Tehran, Aug 7, IRNA - An Iranian astronomer noted that some 750 verses of the Holy Quran are about natural and empirical sciences, reminding people of issues like creation of the earth and heavens, mountains, plants and other beings.

Speaking to IQNA, Hossein Omidiani, a senior member of the Astronomical Society of Iran, added that 150 of the Holy Book�s verses make references to astronomical and cosmological issues.
He said Quran commentators have always paid special attention to these verses and each has provided explanations about them in accordance to the level of knowledge in their time.
The scholar said God in some verses reminds people of the prominence of creation of heavens and earth, including in verse 57 of Surah Ghafir: �Certainly, the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most people do not know�.
In Surah Mulk, God urges people to contemplate the creation of heavens to see that there is no incongruity or flaws in them, he said. �Who created the seven heavens one above another; you see no incongruity in the creation of the Beneficent Allah; then look again, can you see any disorder?� (Verse 3)
He went on to say that the more humanity�s sciences advance, the more unknowns will emerge.
The developments in sciences further reveal the order in the world but on the other hand show human beings the hugeness of what they do not know, he stated.
The Quran is not a book of science but a book for life. But many verses of the Scripture refer to aspects of Creation to remind people of the order in the universe and of their Creator.
Omidiani referred to more such verses in which man is urged to contemplate Creation, including verse 6 of Surah Qaf: Have they not then observed the sky above them, how We have constructed it and beautified it, and how there are no rifts therein?
In verse 27 of Surah Nazi�at, too, God draws man�s attention to the creation of the heaven: �Are you the harder to create or the heaven? Allah constructed it,� to remind him that the one who created the heaven is also capable of bringing human beings back to life after they die.

By IRNA