copper, so that man came to manifest “and We softened iron for him,”(34:10) and this became the basis of his industries
Think also about the aeroplanes that human minds incubated and hatched, which travel a month’s journey in a day, so that humankind would come to manifest: “its morning course [covered the distance of] a month’s journey, and its evening course, a month’s journey.”(34:12)
And reflect on the progress achieved in tools invented through human enterprise, staffs to strike arid deserts, causing copious springs to gush forth and transforming the sandy wastes into gardens, so that man is on the point of manifesting “‘Strike the rock with thy staff!’ ”(2:60)
Now ponder over the wonders of medicine yielded by man’s experiments that are beginning to heal those born blind and the lepers and the chronically sick, by Allah’s leave – you will see that [between the above verses and the future scientific discoveries] is a full correspondence and you will be right to say that [those miracles] are the criteria and measure [of those future discoveries], and that the miracles point to them and urge [mankind to work to achieve] them.
Similarly, consider such verses as: “We said: ‘O fire! Be cool, and [a means of] safety for Abraham.”(21:69)
“Had he not seen an evidence of His Lord.”(12:24) That is, according to one narration, had he not had a vision of Jacob biting his finger.
“I do indeed scent the presence of Joseph.”(12:94)
“O you mountains! Sing ye back the praises of Allah with him.”(34:10)
“O you people! We have been taught the speech of birds.”(27:16)
“I will bring it to you within the twinkling of an eye.”(27:40)
Now consider mankind’s discovery of the degree of heat that does not burn and non-inflammable materials; and the invention of means of attracting images and sounds from far off and bringing them to you before you can blink your eye; and ‘speaking’ machines [such as the radio]; and the employment of some species of birds like the pigeon and so on. You may see the agreement and congruity between these two sorts [of wonders], and may rightly say that [the verses] signify and allude to [the future discoveries].
Similarly, reflect on the particular attribute of the Supreme Miracle [the Qur’an], articulate speech and thought, the peculiarity of humanity, and literature and eloquence. Now think about the highest means of training the human spirit, and the subtlest means of purifying the conscience, and the finest way of adorning human thought, and the best at expanding the heart: