The Qur'an on the Origin of the Universe

"Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke..."

Qur'an 41:11

The science of modern cosmology (observational and theoretical) clearly indicates that at one point in time, the whole universe was nothing but a cloud of "smoke" (i.e. an opaque highly dense and hot gaseous composition). Scientists now observe new stars (nebula) forming out of the remnants of that "smoke" material. Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from this same "smoke," we conclude that the earth and the heavens were one connected entity. Then out of this homogenous "smoke" they formed and separed from each other. God has said in the Qur'an:

"Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?..."

Qur'an 21:30

The Qur'an on Clouds

Scientists have studied cloud types and have realized that rain clouds are formed and shaped according to definite systems and certain steps connected with certain types of wind and clouds.

One kind of rain cloud is the cumulonimbus cloud. Metoeorologists have studied how cumulonibus clouds are formed and how they produce rain, hail, and lightening.

They have found that cumulonimbus clouds go through the following steps to produce rain:

1. The clouds are pushed by the wind.
2. Small clouds join together forming a larger cloud.
3. When the small clouds join together, updrafts within the larger cloud increase causing the cloud body to grow vertically so that the cloud is stacked up.

God has said in the Qur'an:

"Have you not seen how God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stack, and then you see the rain comes out of it..."

Qur'an 24:43

Meteorologists have only recently come to know these details of cloud formation, structure, and function by using advanced equipment like planes, satellites, computers, balloons, and other equipment, to study wind and its direction, to measure humidity and its variations, and to determine the levels and variations of atmospheric pressure.

The Qur'an on Human Embryonic Development

In the Holy Qur'an, God speaks about the stages of man's embryonic development:

"We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leach, suspended thing, and clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)..."

Qur'an 23:12-14

Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has three meanings -- leech, suspended thing, and blood clot. In comparing a leech to an embryo in the alaqah stage, we find that the embryo not only resembles a leech in appearance but also, obtains nourishment from the blood of the mother similar to the leech which feeds on the blood of others.

The second meaning of the word alaqah is "suspended thing." During the alaqah stage of a developing embryo, it attaches to the womb of the mother and is there suspended.

The third meaning of the word alaqah is "blood clot." We find that the external appearence of the embryo and its sacs during the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot due to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood (which as yet does not circulate) in the embryo during this stage.

The next stage mentioned in the verse is the mudgah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means "chewed substance." If one were to compare a piece of chewed gum with an embryo at the mudgah stage, he/she would find striking similarity. This is because of the somites at the back of the embryo that "somewhat resemble teethmarks in a chewed substance."

How could Muhammad have possibly known all this about fourteen hundred years ago, when scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and powerful microscopes which did not exist at the time?

Biblical Prophecies on the Advent of the Prophet Muhammad

The Biblical prophecies on the advent of the Prophet Muhammad are evidence of the truth of Islam for people who believe in the Bible.

In Deuteronomy 18, Moses stated that God told him:

"I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put my words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him. If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account."

Deut. 18:18-19

From these verses we conclude that the prophet in this prophecy must have the following three characterstics:

1. That he will be like Moses
2. That he will come from the brothers of the Israelits, i.e. the Ishmaelites
3. That God will put His words into the mouth of this prophet and that he will declare what God commands him.

There were hardly any two prophets who were so much alike as Moses and Muhammad. Both were given a comprehensive law and code of life. Both encountered their enemies and were victorious in miraculous ways. Both were accepted as prophets and statesmen. Both migrated following conspiracies to assassinate them.

Abraham had two sons, Ishmael and Isaac (Gen. 21). Ishmael became the grandfather of the Arab nation, and Isaac became the grandfather of the Jewish nation. The prophet spoken of was not to come from among the Jews themselves, but from among their brothers, i.e. the Ishmaelites. Muhammad, a descendant of Ishmael is indeed this prophet.

The words of God (the Holy Qur'an) were truly put into Muhammad's mouth. God sent the Angel Gabriel to teach Muhammad the exact words of God (the Holy Qur'an) and asked him to dictate them to the people who heard them. The words were therefore not his own. They did not come from his own thoughts, but were put into him mouth by the Angel Gabriel. During the lifetime of Muhammad, and under his supervision, these words were then memorized and written by his companions.

Note that God has said in the prophecy of Deuteronomy:

If anyone does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name, I myself will call him to account."

Deut. 18:19

This means that whoever believes in the Bible must believe in what this prophet says, and this prophet is Muhammad.