by: Syed Suhail Geelani
The Holy Qur’an is undoubtedly considered a profound and significant book in the Islamic faith. It is highly regarded for its historical narratives, moral lessons, and spiritual direction. While the Qur’an is primarily a religious text, some believers and scholars interpret certain passages as containing scientific insights that align with modern scientific discoveries.
It’s important to note that interpretations of religious texts, including the Qur’an, can vary among individuals and scholars. Some see these passages as metaphorical or symbolic, while others view them as direct references to scientific phenomena. Ultimately, the perception of scientific accuracy in religious texts is subjective and can vary depending on one’s beliefs and perspective.
Scientific research focuses on the universe’s existence and its formation process which suggests that the universe began as a singularity – a point of infinite density and temperature – and then rapidly expanded from this point, much like an inflating balloon (Big Bang). The expansion of the universe from this initial singularity led to the vast and complex cosmos we observe today. Over billions of years, galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial bodies have formed and continue to evolve within this expanding universe. This theory ( Big Bang) is supported by various observational evidence, such as the redshift of galaxies and the cosmic microwave background.
Though, the big bang theory, which shows the evolution of the universe, was discovered in 1931, it had revealed properly before 1400 years in the Holy Quran which says: أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ . (Al-Anbiyā’: 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? (Al-Anbiyā’: 30)
The earliest state of the earth and skies, which is currently explained in terms of the “Big Bang” theory, is most likely the solid mass that Almighty Allah “tore asunder.” Based on contemporary scientific calculations, the entire matter in the universe originated as a massive ball, or super atom. According to established physical rules, every component of it was drawn towards the center and firmly united. This ball experienced a massive explosion at some time, and its components began flying forth. The immense world that stretches out in front of us finally came into life in this way.
Different scientists and Muslim scholars have interpreted this text in different ways. The Egyptian scholar Dr. Zaghloul Al-Najr understands that this remarkable poem demonstrates that the cosmos in which we exist is a creation with a beginning. Within the scientific community, the only accepted theory up until the early 1900s was that the cosmos is static. However, contemporary research and observation made possible by modern technology have shown that the universe does, in fact, have a beginning and is expanding forever. Theoretically, the universe was expanding and moving ceaselessly at the start of the 20th century according to calculations made by Georges Lemaître (Belgian Astronomer ) and Alexander Friedmann (Russian Cosmologist). Edwin Hubble, an American Astronomer, made the first observations in 1925 that demonstrated the expansion of the cosmos. The most brilliant discovery made by Hubble was the relationship between galaxy distance and redshift. This implies that the cosmos must be growing. He announced his discovery and was universally acknowledged. Though, this fact was clearly announced by holy Quran 1400 years ago, as seen in this verse: وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ (Adh-Dhariyat) “We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, and We are certainly expanding it ” ( Adh-Dhariyat )
These facts demonstrate that the Quran is a divine book that contains a wealth of scientific reasoning and facts, both known and unknown to science.
May Allah Guide And Bless Us All On Our Journey!
The author is Pursuing Masters in Geology At University Of Kashmir. He can be mailed at suhailsyed142@gmail.com
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