The Holy Quran, a divine and guiding scripture, through profound and multilayered expressions, elucidates the system of creation and humanitys position within it. This treatise, adopting a scientific and practical approach, analyses verses 34 to 38 of Surah Al-Baqarah along with other related verses concerning creation, establishing an interdisciplinary nexus between Quranic sciences, Islamic cosmology, and the philosophy of creation. The objective is to provide a systematic and academic framework for specialised audiences that, while preserving the entirety of the original lecture content, expounds key concepts such as the position of humanity, Satan, the Earth, and evolutionary processes of creation in an exalted and university-appropriate language. This work critiques traditional viewpoints and emphasises the necessity of producing religious knowledge, striving to present the Holy Quran as a human and scientific book that serves as a source for academic research not only for Muslims but for all of humanity.
Verses 34 to 38 of Surah Al-Baqarah, with a remarkable discourse, refer to the position of humanity and Satan within the system of creation. These verses narrate the creation of Adam, the prostration of angels, and the rebellion of Iblis, providing an existential framework for understanding the relationship between humanity and Satan in the earthly realm.
وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ أَبَىٰ وَاسْتَكْبَرَ وَكَانَ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 34)
Translation: And when We said to the angels, Prostrate before Adam, they prostrated, except for Iblis; he refused and was arrogant and became of the disbelievers.
This verse, by referring to the angels prostration and the arrogance of Iblis, demonstrates the existential superiority of humanity within the system of creation. Prostration is a sign of acceptance of humanitys exalted position, whereas the arrogance of Iblis indicates his disobedience and deviation from the divine order. This event addresses not only religious issues but also psychological and philosophical inquiries regarding the nature of arrogance and disobedience.
Focusing on peripheral and unscientific matters, such as performative activities or futile entertainments, constitutes a serious obstacle to the profound understanding of the Holy Quran and the production of religious knowledge. These behaviours waste human and financial resources and hinder scientific progress in religious domains. Instead of wasting time on fruitless affairs, the pursuit should be directed toward systematic and academic research so that Quranic truths can be presented in global academic centres.
The scholarly works of figures such as Ibn Sina and Sheikh Ansari have endured over time due to their academic depth, in contrast to unscientific activities which are quickly forgotten. This durability reflects the value of knowledge production compared to quotidian and unproductive tasks. Religious knowledge, grounded in Quranic verses, must become the axis of research activities to create lasting impacts.
Verses 34 to 38 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by elucidating the position of humanity and Satan in the system of creation, provide a framework for understanding the relationship between action and recompense. The angels prostration signifies humanitys existential superiority, while Iblis arrogance denotes the root of disobedience. The critique of unscientific behaviours and emphasis on the durability of scholarly works highlight the necessity for transformation in religious knowledge. This section, by calling for academic research, paves the way for a deeper understanding of the Holy Quran.
Verse 35 of Surah Al-Baqarah, with wise phrasing, refers to complete freedom in utilising the blessings of Paradise and provides a framework for resource management on Earth.
وَقُلْنَا يَا آدَمُ اسْكُنْ أَنْتَ وَزَوْجُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَكُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا وَلَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 35)
Translation: And We said, O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom abundantly wherever you will, but do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers.
The phrase "كُلَا مِنْهَا رَغَدًا حَيْثُ شِئْتُمَا" indicates complete freedom regarding the type, time, and amount of consumption. This liberty manifests divine wisdom in fulfilling human needs and the absence of stinginess in the system of creation. The term "كلا" encompasses not only eating (akl) but also drinking (shurb) and other forms of consumption, demonstrating the Qurans rhetorical brevity and precision.
In the system of creation, all objects, from soil and stone to flesh and bone, are potentially edible. Religious restrictions, such as prohibitions against eating soil or stone, arise from human physical or hygienic incapacity, not from the essence of the objects. This perspective points to latent potentials in nature requiring scientific and empirical analysis.
Alteration of dietary regimes can transform the behaviour and ethics of humans and animals. Wild animals become domesticated with dietary changes and vice versa, revealing a profound link between nutrition and behaviour. This view necessitates interdisciplinary research in biology, psychology, and nutritional sciences.
Microbes, akin to vitamins, can have beneficial effects on human health when properly managed. This perspective aligns with modern medical advances and reveals the latent capacities in nature to promote health.
The phrase "لَا تَقْرَبَا هَٰذِهِ الشَّجَرَةَ" refers to mortal factors in nature, not merely to a specific fruit such as grapes or dates. Shajarah, with its knotted and widespread structure, is a metaphor for the complex systems in nature, parts of whichsuch as poisons or virusescan shorten human lifespan.
Shajarah denotes a knotted and expansive structure including branches, leaves, and roots. The word "هذه" indicates that the shajarah was a tangible and recognisable entity for Adam and Eve, not a general or metaphysical concept. This linguistic precision underscores the necessity of scientific analysis of the shajarah.
Avoidance of mortal factors (shajarah) can significantly increase human lifespan, potentially up to 500 or 1000 years as in antiquity. This perspective underlines the necessity of establishing thanatology within biological and medical sciences to identify lethal substances and behaviours, thereby offering solutions for healthy living.
The phrase "فَتَكُونَا مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ" refers to oppression of the self, which results from approaching mortal factors. This oppression means transgressing divine limits and harming oneself, leading to reduced lifespan and health.
Traditional interpretations that regard the shajarah as a particular fruit lack scientific depth regarding the verse. The shajarah, as a metaphor for mortal factors, requires environmental and medical analysis rather than restriction to fruit.
Verse 35 of Surah Al-Baqarah, by elucidating complete freedom in the consumption of blessings and prohibition against mortal factors, provides a model for healthy and sustainable living. Shajarah, as a symbol of mortal agents, requires scientific analysis. Thanatology, as a novel discipline, can contribute to lifespan extension and human health through identifying these agents. This section stresses the necessity of empirical and interdisciplinary research in understanding Quranic verses.
Verse 36 of Surah Al-Baqarah refers to the slip of Adam and Eve instigated by Satan and their expulsion from Paradise.
فَأَزَلَّهُمَا الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهَا فَأَخْرَجَهُمَا مِمَّا كَانَا فِيهِ وَقُلْنَا اهْبِطُوا بَعْضُكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ عَدُوٌّ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمَتَاعٌ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ
(Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 36)
Translation: Then Satan caused them to slip from it and expelled them from what they had been in. And We said, Desc
