<P> The astrophysicist Nidhal Guessoum while being highly critical of pseudo-scientific claims made about the Quran, has highlighted the encouragement for sciences that the Quran provides by developing "the concept of knowledge .". He writes: "The Qur'an draws attention to the danger of conjecturing without evidence (And follow not that of which you have not the (certain) knowledge of...17: 36) and in several different verses asks Muslims to require proofs (Say: Bring your proof if you are truthful 2: 111), both in matters of theological belief and in natural science ." Guessoum cites Ghaleb Hasan on the definition of "proof" according the Quran being "clear and strong...convincing evidence or argument ." Also, such a proof cannot rely on an argument from authority, citing verse 5: 104 . Lastly, both assertions and rejections require a proof, according to verse 4: 174 . Ismail al - Faruqi and Taha Jabir Alalwani are of the view that any reawakening of the Muslim civilization must start with the Quran; however, the biggest obstacle on this route is the "centuries old heritage of tafseer (exegesis) and other classical disciplines" which inhibit a "universal, epidemiological and systematic conception" of the Quran's message . The philosopher Muhammad Iqbal, considered the Quran's methodology and epistemology to be empirical and rational . </P> <P> It's generally accepted that there are around 750 verses in the Quran dealing with natural phenomena . In many of these verses the study of nature is "encouraged and highly recommended," and historical Islamic scientists like Al - Biruni and Al - Battani derived their inspiration from verses of the Quran . Mohammad Hashim Kamali has stated that "scientific observation, experimental knowledge and rationality" are the primary tools with which humanity can achieve the goals laid out for it in the Quran . Ziauddin Sardar built a case for Muslims having developed the foundations of modern science, by highlighting the repeated calls of the Quran to observe and reflect upon natural phenomenon . "The' scientific method,' as it is understood today, was first developed by Muslim scientists" like Ibn al - Haytham and Al - Biruni, along with numerous other Muslim scientists . </P> <P> The physicist Abdus Salam, in his Nobel Prize banquet address, quoted a well known verse from the Quran (67: 3--4) and then stated: "This in effect is the faith of all physicists: the deeper we seek, the more is our wonder excited, the more is the dazzlement of our gaze". One of Salam's core beliefs was that there is no contradiction between Islam and the discoveries that science allows humanity to make about nature and the universe . Salam also held the opinion that the Quran and the Islamic spirit of study and rational reflection was the source of extraordinary civilizational development . Salam highlights, in particular, the work of Ibn al - Haytham and Al - Biruni as the pioneers of empiricism who introduced the experimental approach, breaking with Aristotle's influence and thus giving birth to modern science . Salam was also careful to differentiate between metaphysics and physics, and advised against empirically probing certain matters on which "physics is silent and will remain so," such as the doctrine of "creation from nothing" which in Salam's view is outside the limits of science and thus "gives way" to religious considerations . </P> <P> The Quran's message is conveyed with various literary structures and devices . In the original Arabic, the suras and verses employ phonetic and thematic structures that assist the audience's efforts to recall the message of the text . Muslims assert (according to the Quran itself) that the Quranic content and style is inimitable . </P>

How many pages of the quran are there