An Ancient Prediction: The Verse on Fossil Fuels
The concept of fossil fuel formation might seem like a modern scientific discovery, but a remarkable verse in the Quran appears to foreshadow this process. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the interconnectedness of divine wisdom and our understanding of the natural world.
“It is He who has brought forth gardens, barren before;
And [He is] the Bestower, the Knower.” (Al-‘Ala, 4-5)
The verse describes a transformation of vegetation into something dark and substantial. Hamdi Efendi explains this in his commentary:
“Indeed, Allah initially brought forth pastures, meadows, gardens, and forests with all kinds of trees, and then transformed them into a black fertilizer and coal.” (Elmalılı, VIII, 5747)
The term “*ahva*” in the verse refers to colors like dark, brown, deep green, smoky, or clear. It is interpreted here as signifying blackness and darkness. (See Elmalılı, VIII, 5748)
Modern scientific understanding reveals that fossil fuels like coal and petroleum were formed over centuries from the fossilization of massive trees buried underground, a process akin to a dark flow of water – a revelation remarkably aligned with this ancient verse.