[Third Day of Ramadan] {Qur’an & Geology}
By Husseini Yushau BabalWaiz
"In the field of religious literature Muhammad's[PBUH] Koran if the healthiest plant with the hardiest stalk, produces the sweetest bloom and yields the more wholesome fruit. The soil which gave to its healthy growth was rich beyond comparison. Allah's abundance made its foliage green, its blossoms beautiful, and its yield so heavy that whoever reaps has but to enjoy an everlasting harvest." --- P. Nathaniel Johnson[Ahmad Din] in his "Muslims in America", in 1924
Miracles in the Language of the Qur'an
A human writer usually has the command of knowledge of a certain specific subject, or a few related subjects, e.g., one can write on the subject of history, or economics, or philosophy, or physics, or ethics. etc. It is not possible for a human being to write simultaneously on a large variety of different unrelated subjects with an equal command of language and perfection of knowledge. Even a casual reader can find that, the Qur'an discusses an array of subjects such as history, philosophy, economics, beliefs, social laws, and science, etc. with an equal command of language and depth of knowledge.
Furthermore, whatever the Qur'an has stated in a certain field of knowledge has found in a single statement of the Qur'an. No human being has written such a comprehensive book with such absolute perfection and certainly of knowledge.
Every human book represents the knowledge that was available to a writer at a certain time and place. Human knowledge keeps advancing. As a result, every human book, after some time becomes obsolete. The knowledge in a book, after the passage of time, is found to be either false or incomplete. All books by human authors thus need to be revised or written after a period of time. The Qur'an was given to mankind through an unlettered Prophet(PBUH) more than 1400 years ago. Since that time, human knowledge has gone through countless changes and advancements. It is, however, a fact that not a single word, phrase, sentence, or topic in the Qur'an needs to be revised or rewritten. Furthermore, the Qur'an also discusses the finest mysteries of nature and man.
It is also a fact that not a single discrepancy has yet been found in the statements of the Qur'an with respect to the discoveries of science during the past fourteen centuries. It should also be noted that the present day Bible has gone through numerous revisions and still his numerous scientific contradictions.
An effective writer always modifies his style and language according to the varying needs of the readers. What may appeal to a young person may not appeal to an old person. Similarly what may appeal to an illiterate may not appeal to an educated person. Moreover, human society also has persons with different levels of knowledge and intelligence. All of these persons are motivated by different levels of knowledge and intelligence.
All of these persons are motivated by different style of writing. Further, every human being passes through various phases of emotional changes e.g., a person who is happy likes to read something different from the person who is depressed. A few prefer to read poetry, others prefer to read prose, a few others like to read simple language, and a few others prefer an eloquent style of writing. No one has ever written a book that could appeal, motive and inspire all sectors, age groups, educational levels and emotional states of human society. The Qur'an in the only book that has universally met the needs of all the varying sectors and factors of human society.
This unparalleled ability of the Qur'an to address a multitude of persons, to penetrate their inner most souls, and to give them comfort and peace is one of the most outstanding miracles of the language of the Qur'an.
Four stages of the development of the earth
"And He (Allah) set on (the earth) mountains firmly set over its surface, and bestowed (His) blessings on the earth, And determined there in its sustenance(and creatures) in Four balanced periods (according to the requirements), for (information of those) who ask." --- Q-41:10
Analysis: The present day geologists divided the history of the earth into four major areas as follows:
1-Pre-Cambian Era: From 600 to 3300 million years. During this era, the earth evolved from its original mass, and became a separate planetary body. This era when life became abundant and diversified.
2-Plaeozoic era: From 230 to 600 million years. The first land vegetation, amphibians, and reptiles appeared in this era. This is the era of ancient life.
3-Mesozoic era: from 63 to 230 million years. This is regarded as the era of middle life. Plants became better adjusted to seasonal changes. Vertebrates, mammals and birds also appeared in this era and the dinosaurs became abundant.
4-Cenozoic era: Recent to 63 million years. This era contains the present phase of life.
This divisions of geological history of the earth into four eras is not haphazard or random, but is based on the breaks in the sequence of deposition of physical sediments. These eras are universally accepted as the basis of the world wide correlations. They represent the record of development of animal, and plant life, and also drifting of continents and appearance of oceans and mountains. It is probably about these four eras that the Qur'an states: "And He (Allah) determined there in its sustenance in four balanced periods"
It should be noted that these four periods of geological history of the earth are different from the six periods of the creation of skies and the earth and the whole of the universe. They go back up to five billion years when the universe was already 10 billion years old.
Structure and role of mountains
"He(Allah) created the heavens without any pillars that you see; He (also) set the on earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you." Q-31:10
"Have We(Allah) not made the earth as wide expanse (bed), and mountains as pegs? And have We not created you in pairs?..."Q-78:6-8
Analysis: Geologists have now discovered that mountains have hard sediments that are deeply buried in the ground, like the roots of trees. Moreover, they play a very important role in stabilizing the earth. The Qur'an in this verse uses the Arabic word "Aurad". Abdullah Yusuf Ali, and Dr. Mohsin Khan have translated this as "pegs". English dictionaries describe peg as a pin or a nail that is used to hold something or to fasten part of a thing together.
These verses state that Allah, the Exalted has made mountains like huge nails that are deeply buried in the ground, and their function is to stabilize the earth. This is exactly what the modern geologists have discovered about the structure and role of mountains. It should be noted that there are no huge mountains in the Arabian Peninsula. Moreover, most of these mountains are sandy and not rocky. Who besides Allah, the Exalted would have revealed this information to Muhammad(PBUH) in the Qur'an over 14 centuries ago?
Hussseini Yushau BabalWaiz, is the Research & Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Media & Peace Initiatives Inc. New York, Author of three books; “Paradise Under Mothers’ Feet”, "Not good without God" & “Islam Promotes Tolerance & Prohibits Terrorism”. He tutors Arabic & Islamic Studies in New York, babalwaiz71@gmail.com
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