The book is a new and important addition to Quranic Literature. It gives comprehensive information about the plant and animal species cited in the verses of Holy Quran with respect to their biological status, specific characteristics, economic importance and their roles played in evolution and development of human cultures. All the respective verses citing the names of plants and animals or their products have been mentioned in the book and commented upon. The assigning of the proper biological status to them and their specific description have in a better way clarified the events associated with them and the messages and lessons conveyed through them. The book shall prove very useful to the scholars of the Quran and other religious scriptures who integrate science and religion.
Preface All praise is for Allah –the Lord of all that exists. O Allah, send prayers and salutations upon our Prophet Muhammad , his Family, his Companions, and all those who follow his way until the Last Day. Translations have been one of the few ways to export the messages of the Holy Quran. To my knowledge, despite the availability of some very useful translations and illuminating commentaries on the Quran, in major languages of the world, the scientific status, description and economic importance of the plants and animals mentioned in its verses, have not been given and explained comprehensively in them. Even the related Quranic literature like Quranic Dictionaries and the Encyclopedias of Islam do not throw much light on these objects. Although some scholars have attempted to describe the quranic plants on scientific lines but similar studies on the quranic animals are scanty. The need was, therefore, felt to thoroughly study and describe the Quranic plants and animals in light of the latest scientific knowledge. Being a student of botany, a nature lover and an ardent follower of Islam I have been studying the Glorious Qur-an, more through my understanding and knowledge angles and trying to identify the verses citing living systems-plants and animals, their functions and roles in the biosphere and their services to mankind. Getting a better understanding of such verses, citing some specific plants/animals or their products, I decided to write down their possible essence and also to identify the living creatures specifically cited in them and then to describe their biological status and highlighting their roles and services to mankind. This work, based mainly on the botanical/zoological identifications and scientific interpretations of Quranic animals and plants, is being humbly presented in the form of a book, with an aim to increase the understanding of the respective words/verses and the events associated with them.
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, his Family, his Companions, and all those who follow his way until the Last Day.