Is
the Big Bang Theory correct? And could it be interpreted by the Quran
verse of join and parting of heavens and earth? And what are the new
facts that prove the universe was similar to an interwoven fabric that
loosened its threads and split? …
A brother (May
God reward him for the good, and everyone participating with useful
information) has sent me a new research published on the Science News
website, entitled (From Dark Matter to Light) that was mainly published
on the Astrophysical Journal magazine. What caught my attention is that
researchers nowadays are convinced that there are cosmic filaments that
hold galaxies, and these filaments part like fabric threads split!
Let’s stop for a moment and think of this verse: (Have
not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were
joined together as one united piece, and thenWe parted them? And We have
made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?) [Suraat Al-Anbiya/21:30].The Arabic word (ritqan رَتْقًا) which means darn, sew, stitch is the opposite of (fitq فتق) which means split, breaks, and unstitches. Both words are used to describe fabric or textile.
In
Ibn kathir’s translation he explained “Do they not see that the heavens
and the earth were joined together, i.e. in the beginning they were all
one piece, attached to one another and piled up on top of one another”
So
Ibn kathir understood from the previous verse that,at the beginning of
creation, the universe (the heavens and the earth) was a closely
attached matter stacked on top of one another. Then Allah (swt) split
and separated them apart.
Reading
the previous research, we find researchers describeprecisely what Ibn
Kathir said! They say that, at the beginning of creation, the universe
was a woven-like material accumulated on top of each another and through
billions of years its filaments diverged.
Surprisingly,
they captured this process using a supercomputer, and almost certainly
discovered that cosmic filamentsconstantly part much the same as threads
split after ripping the fabric.
Computer
picture showingthe universe at the beginning of its creation (after 450
million years of creation) like a filament-like material tightly woven
like fabric (right), then filaments started separating like ripping the
fabric apart. The picture on the left displays the universe after 6000
million years of creation. Closely look at the black spaces increasing
over time and how the filaments are moving apart. These filaments are
the galaxies and Allah knows best. Source:http://www.sciencenews.org/articles/20080322/bob10.asp
Take
a look at the right picture which resembles cosmic filaments, and the
left photo that resembles these filaments after a period of time. It is
noticed that these filaments separate like a ripped fabric piece.
Scientists note that galaxies flow along these filaments into the nodes
direction. Each luminous point in this picture is a group of galaxies.
Take a moment to consider this amazing cosmic joint!
Source: Max Planck laboratory of Germany.
Modern interpretation of the verse:
Qur’an
was revealed 1400 years ago. Still, up to this day, Muslims try to
understand and discover its miracles. Qur’an is full of verses regarding
Cosmology (the science of the universe). We, as Muslims, should not
neglect these verses based on excuses such as it is not permitted to
interpret verses according to scientific theories, because we- as
believers- are ordered to meditate through the Qur’anas well as the
verses describing the universe because it is part of the Qur’an.
Some
scientists related the previous verse to the Big Bang Theory, although
not proven yet but it is the best theory so far explaining the formation
of the universe. It states that the universe was a small mass which
exploded apart and by time formed what nowadays are the stars, galaxies,
sun, moon and earth.
The
Big Bang Theory is partially correct, the principle of the universe
being one mass that its particle parted forming galaxies, stars and
planets. The error in this theory is that explosion creates chaos and
destruction rather than the perfect system we observe nowadays.
The
issue with this theory is that it never explains where the initial mass
came from, what caused the explosion or how a random explosion could
create an accurately organized universe? That’s why some scientists
accepted this theory, despite its flaws, it is the only good explanation
they had.
But
after more discoveries, scientists started speaking of great filaments
which were joined together then parted in a precise system that is
considered one of the greatest cosmic phenomena. This new theory, which
is closer to the truth, could be observed. Galaxies were detected
throughout the universe, then the information was entered into a three
dimensional network using a supercomputer to place each galaxy in its
correct place. To their surprise, scientists saw strands of galaxies
intertwining and parting throughout billions of years.
We
can conclude that the tight filaments in the beginning of cosmic
creation is the joint (ritq) that is specified by the verse, and the
accurate parting of these strands is the (fitq) thus this theory
explains the previous verse accurately.
How Ibn Abbas understood the previous verse.
There is a wonderful interpretation of the verse by Ibn Abbas
which he explains: the sky (heavens) was sewn and does not rain, and
the Earth was sewn and does not germinate, then Allah parted the heavens
with rain and Earth with plants. Indeed, it has been scientifically
proven that earth, at the beginning of creation, was inflamed and does
not germinate. Earth’s atmosphere was not formed yet, therefore there
was no rain. Then, when the atmosphere has formed, clouds started
composing and it began to rain so plants grew after Earth cooled down
and mountain, rivers and seas were formed.
This
clearly shows the greatness of the Qur’an, that it can be understood
according to the current culture. We do not find any contradiction in
the understanding of Allah Almighty’s book, and that is mentioned in the
Qur’an which we were ordered to meditate upon the perfection of it.
Allah Almighty says: (Do
they not then consider the Qur’an carefully? Had it been from other
than Allah, they would surely have found therein many contradictions.) [Suraat An-Nisa/4:82]
Is there a contradiction in the Qur’an?
Let
me pause for a moment and say that it is not a problem if an
interpreter was mistaken while explaining a verse, because the Qur’an is
the absolute truth that does not change, while interpretation is only
the human understanding of a verse.As people differ in their knowledge
level and as science develops, there must be some improvement in
interpreting the Qur'an. This does not offend the Qur’an, rather it
emphasizes that theQur’an suits all ages as there is no other book that
could be explained logically according to science, no matter how much
science develops, like the Holy Qur’an.
With
that said, this is a reply to people who deny the scientific miracles
with the excuse of protecting the Qur’an. Mistakes made by humans are
still done by them and the Qur’an is still impeccable. If the believer
tries and mistakes he is rewarded by Allah once (if he has sincere
intentions) and if he is correct he is rewarded twice. This proves there
are no contradictions in the Qur’an, but there are different
interpretations and understandings of the Qur’anic texts because the
Qur’an was revealed to all human beings.
As
a researcher in this field, I say that whoever explains scientific
miracles does not insure that the scientific interpretation of the verse
is the absolute truth. So do I believe that most writers and authors in
this field know that, and they believe their researches are only their
effortsrather than a Qur’an! The Qur’an is absolute and fixed, and
changes in interpretations differ as sciences develop. This never
offends the Qur’an, except those with bad intentions who look for
researches’ mistakes to question Allah’s (swt) Book. The Qur’an
mentioned this type of people 14 centuries ago in this great verse: (It
is He Who has sent down to you (Muhammad SAW) the Book (this Qur’an).
In it are Verses that are entirely clear, they are the foundations of
the Book [and those are the Verses of Al-Ahkâm (commandments),
Al-Farâ'id (obligatory duties) and Al-Hudud (legal laws for the
punishment of thieves, adulterers)]; and others not entirely clear. So
as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they
follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah
(polytheism and trials), and seeking for its hidden meanings, but none
knows its hidden meanings exceptAllah. And those who are firmly grounded
in knowledge say: "We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear
Verses) are from our Lord." And none receive admonition except men of
understanding) [Suraat Al-E-Imran/3:7]
Someone
may say: why did Allah (swt) reveal similar or unclear verses? Does He
want us astray from the truth? Is not this unfair to people? So why does
He punish them? I would answer themwith a question: Do you know the
latest method of exams in American universities? The multiple choice
method! Where each question has several misleading choices and one true
choice the student must answer. This distinguishes the hard-working
student from the lazy one. I do not expect anyone saying teachers are
deceiving their students, although they try their best to mislead them
with many deceiving answers.
However,
Allah (swt) has established a very clear way for us and saved us the
effort by revealing the Qur’an ordering us to follow what is within. So
is this guidance or misguidance? Deceiving means such as evil, Satan and
desires are a must, so Allah would test our faith and obedience to Him.
What atheists and disbelievers do is: (they
follow that which is not entirely clear thereof, seeking Al-Fitnah
(polytheism and trials), and seeking for its hidden meanings,). While believers say: (We believe in it; the whole of it (clear and unclear Verses) are from our Lord.")
That is why the following verse includes an amazing dua’a (prayer) we
should continuously say, and Allah gives the right answer of what we
should do and say. Allah (swt) says: ("Our
Lord!" (They say), "let not our hearts deviate now after Thou hast
guided us, but grant us mercy from Thee: for Thou art the Grantor of
bounties without measure. (8)"Our
Lord! Thou art He that will gather mankind together against a day about
which there is no doubt: for Allah never fails in His promise.”) [Suraat Al-E-Imran/3:8-9]
And
now, after Allah has guided us to the right path, taught us everything
we need through the Holy Qur’an and the Prophet’s Sunnah, forbade us
from immoralities and misguidance, warned us against Satan and his
methods and wanted us to be good, do we consider this guidance or
misguidance? If a student in the exam hall received the correct answer
from his teacher but insists on keeping the wrong answer, what would we
consider this? Who is being unfair? And would we say the teacher is
unjust toward the student or the student is unjust toward himself?
That
is Allah Almighty! He wants happiness and wellness for us both in this
world and the Hereafter! O Our Lord! Condemn us not because of those who
are injustice toward themselves, and let us be amongstYour obedient
servants and the winners in this world and the Hereafter: ("Our
Lord! We believe in what thou hast revealed, and we follow the
Messenger; then write us down among those who bear witness.”)[Suraat Al-E-Imran/ 3:53].
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
www.kaheel7.com/eng
References:
1- http://xxx.lanl.gov/abs/0802.3914
2- From Dark Matter to Light, http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/9503/title/From_Dark_Matter_to_Light
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