307-The Holy Qur’an on Natural Phenomenon: The Conquest of Space (Series: Inviting Reflections).

In Surah Al-Rahman Allah Almighty challenges both species: The Jinni and the Human Beings to cross the boundaries of their planet and the verse reads:

"??????????? ???????? ?????????? ???? ????????????? ??? ?????????? ???? ????????? ????????????? ??????????? ??????????? ? ??? ?????????? ?????? ???????????"

(O assembly of Jinns (Jinni) and Men, if you can penetrate regions of the heavens and the earth, then penetrate them! You will not penetrate them save with a Power). Surah: 55, Verse: 33.

In the verse given above, the Holy Qur’an is inviting both: The Jinni and the Human Beings to try hard to penetrate and cross the regions or zones of the heavens and the earth, implying that the task is achievable but after acquiring a certain amount of Power. ?

The Arabic articles like:?"??" or "???"?mean “if” and “when” respectively, always connote a condition, after fulfillment of which, it preludes the achievement of a certain thing. The Holy Qur’an is addressing here the Jinni and the Human beings who factually exist on the earth and not merely the allegorical figures. The Qur’an, therefore, suggests the material possibility of a concrete realization.

The most surprising fact here is the use of Arabic verb: "??????" followed by the preposition: "????" which means to penetrate and pass through and come out from the other side [i.e., realm of the earth and the heavens].?

The above verse indicates that one day man will conquer the space and will explore everything useful for the human beings in the heavens and the earth.

?We were informed about the “Possible Success” in Conquering Space, a millennium, and a half years ago, but we did not pay any attention to it. Still there is a great wealth in heavens and the earth, which has already been made subservient for human beings, provided it is explored properly. Knowledge is power and let us seek guidance from the Divine Source i.e., al-Qur’an al-Karim to further the boundaries of knowledge.?

In the past few days some religious scholars, on Pakistani electronic and social media, have been found arguing that the earth is stationary, and the sun revolves around it as it was proclaimed by some great religious scholars. No doubt that the services and status of these ‘ulema is above board and indubitable. May I suggest that the natural phenomena were not their domain and the Ummah has abandoned research in these fields since long. Had we continued research in all genres, then we could have been the leaders in technology, natural sciences, healthcare, and social sciences. Unfortunately, we were led astray by trivialities of life; and some ignorant clergy equated acquisition of scientific knowledge and technological excellence with a “worldly affair”. For such people there is a clear message, and that is:?Any pursuit of knowledge and time spent while pondering over the creation of the universe and its working is valuable to Allah, as it is described in the Qur’an many times. One example from such verses is as follows:?

????? ??? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ???????????? ????????? ???????????? ???????? ????????? ???????????? ? ????????? ??????????? ??????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ??????????? ???????????????? ??? ?????? ????????????? ??????????? ???????? ??? ???????? ?????? ???????? ??????????? ??????? ??????? ???????

(In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, are signs for people of understanding. Those who remember Allah while standing, and sitting, and on their sides; and they reflect upon the creation of the heavens and the earth. [And say:] "Our Lord, You did not create this in vain, glory to You, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire). Surah: 3, Verses: 190-191.

The ability to inquire and question is what differentiates us from other species. There is no path more righteous than a constant struggle for truth. If anyone believes that questioning would shake foundations of their faith then they are no different from those who contested the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, with the contention and plea that how they could leave the dictums and axioms propounded by their religious leaders and forefathers. Though there are many verses on the above, I quote here just one of them. The Qur’anic verse reads:?

"?????? ????????? ????????? ?????? ??????? ???????? ?????? ????????? ????????????"?[They say to Muhammad:] “We found our fathers following a certain way of our nation/religion, and we will certainly follow in their footsteps”). Surah: 43, Verse: 23.

Before abandoning research, the Ummah was leading the world in all genres and fields of knowledge. I, just, give one example that in the middle ages the Muslims’ contribution to various fields of knowledge was tremendous. It was Abu Hafs al-Nasafi d. 1143 CE, a polymath and a scholastic leader of the century, had explained the Properties of Matter, though not in a text book of physics but in a discourse of theology and ‘Ilm al-Kalam---while discussing the Dimensions (????????? ), and defines: "????????? ?? ?????????" (the Indivisible and Tiniest Particle of the Matter) i.e. an Atom, in the following way:

"??????? ????? ?? ???????? ???????????? ????? ?? ?? ??????? ?? ?? ???????? ? ?????? ???????? ?? ?????????"?(A Particle of Matter which is not further divisible conceptually; nor practically; and not [even] hypothetically, is called: “The [tiniest] Indivisible Particle of Matter”). This was the latest research nine centuries before done by Muslims and it was upheld even up till first quarter of the twentieth century.?

The most interesting and painful aspect of the episode is that the above is still part of the curricula and the courses of reading in our religious institutions and is being taught in all madrassas of the Sub-Continent. A commentary on Al-Nasafi’s book by Sa’ad ud Din Taftazani d. 1390 CE entitled: Sharh ‘Aqaid al-Nasafi is still part of courses in our madrasas and religious institutions. No government has ever taken serious initiative, after taking the stake holders in confidence, about revising the syllabus of these institutions. It is known that the syllabus and curriculum is an on-going process which needs revision from time to time except those commandments, axioms and beliefs which have been explained and determined by the Eternal Code (Al-Qur’an al-Karim and Al-Hadith) i.e: "????????? ???????????" (Religious Texts/Phrases).