The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (part 66)
Unknown Diseases and Divine Wisdom in the Human Health System
Necrotizing Infections (“Flesh-Eating” Bacteria)
In May 1994, a dangerous and previously unknown disease emerged in Britain, deeply astonishing scientists and alarming the public. This illness was caused by a type of single-celled microbe which, due to its ruthless destructive power within the human body, became known as “flesh-eating” bacteria. During that same month, six people in Britain lost their lives, and shortly thereafter, a forty-six-year-old woman also died as a result of infection with this disease.
This microbe destroys body tissues at an astonishing rate—approximately one inch per hour—devouring flesh, muscles, and skin. The skin, muscle tissue, and subcutaneous fat are gradually consumed, causing the infected area to resemble a fifth-degree burn. The interval from the onset of infection to death is usually very short, though it varies depending on the initial site of infection. If the infection begins in sensitive, nerve-rich areas of the body, the patient may survive no more than one or two hours. However, if it starts in more distant parts such as the hands or feet, survival may extend up to two days. In both cases, the outcome is death. This disease is considered one of the deadliest infections known in modern medicine, and scientists have yet to fully understand the precise mechanism by which this microbe destroys human tissue.
A unique characteristic of this bacterium is its ability to grow and multiply under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, [1] allowing it to remain active in virtually any environment and in any part of the human body. This capability has made its control and treatment extremely difficult. Consequently, the earliest recorded outbreaks occurred in industrialized countries such as Britain, the United States, Canada, and Japan.
Some Islamic scholars and commentators have regarded the emergence of such diseases not merely as medical phenomena but as signs of the moral consequences experienced by human societies. In a hadith, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “لم تظهر الفاحشة فی قوم قط، حتى یعلنوا بها، إلا فشا فیهم الطاعون، والأوجاع التی لم تكن مضت فی أسلافهم الذین مضوا….” translation: never appears openly among a people without plagues and diseases spreading among them—diseases that were unknown to their predecessors. [2]
This hadith suggests that the spread of certain unknown diseases may be a direct consequence of sin and moral corruption. From this perspective, illnesses such as AIDS and flesh-eating infections may reflect moral deviation, social decay, and neglect of divine values. In His wisdom, God sometimes manifests the reward of the righteous and the punishment of the sinful in this world, serving as encouragement for some and a warning for others. Such events are, in reality, signs of divine mercy; for if punishment were reserved solely for the Hereafter, many people would not refrain from deviation and sin. When individuals witness the consequences of their actions in this world—whether in the form of disease, misfortune, or social unrest—they may repent and return to the right path. Thus, it may be said that no suffering befalls humanity except as a result of distancing oneself from God, and the root of this distance lies in ignorance and a lack of true understanding.
Accordingly, no calamity befalls humankind except as a result of estrangement from divine guidance and ignorance of the laws governing creation.
Bedsores (Pressure Ulcers)
In modern medicine, another common and serious problem among hospitalized patients is a condition known as bedsores, or pressure ulcers. This complication most frequently occurs in individuals who, due to chronic illness, pelvic or spinal fractures, physical paralysis, or coma, remain confined to bed for extended periods.
When the body remains immobile in a fixed position for hours or days, pressure from the bones internally and the hard surface of the bed externally obstructs blood circulation in the tissues trapped between these two forces. As a result, the flow of oxygen and nutrients is interrupted, causing the skin and muscle tissues to die. This process leads to the formation of deep, painful, and sometimes fatal wounds.
Physicians recommend that bedridden patients—especially those unable to move independently—be repositioned at least every two hours. If a person remains in a single position for more than twelve hours, the risk of developing bedsores increases significantly. These wounds most commonly appear in bony areas of the body, such as the sacrum, buttocks, shoulders, and heels, where bones lie close to the skin, and pressure between the bone and the bed compresses the surrounding tissue.
Remarkably, the Holy Qur’an alluded to this reality fourteen centuries ago—one that modern science has only recently confirmed. In Surah al-Kahf, Allah says regarding the Companions of the Cave: “وَنُقَلِّبُهُم ذَاتَ ٱلیَمِینِ وَذَاتَ ٱلشِّمَالِ. “And We turned them to the right and to the left.” (That is, We caused them to shift positions so that their bodies would remain healthy.) [3]
This verse reflects divine wisdom in preventing bedsores in those righteous servants, even though they slept for hundreds of years. Contemporary science has demonstrated that, even during ordinary sleep, humans unconsciously change positions several times throughout the night to maintain blood circulation and prevent tissue damage.
This scientific fact is yet another indication of divine wisdom in the creation of the human body. Even during sleep, the body naturally works to preserve its own health. Just as God Almighty protected the Companions of the Cave from physiological harm for centuries, this exemplifies the precision and absolute knowledge of the Creator.
Conclusion
In summary, by examining these two examples—the flesh-eating disease and bedsores—it becomes evident that a profound connection exists between the laws of nature and the moral and spiritual order. Diseases are not merely indicators of physiological dysfunction; in many cases, they also reflect behavioral deviations and human negligence toward the principles governing both physical and spiritual well-being.
This scientific reality once again underscores the profound connection between science and faith. The same God who established the laws of nature has, in His revealed Book, indicated signs that modern scientific research only confirms centuries later. If human beings violate the laws of creation—whether within their own bodies or in their social lives—they will inevitably face the consequences. Just as neglecting medical principles leads to tissue death and physical illness, disregarding moral and spiritual principles results in the corruption of both the soul and society. [4]
“Aerobic conditions” refer to a state in which oxygen is sufficiently present in the environment, allowing living organisms or chemical reactions to continue by utilizing oxygen. In contrast, “anaerobic conditions” are those in which oxygen is absent.
Sunan Ibn Mājah, Book of Tribulations (Kitāb al-Fitan), Chapter on Punishments, Hadith no. 4019, vol. 2, p. 1332, ed. ʿAbd al-Bāqī.
Al-Kahf (Qur’an), 18.
Summarized from: Encyclopedia of Scientific Miracles in the Qur’an and the Sunnah, vol. 2, pp. 1–5.
