The Quran has so accurately revealed this original mystery of creation.

We will begin our discussion with an ancient and famous verse of the Quran, which sheds light on the subject of creation and the universe. This verse is in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30): “Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We separated them; and We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?”

In this one verse, three issues have come together that are related to three major branches of science: the origin of the universe, the origin of the biological world, and the role of water. Although there has always been a tendency to consider the Quran as a religious book only, when modern science has advanced in-depth research on these issues, it has been surprising—a verse spoken in the language of religion strangely echoes science.

The first statement that comes is the joining of the heavens and the earth and then their separation. In the language of modern science, which is called the Big Bang. According to the Big Bang theory, about 13.8 billion years ago, the entire universe was compressed into a single point. This point had infinite density and heat. Then, in an explosion, this point began to expand, which resulted in the beginning of time, space, and matter. The word “ratqan” in the Quran is relevant here, which means “densely combined” or “covered in pairs”—which is surprisingly consistent with the concept of this single point in science.

Many modern-day scientists, such as Stephen Hawking or Alan Guth, who have studied the Big Bang, also agree that the universe had a definite beginning. However, this verse was revealed 1400 years ago, at a time when the Arabs considered the Earth to be flat and imagined the sky as just a roof. At that time, there was no mathematics, theoretical physics, or space science. Yet the Quran has so accurately revealed this fundamental mystery of creation.

The verse then says: “We separated them both”—this refers in scientific terms to the formation of the various elements of the universe, galaxies, stars, planets, etc., as a result of the Big Bang. Another verse in the Quran (Surah Fussilat 41:11) says, “Then He turned His attention to the sky, which was like smoke.” This word “smoke” or “dukhan” also describes the initial state of the modern universe, when the universe was a smoky entity mixed with gases and dust. Galaxies and constellations were born from these gaseous elements. The Quran is here presenting the development of the universe step by step in a way that is deeply consistent with the ideas of modern cosmology.

However, the most amazing and important part of this verse from the point of view of biology is: “We created every living thing from water.” This sentence is completely consistent with one of the fundamental truths of science. Modern biology tells us that water is essential for life. Among the elements required for the beginning of life, nothing is more important than water. Water is also a major component in the structure of our body. About 60-70% of the body of an adult human is made up of water. Most of the chemical reactions that take place inside the cells occur in a dissolved state in water. Even the most primitive microbes, such as bacteria, viruses, etc., are essential for their survival.

When scientists began researching the origin of life, they noticed that the formation of organic compounds occurred wherever there was water on the early Earth. The famous “Miller-Urey” experiment is important in this regard, where scientists were able to create some organic elements by mixing electric sparks and gases, but that too was carried out in imitation of the watery environment of the primitive Earth at that time. Moreover, many studies in astronomy have shown that if life is to be found anywhere in space, the first thing to look for is the presence of water. Scientists are evaluating the possibility of life on Mars or on the moon Europa simply because water has been found there.

The scientific analysis of this verse of the Quran echoes this truth: if there is any life, it must depend on water. Yet this truth is also stated in the Quran in a way that was completely beyond the scientific consciousness of the Arab society of that time. They did not know what a cell is, what bacteria are, or how DNA works. Water was not only a necessity for them, but this fundamental relationship of life with it was not even in their imagination.

However, a special aspect of this discussion is that the Quran is never a science textbook. It is a book sent to guide people, to achieve their spiritual excellence. But still, when this book talks about creation, life, or nature, its statements are so deep, so touching that it repeatedly touches on the most complex theories of modern science. There is no exaggeration in this, but rather the way in which the harmony with the subjects is maintained testifies to the divine origin of the Quran.

Finally, this verse not only provides scientific information, but also raises a philosophical question—“Will they not believe?” Here, it is as if Allah is challenging mankind that no matter how much research you do, how much observation you make with telescopes and in laboratories—you will ultimately come back to the truth that the creation of this world was according to a plan. It is not a coincidence or a coincidence, but rather the result of an ultimate intelligence. Realizing that truth is the beginning of the journey of faith.