Memaparkan catatan dengan label Al Quran dan Sains. Papar semua catatan
Memaparkan catatan dengan label Al Quran dan Sains. Papar semua catatan

Selasa, 18 Disember 2012

Jantung dan Memori


Apakah perkaitannya?

 Marilah kita bersama-sama merenungi kisah menarik yang akan disebut di sini, yang dipetik menerusi Daily Mail bertarikh 10 April 2008 yang lepas. Kisah ini ialah kisah pemindahan jantung yang dijalankan 12 tahun yang lalu di sebuah hospital di Amerika Syarikat. Pesakit jantung tersebut bernama Sonny Graham. Beliau seorang yang baik hati serta hidup dalam kehidupan penuh disiplin. Beliau mudah membantu jiran dan masyarakat apabila pertolongannya diperlukan.

Mr. Graham, pesakit tersebut menerima jantung seorang pemuda yang meninggal kerana membunuh diri. Pemindahan jantung tersebut berjaya dan kesihatan beliau semakin hari semakin baik sehingga beliau pulih seperti biasa. Apabila sembuh, beliau mencari keluarga penderma untuk memberi penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih. Beliau bertemu dengan balu pemuda yang mati membunuh diri itu. Pertemuan itu membawa maksud yang tersendiri kerana Mr. Graham secara tiba-tiba telah jatuh cinta kepada balu tersebut. Beliau merasakan seolah-olah telah lama mengenalinya serta sangat berharap untuk tinggal bersama. Akhirnya kedua-duanya bersetuju untuk berkahwin. Mereka hidup mewah di sebuah banglo mewah.


Suatu perkara yang ganjil telah berlaku pada diri Mr. Graham. Daripada sifat lemah lembut sebelum pemindahan jantungnya, beliau mula bersikap kasar kepada masyarakat termasuk isterinya sendiri. Menurut isteri yang baru dikahwininya, perangai Mr. Graham sama seperti perangai bekas suaminya yang meninggal dunia itu. Kegemaran buruk bekas suaminya dulu diikuti oleh suami barunya itu. Beliau benar-benar berubah sifat daripada sifat penyantun kepada sifat pembengis dan tidak bertimbang rasa. Akhirnya, beliau mengambil pistol dan membunuh diri sendiri sama seperti yang dilakukan oleh pemuda penderma jantungnya itu. Lalu matilah Mr. Graham dalam keadaan yang sama dengan penderma jantungnya itu.

Para saintis psikoanalisis berasa takjub apabila mengkaji kes ini. Kes ini bukan kes terpencil kerana beberapa kes lain yang direkod mempunyai persamaan dengan kes ini. Satu persoalan yang timbul ialah: Adakah peristiwa ini berlaku secara kebetulan dengan peristiwa penderma jantungnya dahulu, atau, kedua-dua peristiwa tersebut ada kaitannya? Adakah jantung mempunyai sel memori yang masih merakamkan pita penderma asalnya lalu dipindahkan kepada penerima jantung baru.

Mengikut fahaman positifisme Barat, jantung hanyalah satu organ biasa yang tidak berfungsi untuk berfikir atau mempunyai sebarang peranan dengan ingatan. Adakah pandangan itu benar?

Sekarang marilah pula kita merenungi sepotong ayat al-Qur’an yang bermaksud:

“Apakah mereka tidak berjalan pada permukaan bumi lalu menjadikan jantung hati mereka berfikir dengannya, atau telinga mereka mendengar dengannya, Maka sesungguhnya bukanlah penglihatan mereka yang buta akan tetapi yang buta ialah jantung hati mereka yang berada di dada” (al-Hajj, 46).

Dalam ayat di atas disebut “Qulub la ya`qilun biha” yakni jantung hati yang tidak berfikir dengannya (yakni jantung). Indikasi bahawa jantung (atau kalbu) yang berfikir tidak pernah disebut dalam mana-mana pemikiran manusia, akan tetapi al-Qur’an menyatakan bahawa jantung hati yang berfikir. Para saintis sebelum ini berbendapat aktiviti berfikir hanya dilakukan oleh otak, bukan organ lain, khususnya jantung. Namun al-Qur’an menegaskan bahawa berfikir yang mendalam secara renungan dilakukan oleh hati.
Rujuk Artikel Dr. Maza :
1)
http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1084 dan
2)
http://drmaza.com/home/?p=1136


Para pasikoanalisis berasa sungguh kagum dengan penemuan organ jantung yang menyimpan sel memori yang bersambung dengan sel memori otak, akan tetapi aktiviti berfikir hakikatnya berpusat di jantung. Dalam masyarakat Melayu, qalbu dalam bahasa Arab diterjemahkan sebagai hati tetapi penterjemahan yang sebenarnya ialah jantung.

Para saintis menemui sejenis sel dalam jantung manusia yang dikenali sebagai ganglia cells yang mempunyai memori lebih kuat daripada sel otak. Sel ini berfungsi seperti kapasiti memori sekuat komputer yang menyimpan maklumat yang lebih kekal berbanding otak. Rangkaian sel ganglia ini bersambung antara satu dengan yang lainnya membentuk apa yang disifatkan oleh para pengkajinya sebagai brain cell in the heart.

Rangkaian sel ini mengeluarkan gelombang elektrik yang disebarkan menerusi edaran darah. Penemuan ini merungkaikan pula bahawa darah manusia turut membawa memori dalam kapasiti tertentu yang dicetuskan oleh sel ganglia tersebut. Kajian juga turut memperlihatkan bahawa sel memori otak dan jantung saling bertukar maklumat menerusi mekanisme yang sangat kompleks tindakbalas kimia, asid amino dan gelombang elektrik.

Pendengar yang budiman boleh merujuk tulisan seorang pengkaji Amerika yang bernama Rolin MacCarty daripada Institut HeartMath untuk maklumat yang lebih lanjut tentang perkara ini.

Seorang professor University of Hawaii yang bernama Paul Peasall turut mengkaji aspek psikoanalisis berkaitan dengan pemindahan jantung untuk menguatkan lagi pemenuan sel memori dalam jantung manusia. Pendengar yang budiman boleh mendapat maklumat lanjut menerusi bukunya yang bertajuk The Heart’s Code terbitan Broadway.

Dalam kes lain yang dilaporkan professor tersebut, seorang pemuda penggubah lagu menerusi muzik telah terbunuh dalam satu kemalangan jalan raya lalu jantungnya didermakan kepada seorang pemudi yang sebaya. Secara tiba-tiba pemudi tersebut menjadi pandai dalam muzik dan gubahan lagu. Lebih menyayatkan hati, lagu yang terbengkalai oleh pemuda penderma jantung tersebut disiapkan secara berasingan oleh pemudi penerima jantung tersebut. Apabila ibu pemuda mendengar lagu yang dimainkan pemudi tersebut, tiba-tiba menangis sedih kesayuan apabila mendapati lagu itu pernah dimainkan oleh anaknya yang meninggal dunia itu.

Etika turut dikaji secara bersepadu dalam sains Islam. Sains bukan ilmu yang terpisah daripada paksi tauhid umat Islam tetapi merupakan satu cabang yang memperkuatkan paksi itu. Dalam etika perubatan Islam, persoalan seperti pemindahan anggota, kematian otak, pengguguran bayi, teknologi rawatan rapi dan seumpamanya bukan sahaja berkaitan dengan etika tetapi juga syariah dan hukum.

Dalam persidangan ulama di Jordan tahun 1986, kematian otak atau brain death diterima sebagai alamat kematian walaupun sebahagian ulama tidak sependapat. Dengan demikian, di Arab Saudi misalnya, pemindahan buah pinggang boleh dilakukan apabila kematian otak penderma telah disahkan doktor yang amanah.

Pengguguran kandungan selepas bayi bernyawa dilarang sama sekali dalam syariah. Hanya pengecualian dalam keadaan yang ketat sahaja diberikan apabila nyawa si ibu dalam keadaan terancam, iaitu apabila pilihan nyawa ibu atau nyawa bayi perlu dilakukan seperti dalam kes ibu yang mengalami rawatan kemoterapi. Rawatan ini berkemungkinan menyebabkan keguguran. Sesungguhnya, seseorang doktor Muslim memberikan khidmatnya kepada masyarakat dengan penuh amanah dan tanggungjawab sosial yang berupa ibadat umum, dalam kerjaya hariannya. Alangkah indahnya apabila umat Islam yang memerlukan perkhidmatan kesihatan dilihat oleh doktor Muslim yang bertakwa sebagai sumber kebajikan dan akan dibalas di Akhirat nanti.

Dipetik dengan sedikit ubahsuai dari :
http://www.kesturi.net/archives/433

Sesungguhnya orang yang beriman itu ialah orang yang apabila disebutkan Allah akan gementar hati mereka, dan apabila dibacakan ayat-ayat-Nya (ayat-ayat Allah) akan bertambahlah iman mereka, dan kepada Rab (Tuhan) mereka bertawakal. ( Surah an-Anfal : Ayat 2 )

Ahad, 18 November 2012

Miracles of Quran 6

Forelock

Allah the Almighty speaks of Abu Jahl (an inveterate enemy of Islam, who used to insult prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his followers) :
“No Indeed; surely, if he gives not over, We shall seize him by the forelock, a lying, sinful forelock!” (96 : 15-16)
( كلا لئن لم ينته لنسفعًا بالناصية * ناصية كاذبة خاطئة) ( العلق :16 - 15)

Linguistic explanation:

Forelock means lock of hair at forehead.  in explanation of Allah’s verse:We shall seize him by the forelock’, Al Faraa said; ‘it is the forehead that He (Allah) shall seize Abu Jahl  to drag him i.e., a sign of humiliation and disgrace.’

Commentators’ explanation:

Al Alousi said; “The forelock as described in the verse, indicates in the first place that this person is lying and sinful, and due to Abu Jahl’s obstinate lying and sins, every part of him is lying and sinning .”  Al Alousi also said; “The forelock is specifically mentioned here because the cursed Abu Jahl used to take good care of it by combing and perfuming, and because seizing the forelock is the utmost humiliation for any Arab…”

  • Some Quran commentators say: “The aim is not a lying forelock.  But it is used metaphorically, not in the strict sense of the term, i.e., it is the forelock of a liar and sinful.  Since the forelock is the forehead, the description of lying refers to the possessor, as it could not be a place or source of lying.
  • In his “Musnad”, Ahmed referred to the Prophet's Hadith which points out to the forelock.  It was narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said;
    O, my Lord I am Your slave and the son of Your slave and the son of Your bondmaid, my forelock is at Your Hands, … "  . This Hadith reveals that man’s fate is at Allah’s Hands, as well as man’s forelock, thus indicating, as the Verse above, that the forelock plays an important role in guiding and controlling man’s behaviour.
  • So, what is the reason underlying the use of forelock? What is the hidden organ behind the forehead – that part which is responsible for the person’s character and which controls man’s behaviour and actions of truthfulness and lying, right and wrong, and which if subjugated, man’s behaviour can be controlled, as indicated in the book of  “Gray's anatomy  edited by Warwick & Williams.
 
Scientific facts:
 Man’s brain contains the following main lobes:  
1-     Frontal lobe.
2-     Occipital lobe.
3-     Temporal lobe.
4-     Parietal lobe.
 


The brain with its different lobes

·        For each lobe, there is a functional role, which is at he same time complementary to the other body functions.   Having dissected the forehead, the frontal lobe was found to be the part lying behind.  The frontal lobe is characterized, apart from the animal counterpart, with the regions responsible for behaviour and speech being developed and distinct as per the anatomic and functional levels.
·        The Frontal lobe is a big lobe situated in front of the central groove, and contains five neurological centres that vary in location and position. These centres are:  
1-     Primary Motor Area that helps move the voluntary muscles of the left side of the body.
2-     Secondary Motor Area that helps move the voluntary muscles of the right side of the body.
3-     Frontal Eye Field that helps move eyes to the opposite sides compatibly.
4-     Motor Speech Area of Broca that coordinates movements among organs of speech, such as larynx, tongue and face.
5-     Pre-Frontal Cortex, which lies directly behind the forehead, represents the bigger part of the frontal lobe, and its function is responsible for forming the person’s character and also has an effect in determining the ability of taking initiative and judgment.  

·        Since the Prefrontal cortex lies directly behind the forehead and deep under the forelock, it directs some of man’s behaviour such as characteristics of truthfulness and lying, right and wrong, and distinguishes among each of these characteristics.
·        Electronic Studies of brain and electric studies of organ functions revealed that patients and animals subjected to damage of frontal lobes, often suffer a diminution of mental abilities. Any deficiency affecting the frontal lobe can change the natural behaviour of man that may reach to the extent of doing evil actions, and deterioration of the moral principles, the memory, and the ability to solve mental issues.
·        Frontal lobes of brain are considered the centre of the initiative of lying. All mental activities of lying are conducted therein and then transferred to messengers organs through the action of lying. The evil actions are also planned for in this lobe before being transferred to action organs.  The lobe is also responsible for wrong actions being a centre of direction and control, as indicated in Encyclopaedia Britannica.

The miracle side:  
The miracle side in the above Quranic verse and the Honourable Hadith of the Prophet is that they refer very accurately to the frontal lobe, lying deep at man’s forelock, as being the centre of decision to control man’s actions of truthfulness, lying, right, wrong, balance or perversion.   This has been revealed by modern scientific studies in the second half of the 20th century.

Another fact:
The brain is surrounded with three membranes, among which is the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), which has the function of protection, feeding and cooling.



The brain swims in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) and it is surrounded with 3 membranes

It has been found that the brain inside the skull weighs 50 gm, although the real weight is 1700 gm.  The physical principle states that the volume of the object immersed in fluid is equal to the volume of displaced fluid.  Therefore, it is of the Almighty Creator’s decree that we do not feel the brain weight, as it floats in the CSF, which originates from a special area in the brain called “the corogy plexus”, and rotates inside and comes out of another area such as the domestic water net.  This cycle occurs five times a day.  As Moslems do before prayer times, the brain get ablution 5 times a day ... !

We prostrate on the frontal lobe which has the centre of decision making.  When prostrating and worshipping Allah, the Moslem’s forelock is certified as truthful and right .


Sabtu, 17 November 2012

Miracles of Al Quran 4

Miracle of honey !
 
  • Allah the Almighty says;
    "Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect"  (16: 68)
(وأوحى ربك إلى النحل أن اتخذي من الجبال بيوتاً ومن الشجر، ومما يعرشون، ثم كلي من كل الثمرات فاسلكي سبل ربك ذللا ، يخرج من بطونها شراب مختلف ألوانه فيه شفاء للناس، إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون) النحل 68
  • Although honey is one of the most important products of the bee, yet it is not the only product. Honey wax, propolis, nectar, bee toxicant are cases in point of other products that proved by experimental science to be of medical benefits.
  • Honey has more than 80 materials of sugar vitamins and 15 materials of sugars, particularly fructose, glucose, minerals, amino acids and about 5% of unclassified materials.
  • containing healing for mankind is an explicit verse indicating that honey is a treatment as well as a nutrient.


 Benefits of honey:

  • Alleviating inflammation of cornea if used locally on the eye.
  • An antibiotic if used locally in situ of wounds and burns, and it is used for healing of wounds :
    - When used in treatment of wounds, thanks to its ability to absorb moisture from the air, honey facilitates healing process and prevents scarring. This is because honey stimulates the growth of epithelial cells that form the new skin cover over a healed wound. In this way, even in case of large wounds, honey may eliminate the need for tissue transplantation.
    - Honey stimulates the re-growth of tissue involved in the healing process. It stimulates the formation of new blood capillaries and the growth of fibroblasts that replace the connective tissue of the deeper layer of the skin and produce the collagen fibres that give strength to the repair.
    - Honey has an anti-inflammatory action, which reduces the swelling around a wound. This improves circulation and thus hastens the healing process. It also reduces pain.
    - Honey does not stick to the underlying wound tissues, so there is no tearing away of newly formed tissue, and no pain, when dressings are changed.
    -Thanks to its aforementioned antimicrobial property, honey provides a protective barrier to prevent wounds becoming infected. It also rapidly clears any existing infection from wounds. It is fully effective, even with antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Unlike antiseptics and antibiotics, there is no impairment of the healing process through adverse effects on wound tissues.
    - Some studies showed that honey is a good treatment against the  hospital infection bacteria "superbugs" (MRSA) .
     
  • As honey does not accommodate bacteria, this bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect." There are various reasons of this anti-microbial property of the honey. Some examples are: the high sugar content that limits the amount of water microorganisms need for growth, its high acidity (low pH) and composition which deprive bacteria from nitrogen necessary for reproduction. The existence of hydrogen peroxide as well as antioxidants in the honey prevent bacteria growth.
  •  Antioxidant: Everyone who wants to live a healthier life should consume antioxidants. Those are the components in cells that get rid of harmful byproducts of normal metabolic functions. These elements inhibit destructive chemical reactions that cause spoilage of food and many chronic illnesses. Researchers believe food products rich in antioxidants may prevent heart problems and cancer. Strong antioxidants are present in honey content: Pinocembrin, pinobaxin, chrisin and galagin. Pinocembrin is an antioxidant that merely exists in the honey.
  • A treatment for gastric and duodenal ulcers, as honey decreases the secretion of hydrochloric acid to a normal rate, thus helping to heal such ulcers and alleviate the related pains and reduce resultant cases of vomiting and colic.  For the treatment to be effective, honey should be taken dissolved in warm water one or two hours before meals.
  • A treatment for involuntary urination at beds.  Such a disease that could often be a result of psychic or neurotic cause. So, if the child is given one small spoon of honey before sleeping, this will have a positive effect, as honey is sedative for the nervous system, thus helping the cyst to relax and expand during sleep.  Concentrated sugar also helps to absorb water from the child body.
  • It supports blood formation: Honey provides an important part of the energy needed by the body for blood formation. In addition, it helps in cleansing the blood. It has some positive effects in regulating and facilitating blood circulation. It also functions as a protection against capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.
  • A treatment for colds, flu and pharyngitis.
  • A treatment for cases of chronic hepatitis, as honey increases the liver stock of the glycogen material through the increase of blood glucose, thus helping the liver to function properly and relieve it from more burdens.
  • A treatment for insomnia and a sedative for nerves, as it contains some sedative and tonic substances as sodium and potassium at a reasonable rate such.
  • A treatment for alcoholic poisoning.   Honey is one of the main nutrients prescribed in hospitals and clinics of alcoholic addicts, as it protects the liver from alcoholic poisoning. Fructose and vitamin B group in the honey helps oxidize the alcohol remaining in the body.
  • A treatment for cough.
  • In cosmetics, a mixture of honey with lemon and glycerin is considered of the best old medical prescription for the treatment of skin cracking and roughness, the inflammation and wounds of lips, sun stroke, and dermal pigments.  Many ointments and creams contain honey as a main element for the treatment of skin diseases.
  • A treatment for muscular spasm of sportive exercises or facial spasms and eyelids muscles, which disappear after having one big spoon of honey for three days after each meal.
  • Many researches have been done to look at the benefits of natural honey .. !
     
It was narrated by Al Bukhari and Moslem on the authority of Abu Saeed Al Khudari that  A man came to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and said, "My brother has some abdominal trouble." The Prophet said to him "Let him drink honey." The man returned to the prophet and said: “O Messenger of Allah! I let him drink honey, but it caused him more pain.”  The prophet said to him; “Go and let him drink honey”.  The man went and let his brother drink honey, then returned back and said; “O Messenger of Allah, it did not cause him except more pains.”  The Prophet then said, "Allah has said the truth, but your brother's abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey." So he made him drink honey and he was cured.

It can easily be seen from this information that honey has great "healing" properties. This is undoubtedly one of the miracles of the Quran Allah, Who is Exalted in Power, has revealed.
 

Another interesting point regarding the female honey bee , Allah (SWT) says in the holy Quran
(Your Lord revealed to the bees: "Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow." From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect ( 16:68-69)
(وأوحى ربك إلى النحل أن اتخذي من الجبال بيوتاً ومن الشجر، ومما يعرشون، ثم كلي من كل الثمرات فاسلكي سبل ربك ذللا ، يخرج من بطونها شراب مختلف ألوانه فيه شفاء للناس، إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون) النحل 68
In the honey bee colonies where each of the many bees is assigned a specific task, the only exception is the male honey bee. The males do not contribute to the defence of the hive or its cleaning, gathering food, or making the honeycomb and honey. The only function of the male bees in the hive is to inseminate the queen bee. Apart from reproductive organs, the males possess almost none of the features possessed by other bees and it is therefore impossible for them to do anything but fertilise the queen.
The worker bees carry the entire load of the colony. Although they are females like the queen, their ovaries have no maturity. This renders them sterile. They have several duties: cleaning the hive, maintaining the larvae and the young, feeding the queen bee and the males, producing honey, constructing the honeycomb and repairing it, ventilating the hive and safeguarding it, gathering supplies like nectar, pollen, water and resin, and storing these in the hive.
In Arabic, there are two different usages of verbs. By means of the usage, it is possible to determine whether the subject is a female or a male. As a matter of fact, the translated verbs into English (underlined words) used for the honey bee are used in the feminine verb format in the Quranic verses.
Based on this, the Quran indicates that the honey bees that work in the making of the honey are females.
We should not forget that it is impossible for this fact to have been known about the honey bees in the time of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Yet, Allah has pointed at this fact and shown us yet another miracle of the Quran.
 

Miracles of Quran 2

Medical References  at the shadows of Surat Al Kahf

 The Quranic chapter 18 : "The Cave"  (Al Kahf) was revealed to answer few questions which the mushriks (unbelievers) of Makkah, had put to the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in order to test him.. One of the questions was : Who were "the Sleepers of  the Cave" ?  The disbelievers of Makkah were told that the story of the Sleepers of the Cave was a clear proof of the creed of the Hereafter, as it shows that Allah has the power to resurrect anyone He wills even after a long sleep of death as He did with the Sleepers of the Cave (they slept over 300 years) .

  • Allah the Almighty says in this chapter  : “Then We smote their ears in the Cave many years.” (18 : 11)
(فَضَرَبْنَا عَلَى آذَانِهِمْ فِي الْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا) – الآية 11 من سورة الكهف
The sense of hearing is a physiological one that does not stop functioning at the time of sleep (the sleeper can wake up at a nearby sound). As the 8th cranial nerve (which passes in the inner part of the ear) has two divisions: one for hearing and the other for equilibrium (position and movement of the head). In the case of Cave Sleepers the physiological  function of both hearing and equilibrium did stop, therefore, the Quranic verse uses the expression “Smote their ears..” rather than their hearing.
 
  • The other bodily functions were veiled, and the eye did not see though open  : “You would have thought them awake, as they lay sleeping” (18: 18).
 (وتحسبهم أيقاظا وهم رقود ) آية 18
  • And their muscles did not move, although they were alive: While We turned them now to the right, now to the left” (18:18)
(ونقلبهم ذات اليمين وذات الشمال) آية 18
  • Their shape did not change although many years elapsed as they did not notice real changes on their faces when they woke up:  “They said: ’We have tarried a day, or part of a day (18:19)
(قَالُوا  لَبِثْنَا يَوْماً أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ) آية 19
  • Their conditions as such are like that of preserving organs through cooling to cause metabolic inhibition, which is used extensively in the medical field to preserve donated organs (heart, kidneys, cornea, etc) before transplantation into another body. Therefore, the sun inclines towards the right when rising up and towards the left when setting down, so that it will not strike them, while they are in a gap in the cave:
    And you would have seen the sun, when it rose, inclining from their Cave towards the right,
    and when it set, passing them by on the left, While they are in a gap therein, Such are among the Signs of Allah (18:17),
(وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَتْ تَزَاوَرُ عَنْ كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَتْ تَقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَال وَهُمْ فِي فَجْوَةٍ مِنْهُ ذلك من آ يات الله) 17

So, coolness in this gap in the Cave away from the heat of the sun that did not touch them, was sufficient to inhibit bodily metabolism for the preservation of their bodies all this long period.  Had they been only asleep, they would have needed water and food to survive, and would have been awaken by the need to urinate after some hours.  But Allah inhibited all their biological functions and preserved their bodies in a living shape. So, He said;
You would have thought them awake, as they lay sleeping”.(18: 18),

(وَتَحْسَبُهُمْ أَيْقَاظاً وَهُمْ رُقُودٌ) آية 18
and did not say; “You would have thought them dead, as they lay sleeping”, as the sign of awakening is ‘eye wink’.  Allah preserved their eyes from blindness through blinking, as the eye if kept closed for a long period of time will be blind, because the optic nerve will shrink and die, and if it is kept open, the cornea will be affected with corneo-xerosis, and blindness. Therefore, this rare status of theirs would have aroused terror, if seen, as they were not alive or dead.  They were asleep, yet their eyes were blinking: “Had you observed them surely you would have turned your back on them in flight, and been filled with terror of them.” (18:18)

(لَوِ اطَّلَعْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَوَلَّيْتَ مِنْهُمْ فِرَاراً وَلَمُلِئْتَ مِنْهُمْ رُعْباً) آية 18
As Allah preserved their eyes through blinking, He also preserved their bodies from ulcers through constant turning: “While We turned them now to the right, now to the left” (18:18),

(وَنُقَلِّبُهُمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَذَاتَ الشِّمَالِ) آية 18
 so that they would not be affected with pressure sores. 

Pressure or bed sore in the lower back due to lack of movements in a paralyzed patient


Miracles of Quran


The sensation of skin pain

It was commonly believed, for several centuries, that the body is all sensitive to pain.  It was not clear then that there were specialized nerves in the body responsible for transporting  all kinds of pain and other sensations, until recently when anatomy has discovered the role of specialized nerve endings in transporting all different kinds of pain.

The most significant nerve sensations in the human body are:  
  • The sensation of touch: the corpuscles responsible for such sensation are called Meissners and Merkels corpuscles.
  • The sensation of pain: this is transported by the nerve endings in the skin.
  • The sensation of heat: this is the responsibility of Ruffini cylinders corpuscles.

First degree burn

Second Degree










Taking skin burns as a distinct cause for the skin sensation of pain, burns can be divided into 3 types:

1-     Burns of first degree (sun burns): these affect the epidermis causing swelling and moderate pain.  The phenomena of redness, swelling and pain usually disappear within two to three days. (Figure 1).

2-     Burns of second degree: epidermis and dermis are injured.  In such a case, a detachment  occurs between epidermis and dermis, causing the collection of secretions between these two layers (Figure 2). The injured person suffers from severe pain, and excessive increase of pain sensation, due to irritation of exposed nerve ending particularly after the outburst of blisters.  The skin starts to heal within 14 days as a result of the process of renovation and inversion under the skin.
3-     Burns of third degree: the whole skin thickness is burned and perhaps the injury may reach the muscles or the bone.   The skin loses elasticity and becomes rough and dry.  In this case, the injured person do not feel much pain, as nerve endings have been damaged almost completely due to burning (Figure 3).
Third degree burn










 

The Quran states ;  “Those who reject our signs, We shall cast into the fire; as often as their skins are roasted through.  We shall change them for fresh skins, that they may taste the punishment; for Allah is Exalted in power; Wise.” ( 4:56) 

(إنَّ الذٌينّ كّفّرٍوا بٌآيّاتٌنّا سّوًفّ
نصليهم نّارْا كٍلَّمّا نّضٌجّتً جلودهم بدلناهم جلوداَ غيرها ليذوقوا العّذّابّ إنَّ اللَّهّ كّانّ عّزٌيزْا حّكٌيمْا)  (النساء56).

Allah did not say “as often as their skins are burned”, as burning could be partial, but He rather said: “as often as their skins are roasted through”, i.e., totally burned with all nerves of sensation and pain.  So, He the Almighty associated between the sensation of pain and the skin when roasted and burned totally, thus losing its structure and function.  When sensation of pain is lost, a new fully composed and functional skin is replaced, where the nerve ending responsible for the painful sensation of heat and burn perform and function to make the unbeliever taste the punishment of being burned with fire over and over again.
 


What about intestines ..?

Anatomy has discovered that small intestines are the longest part in the digestive system, of about 5 meters long. The walls of intestines consist of 3 layers:
1-     The external stratum (serum stratum): its membrane is soft and wet due to the secretion of a serum liquid.
2-     The medium stratum (muscular stratum).
3-     The internal stratum (mucosa stratum): it consists of a mucosa plate and circular or ring folds full of villi, and contains intestinal glands and lymphatic vesicular.

It has been found out that the abdominal cavity is lined with the peritoneum which is fed through the wall nerves feeding the skin, and the muscles of chest and abdomen. These nerves are affected by touch and heat.  The viscera have no nerves for pain or sensation.  Therefore, when the abdominal wall is anaesthetized locally, and the abdomen is open, no sensation of pain or disturbance is felt in the intestines if held, cut or even burned.  But when the intestines are cut or perforated for any reason, its contents come out into the cavity surrounding the viscera, and which is rich in sensitive nerves, the pain is then very severe and the abdomen of the patient is in a state called Board Like Rigidity.  It is an emergency surgical state that requires an immediate operation.
 


 
 In Quran, Allah the Almighty says about the torment of hell fire; “such are given to drink boiling water, that tears their bowels asunder.” (47: 15)
(وسقوا ماءَ حميماَ فقطع أمعاءهم ( محمد : 15
The Holy Quran threatens the unbelievers of  hot water that tears their bowels. The reasoning underlying this threat has recently become evident.  It has been discovered that intestines are not affected with heat. But if they are cut, hot water therein comes out into the peritoneum which is fed through the wall nerves feeding the skin, and the muscles of chest and abdomen.  These nerves are affected with touch or heat, so the hot water, after intestines are cut, causes the highest degrees of pain.

So the outer torment felt in the skin, is different from that felt in the inner intestines, due to the difference in the nature of skin structure.  The feeling of former torment cannot be maintained unless the roasted skin is exchanged with a new layer, while in the case of intestines, torment is felt only by cutting the intestines with hot water.  Torment is yet continuous: “As for the unbelievers, theirs shall be the fire of Gehannam (hellfire); they shall neither be done with and die, nor shall its chastisement be lightened for them,  even so We recompense every ungrateful one.” (35:36)

 ( والذين كفروا لهم نار جهنم لا يُقضى عليهم فيموتوا ولا يُخففُ عنهم من عذابها كذلك نجزي  كل كفور) سورة فاطر- 36

Thus the Quranic scientific miracles are crystallized.  Feeling of pain as perceived in medical facts are very much compatible with the statements of the Holy Quran.