A Miracle of the Qur'an about "Iron"

Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Qur'an. In fact, a surah is named ‘Hadid,’ which means ‘iron.’ The 25th verse of Surah Hadid states: "We sent down iron, in which is violent force and benefits for mankind." (Surah Hadid 25)

In the noble verse, the term ‘enzelna’ used for the formation of iron means ‘We sent down.’ However, what we know is that iron is extracted from the ground. So, in our view, instead of ‘We sent down iron,’ it should have said ‘We extracted iron.’ But that is not the case at all. The term ‘sent down’ in the noble verse draws attention to a very important scientific miracle.

That is to say: A certain temperature is required for iron ore to form. This required temperature does not exist on Earth, nor is it present on the Sun. The Sun has a surface temperature of 6,000 degrees Celsius and a core temperature of 15 million degrees Celsius. This is not a sufficient temperature for iron to form. Iron can only form in stars much larger than the Sun, at temperatures reaching several hundred million degrees. When the amount of iron in these stars, known as novae or supernovae, exceeds a certain ratio, the star can no longer sustain it and explodes. It is through these explosions that iron is dispersed into space. All astronomical findings indicate that the iron ore on Earth originated from giant stars in outer space.

Not only the iron on Earth, but all the iron in the Solar System has been obtained from outer space. Because, as we have stated, the Sun's temperature is not sufficient for the formation of the iron element. As can be understood from all this, iron ore did not form on Earth; it was transported from supernovae and brought down as stated in the same verse.

It is impossible for this information to have been known in the century when the Qur'an was revealed, that is, 1400 years ago. Since it is impossible, how can the presence of this information in the Qur'an be explained?

Is there any explanation other than the Qur'an being the book of Allah?

Furthermore, the noble verse mentions that iron has many benefits for humans. However, at the time this noble verse was revealed, people only used iron to make swords and were unaware of its other benefits. Nevertheless, the Qur'an states, ‘There are many benefits in it for humans.’ Now, let us examine the latest scientific data on iron:

Without the iron atom, life dependent on carbon would not be possible in the universe.

In other words, there would be no supernovas, the Earth would not have heated up in its early stages, there would be no atmosphere or hydrosphere, no protective magnetic field, no Van Allen radiation belts, no ozone layer, no metal to form haemoglobin in human blood, no metal to neutralise the reactivity of oxygen, and no oxidation-based metabolism. The importance of the iron atom is easily understood from these explanations.

The fact that the Qur'an specifically draws attention to iron and states, ‘There are many benefits in it for mankind,’ is extremely meaningful and profoundly wise.

In addition to all this, there is another secret in the aforementioned verse.

That secret is this: The verse that mentions iron is verse 25 of Surah Hadid. This verse contains two quite interesting mathematical codes.

That is to say: Surah Hadid is the 57th surah of the Qur'an. When the name of the surah is pronounced with the definite article, it becomes ‘El-hadid,’ and the numerical value of this word in Arabic, calculated using the abjad system, is 57. This corresponds to the surah's position in the Qur'an. Surah Al-Hadid is the 57th surah of the Qur'an. If we take the word without the definite article, that is, if we only look at the numerical value of the word ‘hadid’, this is 26. The number 26 is the atomic number of iron. So, when we look at ‘El-hadid,’ its numerical value is 57. This is the order number of Surah Al-Hadid in the Qur'an. When we look at ‘Hadid,’ its numerical value is 26. This is the atomic number of iron.

Now let us think fairly: Is it possible that 1,400 years ago, in an age when science and technology did not even exist, a person living in the desert who did not learn to read or write knew that iron came from the sky and had many benefits, and that he observed the numerical correspondences we have mentioned while writing this in a book? What rational person would accept this? And would one who accepts this be called intelligent?

Given this, to call the Qur'an the word of man is like closing one's eyes to the Sun that illuminates the world. He who closes his eyes only brings night upon himself. May endless praise and thanks be to our Lord, who does not leave us in darkness and who turns our night into day with the light of the Qur'an!

Please click here to read the concerning part from the Collection.

Sorularla Risale & Nur Way