نشریه قرآن و علم
پیاپی 2 (بهار و تابستان 1387)

In this article, the possibilities of relation between experimental knowledge and religion (with an emphasis in the field of Quran) have been discussed.In the beginning the interface of science and religion has been scrutinized and then the real and apparent contradiction of science and religion has been debated. The real contradiction has been rejected by reasons and the apparent one has been admitted which can be solved and alternatives have been given for its elimination. When there is a contradiction with certain science, interface in the appearance of verses and chasing of mistakes of primitive scientific and changing understanding have been suggested.Therefore the real contradiction between science and religion has been rejected with certain reasons; and compatibility between the two has been accepted with reasons and documents from the Quran. In this article the current views of Dr. Soroush in regard to deadlock of contradiction of Quran and science has been pointed out and on the basis of above mentioned matters has been criticized.

Quran introduces itself and all divine books as book of guidance for mankind.The main objective of Quran is the guidance of human beings but for minor and marginalized purposes, it has mentioned points of various sciences.Scientific statements of Quran are an introduction for the main objective of Quran. Scientific reports of the Quran are in accordance with reality and Quranic understanding of nature is very accurate. Quran encourages all Muslims to study and assist the nature and this knowledge can be used for the greater and more important objectives which are knowing of Allah and the resurrection.

The writer after dividing the medical verses of the Quran into “hygienic” and “treatment verses”, has argued the objectives of Quranic medical verses. He has reached to the conclusion that the Quran is not a scientific book but a book of guidance towards perfection for mankind. Quran has touched some of the scientific and medical issues in order to motivate inquisitive attitude of human being regarding creation and resurrection.While interpreting medical verses we should benefit from the “recruitment” method for a better understanding of the Quran. In the meantime we should avoid extremist method of “extracting” all sciences from the Quran and imposing scientific theories upon it. The writer has discussed verse 275 of sura Baqara which Allah attributes instantly to the touch of Satan and interpreters have mentioned a number of probabilities. The writer, while pointing out some of doubts and misgiving held about the verse 275, has assessed and criticized these probabilities.

One of the current discussions regarding the subject of science and religion is using sciences to understand Quran’s scientific mentions. In the subject of Quran and mental health, the advances and achievements of psychology and mental health can also be used to extract mental health rules from Islam’s perspective. In this article some of the cases and the overall principles of this field are mentioned. Also as a guidebook and a book of instructions for human life, Quran has presented some methods to provide human’s mental health which some of cognitional and behavioral methods will be mentioned in this article.Cognitional By changing and improving human’s thought and cognition regarding the world and changing his world-view to a Divine world-view, Islam’s teachings effects human’s look at life’s problems and also effects his attitude, sentiments and feelings. The results are: believing in God, trusting God, satisfaction and resignation, positive thinking, being hopeful to life, placing Prophet (peace be upon Him) and Divine saints as a exemplar and believing in resurrection. Behavioral By improving human’s thought and guiding it towards a Divine world-view, his behavior will be improved and these correct behaviors between members of a family, in the relations between two individuals and in economical relations can provide metal health of individuals.

In this article the issue of seven heavens and earth has been assessed from the Quranic and cosmological perspective. It has been cleared that this issue has been there since Prophet Noah and is not a Quranic invention. The phrase “seven heavens” can be an actual number or a number which suggests a great number. Heaven in the Quran can be meant earth atmosphere, position of stars and planets, or higher stages of existence (divine heavens). Therefore Quranic objective in seven heavens verses is not the same and in each of them one of the meanings may be considered. So we cannot apply one certain comment about all verses. On the other hand, in cosmology also, existence or absence of more than one heaven has not been proved. Consequently, there is not any real contradiction between Quran and modern cosmology in this field. As there is no agreement between Quranic seven heavens and Ptolemaic system. On the contrary, Quran is opposing Ptolemaic system theory. That is why the comment of Soroush in regard to the compatibility of Quranic seven heavens with Ptolemaic system has been criticized. In another chapter of the article, the issue of Quranic seven heavens has been discussed which is highly unlikely to be taken from the Quran.

This article has dealt with the system distribution of wealth from the Quranic point of view. The Quran has recognized economic stability as the cause of strength and continuity of individual and social affairs. The objective of distribution of wealth can be summarized in political and economic security and achievement of social justice. It is understood from the Quranic verses that the economic problem of human being is not the effect of lack of primary resources or miserliness of nature but on the contrary the main cause is the unjust distribution and incorrect use of existent resources.