Geological Information in The Qur’an

How do you present proof of this religion to those  who do not speak the  language  of the  Arabs  or know  anything  about  the  inimitable eloquence  of the Qur'an?  Is it the only way for them to learn this language of the Arabs and to master its sciences?  The answer,  of course,  is 'No',  Allah,  may He be Glorified  and  Exalted,  has shown  mercy  to them and  to  all  other  generations   by  sending  the  appropriate   evidence  to  all mankind,  irrespective of their different races,  languages, and times.

We have Professor Palmer who is one of the foremost geologists in the United States of America. Ile headed a committee which organized the Centennial Anniversary of the American Geological Society.  When we met him we presented the various scientific miracles in the Qur'an and Sunnah, he was greatly   astonished.   I  remember   a  pleasant   anecdote   when   we informed  him  that  the  Qur'an  mentions  the  lowest  part  of  the  earth and states  that  it  is  near  Jerusalem,   where  a  Baltic  look  place  between   the Persians and the Greeks.

Allah, may He be Exalted and Glorified, said in the Qur'an:

 “Alif Laam Meem, the Romans have been defeated, in the lowest part of the land (adnal-ardh), but after de/eat they will soon he victorious.”  (Qur'an, Surah Ar-Rum, 30: 1-3).

Adna means both nearer and lowest. The commentators  of the Qur'an,   May Allah  be pleased  with  all of them,  were  of the  opinion  that adnal-ardh  meant the nearest  land  to the Arabian  Peninsula. However, the second meaning is also there.  In this way, the Glorious Qur'an gives one word several meanings, as described by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) when he said:

 “I have been given the most comprehensive words.”  [Reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

When we investigated the lowest part of the earth.  we found that it was exactly  the same  spot that witnessed  the  battle  in which  the  Romans  were defeated.   When  we  informed  Professor   Palmer  about  this,  he  contested saying  that  there  were  many  other  areas  which  are  lower  than  the  one referred  to  in the  Qur’anic verse.  He gave examples and names of other areas   in   Europe   and in the United States. He assured   him   that   our information was verified and correct. He had with him a topographical globe that showed elevations and depressions.  He said that it would be easy with that globe to ascertain which was the lowest spot on earth.  He turned the globe with his hands and focused his sign on the area near Jerusalem.  To his astonishment, there was a small arrow sticking out towards that area with words: "the lowest part on the face of the earth."

Professor Palmer was quick to concede that our information was correct. He proceeded to speak, as you now see him with the globe, saying that this was actually the lowest part of the earth.

Professor Palmer: It took place in the area of (he Dead Sea which is up here and interestingly enough the labeling on the globe says "the world's lowest point." So it certainly is supported by the interpretation of that critical word.

Professor  Palmer  was  even  more  astonished   when  he  found  that  the Qur'an  talks about the past and describes  how creation  first began; how the earth and heavens were created; how the water gushed  forth from the depth of the earth; how the mountains  were anchored on land; how vegetation  first began;   how   is   earth today, describing the mountains, describes its phenomena, describes  the changes  on the surface  of the earth as witnessed in the Arabian Peninsula.  It even describes the future of the land of Arabs and the future of the whole earth.  At this, Professor Palmer acknowledged that the Qur'an is such a wondrous Book which describes the past, the present, and the future.

Like many other scientists, Professor Palmer was hesitant at first.  But soon later he was forthcoming with his opinions.  In Cairo, he presented a research paper dealing with the inimitable aspects of geological knowledge contained in the Qur'an.  He said that he did not know what was the state of the art in the field of science during the days of the Prophet Muhammad. But from what we know about the scanty knowledge and means at that time, we can undoubtedly conclude that the Qur'an is a light of divine knowledge revealed to Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam).  Here are the concluding remarks of Professor Palmer:

We need research into the history of early Middle Eastern oral traditions to know!  Whether in fact such historical events have been reported.  If there is no such record it strengthens  the  belief  that  Allah transmitted  through  Muhammad  bits  of  his  knowledge   that  we have  only discovered for  ourselves  in recent  times   We look forward   to a continuing dialogue  on the  topic  of science  in the  Qur'an in the  context  of geology. Thank you very much.

As you have seen, here is one of the giants in the field of geology in our world today, coming from the United States of America, but he is still in need of someone to point the truth out to him. Both westerners and easterners have lived in the midst of the battle between religion and science. These battles, however, were inevitable, because all previous messages have been distorted. Thus, Allah sent the Prophet Muhammad, (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), with Islam in order to correct that which had been corrupted.

Someone may ask: 'How will these people accept what we tell them when we are materially inferior to them and we do not follow our religion closely?'  My reply to them is that knowledge increases the awareness of one who acquires it. People of knowledge care only to look at the facts, not at the outside picture. The wealth of Islam today is precisely this knowledge and scientific advancement.  Modern science can but bow its head in reverence to the Book of Allah and to the Sunnah of His Prophet (sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam).

The primordial nature, Al-Fitrah, in which Allah created man, does not attain tranquility except by means of Islam or faith. Those who do not have Iman (faith) are in a constant state of uneasiness and confusion. Moreover, the atmosphere of freedom in the West helps Western scientists to express what they believe without any fear or timidity. We have heard them in many of these episodes confirming and recognizing the miracle of this age, the Qur'an, which will remain living until the Last Hour.