“I have made everything alive through water”

In this discussion, we will analyze a unique verse of the Quran, which is verse 30 of Surah Al-Anbiya. This verse states: “Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We separated them? And We gave life to everything from water. Will they not then believe?”—(Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 30)

The first part of this verse discusses a great mystery of the universe, and the second part makes a declaration about the sole basis of life—water—that amazes even modern scientific analysis. Here we will discuss the second part in depth—“We gave life to everything from water”—which is an unprecedented combination of biology, chemistry, physics, and, above all, cosmology.

When this verse was revealed 1400 years ago, the concept of water as the source of life was not established among the people of that time in the way we know it today. Although water was still considered a basic human need, the scientific analysis that we can give today was still completely unknown. Today, we know that without water, no life on earth is possible, but rather the presence of water was the first step in the emergence of life.

Recent scientific research has revealed that water makes up about 70% of the structure of every living cell on earth. The presence of this water is not just external; it is the site of chemical reactions inside the cell, which helps the cell to survive, divide, and grow. For example, DNA or RNA—these two molecules contain genetic information. But these molecules can only function when they can maintain their structure and reactions in the presence of water.

In biology, it is also said that “life as we know it is water-based”—meaning that the life that we can recognize and understand is always dependent on water. For example, in plants, where photosynthesis occurs, water alone combines with carbon dioxide to produce glucose and releases oxygen. The metabolism that takes place in the body of animals almost always takes place in the presence of water. Even the main component of our blood is water, which transports nutrients, oxygen and hormones to every cell. This truth is reflected in the Quranic declaration—“We have given life to everything with water.”

When modern astronomy searches for life on other planets, their main search is—“Is there water somewhere?” Every NASA mission, be it to the moon or Mars, asks the same question first: ‘Is there water?’ Because where water is found, there will be the possibility of life. This logic says one thing—water is the inevitable prerequisite for life. Yet this truth, which is the result of vast research, was stated in a single verse by the Quran more than a thousand years ago, at a time when people did not have the ability to think of water as anything more than water.

Surprisingly, the Quran does not say here only “We have given life to mankind with water,” but rather “everything.” This refers to more than animals, plants, microorganisms, and even single-celled organisms. This comprehensiveness is expressed as if the Quran is viewing the entire creation through a uniform biological framework, where water is the only active carrier of life. In today's era of genetics, biochemistry, and nanotechnology, we understand that all living things on earth share a fundamental common feature—the essential presence of water in the cells of all living things. This truth was first announced by the Quran.

However, the Quranic verse does not stop here. It challenges: “Will they not believe?” This question contains a spiritual perspective. The Quran does not stop with scientific facts, but rather questions the place of human belief and perception. When a person realizes that every cell in his body is alive only for water, and that water descends from the sky in a specific order, then it is natural for him to ask the question—who created this well-organized structure?

This verse puts us in a place of self-inquiry. No matter how much we travel from planet to planet with the help of advanced technology, no matter how much we become experts in cell division or DNA sequencing, we are ultimately faced with one question—“Where did this amazing structure of life come from?” Science can explain it, but to find the depth of the mystery of creation, faith, knowledge, and understanding will be needed together.

The importance of this verse deepens when we understand that the Quran is never a book of science, but that every utterance of it descends into the abyss of science. Here, it does not mention the chemical symbol of water (H₂O), or its hydrogen bonding, but rather a fundamental truth—“Life cannot exist without water.” This is like an inviolable declaration of pure understanding, which is to be found not only in the laboratory, but in the deep wisdom of the heart.

At the end of this discussion, we realize that this verse is not just an informative sentence of science; it is a common bridge of faith, consciousness, and gratitude. It introduces the miraculous aspect of the Quran, which amazes the mind, inspires the heart, and penetrates the depths of knowledge.