By Dr. `Abd al-Majid Bil`abid

(He said): O Yusuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know. Yusuf said: For seven consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall leave in ears, (all) – except a little of it which you may eat. Then will come after that, seven hard (years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, (all) except a little of that which you have guarded (stored). Then thereafter will come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will press (wine and oil).    Allah, the Almighty, says: (He said): O Yusuf (Joseph), the man of truth! Explain to us (the dream) of seven fat cows whom seven lean ones were devouring, and of seven green ears of corn, and (seven) others dry, that I may return to the people, and that they may know. Yusuf said: For seven consecutive years, you shall sow as usual and that (the harvest) which you reap you shall leave in ears, (all) – except a little of it which you may eat. Then will come after that, seven hard (years), which will devour what you have laid by in advance for them, (all) except a little of that which you have guarded (stored). Then thereafter will come a year in which people will have abundant rain and in which they will press (wine and oil).” (Yusuf 12: 45-49)

The Scientific Fact

Storing corn in its ears is considered one of the basic methods of preserving such seeds during hard environmental conditions. This combination of growing crops and preserving and storing them is called preserving products.

Dr. `Abd al-Majid Bil`abid and his colleagues from Rabat University in Morocco conducted research on some wheat seeds that were left in their ears for two years and some other seeds that were left outside their ears. Primary results showed that the ears experienced no change and stayed 100% viable despite the fact that the storehouse was normal and no special conditions were provided. Scientists also found that seeds left in their ears lost a considerable amount of water and became drier than those left outside their ears. This means that 20.3 % of the weight of the seeds left outside their ears is water which will affect the seeds ability to grow once cultivated, simply because water makes it more vulnerable to decay.

Thereafter, researches compared the rates of growth between seeds left in their ears and others left outside their ears for 2 years. They found that seeds left in their sheaths have a better growth rate – of 20 % root length and 32 % trunk length. Afterwards, researchers tried to estimate the proteins and sugar that remained unchanged. They found that such substances had fallen by 32 % after 2 years of storage in the seeds left outside their ears while after one year of storage such seeds lost 20 % of these substances. The seeds stored in their ears lost nothing.

Facets of Scientific Inimitability

Almighty Allah says: “…which you reap you shall leave in ears” which means that storing seeds in their ears is the best way to preserve them.

There are two other scientific observations in this verse:

1-     Defining the period over which seeds are expected to be viable: 15 years. People were commanded to grow wheat for 7 years and then 7 hard years would follow and then one year (totaling 15 in all) will come when people will be able to produce wine and oil. Scientific researches have proven that wheat seeds can keep their ability to grow for a maximum of 15 years.

2-     The method of storage by leaving seeds in their ears has also been tested in the research. This shows that the best way to store seeds is the way practiced by Prophet Yusuf who was taught by Allah. It is historically proven that this way was unknown before, especially to ancient Egyptians who used to store wheat seeds outside their ears. Obviously, this is a scientific miracle that shows the greatness and accuracy of the Ever-Glorious Qur’an and that it is a revelation from Allah (Exalted and Glorified be He).

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Source: www.quranandscience.com