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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
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
3- How Filaments are Woven into the Cosmic Web, http://arxiv.org/abs/astro-ph/9512141
4- http://www.kva.se/KVA_Root/files/newspics/DOC_2005217592_1296017045_popcrafoord05eng.asp
5- PalleMøller, Johan Fynbo, Bjarne Thomsen, A Glimpse of the Very Early Universal Web, European Southern Observatory, 18 May 2001.
