I mentioned in a post I recently created that a Muslim I know had sent me some videos that show how modern scientific ideas can be found within the words of the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an.

Always willing to learn in an attempt to try understand the world I’ve had a watch of them. I’ve tried to be in the spirit of things with an open enough mind and a video from the YouTube channel Islamic Guidance do contain explanation of connection to modern science from words within the Qur’an. Some of the ideas are accurate, either by the standards of the time which have evolved to modern levels or by modern standards.

I was originally going to use this post to point out the flaws in what the video said, however I’ve come to the realisation that although facts are manipulated to serve the speaker in the video it doesn’t matter when there’s a belief system involved. I cannot criticise the interpretation of a holy book and feel good about it. I can pick apart an aspect of something like how there’s little proof of divine intervention but actual faith is hard to declare as incorrect.

I can also state that the Islamic Guidance channel is probably good for those that believe, but for a sceptic who is interested in many different belief systems from history it’s not. There is a lot of over expansion of ideas in their words. I don’t doubt that Muhammad was a very clever man, probably a good listener too, and he had at least one close follower who had studied the translated texts of Hippocrates. It didn’t matter that he wouldn’t have been able to read as wisdom spreads in many forms.

The words of the Qur’an and Muhammad, if you interpret them in the way that YouTube channel suggests are full of valid science. If you take a wider interest in old ideas there’s argument to say the ideas came from elsewhere. The text was also most likely written after Muhammad died, apparently from memory which is easily tainted as has been proven by modern psychology (search Loftus Psychology online).

The simplest answer to justify Qur’an science that I can come up with is that whatever unoriginal ideas Muhammad may have spread, he would have been led towards by his god as: if everything is created by one then surely he chooses the course his creations will follow.

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I may be doubtful of the way things are sometimes presented but I only wish to learn. I do not wish to offend so I’ve tried to be as careful as possible while expressing my curiosity.

Thank you for taking the time to read.