Author: Mufti Noor Mohammad Mohibi
The Quran: A Miracle Beyond Time- A Study of Its Miraculous Nature (part 69)
The Law of Buoyancy
One of the most astonishing divine laws in the seas is the law of repulsion or buoyancy of objects in water. According to this law, any object immersed in water is pushed upward by a vertical force from below, the magnitude of which is equal to the weight of the water displaced by that object.
This law, which was later discovered and scientifically formulated by Archimedes, is in fact part of the precise system of creation established by Allah the Exalted. Without this law, neither could fish swim in water nor could ships sail upon the surface of the seas.
Allah the Exalted has pointed to this reality in the Noble Qur’an and regarded it as a sign of nature being subjected to humankind: “ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِی سَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلبَحرَ لِتَجرِیَ ٱلفُلكُ فِیهِ بِأَمرِهِۦ” [1] Translation: “Allah is the One who has subjected the sea to you, so that ships may sail therein by His command.”
Today, there exist ships whose cargo weight exceeds one million tons, yet they move calmly upon the surface of the sea. This wonder is possible only because of the force that Allah the Exalted has placed in water—a force whose law operates by the will of the All-Knowing and All-Wise Lord.
Without this upward thrust or buoyancy, no fish could survive in water, no ship could sail upon the sea, and humanity would not benefit from the immense blessing of the oceans. For this reason, the Qur’an repeatedly refers, in various verses, to the movement of ships upon water and considers it among the signs of divine greatness:
“أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ ٱلفُلكَ تَجرِی فِی ٱلبَحرِ بِنِعمَتِ ٱللَّهِ لِیُرِیَكُم مِّن ءَایَٰتِهِۦۤۚ إِنَّ فِی ذَٰلِكَ لَآیَٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ.” [2] Translation: “Do you not see that the ships sail upon the sea by the grace of Allah, so that He may show you some of His signs? Indeed, in that are signs for every patient and grateful person.”
“وَمِن ءَایَٰتِهِ ٱلجَوَارِ فِی ٱلبَحرِ كَٱلأَعلَٰمِ.” [3] Translation: “And among His signs are the ships sailing in the sea like mountains.”
Whenever a person sees goods, food, or equipment that have reached him by sea from distant lands, he should remember that this blessing exists only by virtue of that divine law through which water has been subjected to humankind.
The Colors of Mountains and the Role of Water
In Surah Fatir, the Noble Qur’an speaks of the wondrous relationship between water, plants, and the colors of mountains: “أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخرَجنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٍ مُّختَلِفًا أَلوَٰنُهَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلجِبَالِ جُدَدُ بِیضٌ وَحُمرٌ مُّختَلِفٌ أَلوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِیبُ سُودٌ” [4] Translation: “Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, and by it We bring forth fruits of varying colors? And among the mountains are streaks—white and red, of varying shades, and others intensely black.”
At first glance, the connection between rainfall and the colors of mountains may seem strange. However, modern geological research has shown that water is the primary factor in the oxidation of minerals, and it is these oxides that produce the diverse colors of mountains—ranging from white and red to black and bluish hues.
Thus, what the Qur’an stated centuries ago has today been established as a scientific reality. Every drop of rain that falls upon the earth not only causes plants to grow, but over time also transforms the appearance of rocks and the colors of the land.
At the end of the verse, Allah the Exalted states: “إِنَّمَا یَخشَى ٱللَّهَ مِن عِبَادِهِ ٱلعُلَمَٰؤُاۗ” [5] Translation: “Only those of His servants who possess knowledge truly fear Allah.”
That is, it is only the knowledgeable who, through understanding, perceive the greatness of Allah the Exalted and worship Him with true awareness. The more human knowledge of the secrets of creation increases, the deeper become humility and reverent fear before the One Creator.
The Ignited Seas and the Secret of Fire in the Depths of Water
Among the other manifestations of divine miraculous Ness is the following remarkable verse: “وَٱلبَحرِ ٱلمَسجُورِ” [6] Translation: “By the sea set ablaze.”
The word “masjūr” in the Arabic language means ignited or inflamed. At first glance, the combination of water and fire in a single concept appears contradictory. Yet today, science has proven that in the depths of the oceans there are fissures from which molten materials and burning gases erupt.
This phenomenon, discovered in the twentieth century, shows that the ocean floor is in reality aflame, exactly as the Noble Qur’an described more than fourteen hundred years ago.
Without this heat and volcanic activity in the depths of the seas, life in those dark regions would not be possible, for this heat serves as a source of energy for various forms of life on the ocean floor.
Continues…
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References:
[1]. Al-Jathiyah: 12.
[2]. Luqman: 31.
[3]. Al-Shura: 32.
[4]. Fatir: 27.
[5]. Fatir: 28.
[6]. Al-Tur: 6.
