The scientific miracle of the Quran

“The Scientific Miraculousness of the Quran” is one of the aspects of its content-based miracle. The Holy Quran has foretold significant events, and no error has been found in their occurrence. The accuracy of these predictions is evidence that the Prophet (peace be upon him) received this information through divine revelation and the unseen, as predicting future events accurately through natural or ordinary means is impossible.

The Quran is a book of guidance, not a scientific text; however, in some instances, it has alluded to certain scientific phenomena. The Quran addressed such matters at a time when ordinary humans had no means of discovering them. We will mention two examples of the Quran’s scientific references:

1. The Sphericity of the Earth: In verse 40 of Surah Al-Ma’arij, it is stated: “So I swear by the Lord of [all] the risings and settings” (Quran 70:40). The use of “risings” and “settings” in the plural indicates the Earth’s sphericity, as each point on the Earth, due to its round shape, has its own east and west relative to another point. If the Earth were flat, this would not be the case.
2. Earth’s Gravity: In verse 2 of Surah Ar-Ra’d, we read: “It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see” (Quran 13:2). The invisible pillars mentioned here refer to the Earth’s gravity.

This concept is also mentioned in verse 25 of Surah Al-Mursalat: “Have We not made the earth a receptacle?” (Quran 77:25).

[1] Manahil al-‘Irfan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, vol. 2, p. 379; Al-Tamhid fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, vol. 6, pp. 13-212; Al-Mu’jizah al-Khalidah, vol. 1, p. 235; Al-Bayan fi Tafsir al-Quran, vol. 1, p. 72; Madkhal al-Tafsir, vol. 1, p. 79; Tafsir Nemuneh, vol. 20, p. 438; Al-Mizan fi Tafsir al-Quran, vol. 15, p. 577.