And at the sky-how it was raised up?
And at the mountains-how they were embedded?
And at the earth-how it is spread out?
So remind them! You are only a reminder. (Qur’an, 88: 17-21)
In many other verses of the Qur’an, people are instructed to examine nature and learn from it because people can know God only by examining His creations. Because of this, in one verse of the Qur’an Muslims are defined as people who think about the creation of the heavens and the earth:
Those who remember God, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth (saying): “Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire.” (Qur’an, 3: 191)
An early manuscript of the Qur’an.
As a result of this, for a Muslim, taking an interest in science is a very important form of worship. In many verses of the Qur’an, God instructs Muslims to investigate the heavens, the earth, living things or their own existence and think about them. When we look at the verses, we find indications of all the main branches of science in the Qur’an.
For example, in the Qur’an, God encourages the science of astronomy:
He who created the seven heavens in layers. You will not find any flaw in the creation of the All-Merciful. Look again-do you see any gaps? (Qur’an, 67: 3)
In another verse of the Qur’an, God encourages the investigation of astronomy and the composition of the earth that is the science of geology:
Do they not look at the sky above them? How We have made it and adorned it, and there are