Page 121 - Miracles of The Qur'an Vol. 3
P. 121
Ha run Yah ya (Ad nan Ok tar)
THE RETINA:
THE LAYER OF THE EYE
The retina is a layer of the eye that contains cells that allow us to see.
At the time of the revelation of the Qur'an, this layer that made sight pos-
sible was unknown and the term “retina” was not in use. Yet the letters
that comprise the word "retina"
appear - side by side - in only one
place in the Qur'an, in verse 8 of
Surah Fatir. This verse also refers
to "seeing," for which reason
there is a strong possibility that it
refers to the retina. (Allah knows
the truth.)
And what of him the evil of whose actions seem fine to him so
that he sees them as good? Allah misguides whoever He wills and
guides whoever He wills. So do not let yourself waste away out
of regret for them. Allah knows what they do… (Surah Fatir, 8)
This verse, which contains the word "retina", refers to the Arabic
th
verb "raa," meaning "to see." The 19 verse contains the sentence "The
blind and seeing are not the same." Damage to the retina can lead to per-
manent blindness. The following verse refers to "nor are darkness and
light." That term is highly significant in terms of the formation of the reti-
na's light-sensitive calls. All these terms regarding sight are very rare in
the Qur'an. The fact that the word "retina" appears only in these verses
out of thousands, is another of Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an.
* The Arabic alphabet consists of consonants alone. The letter alif
is used to influence the way words are read.
119