The name Ruya Foundation (Ru’ya رؤية) is derived from the Arabic word Ra’aa (rā hamza yā , رَأَى). It is used over three hundred times in the Quran in different forms. The direct meaning of the word Ra’aa is to see, perceive, notice, observe, discern, consider, think and contemplate.
The word has been used in the Quran to gain information or knowledge not just through the process of seeing, but also by using mental and spiritual faculties. It is used to see through logic, analysis, experimentation, history and spiritual insight. The context in which this word is used clearly shows that the Quran not only encourages but requires the knowledge of physical and social sciences such as Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Paleontology, History and Mathematics. The process of Ra’aa, thus, comprehensively captures the mission of the Ruya Foundation.
References
The word (rā hamza yā , رَأَى) is used in various context to challenge man to explore physical, biological and cognitive sciences. Some of the examples are the following:
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ لَكُم مِّن رِّزْقٍ فَجَعَلْتُم مِّنْهُ حَرَامًا وَحَلَالًا قُلْ آللَّـهُ أَذِنَ لَكُمْ ۖ أَمْ عَلَى اللَّـهِ تَفْتَرُونَ
10:59 Say, “Have you seen what Allah has sent down to you of provision of which you have made [some] lawful and [some] unlawful?” Say, “Has Allah permitted you [to do so], or do you invent [something] about Allah ?” [Physics, Astronomy, Agriculture]
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا أَنَّا نَأْتِي الْأَرْضَ نَنقُصُهَا مِنْ أَطْرَافِهَا ۚ وَاللَّـهُ يَحْكُمُ لَا مُعَقِّبَ لِحُكْمِهِ ۚوَهُوَ سَرِيعُ الْحِسَابِ﴿﴾
13-41 Have they not seen that We set upon the land, reducing it from its borders? And Allah decides; there is no adjuster of His decision. And He is swift in account. [Geology, Geography, Chemical sciences]
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَوَتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۢ
14:19 Have you not seen that Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He wills, He can do away with you and produce a new creation. [Philosophy, Physics, Chemistry, Logic, Math]
وَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَوَتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًۭا فَفَتَقْنَهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
21:30 Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? [Astronomy, Physics, Math]
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَيْفَ يُبْدِئُ اللَّـهُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى اللَّـهِ يَسِيرٌ
[29:19]Have they not considered how Allah begins creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah , is easy. [Physiology, paleontology, embryology]
أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًۭا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَءَايَةًۭ لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍۢ مُّنِيبٍۢ
[34:9] Then, do they not look at what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and earth? If We should will, We could cause the earth to swallow them or [could] let fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant turning back [to Allah][Physics, Philosophy]
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا قَبْلَهُم مِّنَ الْقُرُونِ أَنَّهُمْ إِلَيْهِمْ لَا يَرْجِعُونَ
[36:31] Have they not considered how many generations We destroyed before them – that they to them will not return? [History, Paleontology]
أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ كَيْفَ خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ سَبْعَ سَمَوَتٍۢ طِبَاقًۭا
[71:15] Do you not consider how Allah has created seven heavens in layers [Astronomy, Physics, Math]
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًۭا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًۭا
[71:16] And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp? [Physics]
وَٱللَّهُ أَنۢبَتَكُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًۭا
[71:17] And Allah has caused you to grow from the earth a [progressive] growth. [Paleontology, Archeology]
لَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِعَادٍ
[89:6]Have you not considered how your Lord dealt with ‘Aad – [History, Archeology]
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ فَعَلَ رَبُّكَ بِأَصْحَابِ الْفِيلِ
[105:1] Have you not considered, [O Muhammad], how your Lord dealt with the companions of the elephant? [History, other sciences]
قَالَ الْمَلَأُ مِن قَوْمِهِ إِنَّا لَنَرَاكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ
7:60 Said the eminent among his people, “Indeed, we see you in clear error.” [Rational thinking, logic]
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا كَمْ أَهْلَكْنَا مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّن قَرْنٍ مَّكَّنَّاهُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مَا لَمْ نُمَكِّن لَّكُمْ وَأَرْسَلْنَا السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْهِم مِّدْرَارًا وَجَعَلْنَا الْأَنْهَارَ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهِمْ فَأَهْلَكْنَاهُم بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَأَنشَأْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِمْ قَرْنًا آخَرِينَ
[6:6] Have they not seen how many generations We destroyed before them which We had established upon the earth as We have not established you? [History, paleontology, Geology, Geography]
وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ
6:75 And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith] [Spiritual Purity?]