Dr. Muhammad Modassir Ali, research coordinator at CMCC and Mr. Ahmed El Gharib, assistant researcher at QBG presented at the lecture and highlighted various aspects of Muslim contributions to plant sciences with a particular focus on the pioneering efforts of the Arab Bedouins, linguists and exegetes of the Quran. The speakers also focused on certain plant references in religious contexts, in addition to touching on medicinal and therapeutic uses throughout Islamic scholarship.

The Qur’anic Botanic Garden, a member of Qatar Foundation, aims to promote knowledge of the plants, botanical terms, and conservation principles mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.

Dr. Aisha Al Mannai, director of CMCC, organized and attended the event. Her aim was to highlight this marginalized area of academia, and reposition its importance in education and research, noting: “In the past, Muslim scholars conducted exciting and notable research into the plant sciences – but this wealth of knowledge has since dwindled, especially in the last few decades. Events such as this lecture, as well as interest from a new generation of dedicated scholars, are the first steps in reviving and rediscovering the interconnectedness of Islamic studies and the natural world.”