearly lost everything." (Surat an-Nisa', 119)

Snuppy, the cloned dog

The above verse contains the expression "yubattikunna," which derives from the verb "battaka" meaning "to cut off or break off." The term "yughayyirunna" in the verse derives from the verb "ghayyara," meaning "to change, alter, impair a thing's original form." At the end of both verbs appears the confirmatory letter "nun." With these expressions, this verse of Surat an-Nisa' may, in one aspect, be pointing to the scientific activity of copying or cloning of organisms. (Allah knows the truth.) This is because cloning experiments are generally conducted with cells taken from an animal's ear. To put it another way, a replica of a living thing is produced along with the extraction of cells from tissue samples "cut from animals' ears," just as described in the verse.

A report by the German Federal Agricultural Research Center provides the following information:

The tissue collection phase is short and simple. Once an animal has been located and restrained, a tissue sample like an ear clipping can be collected within seconds. Furthermore, somatic cells can be collected from all species… For cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, camelids and llamas, a unified and identical procedure can be used by obtaining a tissue sample from the ear using notchers which are also used for setting earmarks… Clearly, for all species lymphocytes could be used, but somatic cells from ear clippings will be much easier to obtain and are therefore preferable. 60

Some reports concerning organisms cloned by taking samples from ear tissue include:

◉ According to a report by Reuters dated 1 May, 2002, a research veterinarian at the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil, Jose Visintin, produced cloned embryos for the first time in the country by using cells taken from the ear of an adult cow.61

◉ According to a BBC report, South Korean scientists cloned a dog called Snuppy from cells taken from a three year-old Afghan hound. Researchers at Seoul National University extracted genetic material from the cells taken from the ear and placed it into an empty egg cell. An embryo was then obtained by stimulating the cell to divide.62

◉ Another BBC report said that a new clone had been produced using ear cells from an adult cow in research carried out by Dr. Jean-Paul Renard et al. at the Institute National de la Recherche Agronomique in France.63

◉ According to information of the official Human Genome Project website, in February 2002, scientists from Advanced Cell Technologies (ACT), an American biotechnology company, carried out experiments on cloning a cow embryo using the skin cell of the donor cow's ear. 64

1. Scottish Blackface (Cytoplasmic Donor) 2. Finn Dorset (Nuclear Donor) 3. Enucleation 4. Mammary Cells	5. Direct Current Pulse 6. Blastocyst 7. Surrogate Ewe 8. Dolly
In the cloning process, DNA from a cell of the living thing planned to be copied is placed under the microscope and placed into an egg cell from another member of the same species. The DNA of the animal intended to be copied is used for this. An electric shock is then applied, which stimulates the egg cell to start dividing. The embryo continues to divide and is placed into the womb of a member of the species, and is then left to develop and be born.

◉ A report by Associated Press, dated 24 January, 2000, announced that Japanese scientists

◉ had cloned the clone of a bull for the first time. In the re-cloning, skin tissue samples from

◉ the first generation cloned bull's ear were taken when it was four months old. These cells

◉ were then fused with an unfertilized egg from which the nucleus had been removed.65

◉ The way that changes in the Creation of living things are referred to in the Qur'an are highly significant. The expression "cutting off cattle's ears," at a time when no branches of science such as genetics or embryology existed, shows that the Qur'an has come down from the Sight of our Lord, Allah, Who is unfettered by time and space. We are also told at the end of the verse that these people will be disappointed when they alter what Allah has created. The verse may therefore be indicating that cloning will give rise to various problems for human beings. (Allah knows the truth.) Indeed, statements from the Genetic Science Learning Center of the University of Utah provide the following information:

When we hear of cloning successes, we learn about only the few attempts that worked. What we don't see are the many, many cloning experiments that failed! And even in the successful clones, problems tend to arise later, during the animal's development to adulthood.66

Information from the Human Genome Projects website takes this form:

Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned from adult DNA, [died on] Feb. 14, 2003. Prior to her death, Dolly had been suffering from lung cancer and crippling arthritis… More than 90% of cloning attempts fail to produce viable offspring… In addition to low success rates, cloned animals tend to have more compromised immune function and higher rates of infection, tumor growth, and other disorders. Japanese studies have shown that cloned mice live in poor health and die early… Appearing healthy at a young age unfortunately is not a good indicator of long term survival. Clones have been known to die mysteriously. For example, Australia's first cloned sheep appeared healthy and energetic on the day she died, and the results from her autopsy failed to determine a cause of death.67

In general terms, the risks arising from cloning experiments are as follows:

1) A high failure rate: The level of success is just 0.1%-3%. That means a failure rate of 970-999 for every 1000 experiments.68

2) Problems during development: Cloned animals that do survive generally have abnormally larger organs compared to the originals. This may lead to respiratory and circulatory difficulties, unhealthy kidneys and brains, and an impaired immune system.

Dolly, the first mammal to be cloned, died on February 14, 2003.

3) Abnormal gene expression patterns: Although clones have the same DNA sequences as the originals, the cell nucleus in the clone does not have the same program as that in a natural embryo. To put it another way, the DNA cannot activate the right set of genes essential for the development of the clone at the right time. For example, cells of all kinds, nerve, bone, blood or skin for example, all have different programs but the genetic programs in the cloned embryo do not work as healthily as those in a natural embryo.

4) Telomeric differences: Chromosomes are shortened as cells divide. The reason for this is that DNA sequences at both ends of a chromosome, known as telomeres, are shortened during each DNA replication. As an animal grows older, the telomeres shorten as part of the natural aging process . Therefore, the copied life form has shortened chromosomes from the moment it is born, just as if it were actually older.

Genetic material taken from living cells is used in cloning experiments, but fertilization takes place artificially. The reproduction mechanism created by Allah is thus impaired with these methods, and unidentified diseases, developmental deficiencies and early deaths are encountered. Fourteen centuries ago, it was of course impossible to know that scientists would eventually engage in cloning and that they would encounter enormous problems despite the millions of dollars they spend on their projects. Once again, it is demonstrated in this verse that the Qur’an is a divine scripture.

The Contraction Motion That Facilitates Birth

The pains of labor drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She said, 'Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!' A voice called out to her from under her, 'Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you.' (Surah Maryam, 23-25)

Modern medicine shows that squeezing an object during labor facilitates the baby's downward passage through the birth canal. The muscles used during contraction are the same as those that propel the baby outside the womb. Various methods are employed to achieve this, such as pulling on a cord suspended from the ceiling or on arms attached to the two sides of the bed. Also, the mother also has the option of holding onto and squeezing someone's hand.

A U-shaped bar, known as a "squat bar," is mounted onto the bed during labor and this is then  used by the mother to quicken the delivery. Pulling on this bar facilitates the baby's departure from the womb, shortens the length of the birth canal, widens the mouth of the womb and reduces the need for many other devices and techniques during labor.69

This simple bar also helps the mother's squatting motions as she pulls herself up and down on it. It also means the mother remains immobile as the baby emerges. 70 In this position, the muscles needed to move the baby down the birth canal expend the minimum amount of energy. In addition, with the expansion of the pelvic bone, 30% more room is made available for the baby to pass through. With the expansion and contraction movement, the body's propulsive force is raised to the highest level and the baby is able to move smoothly during the birth process.

There is great wisdom in the way that, by means of Allah's angels, Mary shook the branches of the palm tree toward her. The Arabic word " huzzee" means "to shake fast, to move or to rock."  It has been well-documented that dates facilitates the labor process and possess powerful and nutritious properties. But in addition, we must also note that as Mary (as) pulled the branches toward her to shake the dates from their branches must also have facilitated the birth and widened the birth canal. This technique applied in our own day by midwives all over the world, is yet another compelling proof that Allah supported Mary (as) with His compassion with the Wisest Counsel. It also proves, once again, that the Qur'an can only be a text sent by our Lord, the Omniscient.

The Mother's Womb with Its Secure Protection

Although the embryo is foreign to the mother’s womb, it is not attacked by the defense system. This is a miraculous state of affairs intended to protect the embryo.

Did We not create you from a base fluid, then place it in a secure repository for a recognized term? It is We Who determine. What an excellent Determiner! (Surat al-Mursalat, 20-23)

We created man from the purest kind of clay; then made him a drop in a secure receptacle; then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators! (Surat al-Muminun, 12-14)

The above verses about the Creation of human beings contain fundamental information from the field of embryology. The reference “a secure receptacle”, a description of the womb, indicates certain technical and biological truths which are of great significance to modern scientists. (Allah knows the truth.) A “zygote” is the term given to what is produced by the sperm and egg cells coming together. This process continues until we witness the emergence of a complete human being, made up of trillions of cells all working in harmony: this all takes place in the safety of the mother's womb. This remarkable place, where the embryo completes its nine months of development is, as the verse tells us, “a secure receptacle..”

The word “makeenin" translated as “secure” above, also suggests such meanings as “unshakeable, sound, resolute, powerful, fixed and safely put in place.” The word “qararin" also means “location, stability, permanence and place of settlement.” These words very wisely describe the womb as a sound and safe location.

The mother's womb provides insulation against external agents such as light and sound. It also provides a strong shield against shock and pressure, thus protecting the baby from any discomfort or inconvenience. Located in the pelvic cavity, the womb is well protected by the thick and strong bones that surround the “endometrium” on the inside – and this helps to bear the weight of the embryo until the end of pregnancy.  This structure, made up of powerful muscles, is ideally constructed for the baby's growth and development. During pregnancy, the ligaments attaching the bones in the region together become thicker and longer. These ligaments that attach the top of the womb to the strong pelvic bones make the womb very strong and stable.

The ligaments that tightly bind the bones together in the pelvic region can be seen.

Yet, despite blocking out so much, the embryo still has unrestricted access to what it needs to develop: heat, water, oxygen and nutrients all contribute to its miraculous development. The mother's womb undergoes many changes that enhance its strength during pregnancy. Together with the muscles, ligaments and elastic tissues it contains, there is also an increase in the number of blood vessels and nerves. The womb is thus able to increase 20 times in weight and 1,000 times in capacity without coming to any harm.71 The fallopian tubes that support the womb, the ovaries and other connective tissues all expand and become more elastic.72 The constant changes in the womb continue even after the embryo has grown into a healthy baby many hundreds of times larger than its initial state. The womb now changes in such a way as to permit the baby to exit in a healthy manner.

During pregnancy, another extraordinary state of affairs regarding the protection of the baby comes about. The baby is also protected against internal threats. When a foreign body enters the body, such as during an organ or bone marrow transplant, the host's defense system begins reacting, and this can sometimes lead to fatal consequences.73 But that never happens to the fetus, and the mother's immune system does not regard it as a foreign body. It is quite amazing that the mother's immune system tolerates foreign genes from the father; because the baby is, after all, 50% foreign body. Marianne van den Heuvel, a scientist from Guelph University, describes this as “fascinating” and continues: “That was always a puzzle from an immunology standpoint because the fetus is actually foreign. It's part of the mother and also part of the father. It should be rejected by the body.”74

Blood Cells

One would expect the defense system to declare war on the fetus's cells in much the same way that an army should declare war on foreign occupiers of their country. This defense system, when working properly, swiftly identifies viruses and tumors as foreign bodies – and then kills them. But, by the will of Allah, no such thing happens, and the womb remains a very safe and secure place for the baby to develop.

All the information about embryology provided in the Qur'an is in full agreement with modern medicine. This information, which has emerged through advanced technology, is one of the clearest proofs that the Qur'an is the revelation of our Lord, the Creator of all. The following is also revealed:

And in your Creation and all the creatures He has spread about there are Signs for people with certainty. (Surat al-Jathiyya, 4)

Oxidation in the Blood

No indeed! Rather what they have earned has rusted up their hearts. (Surat al-Mutaffifin, 14)

The term “rusted” is here used to describe the constitution of the hearts of some human beings. Whilst the verse contains spiritual elements, the verse may also refer to the biochemical reaction that takes place in the heart. (Allah knows the truth.) Rust is the result of iron reacting with oxygen – this is the process known as oxidation.75 The oxygen we absorb from the air is carried through the body by means of the iron present in the hemoglobin in the blood. During this process, the oxygen reacts with the iron in the blood. This means there is a constant resemblance to “rusting” in our blood. This “rusted” blood is then carried to the heart and around the circulation system of the human body.

1. Incoming Blood 2. Alveoli 3. CO2 Out	4. O2 in 5. Out Going Blood
The oxygen we take from the air is carried through the body by means of the iron in the hemoglobin in the blood. As this happens, the oxygen enters into a reaction with the iron in the blood.

An excess of iron in the blood can even lead to premature aging in all of the body's cells by causing rust-like oxidation.  In the disease known as “hemochromatosis,” caused by excess iron accumulating in the body, iron produces a toxic effect and causes organs such as the liver to collapse. Since this is the result of iron oxidation, this phenomenon is often described as organs “rusting” or ”rust accumulation” in organs”.76 In the journal Science News Dr. Sharon McDonnell describes the iron oxidation in cells making up organs as 'rusting'. 77

Another reference says this about the disease: "… those with hemochromatosis absorb iron, storing it in their organs. Over time, it accumulates in toxic amounts, causing organs to fail because they literally rust."78

It is only possible to identify the reaction of iron with oxygen in the body–oxidation in the blood–in laboratories with highly advanced equipment. The fact that such a comparison, so compatible with the scientific data, appears in the Qur'an is an evident miracle, given the era of the Qur’anic revelation. The Qur'an also contains countless other pieces of information which are in complete agreement with modern science. Surely, this is another sign that it is the revelation of Omniscient Allah, our Lord and the Creator of all things.

The Wisdom Behind The Prohibition of Blood In The Qur'an

He has only forbidden you carrion, blood and pork and what has been consecrated to other than Allah. But anyone who is forced to eat it – without desiring it or going to excess in it – commits no crime. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat al-Baqara, 173)

The wisdom behind Allah's prohibition of blood emerged during the 20th century. By carrying vitamins, hormones, oxygen and substances such as protein, sugar and fat absorbed during digestion to the cells, blood makes it possible for life to survive. On the other hand, it also carries various toxins and waste products that need to be expelled from the body. One of the most important tasks performed by blood is to transport substances such as urea, uric acid, keratin and carbon dioxide that need to be removed from the body.

Blood

Therefore, in the event that significant quantities of blood are consumed, the level of harmful products in the body that should be expelled will rise considerably. That will increase the levels of urea: harmful substances transported to the kidneys for expulsion from the body. This can impair brain functions and in the worst case scenario, can even result in coma. That is why, because of its very nature, there will always be harmful compounds in blood, even if taken from seemingly healthy animals. If it is taken from a sick animal, various parasites and germs will also be transmitted in it. In that event, the germs may multiply and spread throughout the body – and that is the ultimate danger. If someone consumes blood, all the germs and waste products in it may spread through the body and lead to such diseases as kidney insufficiency or liver coma. In addition, most of the microbes carried in the blood may cause other diseases by damaging the lining of the stomach and the intestines.

What is more, blood is not a sterile environment. To put it another way, it is absolutely ideal for germs to grow in.79 Since microbes have excellent opportunities to feed in blood, it represents a perfect breeding ground for them. When in equilibrium with the functions of the other fluids in the body and the immune system, blood does not support micro-organisms, and therefore disease. In a healthy individual, these micro-organisms live by making use of one another inside the body. When that environment is seriously impaired - when the internal equilibrium is damaged - micro-organisms may cause disease when they find the appropriate surroundings.

For example, when the blood pH level (acid and alkali balance) is imbalanced because of poor nutrition or harmful chemicals, harmless microbes can begin to cause disease. If the body is to be healthy, the pH level of the blood should be around 7.3. Even small variations in that level may cause that balance to be impaired. In turn, this may cause micro-organisms to become more harmful in order to adapt to their surroundings. Blood becoming sterile is quite similar to milk souring when left outside. Microbes already present in the blood exhibit harmful effects by adapting to their new environment.80

In addition to all this, blood is not suitable for use as a food product. The level of digestible proteins such as albumin, globulin and fibrinogen is low - just 8 grams in 100 milliliters of blood. The same applies to fats. In addition, blood contains a high level of hemoglobin, a complex protein that is very difficult to digest and is unacceptable to the stomach. When blood clots, the protein fibrinogen gives rise to a plate containing erythrocyte - red blood corpuscles. It then transforms into “fibrin,”, one of the hardest proteins to digest. In today’s world, health experts agree that blood is unfit for human consumption in any form. 

After saying: "Unlawful for you are carrion, blood and pork, and what has been consecrated to other than Allah, and animals which have been strangled, and animals which have been killed by a blow, and animals which have fallen to their death, and animals which have been gored, and animals which wild beasts have eaten – except those you are able to slaughter properly – and animals which have been sacrificed on altars, and deciding things by means of divining arrows – that is deviance..." Almighty Allah goes on to say…" But if anyone is forced by hunger, not intending any wrongdoing, Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (meaning that an exception can be made.) (Surat al-Ma'ida, 3)

Abiding this law of Allah, people of the time were protected against a threat of which they were unaware. It is clear that those who believe and trust in Allah are more likely to prosper. Those who comply with His commandments and prohibitions will enjoy auspicious lives in this world and the Hereafter, living under our Lord’s Protection and Infinite Mercy.

The Tsunami Effect in the Prophet Moses’ (as) Parting of the Sea

So We revealed to Moses, 'Strike the sea with your staff.' And it split in two, each part like a towering cliff. (Surat Ash-Shu'ara', 63)

The Egyptian monarchs known as the pharaohs regarded themselves as divine beings. This was fundamental part of the polytheistic, superstitious religious beliefs prevalent in ancient Egypt. Allah sent the Prophet Moses (as) as messenger to the people of Egypt at a time when they preferred their own superstitious beliefs to the true faith, Islam. It was also during this period of time when the ruling family of Egypt had cruelly enslaved the Israelite tribes in their country. Although the Prophet Moses (as) invited the rulers and the people of Egypt to the faith of the one, true God – Allah – most refused to abandon their pagan beliefs. When they rejected his message, the Prophet Moses (as) reminded the Pharaoh and his court that the wrath of Allah is something to be avoided at all costs.  Yet, despite this dire warning from Allah’s Messenger, they rebelled and hurled false accusations at the Prophet in their midst. They accused Moses (as) of madness, sorcery and mendacity. Although various tribulations were inflicted on Pharaoh and his people, they stubbornly refused to submit to the one, true God. They even held the Prophet Moses (as) responsible for what had befallen them, accusing him of cursing their lands, and sought to exile him from Egypt. At this, Allah told the Prophet Moses (as) and those with him to leave where they were:

We revealed to Moses: 'Travel with Our slaves by night. You will certainly be pursued.' Pharaoh sent marshals into the cities: 'These people are a small group and we find them irritating and we constitute a vigilant majority.' We expelled them from gardens and springs, from treasures and a splendid situation. So it was! And We bequeathed them to the tribe of Israel. So they pursued them towards the east. (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 52-60)

1. Tsunami approaching shore 2. Speed: 30-200 mph	3. 100 feet or more 4. 5 000 - 10 000 feet

As revealed in the Qur'an, the two peoples—the Israelites and the Egyptians—came together at the end of this chase. Allah rescued the Prophet Moses (as) and the believers with him by parting the sea, while destroying Pharaoh and his people. Allah's assistance to the believers is revealed as follows in the Qur'an:

So We revealed to Moses, 'Strike the sea with your staff.' And it split in two, each part like a towering cliff. And We brought the others right up to it. We rescued Moses and all those who were with him. Then We drowned the rest. There is certainly a Sign in that yet most of them are not believers. Truly your Lord is the Almighty, the Most Merciful. (Surat Ash-Shu'ara', 63-68)

The Arabic word "idrib," translated as "strike" in the first of these verses, also means "to open, divide or separate." In the light of this expression and what happened subsequently, the verse may be a reference to the formation of tsunami waves. (Allah knows the truth.) Tsunami waves cause large amounts of water to shift and they can give way to the emergence of earth on shallow grounds. In the time of the Prophet Moses (as), as with the tsunami waves, the waters might have pulled back some hundreds of meters and this might have caused the parting of the sea. (Allah knows the truth.)

Tsunami Formation:
	Stage 1—Beginning: If the tsunami acts like an earthquake, the sea floor is moved up or down. As a result the mass of water moves up or down.
	Stage 2 —Separation: Within a few minutes, the tsunami that starts to form divides in two, one part moving toward the depths of the ocean, the other reaching the coast.
	Stage 3—Elevation: The tsunami wave reaching the shore rises up like a huge wave when it reaches the land.
	Stage 4- Wave impact: The leading wave becomes pointed and appears to rise even higher. The first part of the wave to hit the land is convex in shape, which is why the water initially seems to be pulling away from the land.

In addition, the waters are compared to mountains in the above verse. The waters collected in a tsunami form a giant peak 81 and resemble a mountain seen from below. As with mountains, the base of this extraordinary phenomenon is very broad and strong. In tsunamis, the depth of the water declines while the mass of the wave expands and rises in height. Tsunamis may be up to 30 meters high. 82 It is therefore very significant how the waters are likened to a mountain in this Qur’anic passage.

Tsunamis are very different to the waves we are familiar with, and are a movement of the entire depth of water. This is not generally restricted to the surface, and may stretch for several kilometers. They thus possess high levels of energy and move amazingly quickly.83 Scientific statements say this about tsunamis:

In fact the tsunami crest is just the very tip of a vast mass of water in motion... Wind-driven waves and swells are confined to a shallow layer near the ocean surface, a tsunami extends thousands of feet deep into the ocean…. Survivors of tsunami attacks describe them as dark "walls" of water. Impelled by the mass of water behind them, the waves bulldoze onto the shore and inundate the coast...

1. Calm water line 2. Energy	3. Fault 4. Ocean Floor

... The contours of the sea floor and coastline have a profound influence on the height of the waves -- sometimes with surprising and dangerous results. During the 1993 tsunami attack on Okushiri, Japan, the wave "run up" on the coast averaged about 15 to 20 meters (50 - 65 feet). But in one particular spot, the waves pushed into a V-shaped valley open to the sea, concentrating the water in a tighter and tighter space. In the end, the water ran up to 32 meters (90 feet) above sea level, about the height of an 8-story office building. 84

Past events described in the Qur'an are in complete agreement with present-day historic evidence and scientific advances – this is, without doubt, one of the great miracles of the Qur'an. The waters parted when the Prophet Moses (as) and his companions needed to cross yet they closed again over the heads of Pharaoh and his army – this is a  clear instance of Allah’s Love for true believers. Indeed, the Prophet Moses (as) displayed an excellent example of proper moral values by trusting in Allah in that most difficult moment:

And when the two hosts came into sight of one another Moses' companions said, 'We will surely be overtaken!'  He said, 'Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me.' (Surat ash-Shu'ara', 61-62)

Scientific Facts in the Story of the Flood of Noah

We sent Noah to his people and he remained among them for fifty short of a thousand years; yet the Flood engulfed them while they were wrongdoers. (Surat al-'Ankabut, 14)

Cross Section of a Volcano
A.Cross Section of a Volcano	1. Gas and Volcanic Ash 2. Volcanic Vent	3. Crust 4. Magma
The term “the oven gushed forth” in the verse refers to boiling lava being ejected from within the mountain. (Allah knows the truth.)

The Prophet Noah (as) spent many years advising the people to whom he was sent as a Prophet to put an end to ascribing partners to Allah and abandon their improper behavior or they would pay a heavy price. Even though he warned his people about the wrath of Allah several times, they still disbelieved in him and continued to worship a number of false “gods” and idols. At this, Allah told the Prophet Noah (as) that He would punish those who denied Him by drowning them, but that believers would be saved. The destruction of the people of Noah (as) and the salvation of those who believed is described as follows in the Qur'an:

But they denied him so We rescued him and those with him in the Ark. And We drowned the people who denied Our Signs. They were a blind people. (Surat al-A'raf, 64)

The events that took place when the time for Allah's promised punishment came are described thus:

So when Our command came, and water bubbled up from the earth, We said, 'Load into it a pair of every species, and your family –except for those against whom the Word was preordained– and all who believe.' But those who believed with him were only few. (Surah Hud, 40)

The beginning of the punishment is described as when "water bubbled up from the earth." The Arabic word translated as "earth" is "alttannooru". This describes a kind of oven made by digging a hole in the ground, and therefore refers to the volcanic fire inside a mountain.  (Allah knows the truth.) The Arabic word "wafara" in the verse means "burned strongly, produced bubbles, boiled up, boiled over, produced a foam". Therefore, the reference in the verse would seem to be to the flowing, molten lava in the mountain.

In another verse, the moment when Prophet Noah (as) boarded the Ark is dubbed "when water bubbles up from the earth". This may also be a reference to hot steam or smoke rising from a volcano immediately before an eruption:

  We revealed to him: 'Build the Ship under Our supervision and as We reveal. When Our command comes and water bubbles up from the earth, load into it a pair of every species, and your family – except for those among them against whom the Word has already gone ahead. And do not address Me concerning those who do wrong. They shall be drowned. (Surat al-Muminun, 27)

Photograph of the Cleveland Volcano in Alaska taken from the International Space Station.

The molten lava flowing in the wake of the eruption may have caused the ice on the mountain to melt. Intense steam was caused by the combination of heat and cold – meanwhile, the molten lava flowed into the sea may have given rise to intense rains. Flooding was the result of these phenomena, and sources of water on land may also have overflowed as a consequence of the severe rains. (Allah knows the truth.)

So We opened the gates of heaven with torrential water and made the earth burst forth with gushing springs. And the waters met together in a way which was decreed. We bore him on a planked and well-caulked ship. (Surat al-Qamar, 11-13)

1. Pervious Strata 2. Impervious Strata	3. Saturation Level 4. Artesian Well
The words “Earth, swallow up your water” in the verse may be a reference to water on the ground being pulled underground, as with artesian waters. (Allah knows the truth.)

Whilst those who boarded the Prophet Noah’s (as) Ark were saved, those that had rejected Allah’s Messenger was drowned. This group included the Prophet Noah’s (as) own son who mistakenly  imagined he could escape by seeking refuge on a mountain nearby:

It sailed with them through mountainous waves, and Noah called out to his son, who had kept himself apart, 'My son! Come on board with us. Do not stay with the unbelievers!' He said, 'I will take refuge on a mountain; It will protect me from the flood.' He said, 'There is no protection from Allah's command today except for those He has mercy on.' The waves surged in between them and he was among the drowned. (Surah Hud, 42-43)

When the flood waters finally receded, the Ark settled on al-Judi, meaning a very high place:

It was said, 'Earth, swallow up your water!' and, 'Heaven, hold back your rain!' And the water subsided and the affair was concluded and the Ark came to land on al-judi. And it was said, 'Away with the people of the wrongdoers!' (Surah Hud, 44)

Shortly after, when the mountains stopped churning forth lava, the waters resumed their former equilibrium as the air cooled down and withdrew back underground. Some of the water may also have risen into the air as water vapor. Later, the water level returned to normal. Allah's command to the earth to "swallow!" and to the sky to "hold back!" summarizes this process extremely concisely.  The Arabic word "belea," which appears in the verse in the form "ibla’ee," means "swallow up and eliminate, pull back." The reference to the earth swallowing up its water notes the formation of subterranean water sources – this all happens as the water on the surface retreats underground again. The Arabic verb "aklaa", which takes the form "aqli’ae" in the verse, means "the dispersal of clouds, rain stopping, or abandoning a matter or course of action." The description is therefore one of the air cooling down as lava stops flowing. Then rain then stops because the water vapor level in the air returns to normal - and finally, this vapor in the clouds disperses into the air. (Allah knows the truth.)

This chain of events, in complete agreement with the scientific facts only established in the last century or so, is detailed with brilliant accuracy in the Qur'an. It is just one of the proofs that Islam’s Holy Book—comprising information about many branches of science, such as geography, geology and meteorology—is in complete harmony with the science of today.

The Ozone Layer at the Poles as The Sun Rises

Until he reached the rising of the Sun and found it rising on a people to whom We had not given any shelter from it. (Surat al-Kahf, 90)

Sunrise at the North Pole.

The Arabic word "sitran" in this verse means "cover, protection, veil" while  "lam naj’aal lahum min dooniha sitran" describes an environment devoid of any shelter or protection against the Sun. In the light of present-day knowledge, this is suggestive of the ozone layer that protects living things against harmful solar rays.

The area where the ozone layer offers the least protection against solar radiation is at the poles of our planet—North and South.85 Scientific research has established a severe thinning of the ozone layer at the North Pole at the moment the Sun rises86 and this scientific discovery has been described as Sunrise Ozone Destruction (SOD). 87

During their research, American scientists determined a rapid decrease in ozone concentration at the moment of sunrise–when there was no sign of any before.88 This phenomenon is particularly encountered in the North Pole (Arctic) region. Here, there is a massive loss of ozone for a few hours immediately after sunrise.89

The Arabic word "matli’a" in this verse, meaning the "place of birth, time of birth" of the Sun, may well be a reference to this scientific discovery about the ozone layer. (Allah knows the truth.) The fact that this information, obtained with the 20th century high technology, also appears in such a compatible form in the Qur'an, is yet more proof that the Qur'an is the revelation of our Lord, the One and Only Lord of science and technology.

It is He Who splits the sky at dawn, and appoints the night as a time of stillness and the sun and moon as a means of reckoning. That is what the Almighty, the All-Knowing has ordained. (Surat al-An'am: 96)