Tuesday 7 December 2010

Big Bang - An Islamic Perspective?

The Big Bang theory attempts to explain how the universe began. This theory was put forward by Edwin Hubble in 1929. He discovered that the galaxies close to the Milky Way are moving and distancing away from us. He also noticed that the further the galaxies were, the faster they were distancing. From this he argued that the universe had a starting point from which it was expanding and has been expanding from since.
"And the heavens* We** constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander." [Quran: 51:47] (the word vasi’ in Arabic means vast, moowsi’oon [which comes from the root word vasi’] is the word used in that verse which signifies that someone is an expander and expanding that certain thing, in the context of the verse – the heavens or space is gradually being expanded by God’s control.]

*heavens = the skies and space above us (in arabic = sama' = heavens), Even linguistically in English and many other languages.

it isn't the Paradise promised for the believers. The gardens promised to the beiievers in the next life is Jannah (which means gardens.)


**We = Royal We, it is used by kings to refer to themselves in a respectful way. Allah - the One & Only God refers to Himself in this respectful Royal 'We' too.
What occurred before the Big Bang remains unknown by many people, how did all matter begin, what caused the Big Bang? Scientists who do not believe in the concept of God will say that they simply don't know and have no answer, while others will argue that this was caused by an all Powerful God who is outside His creation.

In the 1960s, Arno Panzias and Robert Wilson detected an afterglow from the Big Bang. This showed that during the universe’s early period, it was a hot and hostile place. They concluded from this that the universe began as a dense fireball. This is where it began to expand from.

This started to expand gradually, the different gases (of a smoke composition i.e. hydrogen, helium etc.) began to distance away.
Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke... (Quran, 41:11)
This gradually expanded into the universe, the heavens, and space. After around 300,000 years these gradually cooled and slowly – over time - were formed into stars, and planets (including the planet earth we live in.)
Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated them?
And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? 

(Quran, 21:30)
http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-c-img1.jpg
A new star forming out of a cloud 
of gas and dust (nebula)



http://www.islam-guide.com/ch1-1-c-img2.jpg
The Lagoon nebula* is a cloud of gas and dust, it is about 60 light years in diameter. It is excited by the ultraviolet radiation of the hot stars that have recently formed within its bulk. (Horizons, Exploring the Universe, Seeds, plate 9, from Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.)

The above picture shows how the nebula (shown in the earlier image) has formed into hot stars gradually as the gases have cooled.
*Nebula is a latin word which means 'mist' or something smokey, just as the Qur'an mentions [the word Dukh in arabic means smoke, or 'mist' - similar to the word nebula.]
We as Muslims simply believe that all this was caused by Allah who is perfect in every way, whereas those who disbelieve in Allah - the Lord of the Worlds will simply have no explanation for who caused this and will remain questioning for eternity. Since they cannot prove or give a suitable explanation to what occured before the Big Bang. The atheists will say all the planets and starts etc. formed by chance, we will say that it all happened by Allah's will and control.

REALITY OF DEATH

Almighty Lord  Allah (swt) says in the Qur'aan
     "Blessed be He in Whose hands is Dominion: and He over all things hath Power; He Who created Death and Life the may try which of you is best in deed: and he is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving;....  (Surah Al-Mulkhat -67:1-2)
Every one of us has to die. In this regard Allah mentioned in the Qur'aan  that everyone has to die including the Prophet himself:Allah says in Holy Quran
      "Truly thou wilt die (one day), and truly they (too) will die (one day)."    Surah Al Zumar (39:30)
Allah also said  that every soul shall taste the death:
    "Every soul shall have taste of death; In the end to us shall ye be brought back .(Surah Al-'Ankabut The Spider 29:57)
No one knows when and where one will  die. No one even knows how someone  is to die. In this respect Allah says in the Qur'an
    "Nor does anyone know what it is that he will earn on the morrow: Nor does anyone know in what land he is to die. Verily with God is full knowledge and He is acquainted (with all things)" (Surah Luqman:-31:34)
It is understood that Allah alone is the One Who gives life, and it is He Who takes off life. In this regard, Allah says in Qur'aan
 
    :  "It is He Who gives Life and Death; and when He decides upon an affair, He says to it, "Be, " "and it is. " (Surah Al- Mu'min -The Believer(40:68)
While life and death are from Allah, we have to remember that they are to take place with the permission of Allah alone. Each one's life and death are decided by Allah. It is stated in the Qur'aan
    "Nor can a soul die except by God as leave, the term being fixed as by writing. Many do desire a reward in this life, we shall give it to him, and if any do desire a reward In the hereafter, we shall give it to him. And swiftly shall we reward those that (serve us with) gratitude. "(Surah Al-'Imran -The family of Imraan 3:145)
Allah (swt) makes us to die daily while sleeping. He makes most of us to wake up from our temporary death so we can  praise Him and to worship Him. The Qur'aan states
    "It is God that takes the souls (of men) at death; and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death, He keeps back (from returning to t life) but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect. (Surah Al-Zumar - The Crowds 39:42)
Allah has assigned an angel responsible for taking our souls out of our body.  The angel's name in the Qur'aan is ( Malakul- Maut) Angel of Death. Allah informs us in Holy Quran
    "Say: "The Angel of Death put in charge of you, will (duly) take your souls: Then shall ye be brought back to your Lord. "( Surah Al-Sajdah- Prostration:32:11)
The life of each and every human being  on this earth is a short one, but the deeds and actions of a true believer are eternal if he knows how to channel them in the right directions. As far as the life span of a human being is concerned, our beloved Prophet (pbuh) said:
 
    Narrated by Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) saying that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "The life span of my followers are between sixty and seventy. Very few of them do exceeds this age. " Reported by: Tirmizi
Life in this world is a temporary one. The real( Permanent)  life is the one of  Life Hereafter. In this respect the Qur'aan states
 
    "What is the life of this world but amusement and play? But verily the Home in the Hereafter, that is life indeed, it they but knew." (Surah Al-Ankabut -The Spider:  (29:64)
We are here on a trial basis, we are here on a temporary basis, and we are here for a passage to Paradise or Hell . The real life of an eternal rest is that of the hereafter. In this respect Allah says in
    "O my People! This life of the present is nothing but (temporary) convenience. It is the Hereafter that is the Home that will last. "(Surah Al Mu'min -The Believer:  (40 39)
Without coming to this world, and without dying we can't go to paradise. We can't dream to go to the final destination  without tasting death. So we have to die whether we like it or not. Death is truth (Haqq). . It is a passage to Paradise. Therefore, it is important that we remember the death and prepare  for it..Our beloved Prophet (pbuh) reminded us that we have to remember death, as it is the one that defeats all types of pleasures.
    Narrated by Ibn Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) that the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: "Increase your remembrance of the One which defeats pleasures"  While we are to remember death, we have to prepare ourselves to meet it - before it meets us. In this regard our beloved Prophet (pbuh) said:  ''Do for your life as if you are to live eternally, and do for the hereafter as if you are to die tomorrow. ''
Remember that death is a process to reaching the final destination  for both the believers and the non-believer.  We hope and pray that each and everyone will go to Paradise.  In other to achieve this ultimate success we must find out what Our Creator wants from us. and we must strive to seek the truth.  In order one must desire the ultimate success there are two important things are necessary.  First one must desire the real truth and second one must strive to seek the truth. 


Source: http://www.as-sidq.org/death.html

Wednesday 1 December 2010

What Is Quran? Al-Quran? Koran? Qur'an?

What Is Quran? Al-Quran? Koran? Qur'an?
The Qur’an (English pronunciation: /kɒˈrɑːn/ korr-AHN; Arabic: القرآن‎ al-qur’ānIPA: [qurˈʔaːn], literally “the recitation”) is the main religious text of Islam, also sometimes transliterated as Quran, Kuran, Koran, Qur’ān, Coranor al-Qur’ān. It is widely regarded as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language. Muslims believe the Qur’an to be the verbal divine guidance and moral direction for mankind. Muslims also consider the original Arabic verbal text to be the final revelation of God.


Muslims believe that the Qur’an was revealed from God to prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through the angel Gabriel from 610 to 632 CE, the year of his death. Muhammad (pbuh) recited the Qur’an to his followers, numbering tens of thousands, who recited after him, until they had memorised it. He also dictated it to his scribes (Muhammad was illiterate) who wrote down its verses during his life. Shortly after Muhammad's death the Qur’an was established textually into a single book form by the order of the first Caliph Abu Bakr. During the reign of Uthman, the third Caliph, the Qur'an was standardised: Uthman compiled Abu Bakr's copy of the Qur’anic text, set it in the standard Quraish dialect called Fus'ha (Modern Standard Arabic), made several copies of the now standardised text and burned the non-standard texts. Muslims hold the present form of the Qur’an as exactly the same as that revealed to Muhammad (pbuh). Most scholars and historians accept the present day Qur'an is the original version compiled by Abu Bakr shortly after Muhammad's death.

Muslims regard the Qur’an as the main miracle of Muhammad (pbuh), as proof of his prophethood, and as the culmination of a series of divine messages. These started, according to Islamic belief, with the messages revealed to Adam (pbuh), regarded in Islam as the first prophet, and continued with the Suhuf Ibrahim (Scrolls of Abraham (pbuh)), the Tawrat (Torah orPentateuch) of Moses (pbuh), the Zabur (Tehillim or Book of Psalms) of David (pbuh), and the Injil (Gospel) of Jesus (pbuh). The Qur'an assumes familiarity with major narratives recounted in Jewish and Christian scriptures, summarising some, dwelling at length on others, and, in some cases, presenting alternative accounts and interpretations of events. The Qur'an describes itself as a book of guidance, sometimes offering detailed accounts of specific historical events, and often emphasising the moral significance of an event over its narrative sequence.

Chapters in the Qur'an

  1. Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
  2. Al-Baqara (The Heifer, The Calf)
  3. Al-i-Imran (The Family of Imran)
  4. An-Nisa (The Women)
  5. Al-Ma'ida (The Table Spread, The Table)
  6. Al-An'am (The Cattle)
  7. Al-A'raf (The Heights)
  8. Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War)
  9. At-Tawba (The Repentance)
  10. Yunus (Junus or Jonah)
  11. Hud (Hud, sometimes thought to be Eber)
  12. Yusuf (Yousef or Joseph)
  13. Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)
  14. Ibrahim (Ibrāhīm or Abraham)
  15. Al-Hijr (The Rocky Tract, Al-Hijr, The Stoneland, The Rock City)
  16. An-Nahl (The Honey Bees)
  17. Al-Isra (Isra, The Night Journey or The Children of Israel)
  18. Al-Kahf (The Cave)
  19. Maryam (Maryam or Mary)
  20. Ta-Ha (Ta-Ha)
  21. Al-Anbiya (The Prophets)
  22. Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage, The Hajj)
  23. Al-Mu’minoon (The Believers)
  24. An-Nur (The Light)
  25. Al-Furqan (The Criterion, The Standard)
  26. Ash-Shu'ara (The Poets)
  27. An-Naml (The Ant, The Ants)
  28. Al-Qasas (The Narrations, The Stories)
  29. Al-Ankabut (The Spider)
  30. Ar-Rum (The Romans)
  31. Luqman (Luqman)
  32. As-Sajda (The Prostration, Worship, Adoration)
  33. Al-Ahzab (The Clans, The Confederates, The Combined Forces)
  34. Saba (Sheba)
  35. Fatir (The Originator)
  36. Ya Sin (Ya-seen)
  37. As-Saaffat (Those Who Set The Ranks, Drawn Up In Ranks)
  38. Sad (The Letter Sad) 
  39. Az-Zumar (The Crowds, The Troops, Throngs)
  40. Ghafir, Al Mu'min (The Forgiver (God))
  41. Fussilat (Expounded, Explained In Detail)
  42. Ash-Shura (The Consultation)
  43. Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments, The Ornaments Of Gold, Luxury)
  44. Ad-Dukhan (The Smoke)
  45. Al-Jathiya (The Kneeling Down, Crouching)
  46. Al-Ahqaf (Winding Sand-tracts, The Wind-curved Sandhills, The Dunes)
  47. Muhammad (Muhammad)
  48. Al-Fath (The Victory, Conquest)
  49. Al-Hujurat (The Private Apartments, The Inner Apartments)
  50. Qaf (The Letter Qaf)
  51. Adh-Dhariyat (The Wind That Scatter, The Winnowing Winds)
  52. At-Tur (The Mount)
  53. An-Najm (The Star)
  54. Al-Qamar (The Moon)
  55. Ar-Rahman (The Most Gracious, The Beneficent, The Mercy Giving)
  56. Al-Waqi'a (The Inevitable, The Event)
  57. Al-Hadid (The Iron)
  58. Al-Mujadila (The Pleading, She That Disputeth, The Pleading Woman)
  59. Al-Hashr (The Mustering, The Gathering, Exile, Banishment)
  60. Al-Mumtahina (The Examined One, She That Is To Be Examined, Examining Her)
  61. As-Saff (The Ranks, Battle Array)
  62. Al-Jumuah (The Congregation, Friday)
  63. Al-Munafiqun (The Hypocrites)
  64. At-Taghabun (The Cheating, The Mutual Loss and Gain, The Mutual Disillusion, Haggling)
  65. At-Talaq (Divorce)
  66. At-Tahrim (The Prohibition)
  67. Al-Mulk (The Dominion, Sovereignty, Control)
  68. Al-Qalam (The Pen)
  69. Al-Haaqqa (The Sure Reality)
  70. Al-Maarij (The Ways of Ascent, The Ascending Stairways)
  71. Nuh (Nūḥ or Noah)
  72. Al-Jinn (The Spirits, The Jinn, The Demons)
  73. Al-Muzzammil (The Enfolded One, The Enshrouded One, Bundled Up)
  74. Al-Muddathir (The One Wrapped Up, The Cloaked One, The Man Wearing A Cloak)
  75. Al-Qiyama (The Day of Resurrection, Rising Of The Dead)
  76. Al-Insan (Man, Human)
  77. Al-Mursalat (Those Sent Forth, The Emissaries, Winds Sent Forth)
  78. An-Naba (The Great News, Tidings, The Announcement)
  79. An-Naziat (Those Who Tear Out, Those Who Drag Forth, Soul-snatchers)
  80. Abasa (He Frowned)
  81. At-Takwir (The Folding Up, The Overthrowing)
  82. Al-Infitar (The Cleaving Asunder, Bursting Apart)
  83. Al-Mutaffifin (The Dealers in Fraud, Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating)
  84. Al-Inshiqaq (The Rending Asunder, The Sundering, Splitting Open)
  85. Al-Burooj (The Mansions Of The Stars, Constellations)
  86. At-Tariq (The Night-Visitant, The Morning Star, The Nightcomer)
  87. Al-'Ala (The Most High, Glory To Your Lord In The Highest)
  88. Al-Ghashiya (The Overwhelming Event, The Pall)
  89. Al-Fajr (The Break of Day, The Dawn)
  90. Al-Balad (The City, This Countryside)
  91. Ash-Shams (The Sun)
  92. Al-Lail (The Night)
  93. Ad-Dhuha (The Glorious Morning Light, The Forenoon, Morning Hours, Morning Bright)
  94. Al-Inshirah (The Expansion of Breast, Solace, Consolation, Relief)
  95. At-Tin (The Fig, The Fig Tree)
  96. Al-Alaq (The Clinging Clot, The Clot, Recite)
  97. Al-Qadr (The Night of Power or Honor, The Night of Decree, Power, Fate)
  98. Al-Bayyina (The Clear Proof, Evidence)
  99. Az-Zalzala (The Earthquake)
  100. Al-Adiyat (The Courser, The Chargers)
  101. Al-Qaria (The Striking Hour, The Great Calamity, The Stunning Blow, The Disaster)
  102. At-Takathur (The Piling Up, Rivalry In World Increase, Competition)
  103. Al-Asr (The Time, The Declining Day, Eventide, The Epoch)
  104. Al-Humaza (The Scandalmonger, The Traducer, The Gossip monger)
  105. Al-Fil (The Elephant)
  106. Quraysh (Quraysh)
  107. Al-Ma'un (The Neighbourly Assistance, Small Kindnesses, Almsgiving, Have You Seen)
  108. Al-Kawthar (Abundance, Plenty)
  109. Al-Kafirun (Those Who Reject Faith, The Disbelievers, The Kafirs)
  110. An-Nasr (The Help, Succour, Divine Support, Victory)
  111. Al-Masadd (The Plaited Rope, The Palm Fibre)
  112. Al-Ikhlas (Purity of Faith, The Fidelity)
  113. Al-Falaq (The Daybreak, Dawn)
  114. Al-Nas (Mankind)