The Qur‘an And The Fate Of The Universe: Qur’anic Verses And Scientific Quotes About The Events Of The Last Day Seem To Echo, Almost Word For Word

By T.O. Shanavas, New Age Islam 29 November 2023 In this article, we explore an intriguing parallel between a Qur'anic verse and scientific concepts on the fate of our universe. The metaphor in verse 21:104 ( “On that day when We shall roll up heaven as a scroll for writings; As We originated the first creation, so We shall bring it back again--A promise binding on Us; So We shall do it.”), portraying the rolling up of heaven like a scroll, offers an intriguing perspective resembling the scientific notion of the Big Bang and the eventual collapse of the universe. This interpretation suggests ancient texts potentially alluding to concepts remarkably aligned with modern scientific understanding, a fascinating connection between ancient wisdom and contemporary knowledge. The continuous scientific reports on global warming are a daily occurrence in the news. At our Islamic Centre, we conscientiously make efforts to counteract the catastrophic consequences of human greed and misuse of nature's resources. The omnipresent God of the Qur’an, who comprehends both the greedy and the powerful, foresaw the relentless advance of global warming as a consequence of their disregard of divine guidance and the greater good. The temptation to cite the Qur’anic verses about the events of the Last Day (Yawm al-Qiyamah) arises as modern scientific quotes seem to echo, almost word for word, relevant verses from the Qur’an. For example, Global average sea level has risen 8–9 inches (21–24 centimetres) since 1880. In 2022, global average sea level set a new record high—101.2 mm (4 inches) above 1993 levels. The rate of global sea level rise is accelerating: it has more than doubled from 0.06 inches (1.4 millimetres) per year throughout most of the twentieth century to 0.14 inches (3.6 millimetres) per year from 2006–2015. For instance, by the mid-2030s, every U.S. coast will experience more intense high-tide floods due to a wobble in the Moon's orbit that occurs every 18.6 years’ Figure 1. Seasonal (3-month) sea level estimates from Church and White (2011) (light blue line) and University of Hawaii Fast Delivery sea level data (dark blue). The values are shown as change in sea level in millimetres compared to the 1993-2008 average. NOAA Climate.gov image based on analysis and data from Philip Thompson, University of Hawaii Sea Level Centre. ------- "The Qur’an mentions that the initial signs of the culmination of the universe will be marked by rising ocean levels and coastal flooding: [On the Last Day] 'And the ocean filled with swell' (Qur’an 52:6). The Arabic term 'sajara' in this verse signifies 'to fill.' According to present-day cosmology, the inundation of coastal areas aligns with the concept of ocean 'filling,' attributed to the melting ice from the North and South Poles, as well as mountain glaciers." Science describes other events to follow as the collapse of the universe continues: “Billions of years from now, there will be a last perfect day on earth. Thereafter the sun will slowly become red and distended presiding over earth, sweltering even at the poles.”43 Astronomers suggest that the Sun will undergo significant changes due to hydrogen and helium fusion, resulting in its expansion and cooling. This cooling might align with the Qur'anic verse 81:1 (“When the Sun shall be darkened”) describing the Sun being darkened. Additionally, when the Sun becomes a red giant, the Qur'an seems to depict this state as a "ruddy and bloated" sun, likening it to a description of heaven being as molten copper in Qur’anic verse 70:8 (“Upon the day when heaven shall be as molten copper”). As the "Last Day" extends over billions of years, scientific projections indicate extreme heat on Earth. According to renowned astronomer Carl Sagan, rising ocean temperatures will release more water vapour into the air, potentially increasing cloud cover, temporarily shielding the Earth from sunlight and delaying the inevitable. However, the Sun's evolution continues, leading to the eventual boiling of the oceans. The Qur'an seems to forewarn about this phenomenon during the last days of the universe, mentioning "when the sea shall be set boiling" (Qur’an 81:6). As the "Last Day" unfolds into eons, scientific predictions suggest the Sun will consume Mercury, Venus, and potentially the Earth, leaving the inner solar system within the Sun. The Qur'anic verse 75:9 (“And the sun and moon are united”) refers to the sun and moon uniting during the last days of the universe. The absence of mention for other planets in the Qur'an could be due to the nomadic Arabs' language limitations at the time, which didn't include specific terms like "Mercury" and "Venus." However, the moon was a familiar celestial body known to all Arabs during that era. There are three scientific theories concerning the ultimate fate of the universe: Big Freeze or Heat Death, Big Rip, and Big Crunch. Edwin Hubble's observations in the 1930s–1950s supported the concept of galaxies moving away from each other, contributing to the widely accepted Big Bang theory. The Heat Death theory posits that as existing stars exhaust their fuel and cease to shine, the universe will gradually grow darker. Eventually, black holes will prevail, but even they will fade away over time. The Big Rip theory suggests that everything, no matter how minute, will disintegrate into unbound elementary particles, radiation, and beyond within a finite time frame. On the other hand, the Big Crunch theory proposes that galaxies moving away from each other will eventually reverse course, collapsing back into a singular point, akin to the initial state of the universe during the Big Bang. The Qur'an seems to suggest a fate for the universe akin to a Big Crunch. While it describes the galaxies moving away from each other, it also alludes to the universe's expansion, stating, "And it is We who have built the universe with [our creative] power; and it is We who are steadily expanding it" (Qur’an 51:47). This expansion hints at a reversal during the "Last Day," where the receding galaxies reverse direction, potentially leading to the eventual collapse known as the Big Crunch. The verse seems to reflect this reversal in the movement of galaxies. The Qur'an seems to suggest a fate for the universe resembling a Big Crunch. While it describes galaxies moving away from each other, it also depicts the universe as expanding: "And it is We who have built the universe with [our creative] power; and it is We who are steadily expanding it" (Qur’an 51:47). The concept of the "Last Day" involves a reversal in the movement of galaxies, leading to the eventual Big Crunch. This reversal is possibly reflected in verses 81:15-16: "So, I call the receding stars to witness, the planets withdrawing into themselves." Science suggests that during the universe's collapse, individual galaxies would merge as intergalactic space diminishes. This idea aligns with the Qur'an's depiction of a decrease in observable shining points in the sky during the merger of galaxies, presenting a scenario where the sky appears empty: [On the Last Day] "when the sky stripped bare" (Qur’an 81:11). The formation of a black dwarf, a type of star that loses its ability to produce heat and light as it cools, aligns with the description in verse 81:2: "When the stars fall, losing their lustre" in the Qur'an. This verse potentially refers to this celestial state during the "Last Day." Additionally, other Qur'anic verses, such as "When the sky is rent asunder and it becomes red like ointment" (Qur’an 55:37); "And (on that day) the earth is moved, and its mountains, and they are crushed to powder at one stroke" (Qur’an 69:14); and "It will be no more than a single blast..." (Qur’an 36:53), describe the ultimate destruction of the universe. ----- T.O. Shanavas is a native of Kerala, but is now based in the USA. He is the author of “Islamic Theory of Evolution The Missing Link Between Darwin and The Origin of Species.” Co-author of the book, And God Said, "Let There Be Evolution!": Reconciling The Book Of Genesis, The Qur'an, And The Theory Of Evolution. Edited by Prof. Charles M. Wynn and Prof. Arthur W. Wiggins. URL: https://newageislam.com/islam-science/quranic-scientific-fate-universe-judgement/d/131211 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism