"And We Made From Water Every Living Thing": The Quran and the Primacy of Water in Biology

Abstract

This paper will explore how the Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 21:30, And We made of water every living being, can be termed as having very deep congruence with the foundations of human biology in modern science. Uncovered in the 7th century, the statement of the verse is examined via classical Islamic exegesis (tafsir), which derived a signification to it that equated water with its vegetative source of life, both to provide nourishment and to serve as seminal fluid. The article goes further to discuss how modern science through its strength has strongly supported this assertion with all the major functions of water as the universal solvent, the major constituent of cytoplasm and the necessary medium of all biochemical processes, such as shaping the structure of all DNA and proteins by hydrophobic interactions. Beyond mere correlation, the criticism points to a greater discourse based on the fact that the Arabic wording creates an idea of water being an essential element of life rather than a dependence of the environment as thoughts by astrobiology suggest in the habitable zone theory. Moreover, the paper discusses the urgent modern need on conservation of water and presents it as a theological requirement as illustrated in the verse. Last but not least, it works through the body of scientific exegesis (Ijaz ilmi) scholarly literature, attempting to provide that middle ground, where the Quran is not treated as a science textbook. The article concludes that the verse itself is an undated signpost, which welcomes a compromise in faith and reasoning and makes it clear that watching nature cannot be a weak gateheaven to spiritual enlightenment.

Keywords: Quran and Science, Water in Biology, I‘jaz ‘Ilmi, Scientific Exegesis, Islamic Environmental Ethics, Astrobiology, Tafsir, Origin of Life.