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Islam and Universe By: Professor Maqsood Jafri
The materialists believe that the universe is an automation device. It is an accidental creation having no designer or creator. A blind material force is working and shaping all material objects and forms. They reject the concept or existence of God. They consider matter an eternal entity or substance. Beyond matter there is no other world or entity. This is the basic belief of the materialists and Marxists. Atom, molecule and cell are the basic units of creation and substance. On the other hand Islam believes in the existence of God and soul. It is God who has made this universe on scientific lines. It is entirely based on mathematical calculations. The universe is created by God on exactly scientific principles. Nothing is blind in the creative process. The Quran about the creation of the universe in Sura “The Heifer” says; “Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and Day; in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind ; in the rain which Allah sends down, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead; in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth; in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth; (here) in deed are signs for a people that are wise” (2:164).
In the above verse Allah Almighty has in detail announced the different forms of creation. We cannot make a chair without a carpenter. We cannot make a dagger without a blacksmith. When without a designer nothing can be designed, then how can such a vast universe is made without a Maker? Some scientists believe that all material things are composed of elements. Some others believe that matter is formed by very small or minute things called atoms. Democritus called these parts atoms or indivisible parts. The Greeks considered water, air, earth and fire as simple basic elements. Later some Arab scientists added to these four elements three more elements, sulphur, mercury and salt. Now the scientists have discovered more than one hundred simple elements of which the primary matter of the universe in general is composed. Substances are divided in to two kinds; simple substances like gold, brass, iron, lead or mercury; and composed substances like water and wood. Water is composed of two atoms, one atom of oxygen and two atoms of hydrogen (H2O). H2O is the water formula. Wood is composed of three atoms; oxygen, carbon and hydrogen. The atom is the minute part of an element. Rutherford’s theory of “Divisibility of Atom” totally annihilated the notion of ‘Dialectical Materialism’ and opened new vistas about the immateriality of matter. The division of atom leads to the disappearance of the properties of that simple element. It has been proved that mass is nothing but concentrated energy.
Atom is a universe in itself. The universe has been designed on its principle. The study of atom is an interesting subject. Albert Einstein, the father of modern physics in his book entitled “Out of My later Years” writes that this universe is very scientifically created by God. In the nucleus of an atom there are electrons, protons, photons and neutrons. An electron is the unit of negative charge. A proton carries a positive charge equals to the negative charge of an electrical charge. Similarly we have three kinds of humans; the male, the female and third sex. In animals we have male, female and neutrals as well. Horse is positive and mare is negative and mule is neutral creation. Hence we have masculine, feminine and neutral creatures. God is the best creator. The Quran says; “Blessed is God who is the best of the creators”. The change of matter in to energy and of electrons in to electricity proves the fact that the heaven and hell may be electric states. There will be different states and stages of these electric states. As we receive electricity of different watts similarly people of hell and heaven will receive atmospheric zones according to their deeds. On the day of Reckoning the materiality of the whole universe will be converted in to energy and electricity. As an atom is broken and its diffusion produces enormous electric waves, similarly the blast in the universe will be horrible converting matter in to energy. The Quran in Sura At-Takwir (The Folded up) says; “When the sun is folded and when the stars darken. And when the mountains vanish” (81:1-3). In sura Al-Infitar (The cleaving) the Quran announces; “when the heavens cleave asunder; and when the stars disappear and when the seas commingled; and when the graves be over-turned; Then shall every soul know what it hath sent forth and left behind.” (82:1-5). In Suras Al-e-Imran, The Cattle, The Repentance, Yunus, The Thunder, Abraham, The Rocky Tract, The Bee, The Israelites, The Cave, TaHa, The Prophets, The Criterion, The Poet, The Spider, The Roman Empire, Yasin, The Crowds and in many other Suras the creation of the universe is mentioned. And in the Suras; The Rending Asunder, The Celestial Stations, The Nightly Visitant and the Quaking the destruction and the end of the universe is described. Islamic principles are solid and scientific like mathematical propositions. One of the hallmarks of Islam is its complete harmony with science. Whatever science discovers, it only increases our knowledge of God’s magnificent creation. Science does not contradict Islam. Muslim scientists study the latent mysteries of the Cosmos and advanced in the fields of Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Astronomy and Biology. Muslim scientists invented the magnetic compass, the astrolabe, and the clock pendulum, to name a few. Many critical systems such as Algebra, the Arabic numerals, and the very concept of Zero in mathematics were introduced by Muslim scholars. This is the reason that the study of universe in Islam is equal to worship of God.
(The writer is an eminent speaker and scholar on comparative religions and a political activist. He can be reached at maqsoodjafri@aol.com) |
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