Science and the Quran

The article “Science and the Quran” by Ahmad Dallal is printed in the Quran Encycolpedia of Liden which includes a report from history of “Quran and science” discussions and presents traditional and modern approaches to this subject. The opinions of Aboo-Reihan Birooni, Qazali, Fakhr Razi, Qartabi, Neishaboori and etc. are presented and the writer suspects that these traditional interpreters have believed in separation of Quran and science. He then states the opinions of Seyyed Jamal Asadabadi, Seyyed Ahmad-Khan Hendi, Tantavi, M. Bucaille, A.Azzindani and etc. who have mentioned the idea of consistency of Quran and science or Quranic scientific miracles and scientific theorizations, or introduce Quran as the source of cognition and in some cases as the final judge. Finally he mentions the approaches of Seyyed Hosein Nasr for example, who introduce the metaphysical and Islamic basis of science and sciences based on sacredness and unity of cognition and he stresses on criticizing the modern science epistemology. Mentioning various footnotes, the critic evaluates the article and its references and recognizes the historical report of the article incomplete. Then he criticizes the writer’s inference of “separation of Quran and science” from old interpreter’s methods and says that this is wrong. And reminding the different types of scientific interpretations and their criterion, he has investigated the author’s discussions regarding modern approaches to Quran and science and has defended the scientific inimitability of Quran and the scientific theorizations of Quran. He has also discussed the effect of Quran on the basis of humanities and making sciences purposeful and their political and social consequences and has reviewed the writer’s negligence in these cases.