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Riaz Hussain*
Cosmology is the study of universe as a whole including its
distant past and its future. It is the study of the general nature
of the universe. (1) What the universe is now? What it was in the
past and what it likely to be in the future? How was the universe
created? These are the basic themes of cosmology.
In its broad sense the term universe refers to the totality
of existing entities and processes. Since in this term include
reference to all modes of natural existence, various sciences such
as astronomy, physics, biology, chemistry and psychology and
contribute to man’s understanding of what is contained in all this
comprehensive subject matter.(2) In a restricted sense the term
universe refers to what is taken to be most inclusive system of
astronomical bodies. Now the scientific cosmology is taken in the
sense of astronomy. The universe in scientific cosmology is
identified on an observational level with the vast realm of
galaxies.(3)
Cosmology is as old
as human beings. Men have been examining and wondering about sky for
many millennia, the beauty of the night sky has been a source of
fascination and pleasure for all mankind. Men and women have watched
and wondered at the seasonal procession of stars across the heavens.
Thus astronomy was the first science of ancient civilization, the
avocation of Egyptian priests and Greek philosophers, medieval monks
and Renaissance princes. As scientific discoveries have been made,
ideas about the origin of the universe have changed and are still
changing.(4)
Modern astronomy deals with the birth and death of stars
with exotic matters and energies, with infinities of space and time
and with creation, evolution and ultimate destiny of the universe.
Science has revealed a universe of unimaginable size,
billions upon billions of stars burn with the energy of the
thermonuclear furnace. Many die in explosions that litter the
reaches of space with gas and dust from which, while thinking about
the universe, man tried to find out as what was his place in the
universe? Where his earth was located? Through his observation and
knowledge he tried to unfold the mysteries of the universe. As far
as 1100 B.C. Mesopotamian and Babylonian cultures mapped the motion
of the planets across the sky by observing how they moved against
the background of the stars.(5)
Aristotle in about 350 B.C. theorized that the sun, the moon
and the planets all revolved around the earth.(6) In about 250 B.C.
Greek astronomer Aristarchus of Samos became the first person to
assert that the earth moved around the sun. But Aristotle’s model of
the universe prevailed for almost 1800 years. Until the 16th
century, people considered the earth to be the centre of the
inverse.(7)
In about 140 A.D. Egyptian scientist Ptolemy explained the
retrograde motion as a result of set of small circles called
epicycles on which the planets moved. His ideas were accepted in an
age when standards of scientific accuracy and proof had not been
developed.(8) Even when Polish astronomer Nicolas developed his
model of sun-centered universe in 1540’s A.D. he based his idea on
philosophy instead of observations.(9)
In 16th century Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe
made most scientific and accurate observations of the universe to
that time. After him German astronomer Kepler discovered that
planets orbited around the sun in elongated circles. This discovery
was Kepler’s first law and then he developed two more laws about how
speed and periods of the planets changed.(10)
Later on Galileo, the Italian scientist, Newton, the English
and Einstein, German turned American scientist, gave new dimensions
to astronomical developments. In this way Kepler’s laws of orbital
motion, Newton’s laws of motion and Einstein’s general theory of
relativity went a long way in man’s understanding of the universe
and unfolding many mysteries of the universe. Most of the cosmology
today is based on the set of solutions found in the 1920’s by
Russian mathematician Alexander Friedmann.(11)
Modern astronomers base their theories on astronomical
observations, physical concepts such as quantum mechanics and
elenunts of imagination and philosophy. Cosmologists have moved
beyond trying to find earth’s place in the universe to explain the
origin, nature and fate of the universe.
In the later half of the 20th century the
cosmologists were considering two theories for the origin of the
universe. The first steady state theory, which suggested that
universe, had always existed. The universe was more or less the same
as it does now and that it does not change over time. The second
was, currently accepted Big Bang theory, which holds that the
universe was created from one enormous explosion. It proposes that a
huge explosion set free all the matter and energy in the
universe.(12) So far the Big Bang theory is widely accepted.
In current cosmological models the universe was first both
hot and dense with temperature exceeding billions of degrees. In the
first second after the Big Bang as the universe cooled elementary
particles such as quarks and electrons were formed. It happened
about 15 billion years ago. The scientists believe that the picture
of the universe provided by the Big Bang is fairly accurate. This is
what science or cosmology says about the creation of the universe.
About its present position it is believed that it is still
expanding. But there is no clear answer to the question whether the
universe will expand for ever or eventually will collapse. Such
enigmas are responded by Islam. Let us see how the issue is treated
by the Quran which takes the question in all its comprehensiveness
and address all its aspects i.e. creation, evolution, past, present,
future and its various systems.
Now we turn over the pages of the Holy Quran and see what it
has to say on the subject. The Quran begins with the delebration
that Allah is lord of all the worlds. It means universe is not
confined to earth and solar system, there are other worlds and God
has created all. Therefore he is exalted. The first thing regarding
the creation of universe is that the universe is created by God.
Following verses from the Holy Quran are quoted to substentiate my
point:
To Him is due the primal origin of heavens and earth and
when he decreeth a matter He saith it “be and it is done”. (
Al-Bakara:117).
Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and earth
in six days and is firmly established on the throne, regulating and
governing all the things”. (Younis: 3)
“To Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on the
earth; to him do all questions go back”. (Al-Imran: 109).
There are many verses in the Holy Quran which clearly
explain that authority over the entire universe belongs to Allah,
the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He created the universe
then made laws and systems. It is fundamental belief of Islam
because it saves human from wild goose chase. Islam lays stress on
its believers to think and ponder over the creation of God.
The following verse speaks on the issue of the creation of
the universe and the earth:
O, prophet how can they(unbelievers) negate Allah who
created the earth in two days. He is the Lord of all the worlds…
Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky. And it had been (as)
smoke: He said to it and the earth” come ye together willingly or
unwillingly”. (Rehman: 41).
According to standard Big Bang Theory, after big bang when
universe was expanding, it was cooling as well. The cooling has
caused the formation of different particles-matter formation. When
the energy got sufficiently low the particles like neutrons and
protons combined to make primordial gases. These gases due to
anisotropy started to concentrate in some regions of the universe
giving rise to formation of galaxies and stars. This description of
creation of universe is supported both by experimental discoveries
and mathematical formulations.(12).
The universe is expanding in vast space. Quran says about
it:
With power and skill did We construct the firmament; for it
We Who creates vastness of space”. (Al-Zariat: 47).
At another place the Almighty says:
“Blessed is He who made constellations in the skies and
placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light”. (Al-Furqan: 61).
It was until the 20th century, that philosophers
were speculating on the structure of the universe and galaxies. Now
it is said that the universe is made up of thousands of millions of
galaxies and constellations after using giant telescopes,
sophisticated instruments and high speed computers but the Quran
gave the vision through unlettered prophet fourteen hundred years
ago that is why the Quran says that there are signs for those who
are wise, who think, ponder and want to understand.(14).
The Holy Quran explains the phenomena of time
“the number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve(in a
year) so ordained by Him, the day He created the heavens and the
earth”. (Al-Tauba: 30).
It clearly shows that the specification of time, length of
days that we see today was created after the creation of earth and
the solar system. How explicitly the time and space are mentioned in
the holy Quran.
The concepts of the movements of earth, the moon, position
of the sun and stars and sky are also very explicitly clarified by
the Quran.
The world star(nujm and najum) appear thirteen times in the
Quran. On this subject there is one complete chapter(Al-Najm) in the
holy book of Islam. Quranic words Najm and Kokab are
translated by the scholars as stars and planets respectively.(15).
According to Quran
God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The example
of His light is as if there were niche and within it a luminary. The
luminary is in glass. And glass is as if it were a planet glittering
like a pearl.(Al-Noor: 35).
In another verse He says
We have indeed adorned the lowest heavens with our ornaments
and planets.(Al-Safat: 6)
It is said that Quranic word As-sama-o-dunia stand
for the solar system.
About days and nights, rotation and revolution, the sun and
the moon Al-Quran says
He merges night into day and day into night. And He has
subjected the sun and the moon(to His law). Each one runs its course
for a term appointed.
The Quran addresses the basic questions of creation. Turning
towards the creation of all living being, The holy book says“And we
have created everything living from water”. This is a categorical
statement and very comprehensive answer of the Quran to the
questions of creation and evolution of life that all life is created
from water. There is unanimity of view of almost all the scientists
and cosmologists that the basic pre-requisite of every kind of life
is water. The creation of life without water is impossible.
About winds, clouds and rain the Quranic interpretation is
as scientific as ever. It says
It is Allah who sends forth the winds, so that they rise up
the clouds and We drive them to a land that is dead and revive the
earth therewith after its death.(Al-Fater: 9).
The Quran systematically describrs the process of rising of
winds, formation of clouds and rain-water. And that water gives
life.
About the atmosphere and ozone the Quran mentions that He
made earth’s atmospheric roof to prevent dangerous radiation
reaching the earth. God says
And We have made above you seven strong
barriers.(Al-Nisa:12).
These radiations could have devastated the life on earth.
The function of this roof is to save us from dangerous solar
radiations, most of which are either reflected back into space or
absorbed by it.(17)
The most important question about the universe is its
future. Whether it has any end- the holy Quran says the sky was
smoke (gases) and once more it will be a smoke. ‘The sky will bring
a smoke which will take everything in it’ Many a verses tell that
the universe is moving towards its end. The sunspots, the depletion
of ozone lyre, the rising temperature etc. demonstrate that one day
everything will perish and there would be an end to this universe.
From the above discussion it can be safely concluded that
the holy Quran does not contain a single verse that is open to
criticism from modern science or cosmology. I have taken just few
glimpses from the Quran to present certain aspects of cosmology as
seen from Islamic point of view. Science is in pursuit of ultimate
truth, the Quran times and again calls upon the people to think over
and over again about the creation of universe, human beings, stars,
galaxies, so that they can reach to ultimate truth. The Quran is not
the book of science but it is fact that it contains basic principles
of almost all the sciences.
References
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Encyclopedia Britannica.
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Encyclopedia Americana.
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Encyclopedia Encarta.
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ibid.
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ibid.
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ibid.
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ibid.
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Franz Rosenthal, The Classical Heritage in Islam,
(London: Oxford University Press, 1975), pp.214-16.
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Encarta, op-cit.
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Akhtar K. Bhati and Gul-e- Jannat, The Holy Quran on
Environment, (Karachi: Royal Book Company, 1995), pp.20-62.
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ibid.
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Fahim Ashraf, “Islamic Concept of Creation of Universe, Big
Bang and Science-Religion Interaction, Science-Religion
Dialogue, (Mansehra: HSSRD, 2003), pp.53-56.
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Maurice Bucaille, The Bible, the Quran and Science,
(Delhi: Crescent Publishing Company, 1994), pp.i33-173.
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A.K.Rashid, Re-Evolution of Islamic Thought and other
Essays, (Lahore: Universal Books,1975).
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Syed Hussain Nasr,
Science and Civilization in Islam, (Lahore: Sohail Academy,
1999), pp. 92-99.
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ibid.
- Sultan
Bashir-ud-din Mehmood, Cosmology and Human Destiny,
(Islamabad; Holy Quran Research Foundation, 1998) p.16.
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