THE END OF THE UNIVERSE

THE END OF THE UNIVERSE

As we have seen , the universe is expanding due to its evolution from a big-bang billions of years ago: yet, eventually after this stage of expansion " the entire universe will collapse and shrink by gravity into limited space as it happened to be at the beginning of creation.' ^[17]

The Holy Qur’an endorses this theory. In Chapter 21 verse 104 , God says:

 سورة الأنبياء - آية 104

 On the day when We shall roll up heaven as a scroll is rolled

for the writings; as We originated the first creation,

so We shall bring it back again - a  promise binding on Us

so We shall do.

Scientist have deduced a logical and a scientific conclusion as to, when Doomsday could be. But when exactly could it happen belongs only to God's Knowledge. God says in "chapter 16" verse 77 :

سورة النحل – آية 77

To God belongs the unseen in the heavens

and in the earth.

And the matter of the Hour is as a twinkling of  the eye,

or nearer.

Surely God is powerful over everything.

And in "chapter 43" verse 85, God says:

 سورة الزخرف - آية 85

Glory be to Him , to whom belongs the

Kingdom of the heavens and the earth

and all that between them is; with Him

is the Knowledge of the Hour, and to Him

you shall be returned.

And in "Chapter 79" verses 42-46 God addresses Prophet Mohammed saying: 

سورة النازعات – الآيات 42 - 46

They will question thee concerning

the Hour, when it shall berth.

What art thou about, to mention it?

Unto thy Lord is the final end of it.

Thou art only the warner of him who fears it.

It shall be as if, on the day they see it,

they have but tarried for an evening, or its forenoon.

Scientists have given us an image of how the universe will come to an end. They say, as I have mentioned before, that the velocity of all galaxies will be reduced and eventually they will shrink into a limited space, instead of the infinite space in which they swim now with extreme velocity, which enables them to move away from  each other  with great speed. This shrinking of galaxies into a very limited space would give us an insight as to how scary and awe inspiring the image could be. This terrifying image is stated in The Holy Qur’an in various verses to frighten man that he might come to his senses and worship God as properly as He should be worshiped i.e. with love, fear and hope of everlasting salvation.

Some people would ask when the Hour would come? I tell them it is very soon; at least the hour of each one of us would be at his death, which we can never tell (when it could be). In this respect God says in "Chapter 22" verse 55

 سورة الحج – آية 55

And the unbelievers will not cease

to be in doubt of it, until the Hour

comes on them suddenly, or there shall

come upon them the chastisement of

a barren day

And in "Chapter 75" verses (6-12) God says: 

سورة القيامة الآيات 6 -12

asking "when shall be the Day of Resurrection?"

But when the sight is dazed

and the moon is eclipsed,

and the sun and the moon are brought together,

upon that day man shall say, " Whither to flee?"

No indeed; not a refuge!

Scientists say that when the sun expands and its extreme heat catches the moon, the earth's temperature will exceed 100 ^oC, hence it will not be available for any kind of life to prevail. What is really amazing is that in "The Holly Qur’an" in "Chapter 54" verses (1-2), God states:

  سورة القمر الآيات 1-2

                 

The Hour has drawn nigh: the moon is split.

Yet if they see a sign they turn away, and they say

"A continuous sorcery!"

In "Chapter 36" verses (48-53) God says:

 سورة يس الآيات 48 - 53

They also say; "when shall this promise come to

pass, if you speak truly?"

They are waiting only for one cry to seize them

while they are yet disputing,

then they will not be able to make any testament

nor will they return to their people-

And the Trumpet shall be blown, then behold, they are sliding down

from their tombs unto their Lord

They say, "Alas for us! Who roused us out of our sleeping place?

This is what the All-merciful promised and the Envoys spoke truly”

It was only one Cry, then behold, they are all arraigned before us

We stand in awe as to how the Holy Qur’an, 1400 years ago confirms the modern scientific idea that the whole universe will shrink into a limited space. In "Chapter 39" verses (67-68) God states:

سورة الزمر الآيات 67 - 68

They measure not God with :His true measure,

The earth shall be His handful

on the day of Resurrection, and the heavens

shall be rolled up in his right hand,

Glory be to Him! High be He exalted above

that they associate!

For the trumpet shall be blown, and whosoever is in heavens

and whosoever is in the earth shall swoon ,save whom God wills.

Then it shall be blown again, and lo they stand beholding

On Doomsday the picture will be terrifying and awe inspiring. God says in "Chapter 52" verses (9-11) :

سورة الطور الآيات 9 - 11

Upon the day when heaven spins dizzily

and mountains are in motion,

woe that day unto those that cries lies.^[18]

In "Chapter 56" verses (1-6) God describes to what extent the terror will be at Doomsday, saying:

سورة الواقعة الآيات 1 – 6

When the Terror descends

(and none denies its descending)

abasing, exalting ,

when the earth shall be rocked

and the mountains crumbled

and become a dust scattered,

                  

    And in "Chapter 69" verses (13-17) God says:

سورة الحاقة الآيات 13 - 17

  

So when the Trumpet is blown with a single blast

and the earth and the mountains are lifted up

crushed with a single blow,

then, on that day , the Terror shall come to pass,

and heaven shall be split, for upon that day it

shall be very frail,

and the angels shall stand upon its borders, and

upon that day eight shall carry above them  the

Throne of  thy Lord.

             

    To what extent people will be scared and frightened, God describes their state of terror in "Chapter 70"
 verses (8-14):

 سورة المعراج الآيات 8 - 14

 Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper,

and the mountains shall be as plucked wool-tufts,

no loyal friend shall question loyal friend, as

they are given sight of them. The sinner will wish that he

might ransom himself from the chastisement of that day even

by his sons, his companion wife, his brother, his kin/ who

sheltered him, and whomsoever is in the earth, all together

so that then it might deliver him.

     Again, in "chapter 80" verses (33-37) God stresses the same idea, saying:    

       

 سورة عبس الآيات 33 - 37

And when the Blast shall sound

upon the day when a man shall flee from his brother,

his mother, his father,

his consort, his sons

every man that day shall have business to suffice him.

God makes it very clear that Doomsday or the Hour happens only at His will. In "chapter 99" verses (1-8) God the Almighty says:         

 سورة الزلزلة الآيات 1 - 8

When the earth is shaken with a mighty shaking

and earth brings forth her burdens,

and man says, "what ails her?"

Upon that day she shall tell her tidings

for that her Lord has inspired her.

Upon that day men shall issue in scatterings to see their works,

and whoso has done an atom's weight of good shall see it

and whoso has done an atom's weight of evil shall see it.

---

[17] Islam & Science , book V

[18]  those who do not believe in God

THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE

THE ORIGIN OF THE UNIVERSE

Hydrogen, the universal gas, is the origin of existence. Dr. El Fandy, in his book, "On Cosmic Verses in the Qur’an", says that the "evolution of the universe was accomplished by a series of steps or developments accompanied by the gradual concentration of the universal gas by gravity, before it could take the form of, nebulae, galaxies, stars or planets."

In chapter 41 verses 9-11, The Holy Qur’an gives us an image that confirms this scientific discovery:

سورة فصلت آيات 9 -11

Say: "What ,do you disbelieve in Him who

created the earth in two days, and do you

set up compeers to him? That is the

Lord of all Beings.

And He set therein firm mountains over it

and He blessed it, and He ordained therein

its diverse sustenance in four days, equal

to those who ask.

Then He lifted Himself to heaven when it was

smoke, and said to it and to the earth, "come

willingly, or unwillingly! " They said,

"We come willingly"

Chapter 41 verses (9-11)

What is amazing is that this verse shows the fact that all heavenly "bodies floating in the sky had begun in the form of a gas .This fact was almost endorsed by all theories of astronomy, whatever differences there were in details^[9]."

This verse shows that everything in the universe obey "willingly" God's orders. God's fixed physical laws enable man to gain knowledge and deduce theories by careful observation of the seen universe.

God, at His will, reveals to man some of His knowledge at the time and place He wishes. The All-Knowing says, in this respect.

سورة البقرة الآية 255

And they comprehend not anything of this  knowledge

save such as He wills

Chapter 2 verse 255

Dr. El Fandy, goes on saying, in the same book, that "it is admitted that the big units in the universe or galaxies, go far away from each other with high speed. Thus the universe increases in size or expands. The more galaxies go far away, the quicker their release in the limitless space will be."

God, the Almighty, has mentioned this scientific fact in The Holy Qur’an.

 سورة الذاريات الآية 47

And heaven-We built it with might,

and We extend it wide.

Chapter 51 verse 47

We have come to know that the universe due to the receding of its galaxies expands beyond the range of magnifying glasses. It is estimated that there are in the universe about one hundred thousand millions of galaxies* that are widely separated from each other. While other scientists say that there are billons of galaxies in the universe this gives us an idea as to the infinity of the universe; and how these galaxies float in complete harmony.  This fact denotes without any doubt that a Mighty Power operates them according to a very accurate system, and this Mighty Power cannot be but God.

What is really interesting is that while galaxies recede beyond seen limits "new ones gradually show up”, made of the same material as the old receding ones i.e. universal gas. “Such a gas strangely enough does not become extinct at all and its quantities in our seen universe do not diminish. Hence scientists query: from where does such gas come? Does it come from infinite space, in continuous succession, to replace the shortage in its quantities lost in the formation of new galaxies? Or does it come from a hidden place? Or is it being created?

Most of the clues and scientific evidences prove that the gas … is created."^[10] We cannot but repeat with Allah in chapter 5 verse 17.

    سورة المائدة

For to God belongs the kingdom of the heavens

and of the earth, and all that is between them,

creating what He will. God is powerful

over everything.

In The "Holy Qur’an ", the eternal miracle of God, God speaks about the creation of the universe and the earth, He tells us in “chapter 21"verse 30:

سورة الأنبياء آية 30

Have not the unbelievers then beheld

that the heavens and the earth were a mass

all sewn up, and then we unstitched them

and of water fashioned every living thing?

This verse indicates that the whole universe was originally a single entity. In science , scientists came out with a theory called "The Big- Bang Theory" which as Dr. El Fandy says that it is "a theory of cosmology in which the expansion of the universe is presumed to have begun in primeval explosion" ^[11], and that all galaxies were then "condensed together in an extremely limited space of unimaginable density." ^[12]. Then suddenly "this condensed mass exploded and formed an unlimited number of clouds and dust which with the passage of time developed into galaxies receding under the power of explosion.”

The Big Bang theory reveals the following principles:

1)      Scientists say that "the part of the universe that we actually observe represents the Entire cosmos." ^[13]

       

God says in "chapter 35" verse 43:

سورة فاطر آية 43  

And thou shalt never find any changing

the wont of God,

and thou shalt never find any altering

the wont of God.

Hence, if God's laws and order are fixed and unalterable, then the specimen which we can detect by putting it under observation could be a representative pattern for the whole.

2)      The Holy Qur’an, a very long time ago, tells us that the universe expands and its origin was a big mass and by God's order it exploded and formed the galaxies that exist in the universe:

سورة الذريات آية 47

And heaven we built it with might

and we extend it wide

Chapter 51 verse 47

God also says:

 سورة الأنبياء آية 30

Have not the unbelievers then beheld

that the heavens and the earth were a mass

all sewn up, and then we unstitched them.

Chapter 21 verse 30

These two quotations from The Holly Qur’an show that the whole universe was “all sewn up" and God has ordered this mass to be "unstitched" i.e. explode. That is how galaxies had been formed and started moving away from one another.

3)      Scientists say that the universe must have a finite age, yet the end of the world yields only to God's will.

Dr. Maurice Bucaille says:

Thus the stars have a life of their own and modern

astronomy classifies them according to their present

stage of evolution. The stars also have a death; in the

final stage of their evolution, the violent implosion of

certain stars has been observed so that they become    veritable  ' corpses'.

4)      "According to the general theory of Relativity, the geometry of space is affected by the presence of matter in it, and traveling in space is thus accomplished in curved lines”.^[14]  The Holy Qur’an refers to this effect by the word "yaaruj" i.e. to move incurved lines:

 سورة سبأ – آية 2

He knows what penetrates into the earth, and

what comes forth from it,

what comes down from heaven, and what goes up to it ^[15]

He is the All-compassionate, the All-forgiving.

Chapter 24 Verse 3

5)      "Galaxies would eventually fall back together as soon as they start moving slower than some critical velocity of escape.” ^[16]

To this effect God says in The Holy Qur’an:

سورة الأنبياء – آية 104

                       

On the day when We shall roll up heaven as a scroll is rolled

for the writings; as We originated the first creation,

so We shall bring it back again -a promise binding on Us;

so We shall do

Chapter 21 verse 104

---

[9] “On Cosmic Verses in the Qur’an”, Dr. El Fandy,

[10]  “On Cosmic Verses in the Qur’an” by Dr El Fandy.

[11] "Islam and Science " Book 5, by Dr. El Fandy

[12] "Islam and Science " Book 5, by Dr. El Fandy

[13] "Islam and Science " Book 5, by Dr. El Fandy

[14] ‘Islam and Science’, book V  by Doctor El Fandy

[15]  This means “yaaruj” which in Arabic means to move in curved lines.

[16] ‘Islam and Science’, book V by Doctor El Fandy

INTRODUCTION

QURAN
AND
THE GEOLOGICAL
SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION:-

Islam has urged man to study and gain knowledge, because all sciences will ultimately lead him to the truth about God. That is to say the more the scientist acquires knowledge the more he gets to know God beyond any doubt; and thus he fears God and follows all His orders and instructions in all his actions. God says, in this respect:

سورة فاطر  الأيات 27 - 28

Hast thou not seen how that God sends down out of heaven water

and therewith We bring forth fruits of diverse hues?

And in the mountains are streaks white and red ,of diverse hues,

and pitchy black,

men too, and beasts and cattle -diverse are their hues.

Even so only those of His servants

fear God who have knowledge; surely God is

All mighty; All - forgiving.^[1]

In the "House of Imran, chapter 3 verse 2 God raises "men possessed of knowledge "to the status of angels:

 God bears witness that

there is no god but He --

and the angels, and men possessed of knowledge --

upholding justice,

there is no god but He,

the All - mighty, the All- wise.

In chapter 39 verse 9, God says that learned people and ignorant ones are not equal:

سورة الزمر

Say "are they equal- those who know and

those who know not? Only men possessed

of minds remember.

While in "Sheba" (chapter 34 verse 6) God says:

 

سورة سبأ           

Those who have given knowledge see

that what has been sent down to thee from thy

Lord is the truth, and guides to the path of

the All- mighty , the All- laudable.

The prestige and value of science and scientists is highly elevated in The Holy Qur’an, because the more man gains knowledge the more he is convinced that God is there. There is no wonder then, that the first verse came down from heaven, is a clear invitation to read and write. Chapter 96 opens with the following verses:

 سورة العلق

Recite. In the Name of thy Lord who created,

created Man of a blood clot^[2]

Recite . And thy Lord is the Most Generous,

who taught  by the Pen,

taught Man , that he Knew not.

    God has given supreme status to science and   scientists, because through the different scientific knowledge, man gains faith in Allah. He says:

 سورة فاطر آية 28

……… only those of His servants

fear God who have Knowledge.^[3]

God also orders us in The Holy Qur’an to meditate and think profoundly about His signs in heaven and on earth. He says:

سورة الجاثية الآيات 3 - 5

                                              Surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs

for the believers;

and in your creation,

and the crawling things He scattered abroad, there are signs

for people having sure faith

and in the alternation of night and day

and the provision God sends down from heaven,

and therewith revives the earth after it is dead,

and the turning about of the winds, there are signs

for a people who understand.^[4]

To glorify knowledge and writing God, in chapter 68 " The Pen" , swears by it in verse one:

   سورة القلم الآيات 1 - 2

Nun

By the Pen, and what they inscribe

   

God praises scientists in many verses in The Holy Qur’an. Beside what is already mentioned we find in " The House of Imran " in two different places God tells us who are the men of knowledge? They are who worship God and meditate deeply and think profoundly about his creation: 

 سورة آل عمران الآيات 190-191

Surely in the creation of heavens and earth

and in the alternation of night and day

there are signs for men possessed of minds

who remember God, standing and sitting

and on their sides, and reflect upon

the creation of the heavens and the earth:

"Our Lord, Thou hast not created this for

vanity. Glory be to Thee! Guard us against

the chastisement

of the Fire …." ^[5]

                              In "The House of Imran " chapter 3 verse 7 God also says

  

سورة آل عمران الآية 7

                                           It is He, who sent down upon them the Book,

wherein are verses clear that are the Essence

of the Book, and others ambiguous.

As those in whose hearts is swerving

they follow the ambiguous part, desiring

dissension, and desiring its interpretation,

and none knows its interpretation, save

only God. And those firmly rooted in

knowledge say, "We believe in it, all

is from our Lord," yet none remembers, but men

possessed of minds.

In chapter 29 verse 49, God says:

  

سورة العنكبوت الآية 49

Nay, rather it is signs, clear signs

in the breasts of those who have been given

knowledge, and none denies Our signs but

the evildoers

Prophet Mohammed’s tradition, "sunna", is rich and clear in advocating all kinds of knowledge whether it is religious or scientific.

I will quote a few of his sayings from "Prophet of Islam Muhammad and some of His Traditions," by Ismail Kashmiri:                           

1)      Scientists are the inheritors of Prophets.

2)      The acquisition of knowledge is a duty incumbent on every Muslim, male and female.

3)      Seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.

4)      He who leaves his home in search for knowledge walks on the path of Allah.

5)      If Allah likes someone to be good, He makes him understand and learn. Certainly knowledge is the result of learning.

In Islam there is no contradiction between science and religion. On the contrary, there is a healthy close and balanced relationship between them both. In Islam there is a balance between the heart and the mind, between what is spiritual and ethereal and what is real and down to earth. A divine balance that gives each its due.

In this respect Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his book, "The Bible, The Qur'an and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge," says:

The association between the Qur'an and science

is a priori a surprise, especially since it is going

to be one of harmony and not of discord.

He goes on saying:

The Qur’an, while inviting us to cultivate science,

itself contains many observations on natural

 phenomena and includes explanatory details,

 which are seen to be in total agreement with

modern scientific data.

The greatness and strength of The Holy Qur’an lies in the fact that the more science progresses the more it reveals the authenticity and truth of what was written more than 1400 years ago when the whole world was deeply slumbering in the darkness of ignorance.

I do not mean that The Holy Qur’an could be proved by anything outside Itself, God forbid, but science makes what has been obscure to us clear like daylight. Science, in this way, is a means of clarification, and it strengthens and renews one's faith and makes one fears God The Almighty.

---

[1] Chapter 35 verses 27-28

[2]  (علق) means in Arabic “leach-Like “ I’m going to explain in detail later on

[3] Chapter 35 verse 28

[4] Chapter 45 verses 3-5

[5] Chapter 3 verse 190 - 191

QURAN AND THE GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE

"The beginning of knowledge is the intention, then listening, then understanding, then action, then preservation, and then spreading it."

Our Islamic Studies teacher asked us to write an article based upon the ‘Quran and The Geological Science’. It was an onerous job which I took as a challenge which I faced to the best of my meager capabilities and completed the article.

The Holy Qur'an is not only sent for Arabic- speaking people, but it is a Holy Message for all peoples of the world. Hence the message of the Holy Qur'an speaks a universal Language that appeals to everyone irrespective of color, religion or nationality i.e. the language of science. Here are two verses: the first shows the universality of the Message in the Holy Qur'an, and the second shows its new scientific Message:

O mankind, We have created you

male and female, and appointed you

races and tribes, that you may know

one another. Surely the noblest

among you in the sight of God is

the most god-fearing of you. God is

All –knowing , All-aware.

Chapter 49 verse 13

We shall show them our signs in the

horizons and

in themselves ,till it is clear to them

that it is the truth. Suffices it not

as to thy Lord, that He is witness over,

everything?

Chapter 41 verse 52

   

This is a modest attempt at proving the authenticity of every word in the Holy Qur'an. Some orientalists propagated the idea that Islam is the cause of our backwardness, I tell them that we are backward simply because we are a long way away from the teachings of Islam. If we are backward it is because of the stifling influence of foreign occupation. They made it their duty to suppress Islam and Muslims, and unfortunately they are still vigorously practicing this game. Had they had any belief in God they would not have suppressed the most truthful message the most healthy system. Had humanity followed such a system we would have led a much better way of life.

   

The selection of topics is very good and it is a very vast topic which we tried to concise in some sixty pages through which the teacher can easily judge our efforts. May Allah bestow us the capabilities of understanding the Quran, making others understand and implement the directions in the Quran in all the spheres of our lives.

                                                                                                              (Ameen)  

                                                

Emad Ahmed Khan