In Dr. Maurice Bucaille's writings on the subject, there are countless examples of the way Quran and modern science compare. The author offers valuable analysis and explanation of the terms used by the Quran and then compares them with what is found in modern scientific discoveries. Some of the explanations found in his writings are discussed below. They give us a clear idea of how Quran compares to modern science.
Creation of man is an important subject and mentioned on several occasions. And so is the creation of the Universe. Man did not know much about the creation of the Universe until modern science made it possible to understand movement of sun and moon, something that Quran had mentioned many centuries ago.
"Did you see how Allah created seven heavens, one above the other, and made in them the moon a light and the sun a lamp?" Qur'an, 78:12-13
Modern science knows today that moon is indeed an inert body of light, while sun is a more active body continuously producing light and heat.
Quran has not only talked of moon and sun, it spoke of Planets and stars long before modern science knew of their existence or composition.
"We have adorned the lowest heaven with ornaments, the planets." Qur'an,
37:6
Modern science is now aware of the orbits in which celestial bodies travel. But in the days when Quran was revealed, science was not as advanced and yet Quran spoke of the orbits. In Surah al-Ambiyaa it says:
"(God is) the one who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is traveling in an orbit with its own motion." Qur'an, 21:33
One very important observation which is now comparable to modern discovery was made about the changing of days into nights. The Quran said:
"He coils the night upon the day and the day upon the night."
Qur'an, 39:5
The word 'coil' was critical in this observation and it was only when man finally landed on the moon that he found that "the earth spinning on its axis, that the dark half of the globe appeared to wind itself...
"The sun runs its coarse to a settled place That is the decree of the Almighty, the All Knowing." Qur'an, 36:38
Bucaille explains that settled place in the verse points to an appointed position and space. And today "Modern astronomy confirms that the solar system is indeed moving in space at a rate of 12 miles per second towards a point situated in the constellation of Hercules (alpha lyrae ) whose exact location has been precisely calculated. Astronomers have even give it a name, the solar apex."
There is obvious consensus between what Quran said centuries ago and what modern science has recently discovered. Islam constantly urges Muslims and every individual to ponder on the observations made in the Quran. This reflection has been the source of many important discoveries by Muslim scientists over the years.
References
Ali Ashraf, New Horizons in Muslim Education, Cambridge: Islamic Academy, 1985, p.27
Ahmad Afzaal, "Qur -- an and Human Evolution" http://www.fortunecity.com/brozers/cheshire/170/survival%20(1)html p.2.
Murad Wilfred Hofmann "Has Islam Missed its Enlightenment?" The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences 19 (2002)
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, the QUR'an and MODERN SCIENCE, Edited by Dr. a.A.B. Philips, 1995
http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9704/14/egypt.islam / http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=DIV0&byte=968975
Ali Ashraf, New Horizons in Muslim Education, Cambridge: Islamic Academy, 1985, p.27
Ahmad Afzaal, "Qur -- an and Human Evolution" http://www.fortunecity.com/brozers/cheshire/170/survival%20(1)html p.2.
quoted in Murad Wilfred Hofmann
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/k/koran/koran-idx?type=boolean&q1=reflect&operator1=and&q2=think&operator2=and&q3=&rgn=verse&size=First+100
Dr. Maurice Bucaille, the Quran and Modern science
