How Quranic verses align with the scientific understanding of the brain
Complexity of the Brain: The brain is one of the most complex organs in the human body. It's responsible for our thoughts, actions, emotions, and perception of the world. This intricate nature of the brain, as per Islamic belief, is a testament to the existence of a Creator. In the Quran, Allah's ability to create intricate and complex things is mentioned in verse 2:117: "He is the One Who has originated the heavens and the earth, and when He wills to (originate) a thing, He only says to it: ‘Be’, and it becomes."
بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَإِذَا قَضَى أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ [2:117]
Brain and Lying: The Quran mentions in verse 96:16 that disbelievers will be dragged from their "lying, sinful forehead".
نَاصِيَةٍ كَاذِبَةٍ خَاطِئَةٍ ۚ ١٦
This could be seen as a reference to the prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for devising lies. Modern science confirms that compulsive liars have increased white matter in the prefrontal cortex, which is an interesting alignment between Quranic verse and scientific understanding.
Brain Development and Quran Recitation: Recitation of the Quran has been found to stimulate brain development. When learning the Quran, the careful attention to listening and pronunciation of verses stimulates an area of the brain located in the temporal lobe, where the hippocampus (the memory consolidation center) is located. Moreover, other areas of the brain such as the parietal lobes, frontal lobes, primary motor cortex, and occipital lobes also get activated during the process of Quranic recitation and memorization. This stimulation and activation of different brain regions enhance various functions like memory formation, attention, skill learning, language, and planning, among others.
In conclusion, there are verses in the Quran that can be interpreted to align with modern scientific understanding of the brain. However, it's important to note that the Quran's primary purpose is not to serve as a scientific textbook, but as a guide for moral and spiritual guidance. The interpretation of these verses in the light of modern science should be done with caution and respect for the text's primary purpose.