On Earth, time is measured by the rotation of Earth around its own axis (days), and its orbiting around the Sun (years); or by the rotation of Moon around Earth (lunar months and years). Other units of time e.g. Solar months, Hours, Minutes and Seconds; are all “conventional” units devised by man to subdivide the naturally observed days and years into practical units. However, all these units are peculiar to our planet Earth, but physically meaningless anywhere else; e.g. the day on Venus is equivalent to 118 days of our 24-hour days, while on Jupiter it is 9 hours 55 minutes. In the Cosmos at large, time is only relative. This concept of relativity of time is underlined by the following statements of the Qur’ân:
§And verily, a Day with your Lord is as a thousand years of what you reckon. [22/47]
§Then it (affair) will go up (winds) to Him, on a day the measure of which is a thousand years of your reckoning. [32/5)] The angels and the Rûh (Gabriel) ascend taruj (ascend, wind up) to Him in a Day the measure whereof is fifty thousand years. [70/4]
The Sun is an incandescent star, and is the source of light and thermal energy to the surrounding planets. The cold moon surface reflects solar light, thus illuminating several earth nights. This contrast in nature and role between the Sun and the Moon is well-expressed the Qur’ân:
§And We have made (therein) a shining (blazing) lamp. [78/13] §Blessed is He Who has placed in the Heaven big stars, and has placed therein a great lamp and a Moon giving light. [25/61]
§And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp. [71/16]
The apparent shape of the Moon changes in a cyclic fashion each lunar month, from crescent, to quarter, to gibbous, to full moon. These phases are a result of the relative positions of the Moon with respect to the Sun and the Earth. The Qur’ân says:
§And the moon as light and measured out for it stages, that you might know the number of years and the reckoning. [10/5]
§And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse). [36/39]
A Solar year = 365.2422 days, while a Lunar year = 354.6036 days. Hence, 300 Solar years precisely equals 309 Lunar years, to the fourth decimal, no more no less. Surprisingly, Qur’ân states that the People of the Cave stayed there for 300 years, that are also 300 “and” 9 more years, i.e. 300 Solar years or 309 Lunar years:
§ And they stayed in their cave three hundred (Solar) years, adding nine (for Lunar years). [18/25
Earth is almost a sphere, that rotates around its own axis, resulting in the alternation of nights and days. So says the verse:
§He makes the night to go (Arabic: yukawwir = roll about) in the day, and yukawwir the day in the night. [39/5]
The Earth’s motion is also implied from the Qur’anic statement:
§By the sun and its brightness. By the moon as it follows it (the sun). By the day as it shows up (the sun’s) brightness. By the night as it conceals it. [91/1-4]
i.e. daytime brings the sun into vision (i.e. by Earth’s rather than by Sun’s motion), The subsequent coming of night hides away the Sun, i.e. again, the sun’s disappearance is not due to its own motion.
The concept of motion is also implied from the expression “stripping” or “withdrawal”. This refers to the relative withdrawal of the earth away from the illuminated part of its atmosphere ic envelope.
§ And a sign for them is the night, We naslakh (strip off, withdraw) therefrom the day. [36/37]
Mountains have a prominent role in stabilizing the earth’s crust, during the continuous motion of the planet, with all its burdens of molten magma and vapors below the lithosphere. The floating lithosphere is divided into 15 major tactonic plates, whose boundaries and other faults can move freely, producing earthquakes and volcanoes. Mountains do contribute to minimizing such phenomena. The stabilizing role of mountains is emphasized in the Qur’anic verses:
§ And He has affixed into the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you. [16/15]
§And We have placed on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with them. [21/31]
§ And has set on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with you. [31/10]
The Earth atmosphere around us actually consists of a number of layers. Each has characteristic composition and physical properties. This relatively modern discovery could be an interpretation of the multiple “heavens, one above the other”, referred to in the Qur’ân. Another possible interpretation could be the different components of the infinite Cosmos, e.g. galaxies, stars therein, planets, moons, black holes, inter-galaxy and intra-galaxy spaces:
§See you not how Allâh has created the seven heavens one above another.[71/15]
§And We have built above you seven strong heavens.[78/12]
§And indeed we have created above you seven heavens (one over the other). [23/17]
These layers represent a perfectly stable structure, as indicated in the following verse:
§Are you more difficult to create or is the heaven that He constructed. He raised its height and has perfected it. [79/27-28]
It is a continuous structure. The absence of major discontinuities or flaws is stated as follows:
§ Have they not looked at the heaven above them? How We have made it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it? [50/6]
The overall earth atmosphere is permanently stable. It is stabilized by gravity (mountains also probably have a role), and by equilibrium between the atmospheric gases and the products of chemical and biological reactions on earth:
§And We have made the heaven a roof, safe and well guarded. [21/32]
It will so remain until major disorders occur such as the “Resurrection”.
§ And when the heaven is stripped off. [81/11]
§When the heaven is split asunder. [84/1]
§When the heaven is cleft asunder. [82/1]
The atmosphere plays a vital role in preserving the air (essential for biological life) from escaping away into space. In its lower layers, water vapor evolved from plants and water surfaces (seas and oceans) condenses and “returns” to the earth as rain. Also, thermal radiation reflected back (returned) from the atmosphere is not allowed to leak away. So does wireless waves… etc. the Qur’ân describes this “return” effect as:
§ By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives the raj (return: rain …etc)? [86/11]
not finished yet
| Signature of ابو الياسمين والفل |
الله ربى والاسلام دينى والقرآن الكريم كتابى ودستورى ومحمد رسول الله ورسولى واشهد ان لا آله الا الله وحده لا شريك له فى ملكه وان محمد رسوله بلغ الرساله وادى الامانه ونصح الامه وازال الغمه ولا حول ولا قوة الا بالله العظيم |
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