100 Proofs That Islam Is True (Part 19): The Beginning of Creation and the Expanding Universe
Mufti Faijullah Aman
Introduction
In Part 18 we looked at the tiny world inside the womb. Today we will look at the vast universe. As in the previous part, our principle remains the same: we will not stretch any verse to fit science. Scientific theories can change over time; the Qur'an does not change. We will only see whether there is any conflict between what the Qur'an has said and what today's science knows as established fact.
Does the Universe Have a Beginning?
This is one of the oldest questions of human thought. Aristotle, the greatest philosopher of ancient Greece, said that the universe is eternal and everlasting, with no beginning and no end. His view dominated the world of philosophy for more than a thousand years.
Even at the beginning of the twentieth century, most scientists believed the universe was more or less static and unchanging. When Albert Einstein saw that the equations of his theory of relativity showed the universe could not be static, he added an extra term to his equations to make the universe appear static. Later, in the face of evidence, he abandoned that position.
The Position of the Qur'an
Yet the Qur'an was clear from the very beginning: the universe is not eternal; Allah created it. Allah says: "He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth." (Surah al-Baqarah 2:117) The Arabic word "Badi'" means a Creator who creates without any previous model, from nothing.
The Qur'an spoke not only of a beginning, but also of an end: "On that Day We will fold up the heaven like a scroll is rolled up for writings. As We began the first creation, so shall We repeat it." (Surah al-Anbiya 21:104)
Joined Together, Then Separated
Allah says: "Have those who disbelieve not seen that the heavens and the earth were joined together (ratq), and then We separated them (fatq)?" (Surah al-Anbiya 21:30)
The Arabic word "ratq" means joined, fused together. And "fatq" means to tear apart and separate. Early scholars of Qur'anic commentary, including the companion Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), also said that the heavens and the earth were joined together at first, and then Allah separated them.
Today's most widely accepted scientific model says that about 13.8 billion years ago, all the matter and energy of the universe was gathered in an extremely dense and hot state. From there the expansion of the universe began, and gradually separate stars, galaxies, and planets formed. This is commonly called the "Big Bang." We do not claim that the verse gives a detailed description of this model. But there is no conflict between the basic picture, "everything was joined together and then separated," and today's science; rather, there is harmony.
The Heaven Was Smoke
In another verse, Allah says: "Then He turned to the heaven while it was smoke (dukhan)." (Surah Fussilat 41:11)
Scientists say that before stars and galaxies formed, the universe was filled with hot gas and dust particles. Even today, new stars are born from vast clouds of gas and dust called nebulae. Many see in the Qur'an's word "smoke" a beautiful and easily understood description of this state. Smoke is neither solid nor liquid, but a mixture of gas and particles.
The Heaven Is Being Expanded
The most remarkable verse is this: "And the heaven, We built it with strength, and indeed, We are expanding it (lamusi'un)." (Surah adh-Dhariyat 51:47)
For the sake of fairness, it must be said that the early scholars of Qur'anic commentary gave several meanings for the word "lamusi'un": "We are vast in power," "We expand provision," and some said "We expand the heaven." In Arabic, the word comes from "awsa'a," which means to widen, to expand. And it comes in the form of an active participle, which indicates an ongoing and continuous action.
Now let us look at modern science. In the 1920s, the Belgian scientist Georges Lemaitre showed theoretically that the universe is expanding. In 1929, the American astronomer Edwin Hubble showed through observation that distant galaxies are moving away from us, and the farther they are, the faster they move. In other words, the universe is constantly expanding. Later, in 1965, the radiation left over from the early universe (the cosmic microwave background) was discovered, which has been accepted as strong evidence that the universe had a beginning.
Fourteen hundred years ago, when people thought of the sky as a fixed roof, the Qur'an used a word whose dictionary meaning is "We are expanding," and which fits perfectly with today's discovery.
Why Is This a Proof?
First, the Qur'an firmly spoke of the beginning of the universe at a time when the dominant philosophy of the world considered the universe eternal. If the Qur'an were a human work influenced by the learned circles of its age, there would at least have been some hesitation on this question. Yet the Qur'an's position was clear from the beginning, and twentieth-century science has come to stand on the side of that position.
Second, none of the words the Qur'an used about the universe, being joined and separated, smoke, expanding, conflict with today's science. It is impossible for a person of the seventh century to say so many things about the universe without making a single mistake.
Third, if the universe has a beginning, it must have a Beginner. Everything that has a beginning must have a cause behind it. The same science that once held on to the idea of an eternal universe to deny the need for a Creator is today bearing witness to the universe's beginning. (We will look at this argument in detail in Part 46, in the discussion on "The Existence of the Creator.")
Conclusion
Allah says: "We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth." (Surah Fussilat 41:53) In the last part we saw the signs of Allah within human beings themselves, and today we saw them in the horizons, in the vastness of the universe. From the tiniest embryo to the greatest galaxy, everything bears witness to one great Creator, and bears witness to the truth of the Book that came from Him.
Previous part (Part 18): The Stages of Human Creation in the Womb
In the next part: All Life From Water. In sha Allah.
