36:36
Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own(human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.
Creation of all things in Pairs
The following excerpt is taken from “The Quran and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible by Zakir Naik under the category “Botany”:
The Qurʾān contains references that have been interpreted as describing the paired nature of creation, including plant reproduction. Earlier societies did not possess detailed scientific knowledge about the reproductive structures of plants; however, modern botany has established that many plants possess distinct male and female reproductive components. This concept is reflected in the Qurʾānic verse: “And He sends down water from the sky, and with it We produce diverse pairs of plants, each separate from the others” (Qurʾān 20:53).
Similarly, the Qurʾān states that fruits are created in pairs: “And of every kind of fruit He made two in pairs” (Qurʾān 13:3). In botanical science, fruit is the result of plant reproduction and develops from the fertilized ovary of a flower. Flowers typically contain male and female reproductive organs—stamens and ovules—and the transfer of pollen enables fertilization, leading to the formation of fruit and seeds. Thus, the production of fruit implies the presence of these reproductive structures. Although certain fruits may develop without fertilization through a process known as parthenocarpy (for example, bananas, some varieties of pineapple, figs, oranges, and grapes), these plants still possess identifiable reproductive characteristics within their biological structure.
The Qurʾān further expands the idea of pairing beyond plants and fruits, stating: “And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember” (Qurʾān 51:49). Another verse similarly declares: “Glory be to Him who created all pairs—from what the earth produces, from themselves, and from things of which they have no knowledge” (Qurʾān 36:36). These passages have often been interpreted as referring not only to human beings, animals, and plants, but also to other complementary phenomena within the natural world. Some commentators suggest that this principle may extend to scientific phenomena such as electrical charge, where atoms contain negatively charged electrons and positively charged protons.
Together, these verses are frequently understood as presenting a broader principle of duality or pairing within creation, encompassing both known forms of life and aspects of the universe that humans may discover over time.
References:
Naik, Zakir. The Quran and Modern Science: Compatible or Incompatible. (p. 26).