Scholars And Scientists from India and Iran Reflect On 'Qur'an and Science' At Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
By Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi, New Age Islam
31 January 2026
· Reviving the Qur’an as a Living Guide: Speakers at the 3rd International Conference on “Qur’an and Science” emphasized that the Qur’an must be read with understanding and applied in daily life, in order to address moral, social, and intellectual challenges and not to be reduced to ritualism or mere ritual recitation.
· Harmony between Qur’an and Science: The conference highlighted that there is no inherent contradiction between the Qur’an and modern science; rather, both guide humanity toward truth, knowledge, and the understanding of divine laws governing the universe.
· Knowledge as Worship and Moral Responsibility: From the first Qur’anic revelation onward, Islam has encouraged reflection, reason, and the pursuit of knowledge as sacred acts, linking scientific inquiry with ethical accountability.
· Ethics, Justice, and Human Dignity at the Core of Faith: Discussions and intellectual contestations stressed that religion must promote compassion, justice, peace, and human dignity, warning against coercion, authoritarianism, and the misuse of religious authority.
· Addressing Contemporary Challenges through Qur’anic Wisdom: The conference explored modern issues—such as AI, digital distraction, weakening family structures, and youth vulnerability—arguing that Qur’anic principles provide a comprehensive moral framework to navigate these challenges responsibly.
“We read the Qur’an, but do we really understand it? And even when we understand it, do we truly follow it?” asks the Vice-Chancellor of Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, Prof. Mazhar Asif.
The 3rd International Conference on Qur’an and Science, aimed at deepening interdisciplinary research and fostering scholarly dialogue between divine wisdom and contemporary human advancements, was held on January 28–29, 2026, at Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi, India. Bringing together scholars from India, Iran, Indonesia, and Europe, the conference was jointly organized by the Wilayat Foundation, the Department of Islamic Studies, Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), and Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
Inaugurating and presiding over the first session, Prof. Mazhar Asif stated:
“The true success of humankind lies in a deep understanding of the Qur’an, reflection upon it, and adherence to its teachings. The tragedy is that the Qur’an—once a transformative force for living nations, shaping moral character and shielding societies from sin and social vices—has today been reduced to a book recited only for the dead. The need of the hour is to once again make the Qur’an the pathway of life: to read it with understanding, internalize it in the heart, embody it in character, and make it the pulse of both our individual and collective lives.”
The Vice Chancellor added that the true spirit of religion lies in ensuring that a person does not harm others through words, behaviour, or actions. Emphasizing the need to translate Qur’anic teachings into everyday practice, the Vice-Chancellor highlighted essential values such as divine mercy, compassion, tolerance, and justice. Referring to these attributes as reflected in human responsibility, he urged the audience to embody peace, mercy, and ethical conduct in social interactions, concluding that only such conduct truly reflects Muslim engagement with the Holy Qur’an.
The Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to India, Dr. Mohammad Fathali, stressed the importance of deepening Qur’anic understanding in the modern age. He noted that discussions on the relationship between the Qur’an and science have continued for centuries as part of a sustained academic effort promoting knowledge, reasoning, argumentation, and ethical values—elements deeply relevant to addressing contemporary global challenges.
Noted Indian Shia cleric Dr. Kalbe Jawad raised a fundamental question of modern times: why should a book revealed over 1,400 years ago continue to be studied today? He argued that several Qur’anic insights align with scientific discoveries that were confirmed centuries later. He urged students and researchers to study modern science in the light of the Qur’an, cautioning that scientific theories often change and are revised over time.
In his keynote address, Prof. Aslam Parvez, former Vice-Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University, Hyderabad, hailed the conference as a crucial and long-overdue academic initiative. Challenging the widespread perception that religion is confined to rituals alone, he emphasized that the Holy Qur’an repeatedly urges human beings to use their intellect and senses. Quoting Qur’anic references, he said, “The Qur’an declares that those who do not use their reason are no better than animals.” He added that while the universe functions according to divine laws, humanity must reflect on whether it truly follows those principles in daily life. He further noted that the Qur’an and Sunnah teach that love is not merely a matter of words or claims but is demonstrated through action. Likewise, the Qur’an lays down the principle that surplus wealth should be spent in the path of goodness so that society may remain balanced and humanity may benefit.
Speaking as the Chief Guest, Prof. Mahtab Alam Rizvi, Registrar of Jamia Millia Islamia, stated that numerous Qur’anic verses draw human attention to scientific realities—such as the creation of water, the vastness of the universe, the origin of humankind from clay, the system sustaining the heavens, and the barrier between two seas that prevents their waters from mixing. These signs, he noted, testify to the fact that the Qur’an is not only a book of guidance but also directs humanity toward the scientific principles governing the universe.
Professor Akhtarul Wasey, renowned Islamic scholar and the Guest of Honour in this conference, congratulated Jamia Millia Islamia for organizing the conference at a time of significant global and geopolitical challenges. He stated that the Qur’an has shed light on several aspects of modern science while consistently encouraging humanity to reflect on the universe and its creation. “There is no contradiction between the Qur’an and modern science,” he asserted, adding that the Qur’an’s primary purpose remains the moral and spiritual guidance of humankind. He concluded that both the Qur’an and science guide humanity toward the same ultimate source of truth—the Oneness of God—where the Qur’an provides principles and science offers the means to understand and interpret them.
Professor Iqtidar Mohd Khan, Director of the Conference, Head of the Department of Islamic Studies, and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Languages, remarked that the Qur’an invites humanity to observe the signs scattered throughout the universe with insight and sound intellect, in order to understand the wisdom embedded within them and thereby improve both intellectual and practical life.
Prof. Naser Simforoosh (Professor of Urology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences) presented a paper titled “The Two Streams of Knowledge: Revelation (Wahy) and Observation (Ilm) on Life, Suffering, and Mortality.” He offered a comparative theological and scientific analysis examining both divergent and convergent perspectives of the Qur’an and science on critical ethical and bioethical issues. His paper explored views on illness, the nature and meaning of death, and the moral debate surrounding abortion and fetal termination, aiming to bridge scientific and theological worldviews through Qur’anic principles.
The primary audience comprised university professors and researchers from various disciplines engaged in integrating Qur’anic studies with the sciences. The conference themes were structured according to standard classifications of knowledge to ensure comprehensive coverage. A special section titled “The Qur’an and the Family” was also included, developed on the basis of Family Systems Theory and the epistemological foundations of family life in Islam. Scholars were invited to submit papers and oral presentations in either English or Arabic.
Delivering the welcome address, Professor Syed Shahid Ali, former Head of the Department of Islamic Studies, observed that from the earliest periods of Islamic civilization, the Qur’an has consistently encouraged observation of the universe, reflection, reasoning, and deep contemplation. He noted that the very first revelation instructs humanity to read in the name of its Lord, indicating that the pursuit of knowledge is not merely a worldly necessity but a sacred act and a form of worship.
Notably, the conference was also addressed by Prof. Dr. Jamileh Sadat Alamolhoda, former First Lady of Iran and wife of President Shaheed Ebrahim Raisi. Paying tribute to her husband’s courage, perseverance, and commitment to faith, peace, and justice, she expressed gratitude to the people of India for their solidarity with Iran during challenging times and for strengthening historic ties between the two nations. Speaking as a Guest of Honour, she emphasized the need for youth to strengthen their relationship with the Qur’an, which alone provides the path to intellectual coherence, peace, security, and success in both worlds.
She also presented an academic paper titled “Youth and Resolving the Challenges of Realism and Idealism through Educational Reflection in the Life of Prophet Abraham (PBUH).” The paper examined the source, origin, and essence of the Abrahamic ideal as the Qur’anic method for understanding and applying Islamic principles across the human sciences.
Prof. Alamolhoda further observed that incidents of Qur’an desecration worldwide reflect ignorance rather than knowledge. Expressing concern over weakening family structures, she noted that younger generations—particularly Gen Z—are increasingly vulnerable due to a lack of parental guidance. She warned that the uncritical adoption of Western ideologies without ethical grounding poses serious challenges to social stability and stressed that Qur’anic knowledge offers a comprehensive framework to confront these issues. She concluded that such conferences are essential for addressing growing misunderstandings about the Holy Qur’an.
Prof. Dr. Robby Habiba Anror, M.Hum. (Dean, Faculty of Usuluddin and Islamic Thought, Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia) presented an intellectually stimulating paper titled “Reclaiming the Vector: Qur’anic Philosophy as an Antidote to the ‘Digital Narcissus’ in the Age of AI.” Using “vector” as a metaphor for human energy and purpose, he analysed the crisis of human attention driven by artificial intelligence and social media. He contrasted the Qur’anic revelation as the “ideal vector”—directing humanity toward justice and stewardship—with AI as a “counter-vector” that diverts attention toward individual gratification and curated digital personas. This redirection, he argued, reflects the Qur’anic warning against at-takāthur (rivalry in worldly accumulation), resulting in what he termed the “Neglected Child Paradox,” where real-world responsibilities are ignored in favour of virtual illusions.
…
Contributing author at New Age Islam, Ghulam Rasool Dehlvi is writer and scholar of Indian Sufism, interfaith ethics, and the spiritual history of Islam in South Asia. His latest book is "Ishq Sufiyana: Untold Stories of Divine Love".
URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-science/scholars-scientists-india-iran-quran-science/d/138664
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism