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The concept of recycling in nature, particularly the decomposition and renewal of nutrients, is fundamental to the survival of ecosystems. Scientists confirm that the process of decomposition returns nutrients back into the environment, sustaining the cycle of life. Dead organisms provide the nutrients that fuel the growth of new living beings, forming an essential part of nature's recycling system.
In modern ecology, the nutrient cycle is a process in which dead organic matter is broken down by decomposers, returning vital nutrients like nitrogen and carbon to the soil, air, and water. These nutrients then support the growth of new plants and organisms, sustaining ecosystems and contributing to biodiversity.
The Quran mentions the miraculous process of life and death in a verse that predates this scientific understanding:
Indeed, Allah is the One Who causes seeds and fruit stones to sprout. He brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living. That is Allah! How can you then be deluded ˹from the truth˺?6:95
This verse symbolically refers to the cycles of life and death in nature, where the living emerge from the dead, and the dead are recycled into new forms of life. Today, we understand this as part of the nutrient cycle, where decomposing organisms recycle essential nutrients that sustain the next generation of life.
This insight, recorded in the Quran, aligns perfectly with modern ecological principles, suggesting a deep knowledge of natural processes long before they were scientifically discovered.