Allah says in the Qur'an:
Do not follow what you have no ˹sure˺ knowledge of. Indeed, all will be called to account for ˹their˺ hearing, sight, and intellect.17:36
The Quran mentions "hearing" 185 times and "seeing" 148 times. Hearing usually refers to listening to sounds and understanding their meanings, while seeing refers either to physical sight or to deeper understanding and reflection. Interestingly, in these verses, “hearing” is consistently mentioned before “seeing,” a pattern found throughout the Qur’an.
In 38 verses, “hearing” and “seeing” are mentioned together. For instance:
He replied, “I have been granted all this because of some knowledge I have.” Did he not know that Allah had already destroyed some from the generations before him who were far superior to him in power and greater in accumulating ˹wealth˺? There will be no need for the wicked to be asked about their sins. 28:78
And Allah brought you out of the wombs of your mothers while you knew nothing, and gave you hearing, sight, and intellect so perhaps you would be thankful.16:78
Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “He is the One Who brought you into being and gave you hearing, sight, and intellect. ˹Yet˺ you hardly give any thanks.”67:23
Why Hearing is Mentioned Before SightModern science supports the Quran's description of hearing being developed before sight: In the Womb: A fetus develops the ability to hear by the fifth month of pregnancy. It can hear its mother’s heartbeat and other sounds. Sight develops later. The fetus’ eyes do not open until the seventh month, and even then, its vision is weak. The optic nerve, responsible for transmitting visual signals, only matures weeks after birth. After Birth: A baby can hear clearly a few days after birth. Vision is blurry at birth; babies struggle to distinguish light from darkness. By three months, they start recognizing faces, and by six months, they can identify people. Full vision develops by the age of ten. Comparison with Animals: Humans are unique because they can hear while still in the womb. Most animals, like cats or dogs, only start hearing days after birth.
The Miracle in the QuranThe Quran’s emphasis on hearing oversight reflects its alignment with embryology and human development. Hearing develops earlier than sight both in the womb and after birth. This knowledge, described in the Quran over 1400 years ago, shows its divine origin. The Quran’s references to the senses align with modern science. Hearing is mentioned before sight because it develops earlier and is functional before birth, a fact that was only recently understood. This demonstrates the Quran's miraculous nature.
