JEDDAH: P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR
Published — Thursday 8 August 2013

Source: Arabnews http://arabnews.com/news/460618

There is an urgent need to spread the divine message of Qur’an in the modern world, which is beset with conflicts and problems, in order to promote global peace and stability, said Dr. Indu Chadra Shekharan, a physician at Jeddah National Hospital.

Dr. Indu Chandra Shekharan with Dr. Amina Mohammed Ali. (AN photo)

Shekharan, who embraced Islam recently, highlighted the scientific facts in the Holy Qur’an, saying it emphasizes the divinity of the Qur’an being the word of God. “Who will be a better guide for us than our creator,” she asked and called upon Muslims as well as non-Muslims to learn the Qur’an.

“No human could have produced such a book 1,400 years ago as it contains so many scientific facts that were discovered by man centuries later,” she said while giving a lecture at JNH conference hall on Tuesday. “The Qur’an is not a book of science but a book of signs and miracles,” Shekharan said. “I am sure that there would be more scientific facts in the Qur’an, which would be discovered by scientists in the coming centuries.”

Dr. Shekharan, who has been working at JNH for more than 10 years, embraced Islam last year inspired by the Ramadan lectures of V.P. Mohammed Ali, managing director of the hospital, and Islamic scholars.

“Islam in Arabic means surrender and submission. It is closely related to the Arabic word for peace, salam. This indicates that a true Muslim would work for world peace and stability,” she said.

She referred to various scientific facts mentioned in the Qur’an including the Bing Bang theory, the role of male’s sperm in determining the sex of fetus, the role of mountains in stabilizing the earth, the barrier between sweet and salt waters, the communication between ants and the well-organized life of bees.

Munawar Ali Shihab Thangal, a Muslim leader from Kerala and chairman of Sign, commended Shekharan for her good presentation reciting some verses from the Qur’an, adding that it would inspire others including Muslims to learn more about Islam and its holy book.

“The Qur’an is a great source of divine knowledge that can solve the problems of humanity and provide them with necessary guidance,” Thangal said.

He said Allah has made arrangement for the guidance of humanity from the very beginning by appointing prophets. “The first man, Adam, was a prophet,” he pointed out. “This shows that man should live a responsible life in this world following his guidance.”

Mohammed Ali also applauded Dr. Shekharan for her informative lecture. “There is a Qur’anic verse that highlights the good example of a tree that provides fruits, shade, wood and support to the public. Inspired by this verse, we have to serve the society by extending whatever services we can and keep away from things harmful to others,” he told the gathering. Dr. Shekharan was born and brought up in an orthodox Hindu family in Thiruvanandapuram, the capital city of Kerala in south India. Her parents are medical professors while her only brother is an engineer. She is mother of two children.