The Eternal Miracle (1/2)

I. Foreword

Nothing can remain on earth forever as an eternal miracle except a unique book. The inimitable elocution and teachings of such a book must be conspicuous and convincing at all stages and types of human civilization.

Any other sort of miracles, notably those which are not within the laws of nature, such as calling the dead to rise up for a while, cannot be eternal, and are limited in all respects to their particular place and time.

In the present age (Age of Science) the above statement has been justified in the light of the recent interpretation of a great number of verses in the Qur’an which revealed scientific facts in various fields. Detailed comments are given below concerning some of these verses.

II. The Earth’s Fresh Water

Rain is the direct and indirect source of fresh water on earth, whether we take it from rivers, tributaries, wells or fountains ... Subsoil fresh water also has its origin as rain.

Rain falls from clouds which are known in science (meteorology) as nimbus clouds. Two different types of nimbus clouds exist. These are:

a) Nimbo-stratus clouds, which form and grow or, spread, in single layers or strata. This is why they are called stratus.

b) Cumulo-nimbus clouds, which develop and grow vertically to reach levels as high as 10-20- kilometers, and thus appear like mountains. These are the only type of clouds in which hail forms, and lightning, thunderstorms and thunderbolts occur. Amazingly enough, the Qur’an says for example:

1. “And have you seen the water which you drink? Have you made it fall from the nimbus (clouds), or is it We Who send it down?” (Surah Al-Waqi‘ah: 68-69)

2. “Have you not seen that Allah sends down rain from the sky and leads it through springs in the earth? Then He causes to grow therewith plantation of various colours; then it withers; then you see it grow yellow; then He makes it dry and crumble away. Truly this is a message of remembrance to men with intellects.” (Surah Az-Zumar: 21)

With respect to nimbo-stratus clouds one reads:

3. “Allah is He who sends forth the winds so they raise clouds, the does He spread them (in strata)  in the sky as He pleases and He makes them partially thick so that you see the rain coming from inside them; then when He causes it to fall upon whom He pleases of His worshippers they rejoice.”  (Surah Ar-Rum: 48)

Concerning the cumulo-nimbus clouds, one reads:

4. “Have you not seen that Allah drives along bits of clouds,  then  joins  them  together,  then  makes  them  into heaps of cumulus then you will see rain drops issuing from their  inside  and  He  sends  down  from  the  sky  mountain masses of cumulus wherein is hail afflicting there with whom He pleases and turning it away from whom He pleases; the vivid flash (splendor)  of its lightning (whose electric charge is due to hail)  almost takes away the sight.” (Surah An-Nur: 43)

The stages of the formation of the cumulo-nimbus  cloud have  been  photographed,  and  it  has  been  made  clear  that generally it passes by the following stages:

First: Small cells of cumulus appear in the sky.

Second: Two or more cells unite together to form the grow- ing cumulus.

Third: The cloud so formed continues to grow rapidly to the cumulonimbus stage and thus appears like a huge mountain from which rain and hail issue.

Fourth: Hail plays the role in charging the cloud with electricity. An observer located near the cloud by some means or another, loses his sight for a while on looking at the lightning flashes.

III. The Fresh Water Cycle

It is new accepted that the earth’s fresh water goes through a cycle between the earth’s water surfaces and the atmosphere. Water is perpetualy evaporating from water surfaces such as oceans and seas by virtue of solar radiation and air currents and is carried upwards in the atmosphere to form clouds and nimbus clouds.

In order that rain might fall from the nimbus clouds, winds must continue to supply (or seed or even fertilize) the clouds with: (1) water - vapour necessary for condensation and (2) nuclei of condensation which have affinity to water, or absorb it. On these nuclei rain drops or ice crystals develop according to the prevailing temperature.

In ancient times it was believed that the fresh water was stored somewhere high in the sky. The Qur’an rejected this belief and said:

“And We send the winds seeding (the clouds)  thus cause water  to  descend  from  the  sky,  therewith  providing  you with it to drink and you are not storing it (in the sky) .” (Surah Al-Hijr: 22)

IV. On The Origin of The Universe

A limited number of theories concerning the origin of the universe have been available in the Age of Science. A long time ago, astronomers used to believe at the stars to be clustered together in a single “isle and universe”, or galaxy — the Milky Way — embedded in empty infinity of space.

Gradually, with the advance of the tools of observation and in the light of the Theory of Relativity, astronomers became aware of the fact that our universe is a universe of galaxies similar to our own and they are unlimited in number. They are receding from us and the universe is expanding. Miraculously, this is also justified by the Qur’an which says:

“With  power  and  skill  did  We  construct  the  heavens (universe) and indeed We are expanding them.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat: 47)

By the aid of spectrum analysis (the so-called red-shift or Doppler effect) it was revealed that billions of years had to pass since galaxies external to our own were condensed together in an extremely limited space of unimaginable density.

Now, the Qur’an, being an eternal miracle, predicted these results since about 1500 years ago! It says for example what means:

1. “Are then, they who disbelieve aware that the heavens and the earth were (originally) one single entity which We then parted asunder and We made of water every living thing, do not they thus believe?!” (Surah Al-Anbiya’: 30)

Evidently, this verse indicates that: (1) The material of the universe was originally a single entity whose parts must have been close together. (2) The separation    took place systematically, and galaxies were grouped in clusters to orbit about their common centers of mass. The process is reversible:

2. “On that Day We shall roll up the heavens like the rolling up of the scrolls. As We originated the first creation We shall bring it forth again; a promise incumbent on Us, so shall We do.” (Surah Al-Anbiya’: 104)

This verse indicates clearly that:

a) All the galaxies, in spite of the fact that they are receding since  the  beginning  of  creation,  yet  they  will  be  brought by Allah in contact again within limited space as they happened to be at the beginning of creation.

b) The above statements are made sure by the Qur’an, being a promise incumbent on Allah. However, a great number of astronomers say that the expanding universe should ultimately collapse by gravity into a limited space.

3. “... And the earth shall all be His handful on the Day of Resurrection and the heavens shall be folded in His right hand (so belittled) ...” (Surah Az-Zumar: 67)

The verse predicts that the entire universe (earth and heavens) will ultimately be one unit under Allah’s vivid power on the Last Day.

4. “Then He took hold of the heaven when it was gas and said to it and to the earth come willingly or unwillingly, they both said: We come willingly.” (Surah Fussilat: 11)

This verse indicates clearly that everything in the universe obeys Allah’s physical laws, which are fixed with changing space and time. This fact enabled man to acquire knowledge and deduce theories by careful observation and examination of the various things in the universe. The outstanding available theory is known as “the Big-bang” theory. It provides us with a reasonable answer to the question concerning the origin of the universe.

It has not been familiar in the present series of books (Islam and Science) to refer to mere theories which are man-made. However, regarding the creation of the universe in particular, Allah says:

1. “I did not call them to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth ...”                                            (Surah Al-Kahf: 51)

2. “For sure the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind but most people know not.” (Surah Ghafir: 57)

However, Allah supports us with suitable and proper knowledge. He says:

“... And they (men) are not encompass anything of His knowledge except what He decides (to offer) ...” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 255)

(Continued)