BLACK HOLES The 20th century saw a great many new discoveries regarding celestial phenomena in the universe. One of these entities, which has only recently been encountered, is the Black Hole. These are formed when a star which has consumed all its fuel collapses in on itself, eventually turning into a black hole with infinite density and zero volume and an immensely powerful magnetic field. We are unable to see black holes even with the most powerful telescope, because their gravitational pull is so strong that light is unable to escape from them. However, such a collapsed star can be perceived by means of the effect it has on the surrounding area. In Surat al-Waqia, Allah draws attention this matter in this way, by swearing upon the position of stars: And I swear by the stars positions-and that is a mighty oath if you only knew. (Quran, 56:75-76) The term black hole was first employed in 1969 by the American physicist John Wheeler. Previously, we imagined that we were able to see all the stars. However, it later emerged that there were stars in space whose light we were unable to perceive. Because, the light of these collapsed stars disappears. Light cannot escape from a black hole because it is such a high concentration of mass in a small space. The enormous gravitation captures even the fastest particles, i.e. the photons. For example, the final stage of a typical star, three times the mass of the Sun, ends after its burning out and its implosion as a black hole of only 20 kilometres in diameter! Black holes are black, i.e. veiled from direct observation. They nevertheless reveal themselves indirectly, by the tremendous suction which their gravitational force exerts on other heavenly bodies. As well as depictions of the Day of Judgement, the verse below may also be pointing to this scientific discovery about black holes: When the stars are extinguished, (Quran, 77:8) Moreover, stars of great mass also cause warps to be perceived in space. Black holes, however, do not just cause warps in space but also tear holes in it. That is why these collapsed stars are known as black holes. This fact may be referred to in the verse about stars, and this is another important item of information demonstrating that the Quran is the Word of Allah: [I swear] by Heaven and the Tariq! And what will convey to you what the Tariq is? The Star Piercing [the darkness]! (Quran, 86:1-3) ← When is the Hour of Response on Friday? ” Only One Thing Remains…”- Hadith → The black holes are near to us Certainly, Scientists discovered a giant black hole at the center of our galaxy which is 4 million times double the sun, Qur’an had referred to these creatures,… Black holes are terrifying cosmic phenomenon and scientists are trying to discover its secrets and they found that these holes are in our galaxy and they are heavy four million times than the sun! A group of germen scientists from Max Planck Society had found strong evidence that these holes are existed in our galaxy (Milky Way) and they accurately measured the space between earth and the center of the galaxy. Before, it was just a kind of estimation because of the billions of stars but now it is a clear reality with no doubt. For 16 years those scientists performed many studies on 28 stars around the center of Milky Way and by studying the movement of these starts they said that they became able to determine the characteristics of the substance that these stars are moving around. Professor Reinhard Gentzl head of the research team said “our study offered a strong evidence on the existence of the giant black holes ” Astronomers accurately measured the space between earth and the center of the galaxy as they found it 27000 light years and they used infrared rays to penetrate the dust clouds Did Quran pointed to these Black Holes? Scientists say that these super-massive black holes are dead stars but they are very heavy within very narrow space, they are the cemetery of the stars, swallow, sweep everything coming close to it even light and they are swimming in the space. As they have very enormous gravity they attract even light and do not reflect it and do not allow any light to leave, so, they are invisible. Because of the greatness of these creatures, they are one of the very great cosmic phenomena. Allah, Almighty swears by it (To show how great they are) and by their distinctive characteristics: (Invisible, swims in the space, sweeps and swallows anything close to it even light). Quran summed up these attributes in only three words. He almighty says: “So, verily I swear of that invisibles * that running and sweep” At-Takweer (verses 15,16) Since Allah, The Almighty swears by these frightful holes, it is a must that these should be discovered by human one day to be evidence of the sincerity of the Quran. And this discovery must be on the hand of unbelievers to show them a proof for the sincerity of the Quran and to be as an argument on them on the Day of Resurrection. And of course the appeal is addressed to non-Muslims, because Muslims believe in all that came in the Quran without physical evidence on this. This means that the Quran text includes three clear miracles: 1. had preceded the Non- Muslims scientists in talking about the black holes phenomenon. 2. Pointed to an implication that these holes exist and will be discovered, as everything that Allah swears by it is necessary to be seen whether by human in this world or in the Hereafter to be a proof on the sincerity of the Quran. 3 – There is an implication that who will discover these holes are non-Muslim, and this is what actually happened, as the Scientists who discovered these holes are non-Muslims, and Allah talked to them as an answer to his swear: “Verily this is the word of a most honorable Messenger” (At-Takweer-verse19) Our question for those who denies these miracles: Do black holes have been described with such accuracy, accidentally? Or is there a scientific miracle in the Quran? ——————– By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel Islam and the Setting of the Sun: Examining the traditional Muslim View of the Sun’s Orbit Sam Shamoun & Jochen Katz In one of our papers (here), we mentioned that the Quran teaches that the sun sets in a muddy spring. In this article, we would like to expand upon our original point by including the commentaries of various Muslim scholars and also address certain Muslim responses which seek to deny that this is, in fact, what the Quran teaches. Before we begin discussing this issue, we do need to make it clear that statements about the sun rising or setting do not, in and of themselves, prove that a person or author held to erroneous scientific views, or made a scientific error. One can legitimately argue that the person or author in question is using everyday speech, ordinary language, or what is called phenomenological language. From the vantage point of the person who is viewing the sun from the earth, the sun does indeed appear to be rising and setting. In fact, even today with all our advanced scientific knowledge we still refer to sunrise and sunset. Hence, an ancient book or writer may have not intended to convey actual scientific phenomena when describing the sun as rising or setting any more than today’s meteorologists, or newscasters, are speaking scientifically when referring to the rising and setting of the sun. With that said, we do feel that the author of the Quran wasn’t using phenomenological language when describing the sun. There are hints in the Quran that show that the author wasn’t simply speaking from the vantage point of one looking up at the sun from the earth, but did actually believe that the sun rises and sets. These hints are found in surah 18:86 and 90. It is to these passages which we now turn in order to demonstrate our case. To begin with, not all translations say that the sun sets in a muddy spring. Certain translations of surah 18:86 speak of the sun setting in a black sea. Compare the following two translations: Until when he reached THE PLACE WHERE THE SUN SET, he found IT GOING DOWN INTO a black sea, and found by it a people. We said: O Zulqarnain! either give them a chastisement or do them a benefit… Until when he reached the land of the rising of the sun, he found IT RISING on a people to whom We had given no shelter from It; Surah 18:86, 90 Shakir Until, when he reached THE SETTING OF THE SUN, he found IT SET IN a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness… Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found IT RISING on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. Yusuf Ali Furthermore, according to Muslim sources there existed a variant reading where some recensions of the Quran spoke of the sun setting in a warm spring; more on this below. Returning to the issue at hand, notice that the text does not say that the sun appeared to be setting in a black sea or what have you. The text clearly says the Zul-Qarnain found THE PLACE where the sun actually sets and rises. Since the earth is a globe, and the sun millions of miles away from the earth (150 million kilometers on average over the year), the setting of the sun always appears to take place far away, somewhere on or behind the horizon. In phenomenological language it may still be acceptable to speak of the place where the sun sets when it is done from the view point of someone who is far away from this place. For example, a traveler could say that he was moving in direction of where the sun is setting. However, the Quran goes beyond what is possible in phenomenological language when it states that Zul-Qarnain reached the place where the sun sets, i.e. the Quran is speaking of a human being who traveled to the place of the setting of the sun. Such a statement is wrong in any kind of language, since such a place does not exist on this earth. This is a serious error that was introduced into the Quran because the author mistook a legend to be literal and historical truth. Interestingly, Ibn Ishaq, in his Sirat Rasulullah, recorded a poem composed by Tubba which said: Dhu’l-Qarnayn before me was a Muslim Conquered kings thronged his court, East and west he ruled, yet he sought Knowledge true from a learned sage. HE SAW WHERE THE SUN SINKS FROM VIEW IN A POOL OF MUD AND FETID SLIME. Before him Bilqis my father’s sister Rule them until the hoopoe came to her.) (Alfred Guillaume, The Life of Muhammad [Oxford University Press, Karachi, tenth impression 1995], p. 12; capital emphasis ours) Taken at face value, this poem is part of the evidence that Muhammad took over a legendary story known to the Arabs before the revelation of the Quran. [Side remark: Note, however, that in what is classified as a pre-Islamic poem, the word Muslim is used. This either suggests that the poem was manufactured (made up by Muslims after Muhammad claimed prophethood), or that the term was already in use prior to Muhammads time. If the latter, then this provides further evidence of Muhammad taking over ideas from the diverse religious groups of his time, erroneously assuming that these terms were divinely appointed or revealed. He then proceeded to use this term in relation to the biblical prophets, thinking that this is what they used or how they viewed themselves as well. See also: Zaid ibn Amr ibn Nufails Cosmological Views and Their Influence on the Quran.] This is not the only time where the Quran mentions the setting and rising of the sun: And thus did We show Ibrahim the kingdom of the heavens and the earth and that he might be of those who are sure. So when the night over-shadowed him, he SAW a star; said he: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: I do not love the setting ones. Then when he SAW the moon rising, he said: Is this my Lord? So when it set, he said: If my Lord had not guided me I should certainly be of the erring people. Then when he SAW the sun RISING, he said: Is this my Lord? Is this the greatest? SO WHEN IT SET, he said: O my people! surely I am clear of what you set up (with Allah). Surely I have turned myself, being upright, wholly to Him Who originated the heavens and the earth, and I am not of the polytheists. S. 6:75-79 Shakir Now one can legitimately argue that this text is referring to what Abraham saw, i.e. that from Abraham’s vantage point the sun, moon and stars appeared to him as if they were rising and setting. But this introduces two problems. First, if surah 18:86 is speaking of what Zul-Qarnain saw, that from his vantage point it appeared as if the sun was setting into a muddy spring, then why didn’t the passage say so? Why didn’t the passage say that Zul-Qarnain saw the sun setting into a spring and then saw it rising, much like the Quranic author stated in connection to Abraham? Doesn’t this prove that in the case of Zul-Qarnain, the author of the Quran intended to convey that the sun literally sets in a spring or sea of some kind, and then from there rises again? Second, the Quran in many places states that the sun, moon and stars are traveling on set courses: Have you not considered him (Namrud) who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom? When Ibrahim said: My Lord is He who gives life and causes to die, he said: I give life and cause death. Ibrahim said: So surely Allah causes the sun TO RISE FROM THE EAST, then make it rise from the west; thus he who disbelieved was confounded; and Allah does not guide aright the unjust people. S. 2:258 Shakir ALLAH is HE Who raised up the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then HE settled HIMSELF on the Throne. And HE pressed the sun and the moon into your service; each planet pursues its course until an appointed term. HE regulates all affairs and HE clearly explains the Signs that you may have firm belief in the meeting with your Lord. S. 13:2 Sher Ali And He has made subservient to you the sun and the moon pursuing their courses, and He has made subservient to you the night and the day. S. 14:33 Shakir And thou couldst see the sun, AS IT ROSE, move away from their Cave on the right, AND WHEN IT SET, turn away from them on the left; and they were in a spacious hollow thereof. This is among the Signs of ALLAH. He whom ALLAH guides is alone rightly guided; but he whom HE leaves to go astray, for him thou wilt find no helper or guide. S. 18:17 Bear patiently then what they say, and glorify thy Lord with HIS praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting; and glorify HIM in the hours of the night and all parts of the day, that thou mayest find true happiness. S. 20:130 Sher Ali And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit. S. 21:33 Pickthall And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit. S. 36:38-40 Pickthall He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions): He makes the Night overlap the Day, and the Day overlap the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law): Each one follows a course for a time appointed. Is not He the Exalted in Power - He Who forgives again and again? S. 39:5 Y. Ali When we look at all these verses collectively, it becomes quite evident that the author of the Quran literally believed that the sun and the moon rose and set as they traveled on their ordained courses. Thus, it seems quite likely that the author of the Quran believed that Abraham wasn’t simply seeing something that wasn’t actually happening. The author seemed to believe that Abraham was literally seeing the actual traversing of the
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 00:02:00 +0000
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