DOES THE QURAN ALLUDE TO SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS?
Before answering this question, we should point out one important fact: Considering science as opposed to religion and scientific study as separate from and independent of the Quran is just as mistaken as trying to reduce the Quran to a science textbook and showing that every new scientific theory or fact is to be found in it. For example, some have claimed, especially in Turkey, that the dabbet al-ard (little moving creature) mentioned in Quran 27:82 is the virus that causes AIDS. However, this is a hasty conclusion for several reasons: the Quran is silent about this dabbes nature; if we accept this assertion, we also must accept other venereal disease-causing bacteria or viruses; and, we cannot know whether new viral diseases and more lethal than AIDS will appear in the future. The context in which dabbet al-ard appears suggests that it will emerge toward the end of this world, when almost no one believes in God. So, we must not show haste in trying to find some type of correspondenc
