The Earth’s Atmosphere
Description: Modern science has discovered facts about the atmosphere mentioned in the Quran over 1400 years ago.
By IslamReligion.com
Published on 16 Jan 2006 - Last modified on 29 Mar 2011
“By the sky which returns.” (Quran 86:11)
“[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the
sky a ceiling…” (Quran 2:22)
In the first verse God swears by the sky[1]
and its function of ‘returning’ without specifying what it ‘returns.’ In
Islamic doctrine, a divine oath signifies the magnitude of importance of a
special relation to the Creator, and manifests His majesty and the supreme
Truth in a special way.
The second verse describes the Divine Act that made the
sky a ‘ceiling’ for the dwellers of earth.
Let us see what modern atmospheric science has to say
about the role and function of the sky.
The atmosphere is a word which denotes all the air
surrounding the earth, from the ground all the way up to the edge from which space
starts. The atmosphere is composed of several layers, each defined because of
the various phenomena which occur within the layer.
This image shows the
average temperature profile through the
Earth’s atmosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere are very sensitive
to
solar activity and can vary from 500°C to 1500°C. Source: Windows to
the
Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu), the University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999, 2000 The Regents of the
University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation for Atmospheric
Research.
Rain, for one, is ‘returned’ to Earth by the clouds in
the atmosphere. Explaining the hydrologic cycle, Encyclopedia Britannica
writes:
“Water evaporates from both the aquatic and terrestrial
environments as it is heated by the Sun’s energy. The rates of evaporation and
precipitation depend on solar energy, as do the patterns of circulation of
moisture in the air and currents in the ocean. Evaporation exceeds
precipitation over the oceans, and this water vapor is transported by the wind
over land, where it returns to the land through precipitation.”[2]
Not only does the atmosphere return what was on the
surface back to the surface, but it reflects back into space that which might
damage the flora and fauna the earth sustains, such as excessive radiant heat.
In the 1990’s, collaborations between NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA),
and the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan resulted
in the International Solar-Terrestrial Physics (ISTP) Science Initiative. Polar,
Wind and Geotail are a part of this initiative, combining resources and
scientific communities to obtain coordinated, simultaneous investigations of
the Sun-Earth space environment over an extended period of time. They have an
excellent explanation of how the atmosphere returns solar heat to space.[3]
Besides ‘returning’ rain, heat and radio waves, the
atmosphere protects us like a ceiling above our heads by filtering out deadly
cosmic rays, powerful ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the Sun, and even
meteorites on collision course with Earth.[4]
Pennsylvania State Public Broadcasting tells us:
“The sunlight that we can see represents one group of
wavelengths, visible light. Other wavelengths emitted by the sun include
x-rays and ultraviolet radiation. X-rays and some ultraviolet light waves are
absorbed high in Earth’s atmosphere. They heat the thin layer of gas there to
very high temperatures. Ultraviolet light waves are the rays that can cause
sunburn. Most ultraviolet light waves are absorbed by a thicker layer of gas
closer to Earth called the ozone layer. By soaking up the deadly ultraviolet
and x-rays, the atmosphere acts as a protective shield around the planet. Like
a giant thermal blanket, the atmosphere also keeps temperatures from getting
too hot or too cold. In addition, the atmosphere also protects us from
constant bombardment by meteoroids, bits of rock and dust that travel at high
speeds throughout the solar system. The falling stars we see at night are not
stars at all; they are actually meteoroids burning up in our atmosphere due to
the extreme heating they undergo.”[5]
This is an image of
Earth’s polar stratospheric clouds. These clouds are involved in the creation
of Earth’s ozone hole. Source: Windows to the Universe, (http://www.windows.ucar.edu/)
at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). ©1995-1999,
2000 The Regents of the University of Michigan; ©2000-04 University Corporation
for Atmospheric Research.
Encyclopedia Britannica, describing the role of
Stratosphere, tells us about its protective role in absorbing dangerous
ultraviolet radiation:
“In the upper stratospheric regions, absorption of
ultraviolet light from the Sun breaks down oxygen molecules; recombination of
oxygen atoms with O2 molecules into ozone (O3) creates the ozone layer, which
shields the lower ecosphere from harmful short-wavelength radiation…More
disturbing, however, is the discovery of a growing depletion of ozone over
temperate latitudes, where a large percentage of the world’s population
resides, since the ozone layer serves as a shield against ultraviolet
radiation, which has been found to cause skin cancer.”[6]
The mesosphere is the layer in which many meteors burn
up while entering the Earth’s atmosphere. Imagine a baseball zipping along at
30,000 miles per hour. That’s how big and fast many meteors are. When they
plow through the atmosphere, meteors are heated to more than 3000 degrees
Fahrenheit, and they glow. A meteor compresses air in front of it. The air
heats up, in turn heating the meteor.[7]
This is an image which shows the Earth and its atmosphere. The
mesosphere would be the dark blue edge located on the far top of the image underneath
the back.
(Image courtesy of NASA)
(Image courtesy of NASA)
Earth is surrounded by a magnetic force field - a bubble
in space called “the magnetosphere” tens of thousands of miles wide. The
magnetosphere acts as a shield that protects us from solar storms. However, according
to new observations from NASA’s IMAGE spacecraft and the joint NASA/European
Space Agency Cluster satellites, immense cracks sometimes develop in Earth’s
magnetosphere and remain open for hours. This allows the solar wind to gush
through and power stormy space weather. Fortunately, these cracks do not expose
Earth’s surface to the solar wind. Our atmosphere protects us, even when our
magnetic field does not.[8]
An artist’s
rendition of NASA’s IMAGE satellite flying through a ‘crack’ in Earth’s
magnetic field.
How would it be possible for a fourteenth century desert
dweller to describe the sky in a manner so precise that only recent scientific
discoveries have confirmed it? The only way is if he received revelation from
the Creator of the sky.
Footnotes:
[1] Al-Samaa’,
the Arabic word translated here as ‘sky’ includes earth’s atmosphere as
indicated by the verse 2:164.
[2] ”Biosphere.”
Encyclopedia Britannica from Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service.
(http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=70872)
(http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=70872)
[4] Atmospheric,
Climate & Environment Information Programme of the Manchester
Metropolitan University at
(http://www.ace.mmu.ac.uk/eae/Atmosphere/atmosphere.html)
[6] “Earth.”
Encyclopedia Britannica from Encyclopedia Britannica Premium Service.
(http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=54196)
(http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=54196)
The Quran on Human Embryonic Development
Description: The miracle of embryonic development is
mentioned in the Quran in such minute detail, much of which was unknown
to scientists until only recently. It mentions the first stages of life
after conception, the second stage of life after conception, and
witnesses of scientists about these scientific facts of the Quran.
By islam-guide.com
Published on 02 Mar 2006 - Last modified on 13 Mar 2011
In the Holy Quran, God speaks about the stages
of man’s embryonic development:
“We created man from an extract of clay.
Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We
made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot),
then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Quran
23:12-14)
Literally, the Arabic word alaqah has
three meanings: (1) leech, (2) suspended thing, and (3) blood clot.
In comparing a leech to an embryo in the alaqah
stage, we find similarity between the two[1]
as we can see in figure 1. Also, the embryo at this stage obtains nourishment
from the blood of the mother, similar to the leech, which feeds on the blood of
others.[2]
Figure 1: Drawings illustrating the similarities in
appearance between a leech and a human embryo at the alaqah stage.
(Leech drawing from Human Development as Described in the Quran and Sunnah,
Moore and others, p. 37, modified from Integrated Principles of Zoology,
Hickman and others. Embryo drawing from The Developing Human, Moore and
Persaud, 5th ed., p. 73.)
The second meaning of the word alaqah is
“suspended thing.” This is what we can see in figures 2 and 3, the suspension
of the embryo, during the alaqah stage, in the womb of the mother.
Figure 2: We can see in this diagram the suspension
of an embryo during the alaqah stage in the womb (uterus) of the mother.
(The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 66.)
Figure 3: In this photomicrograph, we can see the
suspension of an embryo (marked B) during the alaqah stage (about 15
days old) in the womb of the mother. The actual size of the embryo is about
0.6 mm. (The Developing Human, Moore, 3rd ed., p. 66, from Histology, Leeson
and Leeson.)
The third meaning of the word alaqah is
“blood clot.” We find that the external appearance of the embryo and its sacs
during the alaqah stage is similar to that of a blood clot. This is due
to the presence of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo
during this stage[3] (see figure
4). Also during this stage, the blood in the embryo does not circulate until
the end of the third week.[4] Thus, the
embryo at this stage is like a clot of blood.
Figure 4: Diagram of the primitive cardiovascular
system in an embryo during the alaqah stage. The external appearance of
the embryo and its sacs is similar to that of a blood clot, due to the presence
of relatively large amounts of blood present in the embryo. (The Developing
Human, Moore, 5th ed., p. 65.)
So the three meanings of the word alaqah
correspond accurately to the descriptions of the embryo at the alaqah
stage.
The next stage mentioned in the verse is the
mudghah stage. The Arabic word mudghah means “chewed substance.” If one were
to take a piece of gum and chew it in his or her mouth and then compare it with
an embryo at the mudghah stage, we would conclude that the embryo at the
mudghah stage acquires the appearance of a chewed substance. This is because
of the somites at the back of the embryo that “somewhat resemble teethmarks in
a chewed substance.”[5] (see figures
5 and 6).
Figure 5: Photograph of an embryo at the mudghah
stage (28 days old). The embryo at this stage acquires the appearance of a
chewed substance, because the somites at the back of the embryo somewhat
resemble teeth marks in a chewed substance. The actual size of the embryo is 4
mm. (The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed., p. 82, from Professor
Hideo Nishimura, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.)
Figure 6: When comparing the appearance of an embryo
at the mudghah stage with a piece of gum that has been chewed, we find
similarity between the two.
A) Drawing
of an embryo at the mudghah stage. We can see here the somites at the back of
the embryo that look like teeth marks. (The Developing Human, Moore and
Persaud, 5th ed., p. 79.)
B) Photograph of a piece of gum that has been
chewed.
How could Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings
of God be upon him, have possibly known all this 1400 years ago, when
scientists have only recently discovered this using advanced equipment and
powerful microscopes which did not exist at that time? Hamm and Leeuwenhoek
were the first scientists to observe human sperm cells (spermatozoa) using an
improved microscope in 1677 (more than 1000 years after Muhammad). They
mistakenly thought that the sperm cell contained a miniature preformed human
being that grew when it was deposited in the female genital tract.[6]
Professor Emeritus Keith L. Moore[7]
is one of the world’s most prominent scientists in the fields of
anatomy and
embryology and is the author of the book entitled The Developing Human,
which
has been translated into eight languages. This book is a scientific
reference
work and was chosen by a special committee in the United States as the
best
book authored by one person. Dr. Keith Moore is Professor Emeritus of
Anatomy
and Cell Biology at the University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. There,
he was Associate Dean of Basic Sciences at the Faculty of Medicine and
for 8 years
was the Chairman of the Department of Anatomy. In 1984, he received the
most
distinguished award presented in the field of anatomy in Canada, the
J.C.B. Grant Award from the Canadian Association of Anatomists. He has
directed many international associations, such as the Canadian and
American
Association of Anatomists and the Council of the Union of Biological
Sciences.
In 1981, during the Seventh Medical Conference
in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, Professor Moore said: “It has been a great pleasure
for me to help clarify statements in the Quran about human development. It is
clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God, because
almost all of this knowledge was not discovered until many centuries later.
This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a messenger of God.”[8]
(To
view the RealPlayer video of this comment click here).
Consequently, Professor Moore was asked the
following question: “Does this mean that you believe that the Quran is the word
of God?” He replied: “I find no difficulty in accepting this.”[9]
During one conference, Professor Moore stated:
“....Because the staging of human embryos is complex, owing to the continuous
process of change during development, it is proposed that a new system of
classification could be developed using the terms mentioned in the Quran and
Sunnah (what Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, said,
did, or approved of). The proposed system is simple, comprehensive, and
conforms with present embryological knowledge. The intensive studies of the
Quran and hadeeth (reliably transmitted reports by the Prophet Muhammad’s
companions of what he said, did, or approved of) in the last four years have
revealed a system for classifying human embryos that is amazing since it was
recorded in the seventh century A.D. Although Aristotle, the founder of the
science of embryology, realized that chick embryos developed in stages from his
studies of hen’s eggs in the fourth century B.C., he did not give any details
about these stages. As far as it is known from the history of embryology,
little was known about the staging and classification of human embryos until
the twentieth century. For this reason, the descriptions of the human embryo
in the Quran cannot be based on scientific knowledge in the seventh century.
The only reasonable conclusion is: these descriptions were revealed to Muhammad
from God. He could not have known such details because he was an illiterate
man with absolutely no scientific training.”[10]
(View
the RealPlayer video of this comment).
Footnotes:
[1] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed.,
p. 8.
[2] Human Development as Described in the Quran and
Sunnah, Moore and others, p. 36.
[3] Human Development as Described in the Quran and
Sunnah, Moore and others, pp. 37-38.
[4] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed.,
p. 65.
[5] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed.,
p. 8.
[6] The Developing Human, Moore and Persaud, 5th ed.,
p. 9.
[7] Note: The occupations of all the scientists mentioned in
this web site were last updated in 1997.
[8] The reference for this saying is This is the Truth (videotape).
For a copy of this videotape, please visit www.islam-guide.com/truth.htm
[9] This is the Truth (videotape).
[10] This is the Truth (videotape). For a copy, see
footnote no. 9.
No comments:
Post a Comment