The Quran on the sensory characteristic of the skin: “Indeed, those who disbelieve in our signs, we will roast them at a fire. As often as their skins are wholly burned, we will give them in exchange other skins, that they may taste the punishment.” (Qur’an, 4:56)

Regarding the scientific facts concerned with pain sensation in the skin; it was believed until recently that the whole body is sensitive to pain, and it was not known that there are specific nerves in the body which are pain receptors. Modern science discovered that there are about 15 centers for different types of nerve sensation. Medical scientists divided sensation into three groups: Superficial sensation, deep sensation, and compound sensation. Superficial sensation is specific for touch, pain and heat. As for deep sensation, it is specific for muscles and joints. Anatomy has proven that the nerve endings for pain and heat are very close and that the nerve endings for pain sensation are abundant in the skin. So, the skin is the most important part of humans in relation to pain sensation, because of these numerous nerve endings.

There are first and second degree burns, and each is divided into superficial and deep burns. Then there are third degree burns, in which we find that the skin layer is totally damaged and it may even reach to muscles or bones and the skin loses its elasticity and becomes very dry and hard. In this case the patient does not feel much pain because nerve endings are damaged due to burning. It is well known to specialists today that full thickness burns destroy nerve endings, so that further burning a person after that won’t cause any pain. How such information could have been known at the time of Muhammed is baffling to people who would attribute a human origin to the Quran. The Quran states clearly that people will be given a “new skin” for the purpose of pain, thereby linking skin loss with the loss of nerve endings that cause pain. The Quran informed us about this over 1400 years back when people knew nothing about full thickness and partial thickness burns and their anesthetic effect.

The skin is the center of sensitivity to burns. Thus, if the skin is completely burnt by fire, it loses its sensitivity. It is for this reason that Allah will punish the unbelievers on the Day of Judgment by returning to them their skins time after time, as He, the Exalted and Glorified, said in the Quran.“This is no less than a reminder to (all) the worlds. And you shall certainly know the truth of it (all) after a while.” (Qur’an, 38:87-88)