By Zahid Ikram

Science in Quran : Physics in Quran

§ Relativity Of Time

§ The Journey To The Moon

§ Modern Airplane & Wind Energy Technology

§ Combustion Without Fire

§ The Seas Not Mingling With One Another

§ Heavy Clouds

Relativity of Time

The conclusion to which we are led by the findings of modern science is that time is not an absolute fact as supposed by materialists, but only a relative perception. What is most interesting is that this fact, undiscovered until the 20th century by science, was revealed to mankind in the Quran fourteen centuries ago. There are various references in the Quran to the relativity of time.

It is possible to see in many verses of the Quran the scientifically proven fact that time is a psychological perception dependent on events, setting, and conditions.

For instance, a person’s entire life is a very short time, as we are informed in the Quran:

سُوۡرَةُ بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُوكُمۡ فَتَسۡتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمۡدِهِۦ وَتَظُنُّونَ إِن لَّبِثۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ (٥٢)

Surat al-Isra' 17:52

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

On the Day when He will call you, you will answer His Call with words of His Praise and Obedience, and you will think that you have stayed in this world but a little while!

سورة بنیٓ اسرآئیل / الإسرَاء
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

جس دن وہ تمہیں پکارے گا تو تم اس کی تعریف کے ساتھ جواب دو گے اور خیال کرو گے کہ تم (دنیا میں) بہت کم (مدت) رہے (۵۲)

سُوۡرَةُ یُونس
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَيَوۡمَ يَحۡشُرُهُمۡ كَأَن لَّمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا سَاعَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱلنَّہَارِ يَتَعَارَفُونَ بَيۡنَہُمۡۚ قَدۡ خَسِرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِلِقَآءِ ٱللَّهِ وَمَا كَانُواْ مُهۡتَدِينَ (٤٥)

Surah Yunus 10:45

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And on the Day when He shall gather them together, it will seem to them as if they had not tarried on earth longer than an hour of a day: they will recognize each other, those will verily have perished who denied the meeting with Allah and were not guided.

سورة یُونس
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور جس دن خدا ان کو جمع کرے گا (تو وہ دنیا کی نسبت ایسا خیال کریں گے کہ) گویا (وہاں) گھڑی بھر دن سے زیادہ رہے ہی نہیں تھے (اور) آپس میں ایک دوسرے کو شناخت بھی کریں گے۔ جن لوگوں نے خدا کے روبرو حاضر ہونے کو جھٹلایا وہ خسارے میں پڑ گئے اور راہ یاب نہ ہوئے (۴۵)

Some verses indicate that people perceive time differently and that sometimes people can perceive a very short period as a very lengthy one. The following conversation of people held during their judgment in the hereafter is a good example of this:

سُوۡرَةُ المؤمنون
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

قَـٰلَ كَمۡ لَبِثۡتُمۡ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ عَدَدَ سِنِينَ (١١٢) قَالُواْ لَبِثۡنَا يَوۡمًا أَوۡ بَعۡضَ يَوۡمٍ۬ فَسۡـَٔلِ ٱلۡعَآدِّينَ (١١٣) قَـٰلَ إِن لَّبِثۡتُمۡ إِلَّا قَلِيلاً۬ۖ لَّوۡ أَنَّكُمۡ كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١١٤)

Surah al-Mu'minun 23:112-114

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

He will say: "What number of years did you stay on earth?" They will say: "We stayed a day or part of a day, but ask those who keep account." He will say: "Brief indeed was your sojourn, if you had only known!"

سُوۡرَةُ المؤمنون
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

(خدا) پوچھے گا کہ تم زمین میں کتنے برس رہے؟ (۱۱۲) وہ کہیں گے کہ ہم ایک روز یا ایک روز سے بھی کم رہے تھے، شمار کرنے والوں سے پوچھ لیجیئے (۱۱۳) (خدا) فرمائے گا کہ (وہاں) تم (بہت ہی) کم رہے۔ کاش تم جانتے ہوتے (۱۱۴)

سُوۡرَةُ النَّازعَات
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

كَأَنَّہُمۡ يَوۡمَ يَرَوۡنَہَا لَمۡ يَلۡبَثُوٓاْ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوۡ ضُحَٮٰهَا (٤٦)

An-Naziat 79:46
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

On the day when they behold it, it will be as if they had but tarried for an evening or the morn thereof. (46)

سُوۡرَةُ النَّازعَات
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

جب وہ اس کو دیکھیں گے (تو ایسا خیال کریں گے) کہ گویا ( دنیا میں صرف) ایک شام یا صبح رہے تھے (۴۶)

In some other verses Allah states that time may flow at different paces in different settings:

Surat al-Hajj 22:47

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Truly, a day in the sight of your Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning.

سُوۡرَةُ الحَجّ
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور بےشک تمہارے پروردگار کے نزدیک ایک روز تمہارے حساب کے رو سے ہزار برس کے برابر ہے (۴۷)

Surat al-Ma'arij 70:4

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

The angels and the spirit ascend to Him in a day the measure of which is like fifty thousand years.

سُوۡرَةُ المعَارج
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

جس کی طرف روح (الامین) اور فرشتے چڑھتے ہیں (اور) اس روز (نازل ہوگا) جس کا اندازہ پچاس ہزار برس کا ہوگا (۴)

Al-Qadr 97: 1-5
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Lo! We revealed it on the Night of Power. (1) Ah, what will convey unto thee what the Night of Power is! (2) The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. (3) The angels and the Spirit descend therein, by the permission of their Lord, with all decrees. (4) (The night is) Peace until the rising of the dawn. (5)

سُوۡرَةُ القَدر
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

ہم نے اسکو شب قدر میں نازل کیا (۱) اور تمہیں کیا معلوم کہ شب قدر کیا ہے؟ (۲) شب قدر ہزار مہینے سے بہتر ہے (۳) اس میں روح اور فرشتے ہر کام کے لیے اپنے پروردگار کے حکم سے اترتے ہیں (۴) یہ طلوع صبح تک سلامتی ہے (۵)

Surat as-Sajdah 32:5

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

He rules all affairs from the heavens to the earth: in the end all will ascend to Him in a single day, the measure of which is a thousand years by your reckoning.

سُوۡرَةُ السَّجدَة
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

وہی آسمان سے زمین تک (کے) ہر کام کا انتظام کرتا ہے۔ پھر وہ ایک روز جس کی مقدار تمہارے شمار کے مطابق ہزار برس ہوگی۔ اس کی طرف صعود (اور رجوع) کرے گا (۵)

These verses are clear expressions of the relativity of time. That this finding, which was only recently understood by scientists in the 20th century, was communicated to man 1,400 years ago in the Quran is an indication of the revelation of the Quran by Allah, Who encompasses the whole of time and space.

Many other verses of the Quran reveal that time is a perception. This is particularly evident in the stories. For instance, Allah kept the Companions of the Cave, a group of believers mentioned in the Quran, in a deep sleep for more than three centuries. When they awoke, these people thought that they had stayed in that state for only a little while, and could not reckon how long they had slept:

Surat al-Kahf 18:11-12

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Then We drew (a veil) over their ears, for a number of years, in the Cave, (so that they could not hear). Then We wakened them up so that We might know which of the two parties would best calculate the time that they had tarried.

سُوۡرَةُ الکهف
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

تو ہم نے غار میں کئی سال تک ان کے کانوں پر (نیند کا) پردہ ڈالے (یعنی ان کو سلائے) رکھا (۱۱) پھر ان کو جگا اُٹھایا تاکہ معلوم کریں کہ جتنی مدّت وہ (غار میں) رہے دونوں جماعتوں میں سے اس کی مقدار کس کو خوب یاد ہے (۱۲)

Surat al-Kahf 18:19

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Such being their state, We roused them from sleep, so that they might question each other. Said one of them, "How long have you stayed (here)?" They said, "We have stayed perhaps a day, or part of a day." At length they all said, "God alone knows best how long you have stayed Here,,,"

سُوۡرَةُ الکهف
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور اس طرح ہم نے ان کو اٹھایا تاکہ آپس میں ایک دوسرے سے دریافت کریں۔ ایک کہنے والے نے کہا کہ تم (یہاں) کتنی مدت رہے؟ انہوں نے کہا کہ ایک دن یا اس سے بھی کم۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ جتنی مدت تم رہے ہو تمہارا پروردگار ہی اس کو خوب جانتا ہے۔۔۔ تو اپنے میں سے کسی کو یہ روپیہ دے کر شہر کو بھیجو وہ دیکھے کہ نفیس کھانا کون سا ہے تو اس میں سے کھانا لے آئے اور آہستہ آہستہ آئے جائے اور تمہارا حال کسی کو نہ بتائے

The situation described in the verse below is also evidence that time is in truth a psychological perception.

Surat al-Baqarah 2:259

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Or (take) the instance of one who passed by a hamlet, all desolate and in ruins. He said, "How shall God ever bring it to life now that is dead?" but God caused him to die for a hundred years, then brought him back to life. He said: "How long did you tarry thus?" He said: Perhaps a day or part of a day." He said: "No, you have tarried thus a hundred years; but look at your food and your drink; they show no signs of age; and look at your donkey. And so that We may make of you a sign to the people, look further at the bones, how We bring them together and clothe them with flesh." When this was shown clearly to him, he said: "I know that God has power over all things."

سُوۡرَةُ البَقَرَة
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

یا اسی طرح اس شخص کو (نہیں دیکھا) جسے ایک گاؤں میں جو اپنی چھتوں پر گرا پڑا تھا اتفاق گزر ہوا۔ تو اس نے کہا کہ خدا اس (کے باشندوں) کو مرنے کے بعد کیونکر زندہ کرے گا۔ تو خدا نے اس کی روح قبض کرلی (اور) سو برس تک (اس کو مردہ رکھا) پھر اس کو جلا اٹھایا اور پوچھا تم کتنا عرصہ (مرے)رہے ہو اس نے جواب دیا کہ ایک دن یا اس سے بھی کم۔ خدا نے فرمایا (نہیں) بلکہ سو برس (مرے) رہے ہو۔ اور اپنے کھانے پینے کی چیزوں کو دیکھو کہ (اتنی مدت میں مطلق) سڑی بسی نہیں اور اپنے گدھے کو بھی دیکھو (جو مرا پڑا ہے) غرض (ان باتوں سے) یہ ہے کہ ہم تم کو لوگوں کے لئے (اپنی قدرت کی) نشانی بنائیں اور (ہاں گدھے) کی ہڈیوں کو دیکھو کہ ہم ان کو کیونکر جوڑے دیتے اور ان پر (کس طرح) گوشت پوست چڑھا دیتے ہیں۔ جب یہ واقعات اس کے مشاہدے میں آئے تو بول اٹھا کہ میں یقین کرتا ہوں کہ خدا ہر چیز پر قادر ہے

The above verse clearly emphasizes that Allah, Who created time, is unbound by it. Man, on the other hand, is bound by time, which is ordained by Allah.

As in the verse, man is even incapable of knowing how long he has slept. This being so, to assert that time is absolute (just as materialists do in their distorted thinking) is very unreasonable.

Today, the relativity of time is a proven scientific fact. This was revealed by Einstein's theory of relativity during the early part of the 20th century. Until then, it was not known that time was relative, nor that it could change according to the circumstances. Yet, the renowned scientist Albert Einstein proved this fact by discovering the theory of relativity. He showed that time is dependent on mass and velocity.

However, the Quran had already included information about time's being relative! As many verses above from Quran stated the Relativity of Time which began to be revealed in 610, is more evidence that Quran is a divine book.

THE JOURNEY TO THE MOON

سُوۡرَةُ الانشقاق
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَٱلۡقَمَرِ إِذَا ٱتَّسَقَ (١٨) لَتَرۡكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍ۬ (١٩) فَمَا لَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ (٢٠)

Al-Inshiqaq 84:18-20
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And [I swear by] the moon when it is full, you will mount up stage by stage! What is the matter with them, that they have no faith?

سورة الانشقاق
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور چاند کی (قسم) جب کامل ہو جائے (۱۸) کہ تم درجہ بدرجہ چڑھو گے (۱۹) تو ان لوگوں کو کیا ہوا ہے کہ ایمان نہیں لاتے(۲۰)

After swearing by the Moon, in the above verses Allah said that people will mount up stage by stage. The term tarkabunna comes from the verb rakiba, (to mount, walk on a path, follow, embark upon, set about, participate, or rule). In the light of these meanings, it is very likely that the expression "you will mount up stage by stage" refers to a spacecraft to be boarded.

سُوۡرَةُ یُوسُف
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَڪَأَيِّن مِّنۡ ءَايَةٍ۬ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيۡہَا وَهُمۡ عَنۡہَا مُعۡرِضُونَ (١٠٥) وَمَا يُؤۡمِنُ أَڪۡثَرُهُم بِٱللَّهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشۡرِكُونَ (١٠٦)

Yusuf 12:105-106
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by with face averted! (105) And most of them believe not in Allah except that they attribute partners (unto Him). (106)

سورة یُوسُف
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور آسمان و زمین میں بہت سی نشانیاں ہیں جن پر یہ گزرتے ہیں اور ان سے اعراض کرتے ہیں (۱۰۵) اور یہ اکثر خدا پر ایمان نہیں رکھتے۔ مگر (اس کے ساتھ) شرک کرتے ہیں (۱۰۶)

Indeed, the astronauts' spacecraft pass through each layer of the atmosphere one by one, and then begin to pass through the Moon's gravitational field. Thus, the Moon is reached by moving through individual layers. In addition, the swearing by the Moon in Surat al-Inshiqaq 18 further strengthens this emphasis, meaning that the verse may well be a sign that humanity will travel to the Moon. (Allah knows best.)

The Apollo 11 mission was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. It was the fifth human spaceflight of Project Apollo and the third human voyage to the Moon. Launched on July 16, 1969, it carried Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr. On July 20, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans to land on the Moon, while Collins orbited above.

Shortly after landing, before preparations began for the EVA, Aldrin broadcast that:
This is the LM pilot. I'd like to take this opportunity to ask every person listening in, whoever and wherever they may be, to pause for a moment and contemplate the events of the past few hours and to give thanks in his or her own way.

He then took Communion privately. At this time NASA was still fighting a lawsuit brought by atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair (who had objected to the Apollo 8 crew reading from the Book of Genesis) which demanded that their astronauts refrain from religious activities while in space. As such, Aldrin chose to refrain from directly mentioning this. He had kept the plan quiet (not even mentioning it to his wife) and did not reveal it publicly for several years. (NOTE: Buzz Aldrin was an elder at Webster Presbyterian Church in Webster, TX. His communion kit was prepared by the pastor of the church, the Rev. Dean Woodruff. Aldrin described communion on the moon and the involvement of his church and pastor in the October, 1970 edition of Guideposts magazine and in his book "Return to Earth." Webster Presbyterian possesses the chalice used on the moon, and commemorates the Lunar Communion each year on the Sunday closest to July 20.) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11
http://clipmarks.com/clipmark/2016D4A6-2558-4452-8101-31F9E8E2548A

Aldrin had brought with him a tiny communion kit, given him by his church that had a silver chalice and wine vial about the size of the tip of his finger. During the morning he radioed, "Houston, this is Eagle. This is the LM pilot speaking. I would like to request a few moments of silence. I would like to invite each person listening in, whoever or wherever he may be, to contemplate for a moment the events of the last few hours, and to give thanks in his own individual way."

"In the radio blackout," he wrote later, "I opened the little plastic packages which contained the bread and the wine. I poured the wine into the chalice our church had given me. In the one-sixth gravity of the moon, the wine slowly curled and gracefully came up the side of the cup. Then I read the Scripture, 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whosoever abides in me will bring forth much fruit.' I had intended to read my communion passage back to earth, but at the last minute Deke Slayton had requested that I not do this. NASA was already embroiled in a legal battle with Madelyn Murray O'Hare, the celebrated opponent of religion, over the Apollo 8 crew reading from Genesis while orbiting the moon at Christmas. I agreed reluctantly..." "Eagle's metal body creaked. I ate the tiny Host and swallowed the wine. I gave thanks for the intelligence and spirit that had brought two young pilots to the Sea of Tranquility. It was interesting for me to think: the very first liquid ever poured on the moon, and the very first food eaten there, were the communion elements."

سُوۡرَةُ المجَادلة
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

(٦) أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَعۡلَمُ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِۖ مَا يَڪُونُ مِن نَّجۡوَىٰ ثَلَـٰثَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ رَابِعُهُمۡ وَلَا خَمۡسَةٍ إِلَّا هُوَ سَادِسُہُمۡ وَلَآ أَدۡنَىٰ مِن ذَٲلِكَ وَلَآ أَڪۡثَرَ إِلَّا هُوَ مَعَهُمۡ أَيۡنَ مَا كَانُواْۖ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُهُم بِمَا عَمِلُواْ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ (٧)

Al-Mujadila 58:7
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
Hast thou not seen that Allah knoweth all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth? There is no secret conference of three but He is their fourth, nor of five but He is their sixth, nor of less than that or more but He is with them wheresoever they may be; and afterward, on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Lo! Allah is Knower of all things. (7)

سورة المجَادلة
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

کیا تم کو معلوم نہیں کہ جو کچھ آسمانوں میں ہے اور جو کچھ زمین میں ہے خدا کو سب معلوم ہے۔ (کسی جگہ) تین (شخصوں) کا کانوں میں صلاح ومشورہ نہیں ہوتا مگر وہ ان میں چوتھا ہوتا ہے اور نہ کہیں پانچ کا مگر وہ ان میں چھٹا ہوتا ہے اور نہ اس سے کم یا زیادہ مگر وہ ان کے ساتھ ہوتا ہے خواہ وہ کہیں ہوں۔ پھر جو جو کام یہ کرتے رہے ہیں قیامت کے دن وہ (ایک ایک) ان کو بتائے گا۔ بےشک خدا ہر چیز سے واقف ہے (۷)

سُوۡرَةُ الرَّحمٰن
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

(٣٢) يَـٰمَعۡشَرَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسۡتَطَعۡتُمۡ أَن تَنفُذُواْ مِنۡ أَقۡطَارِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنفُذُواْۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلۡطَـٰنٍ۬ (٣٣)

Ar-Rahman
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

O company of jinn and men, if ye have power to penetrate (all) regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate (them)! Ye will never penetrate them save with (Our) sanction. (33)

سورة الرَّحمٰن
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اے گروہِ جن وانس اگر تمہیں قدرت ہو کہ آسمان اور زمین کے کناروں سے نکل جاؤ تو نکل جاؤ۔ اور زور کے سوا تم نکل سکنے ہی کے نہیں (۳۳)

Our entire Solar System is flying through space, orbiting the center of the galaxy at the incredible speed of over 900,000 km/hr (560,000 miles/hr). So, even while you think you are standing still on Earth, you are moving at very high speeds. It’s a good thing we have Earth’s gravity holding onto us. In fact, all the stars you see in the sky are orbiting the Milky Way at similar speeds, like a high-speed merry-go-round in space.

Can we fly out of our galaxy and beat the speed of 900,000 km/hr 250 km/sec?

Please remember from the prior journey in past that the fastest speed ever achieved by human beings was 11 km/sec, the speed attained by the Apollo spacecraft.

Well, how many days, weeks, months or years would it take Apollo (or you) to reach the nearest star to Earth (aside from our own sun)?  To calculate it, we first have to determine how far away the star is from us in kilometers.  That’s easy.  Proxima Centauri is about 4.23 LY away, and 1 LY = 9.46 x 10¹² km.  So, the star is 4.23 x (9.46 x 10¹²) = 4.0 x 10¹³ km (40 trillion kilometers) (in miles, that’s 24.7 trillion miles (2.5 x 10¹³ miles)).  Now, just divide the distance to the star in km by 11 km/sec (the speed of Apollo), and you’ll find the time it would take to get there in seconds.  Convert that to years (I’ll leave that to you). 

One (1) ly = 9.46 x 10¹² km, or 5.87 x 10¹² miles.  That is 9.46 trillion km (5.87 trillion miles).  Obviously, that is a stupendous number.  Written out, it is 9,460,000,000,000 km or 5,870,000,000,000 mi.

You should have discovered that to reach the nearest star to us at the fastest speed ever achieved by people, would take you … over 115,000 years!  That is almost 6,000 generations … of your children, and grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and their children’s children’s children’s children … watching out your ship’s front window … living and dying … century after century, millennia after millennia.  115,000 years … just to reach the closest star to us.  That is 20 times longer than all of human recorded history, back to the days of our most ancient civilizations … 20 times longer!  If you left Earth at the time of the ancient Greeks 4,000 years ago, you would only be less than 4% of the way to the star by now.

Can you think to fly out of our Milky Way Galaxy?
A galaxy is a giant rotating clump of stars, gas and space dust in space.  When we say, “giant”, we mean Colossal!  The Milky Way is the name of the galaxy containing our Solar System.  That haze in front of you is stars … billions of individual stars and gas and dust and space rocks.  Their mutual gravitational attraction is pulling them (and us) together. 

The Milky Way galaxy in fact, is estimated to have about 500 billion (500,000,000,000) stars in it. Our solar system is within red mark in the above picture. Please read the article “Our Solar System” and “How big is the Universe?”

Remember that each star is a very long way from every other one, so putting 500 billion stars together in a galaxy takes a LOT of room. 

The Milky Way, for example, is at least 100,000 light years in diameter (that’s 950,000,000,000,000,000,000 km). 

If traveling at the fastest speed ever reached by humans, it would take you over 2.7 BILLION YEARS to cross our galaxy from one side to another.  By car, it would take you … 1,100 TRILLION years! God Almighty is great.

Please consider what this really means. 

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MODERN AIRPLANE & WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGY

سُوۡرَةُ سَبَإ
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا فِى قَرۡيَةٍ۬ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٣٤)

Saba 34:12
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And We gave Sulayman power over the wind-a month's journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon...

سورة سَبَإ
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور ہوا کو (ہم نے) سلیمان کا تابع کردیا تھا اس کی صبح کی منزل ایک مہینے کی راہ ہوتی اور شام کی منزل بھی مہینے بھر کی ہوتی

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنبیَاء
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَلِسُلَيۡمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ عَاصِفَةً۬ تَجۡرِى بِأَمۡرِهِۦۤ إِلَى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ٱلَّتِى بَـٰرَكۡنَا فِيہَاۚ وَڪُنَّا بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَـٰلِمِينَ (٨١)

Al-Anbiya 21:81
e name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

And to Sulayman We gave the fiercely blowing wind, speeding at his command toward the land that We had blessed. And We had full knowledge of everything.

سورة الاٴنبیَاء
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور ہم نے تیز ہوا سلیمان کے تابع کردی تھی جو ان کے حکم سے اس ملک میں چلتی تھی جس میں ہم نے برکت دی تھی اور ہم ہر چیز سے خبردار ہیں (۸۱)

As the above verses relates, Allah placed the wind under Prophet Sulayman's (as) command and allowed him to use it as a vehicle. There is a strong possibility of an indication here that, as in Prophet Sulayman's (as) time, wind energy will also be used in the technology of the future.

The expression "a month's journey in the morning and a month in the afternoon" may be drawing attention to the fact that Prophet Sulayman (as) travel swiftly between different regions perhaps by using a technology similar to modern airplane, or developed wind-powered vehicles that could cover long distances quickly. (Allah knows best.) There is thus a strong possibility that above verses point to modern airplane technology and wind energy.

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COMBUSTION WITHOUT FIRE

سُوۡرَةُ النُّور
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

ٱللَّهُ نُورُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ مَثَلُ نُورِهِۦ كَمِشۡكَوٰةٍ۬ فِيہَا مِصۡبَاحٌۖ ٱلۡمِصۡبَاحُ فِى زُجَاجَةٍۖ ٱلزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّہَا كَوۡكَبٌ۬ دُرِّىٌّ۬ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَڪَةٍ۬ زَيۡتُونَةٍ۬ لَّا شَرۡقِيَّةٍ۬ وَلَا غَرۡبِيَّةٍ۬ يَكَادُ زَيۡتُہَا يُضِىٓءُ وَلَوۡ لَمۡ تَمۡسَسۡهُ نَارٌ۬ۚ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ۬ۗ يَہۡدِى ٱللَّهُ لِنُورِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُۚ وَيَضۡرِبُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡأَمۡثَـٰلَ لِلنَّاسِۗ وَٱللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عَلِيمٌ۬ (٣٥)

Al-Noor 24:35
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The metaphor of His Light is that of a niche in which is a lamp, the lamp inside a glass, the glass like a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, its oil all but giving off light even if no fire touches it. Light upon Light. Allah guides to His Light whoever He wills and Allah makes metaphors for mankind and Allah has knowledge of all things. (Quran, 24:35)

سورة النُّور
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

خدا آسمانوں اور زمین کا نور ہے۔ اس کے نور کی مثال ایسی ہے کہ گویا ایک طاق ہے جس میں چراغ ہے۔ اور چراغ ایک قندیل میں ہے۔ اور قندیل (ایسی صاف شفاف ہے کہ) گویا موتی کا سا چمکتا ہوا تارہ ہے اس میں ایک مبارک درخت کا تیل جلایا جاتا ہے (یعنی) زیتون کہ نہ مشرق کی طرف ہے نہ مغرب کی طرف۔ (ایسا معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ) اس کا تیل خواہ آگ اسے نہ بھی چھوئے جلنے کو تیار ہے (پڑی) روشنی پر روشنی (ہو رہی ہے) خدا اپنے نور سے جس کو چاہتا ہے سیدھی راہ دکھاتا ہے۔ اور خدا نے (جو مثالیں) بیان فرماتا ہے (تو) لوگوں کے (سمجھانے کے) لئے اور خدا ہر چیز سے واقف ہے (۳۵)

This verse refers to something that emits light. This light-emitting entity is compared to a star. The fact that the fuel used by this star-like, light-emitting body belongs to neither East nor West may be an indication that the body has no physical dimensions. If one assumes that the fuel source is in an energy dimension, then it is very likely that the fuel in the verse refers to electrical energy, and the light-emitting body to a light bulb.

A bulb is a body which shines like a star and emits light, inside glass, and that is in full conformity with the description in the verse. Unlike oil lamps and gas lamps, light bulbs do not burn oil, and, in line with the description supplied in the verse, combustion without fire takes place inside it. As a result of the vibration among the atoms of the heat-resistant tungsten wire, the temperature inside the bulb rises to over 2,000 Centigrade. This temperature, which would melt other metals, is so high that it gives rise to a powerful, visible light. Despite that heat, however, no combustion takes place, again in line with the verse, since the bulb contains no oxygen. In addition, the filament inside the bulb closely resembles a bright star.

If we bear in mind the fact that electricity is one of the greatest discoveries in the history of the world, and that it lights just about the entire world by means of bulbs, then we may well assume that the verse may be pointing to this major discovery. (Allah knows best.)

Another explanation could be that the light is emitted as a result of the nuclear reaction in stars. Stars are bright, hot, rotating masses of gas which emit large quantities of light and heat as a result of nuclear reactions. Most newly-forming large stars begin to collapse under the weight of their own gravitational pull. That means that their centres are hotter and denser. When the matter in the centre of the star is sufficiently heated-when it reaches at least 10 million degrees Centigrade-nuclear reactions begin. What happens inside a star is that with enormous energy (fusion), hydrogen turns into helium. Nuclear fusion takes the particles that make up hydrogen and sticks them together to make helium (1 helium atom is made from 4 hydrogen atoms). In order to make the protons and neutrons in the helium stick together, the atom gives off tremendous energy. The energy released in the process is radiated from the surface of the star as light and heat. When the hydrogen is consumed, the star then begins to burn with helium, in exactly the same way, and heavier elements are formed. These reactions continue until the mass of the star has been consumed.

However, since oxygen is not used in these reactions inside stars, the result is not ordinary combustion, such as that takes place when burning a piece of wood. The combustion seen as giant flames in stars does not actually derive from fire. Indeed, burning of just this kind is described in the verse. If one also thinks that the verse refers to a star, its fuel and combustion without fire, then one can also think that it is referring to the emission of light and mode of combustion in stars. (Allah knows best.)

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The Seas Not Mingling With One Another

One of the properties of seas that has only recently been discovered is related in a verse of the Quran as follows:

سُوۡرَةُ الرَّحمٰن
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

مَرَجَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَيۡنِ يَلۡتَقِيَانِ (١٩) بَيۡنَہُمَا بَرۡزَخٌ۬ لَّا يَبۡغِيَانِ (٢٠)

Ar-Rahman 55:19-20
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

He has let loose the two seas, converging together, with a barrier between them they do not break through.

سورة الرَّحمٰن
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اسی نے دو دریا رواں کئے جو آپس میں ملتے ہیں (۱۹) دونوں میں ایک آڑ ہے کہ تجاوز نہیں کرسکتے (۲۰)

This property of the seas, that they meet and yet do not intermix, has only very recently been discovered by oceanographers. Because of the physical force called "surface tension," the waters of neighboring seas do not mix. Caused by the difference in the density of their waters, surface tension prevents them from mingling with one another, just as if a thin wall were between them.

It is interesting that, during a period when there was little knowledge of physics, and of surface tension, or oceanography, this truth was revealed in the Quran.

There are large waves, strong currents, and tides in the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Mediterranean Sea water enters the Atlantic by Gibraltar. But their temperature, salinity, and densities do not change, because of the barrier that separates them.

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HEAVY CLOUDS

The weight of clouds can reach quite astonishing proportions. For example, a cumulonimbus cloud, commonly known as the thunder cloud, can contain up to 300,000 tons of water.

The fact that a mass of 300,000 tons of water can remain in the air is truly amazing. Attention is drawn to the weight of clouds in these verses of the Quran:

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴعرَاف
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرۡسِلُ ٱلرِّيَـٰحَ بُشۡرَۢا بَيۡنَ يَدَىۡ رَحۡمَتِهِۦۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَآ أَقَلَّتۡ سَحَابً۬ا ثِقَالاً۬ سُقۡنَـٰهُ لِبَلَدٍ۬ مَّيِّتٍ۬ فَأَنزَلۡنَا بِهِ ٱلۡمَآءَ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ مِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٲتِۚ كَذَٲلِكَ نُخۡرِجُ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَڪَّرُونَ (٥٧)

Al-Araf 7:57
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

It is He Who sends out the winds, bringing advance news of His mercy, so that when they have lifted up the heavy clouds, We dispatch them to a dead land and send down water to it, by means of which We bring forth all kinds of fruit. Thus bring We forth the dead. Haply ye may remember.

سورة الاٴعرَاف
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور وہی تو ہے جو اپنی رحمت (یعنی مینھ) سے پہلے ہواؤں کو خوشخبری (بنا کر) بھیجتا ہے۔ یہاں تک کہ جب وہ بھاری بھاری بادلوں کو اٹھا لاتی ہے تو ہم اس کو ایک مری ہوئی بستی کی طرف ہانک دیتے ہیں۔ پھر بادل سے مینھ برساتے ہیں۔ پھر مینھ سے ہر طرح کے پھل پیدا کرتے ہیں۔ اسی طرح ہم مردوں کو (زمین سے) زندہ کرکے باہر نکال لیں گے۔ (یہ آیات اس لیے بیان کی جاتی ہیں) تاکہ تم نصیحت پکڑو (۵۷)

سُوۡرَةُ الرّعد
بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُرِيڪُمُ ٱلۡبَرۡقَ خَوۡفً۬ا وَطَمَعً۬ا وَيُنشِئُ ٱلسَّحَابَ ٱلثِّقَالَ (١٢)

Al-Rad 13:12
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

It is He Who shows you the lightning, striking fear and bringing hope; it is He Who heaps up the heavy clouds.

سورة الرّعد
شروع الله کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے

اور وہی تو ہے جو تم کو ڈرانے اور امید دلانے کے لیے بجلی دکھاتا اور بھاری بھاری بادل پیدا کرتا ہے (۱۲)

At the time when the Quran was revealed, of course, it was quite impossible to have any information about the weight of clouds. This information, revealed in the Quran, but discovered only recently, is yet another proof that the Quran is the Word of Allah.

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