Scholars from India, Iran Meet at Jamia to Discuss Quran and Science

 Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi, hosted a three-day international conference on “The Quran and Science”. Scholars from India, Iran, Indonesia, and several European participated at the varsity to examine the relationship between Quranic thought and contemporary scientific knowledge.

The conference was jointly organised by the Department of Islamic Studies,

Jamia Millia Islamia, Welayat Foundation, and Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran. Academics, university professors and researchers from diverse disciplines participated in the event, engaging in discussions aimed at strengthening dialogue between religious scholarship and modern scientific inquiry.

The conference was formally inaugurated on Wednesday at the Dr M.A. Ansari Auditorium by the Official Representative of the Supreme Leader of Iran in India, Hojjat al-Islam Dr Abdol Majid Hakim Elahi, along with Jamia Vice Chancellor Prof Mazhar Asif. Senior academics and representatives of the organising institutions were present at the inaugural session. Dr Jamileh Alamolhoda, a writer and scholar, faculty member at Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, and the wife of Iran’s late President Ebrahim Raisi, also attended the conference.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Hakim Elahi underlined the need for a rigorous and rational dialogue between revelation and reason. “We gather today in a spirit of scientific and interdisciplinary inquiry, seeking to connect the timeless truths of divine revelation with the dynamic achievements of contemporary science,” he said.

Referring to India’s civilisational heritage, Dr Elahi noted that the country has long attempted to reconcile spirituality with empirical observation. “Just as Indian traditions have sought truth through both inner meditation and outward observation, the Holy Quran calls humanity to reflection, systematic experience and logical reasoning,” he said.

Clarifying that the Quran should not be read as a conventional science textbook, Dr Elahi described it as offering a broader epistemological framework for scientific thinking. He identified systematic observation, the principle of order and balance in nature (mizan), and ethical responsibility as key Quranic principles relevant to scientific exploration. “The Quran provides a value system to ensure that science serves human dignity and the preservation of life, rather than environmental destruction or moral collapse,” he said.

Several speakers echoed concerns about ethical dilemmas posed by rapid technological advancement and environmental crises. Dr Elahi argued that reintegrating ethical and spiritual perspectives into scientific practice was no longer optional. “In today’s world, this synthesis is not merely an academic exercise but a global necessity,” he said.

During his address, Dr Elahi also cited Iran as an example of what he described as the integration of faith and scientific progress, highlighting advances in biotechnology, stem cell research, nanotechnology and aerospace sciences despite prolonged international sanctions. He attributed this progress to an emphasis on scientific self-reliance rooted in ethical and religious values.

The conference featured multiple academic panels structured around established scientific classifications, including the natural sciences, social sciences and the humanities, examining their intersections with Quranic studies. Scholars explored both classical and emerging domains, encouraging new questions and interdisciplinary approaches.

A special panel titled “The Quran and the Family” focused on contemporary challenges facing family structures and relationships. Drawing upon Family Systems Theory alongside Islamic epistemology, the panel examined how Quranic principles could engage with modern social science perspectives.

According to the organisers, the primary objectives of the conference included strengthening interdisciplinary research, fostering international academic collaboration, and systematising Quranic epistemological principles across various scientific fields, particularly in relation to social issues.

“The aim is to create sustained academic dialogue between religious thought and modern scientific inquiry,” one of the organisers said, adding that such engagements were especially relevant at a time when debates on faith and science are gaining renewed prominence globally.

The inaugural session was followed by technical panel discussions, with participants emphasising the need for continued collaboration between universities and research institutions across countries. The conference concluded with a call for deeper academic engagement that moves beyond symbolic dialogue towards collaborative research addressing global scientific and social challenges.