The Quran; A Miracle Beyond Time – A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (Part 17)
Creation of Heaven and Earth
The question of the origin of the universe has long occupied the human mind. Several theories have been proposed to explain how the universe came Into being and evolved. These theories are based on astronomical observations or theoretical principles of physics and have attempted to answer one of the most fundamental questions of humanity: “How did the universe begin?”
Common theories about Creation of Heaven and Earth
Various theories and estimates have been proposed regarding the manner and origin of the universe, and one of the most common of these hypotheses is the “Big Bang theory,” which states that the universe began in a very hot and dense[1] state about 13.8 billion years ago and is expanding to this day. This theory is based on such things as the cosmic microwave background radiation and the expansion of galaxies.
In contrast, the “Steady State Theory” claims that the universe has always existed in the same way and despite the expansion, new matter is continuously produced to keep the density of the universe constant. This theory was popular in the middle decades Of the 20th century, but lost its credibility with the discovery of the cosmic microwave background.
Another theory is the “Cyclic Universe” theory, which considers the universe to be in endless cycles of expansion and contraction. According to this view, each “Big Bang” is followed by a “Big Collapse”[2] and the universe is reborn and reshaped many times.
On the other hand, “M-Theory”, derived from string physics, offers a much more complex theory. This theory considers the universe to be one of many universes in the “multiverse” and states that what we know as the Big Bang may have been the result of a collision between “Brin”[3] entities in higher dimensions.
Despite their fundamental differences, all of these theories attempt to answer a common question: What is the true nature of the universe and what fate awaits it?
The Holy Quran and the Creation of the Universe
All heavenly religions consider the universe to be a creation of God (Allah) Almighty and believe that the creation of the universe was miraculous and outside the scope of natural laws, and they believe that the universe has a beginning and then an end.
The Holy Quran, which is the book of guidance; in addition to this main purpose, it occasionally reveals the amazing secrets of creation; secrets that in many cases are only now being understood by empirical science. The Holy Quran has introduced “the universe as a creation of Allah” that came into being from nothing (non-existence). The creation of the universe is referred to in several verses, including the following: (إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلأَرضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّام) Translation: “Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days.”[Al-A’raf: 54]
The same content and interpretation are also found in the verses: Al-A’raf: 54, Yunus: 3, Hud: 7, Al-Furqan: 59, Al-Sajdah: 4, Al-Qaf: 38, and Al-Hadid: 4.
These verses implicitly refer to a similar scenario to the “Big Bang,” i.e. the universe began from a single state then expanded.
Another one of these verses is the following verse: (أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلأَرضَ كَانَتَا رَتقا فَفَتَقنَٰهُمَاۖ وَجَعَلنَا مِنَ ٱلمَآءِ كُلَّ شَيءٍ حَيٍّۚ أَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ) Translation: “Have not those who disbelieved looked and saw that the heavens and the earth were (first) flat and closed, then We opened them apart and created every living thing from water. Do they not believe?” [Prophets: 30]
This noble verse has very deep layers from a conceptual, scientific, interpretative and faith perspective, which we will examine.
The meaning of the words “Ratq” and “Fatq”
The word “Ratq” in Arabic means to be closed, to be attached and without a gap; while “Fatq” means to open, to split, or to separate. By this interpretation, the verse states that at the beginning of creation, the heavens and the earth existed as a single mass connected together and then separated from each other by the will of Allah.
The views of the ancient commentators
Imam Fakhr al-Din al-Razi (may Allah bless him) and the interpretive sayings
We will summarize the main views of the ancient commentators on this matter by quoting Imam Fakhr al-Razi (may Allah bless him):
Fakhr al-Razi (may Allah bless him) has presented five views on this verse in his great commentary (Mafatih al-Ghayb):
The first view: The view of Hassan, Qatadah, Saeed ibn Jubayr and the narration of Ikrimah from Ibn Abbas: The heavens and the earth were initially a single mass, and Allah Almighty raised the heavens with the flow of “Fatq” and left the earth in its place.
The second view: Abu Salih and Mujahid: The heavens were initially a single mass, and they became seven heavens. The earth was also similar.
The third view: The view of Ibn Abbas, Hassan and most commentators: The heavens and the earth were closed and without signs of life, then the sky split open and rain came and the earth split open and plants grew from it.
The fourth view: Abu Muslim Isfahani’s view: “Ratq” means the absence and non-existence of creation, and “Fatq” means creation and coming into existence.
The fifth view: Fatq means the emergence of light and brightness after the darkness of creation.
Among these opinions, the first view is stronger and preferable in terms of the lexicon and context of the verse, because it is based on the original meaning of “Ratq” and “Fatq” in Arabic, as Imam Fakhr al-Razi (may Allah bless him) wrote: «وبهذا الطريق صار الوجه الرابع والخامس مرجوحًا، ويصير الوجه الأول أولى الوجوه» Translation: “And in this way, the fourth and fifth views become preferred, and the first view will be the best view.”[4]
Contemporary views
Some contemporary Muslim commentators and scientists think that the verses of the Holy Quran are consistent with contemporary scientific findings such as the Big Bang and the expansion of the universe, and they speculate that the Holy Quran contains strange references to these concepts.
As mentioned, the “Big Bang” theory states that the universe came into being from a very dense and hot point and then expanded.
From the Islamic point of view, the universe was created and had a beginning.
But science seeks to describe natural mechanisms, while religion deals with the ultimate cause and origin.
Zaghloul al-Najjar and the “Big Bang” Theory
Dr. Zaghloul al-Najjar, a geologist and researcher of the Quran, considers the verse to be in accordance with the scientific theory of the “Big Bang”. According to this theory:
The universe began in the beginning from an extremely dense and hot point (Ratq).
Then this point exploded and the universe began to expand (Fatq).
Following this, nebulae were formed from which the heavens, the Earth, galaxies, stars and planets were formed.
At a time when man’s imagination was still based on the eternity and endlessness of the universe, the Holy Quran expresses in simple and meaningful language a truth that scientists have achieved today with sophisticated tools.
Another verse that is directly related to this topic is verse 11 of Surah Fussilat: (ثُمَّ ٱستَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِيَ دُخَانٞ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلأَرضِ ٱئتِيَا طَوعًا أَو كَرها قَالَتَآ أَتَينَا طَآئِعِينَ) Translation: “Then He intended to create the heaven while it was smoke, and He said to it and to the earth: Come willingly or unwillingly. They said: We have come willingly.”[Fussilat: 11]
“Then He willed the creation of the heavens, while they were smoke (like, and in the form of clouds scattered in the vastness of endless space), and He said to the heavens and the earth: Come into being (and take shape) whether you will or not.” They said: We are obedient (and have come into being as You willed).”[5]
This verse shows that after the initial separation, the heavens became gaseous (smoke), which is in harmony with the findings of contemporary cosmology (the state of plasma[6] or gas in the early universe. [7]
Commentary (Tafseer) of Sayyed Qutb, may Allah bless him: Avoiding Hasty Adaptation
Although Sayyed Qutb, may Allah bless him, considers the truth expressed in the verse worthy of contemplation and reflection, he warns that the Holy Quran should not be adapted to unstable scientific theories; because theories change, but the Holy Quran is a fixed truth. He emphasizes that the Holy Quran is for guidance, not to replace books on physics and cosmology. At the end of the discussion, he writes: “ونتقبل النظريات الفلكية التي لا تخالف هذه الحقيقة المجملة التي قرَّرَها القرآن، ولكننا لا نجري بالنص القرآني وراء أية نظرية فلكية، ولا نطلب تصديقًا للقرآن في نظريات البشر، وهو حقيقة مستيقنة، وقصارى ما يقال: إن النظرية الفلكية القائمة اليوم لا تُعَارِضُ المفهوم الإجمالي لهذا النص القرآني السابق عليها بأجيال” Translation: “We do not accept that part of the astronomical theories which do not contradict this general truth that the Quran has established; but we do not make the Quranic text follow astronomical theories, and we do not seek confirmation of the Quran from human theories, because the Quran is a certain truth.
In short, it can be said that the astronomical theory that exists today does not contradict the overall concept of this Quranic text that came centuries ago.”[8]
Belief and Faith Messages of the Verse
Purposeful Creation: The verses of the Quran show that the world did not come into being by chance; rather, it was created by a wise and powerful Creator.
Refutation of the belief in the eternity of the world: Belief in creation invalidates false beliefs such as the eternity of the world or the independence of nature.
Proof of Monotheism: Just as creation began with a single power, the fate of the world is also in the hands of the same single power.
Call to reflection: The expression «أَوَلَمۡ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓاْ» indicates the Quran’s call to reflect and understand phenomena scientifically.
Finally, we will say in short: Quranic verse 30 of Surah Al-Anbiya is a brilliant example of the communication of Quranic guidance. This Quranic verse has both a belief dimension, a scientific message, and a basis for monotheistic thinking and Cosmological insight.
Undoubtedly, if Muslims approach such scientific references with care and research, they will be at the forefront of scientific discovery. The Quran has given man the keys to understanding the world; but it has left the unlocking of the locks to human thought and learning of the sciences.
Dense means: small in volume, but with a lot of mass or energy.
The Big Bang is a cosmological theory according to which the universe, after a long period of expansion, begins to contract due to the force of gravity. Eventually, all matter and energy are compressed into a single point.
“Brin” is from the term membrane in physics, a multidimensional object in string theories
Abridged and summarized from: Tafsir al-Razi = Mafatih al-Ghayb or al-Tafsir al-Kabeer (22/137-137).
The translation with the additions in brackets is taken from Tafsir al-Nur by Dr. Mustafa Khoamdel.
Plasma is the fourth state of matter after solid, liquid, and gas. When a gas becomes very hot, atoms gain a lot of energy and their electrons are separated from the atoms, which is why plasma contains charged particles (free electrons and ions).
