islamic

A Miracle of the Quran and the Prophetic Tradition 

 Written by Abdul-Dayem Al-Kaheel 

Probing the depths of the Earth and taking pains to uncover the secrets of its internal structure and composition, scientists came to realize that the old myths about the Earth are scientifically baseless. Scientists in the twentieth century decided that the Earth consists of only three layers. Having discovered the sphericity of the Earth, they suggested that this sphere comprises three parts; the core, the crust which is very thin compared to the total volume of the Earth and a third layer in between the two called The Mantle. 

 Evolution of the scientific facts

However, the three-layer theory didn’t hold true for long, owing to recent discoveries in Geology. Measurements and recent tests showed that the pressure of the material of the Earth’s core is immense and reaches three million times the pressure at the surface.

Under such pressure the material transforms into the solid state, which means that the core of the Earth is solid and is enclosed by a liquid layer of extremely high temperature. This also means that the core of the Earth consists of 2 layers not just one; a solid inner core and a liquid upper core.

Measurement devices developed and scientists were able to observe a clear distinction between the different parts of the Earth’s interior. A layer of hot rocks underneath the crust was discovered, that is the Lithosphere. Underneath the Lithosphere are three layers distinct in density, pressure and temperature.

Having discovered these layers, scientists found themselves dividing the Earth into seven layers and no more. The Cut-away view below shows these layers drawn to scale according to the recent findings of scientists. The fact that the Earth comprises seven layers is established. It is taught at universities and observed through seismographs and through studying the magnetic field of the Earth.

Scientists also found out that the atom consists of seven layers which confirms the uniformity of the creation because the system that governs the creation of the whole universe is one, the earth consists of seven layers and each atom on it consists of seven layers too. 

 The figure demonstrates the seven layers of the Earth. We note the thin crust then the four layers of the Mantle increasing gradually in thickness. Next is the liquid outer core then the solid inner core. They all add up to seven layers.

The layers of the Earth are radically different in composition, density, temperature and material. Hence, the Earth can not be considered as one layer as was previously believed. The notion of the seven layers is relatively new and didn’t exist at the time the Quran was revealed. Scientists in the twenty-first century concluded that the Earth consists of seven layers, but what does the Quran have to say about that?  

What the Quran says:

Telling of the seven layers of the Heavens and the Earth, God says in the Holy Quran:

1-     He (Allah) Who created the seven heavens one above the other – [Al Mulk: 3]

2-     Allah is He Who created seven heavens and the earth the like of them – [ Al Talaaq: 12]

 The first verse is talking about two characteristics of the heavens; their number, that is seven, and the arrangement of them (one above the other) or ‘in layers’. The second verse asserts the similarity between the Earth and the heavens (And the Earth the like of them), so as the heavens consist of seven layers, the earth identically consists of seven layers. 

  Let’s ponder on (one above the other). It denotes the layering of the Earth, and this is what today’s scientists discovered. Now we can see that the Quran had determined the structure of the Earth, which is in layers, and had also determined the number of these layers, that is seven. In other words, the Quran had given a precise description of the earth’s interior, thus it preceded the scientists of the twenty-first century by fourteen centuries in proving this fact. Isn’t this a splendid miracle of the Quran?

What the Hadith says:

Pondering on the Hadith (sayings) of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), we’ll find one that asserts the existence of the seven layers of the earth concentric and one above the other. The prophet (PBUH) said: (Whoever usurps even one span of the land, his neck will be encircled because of it with seven earths) [narrated by Al Bukhari]. Here the prophet gave another characteristic of the layers, encirclement, by saying (will be encircled with it) and this is how the layers truly look like, they are concentric and each one encircles the one underneath it.

 The question here is: Isn’t this a great miracle of the prophet? Not just that the Hadith determines the number of the earth’s layers, seven, and determines the arrangement of these layers, but it also bears an indication to the sphericity of the earth.

  From this article we find that the Holy Quran and the Hadith reached these facts about the earth long before modern science did. The Quran had given us the precise description of the earth’s internal structure (layers one above the other) and also had given us the exact number of these layers, seven, while it took scientists long years of theorizing and re-theorizing to come up with the same conclusions. So exalted be Allah who said in His Holy Book : (And in the earth are portents for those whose faith is sure- and also in yourselves, can ye then not see) [Al Thariaat: 21-22].

                                         By Dr: Salama Abdelhady

We may look to the God’s description of the start of creation in Qur’an and in Bible. It will be seen that the Qur’an is the Holy Book which is revealed to Mohamed from the Wise and The All-Knowing God. However, the wording of the same facts in the Bible shows there were some hands which cast these facts in a human-lagging style. It can be found in the Bible some descriptions which are not corresponding to the modern sciences. This fact is declared by the Catholic Church in an article with the title:

“Catholic Church no longer swears by truth of the Bible", By Ruth Gledhill, Religion Correspondent, on  timesonline”

Now, let us read how the Quran described the start of the universe. Such moment that had not been witnessed by any one of us as the Quran states in the following verse:

[18/51] I called them they have not witnessed the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor (even) their own creation: So, it is for Me to help and lead them to know and not to go astray!

The creation of the universe had been done by the will, science and wisdom of the Creator. This creation is described in many surahs (chapters) of the Quran. Each surah looks at specific view of such wisdom and knowledge. We may read in Chapter 41 (Surat Fossilat):

[41/9-12] Say: "Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? and do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the whole universe", He set on the (earth). Mountains standing firm (to stretch the surface layers by its roots), high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and created the measures therein for every thing to give them nourishment in due proportions, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (sustenance), Moreover, He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together (mutually), willingly or by our implement " They said: "We do come (each follow a specific order), in a willing obedience.", So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command (orbits and motion). And We adorned the lower heaven with lights (from the sun and the moon), and (provided it) with a guard (guarding layers of Ozone). Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.

Summing up the number of days will be more than six days. But there is an overlap in these days which you may see in modern project management. Such overlap stands for the difference in the number of days.

Now, compare these stages of creation, into the same story as expressed in the Bible, i.e. the Old Testament.

Genesis 1

The Creation of the World

1:1 In the beginning¹ God² created³ the heavens and the earth.⁴

1:2 Now⁵ the earth⁶ was without shape and empty,⁷ and darkness⁸ was over the surface of the watery deep,⁹ but the Spirit of God¹⁰ was moving¹¹ over the surface¹² of the water.¹³  1:3 God said,¹⁴ “Let there be¹⁵ light.”¹⁶ And there was light! 1:4 God saw¹⁷ that the light was good,¹⁸ so God separated¹⁹ the light from the darkness.  1:5 God called²⁰ the light “day” and the darkness²¹ “night.” There was evening, and there was morning, marking the first day.²²

1:6 God said, “Let there be an expanse²³ in the midst of the waters and let it separate water²⁴ from water.  1:7 So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above it.²⁵ It was so.²⁶ 1:8 God called the expanse “sky.”²⁷ There was evening, and there was morning, a second day.

1:9 God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place²⁸ and let dry ground appear.”²⁹ It was so. 1:10 God called the dry ground “land”³⁰ and the gathered waters he called “seas.” God saw that it was good.

1:11 God said, “Let the land produce vegetation:³¹ plants yielding seeds according to their kinds,³² and³³ trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” It was so. 1:12 The land produced vegetation – plants yielding seeds according to their kinds, and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. God saw that it was good. 1:13 There was evening, and there was morning, a third day.

1:14 God said, “Let there be lights³⁴ in the expanse³⁵ of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them be signs³⁶ to indicate seasons and days and years, 1:15 and let them serve as lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth.” It was so. 1:16 God made two great lights³⁷ – the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night. He made the stars also.³⁸ 1:17 God placed the lights³⁹ in the expanse of the sky to shine on the earth,  1:18 to preside over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness.⁴⁰ God saw that it was good.  1:19 There was evening, and there was morning, a fourth day.

1:20 God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms⁴¹ of living creatures and let birds fly⁴² above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” 1:21 God created the great sea creatures⁴³ and every living and moving thing with which the water swarmed, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. God saw that it was good. 1:22God blessed them⁴⁴ and said, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.”⁴⁵ 1:23 There was evening, and there was morning, a fifth day. 1:24 God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its kind.”⁴⁶ It was so. 1:25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the cattle according to their kinds, and all the creatures that creep along the ground according to their kinds. God saw that it was good.

1:26Then God said, “Let us make⁴⁷ humankind⁴⁸ in our image, after our likeness,⁴⁹ so they may rule⁵⁰ over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth,⁵¹ and over all the creatures that move⁵² on the earth.”

1:27 God created humankind⁵³ in his own image, in the image of God he created them,⁵⁴ 

male and female he created them.⁵⁵

1:28 God blessed⁵⁶ them and said⁵⁷ to them, “Be fruitful and multiply! Fill the earth and subdue it!⁵⁸ Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and every creature that moves on the ground.”⁵⁹  1:29 Then God said, “I now⁶⁰ give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the entire earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.⁶¹  1:30And to all the animals of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to all the creatures that move on the ground – everything that has the breath of life in it – I give⁶² every green plant for food.” It was so.

1:31 God saw all that he had made – and it was very good!⁶³ There was evening, and there was morning, the sixth day.Genesis 22:1 The heavens and the earth¹ were completed with everything that was in them.² 2:2 By³ the seventh day God finished the work that he had been doing,⁴ and he ceased⁵ on the seventh day all the work that he had been doing. 2:3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy⁶ because on it he ceased all the work that he⁷ had been doing in creation.⁸

The Creation of Man and Woman

2:4 This is the account⁹ of the heavens and the earth¹⁰ when they were created – when the Lord God¹¹ made the earth and heavens.¹²

2:5Now¹³ no shrub of the field had yet grown on the earth, and no plant of the field¹⁴ had yet sprouted, for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground.¹⁵ 2:6 Springs¹⁶ would well up¹⁷ from the earth and water¹⁸ the whole surface of the ground.¹⁹  2:7 The Lord God formed²⁰ the man from the soil of the ground²¹ and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life,²² and the man became a living being.²³

2:8 The Lord God planted an orchard²⁴ in the east,²⁵ in Eden;²⁶ and there he placed the man he had formed.²⁷  2:9 The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow from the soil,²⁸ every tree that was pleasing to look at²⁹ and good for food. (Now³⁰ the tree of life³¹ and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil³² were in the middle of the orchard.)

2:10 Now³³ a river flows³⁴ from Eden³⁵ to water the orchard, and from there it divides³⁶ into four headstreams.³⁷ 2:11 The name of the first is Pishon; it runs through³⁸ the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold. :12 (The gold of that land is pure;³⁹ pearls⁴⁰ and lapis lazuli⁴¹ are also there). 2:13 The name of the second river is Gihon; it runs through⁴² the entire land of Cush.⁴³  2:14 The name of the third river is Tigris; it runs along the east side of Assyria.⁴⁴ The fourth river is the Euphrates.

Of course, we may see that both texts give similar stories. In the Bible, you find human interpretations of limited understanding to something heard. However, in the Qur’an you find statements that fit to revelation from The Wise and All-Knowing God. This is stated by the following verses:

[27 / 6] As to thee, the Quran is bestowed upon thee from the presence of One Who is Wise and All-Knowing.

Another view of His Wisdom in creation is stated also in the following verses that describes the initial explosion of the initial material of the universe. Such bad term “Great Explosion” as nominated or assumed by the scientists is expressed by the creator in a better scientific term “Rupture”. Such term leads to who performs such rupture and expresses His Wisdom and Power.

[21/30 - 33] Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were stitched together (as the initial origin of the Creation), before We ruptured them asunder? Then, We made every living thing starting by water. Will they not then believe? And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive guidance. And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!

The wisdom in creation is expressed also in the following verses:

[ 2 /21 - 22] O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, Who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness; Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

Another side of the Creator’s wisdom in the universe’s creation is given also in the following verses:

[23/17-20] And We have made, above you, seven tracts; and We are never unmindful of (Our) Creation. And We send down water from the sky according to (due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease). With it We grow for you Gardens of date-palms and vines: in them have ye abundant fruits: and of them ye eat (and have enjoyment), Also a tree springing out of Mount Sinai, which produces oil, and relish for those who use it for food.

The God designed the sun and the moon to be sources of light before any creation had been started. This will is expressed in the following verses:

[10 / 3 - 5] Verily your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then He established Himself on the Throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will yet not receive admonition? To Him will be your return, of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who beginneth the process of Creation, and repeateth it, that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness; but those who reject Him will have draughts of boiling fluids, and a Penalty grievous, because they did reject Him. It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory and the moon to be a light (of beauty), and measured out stages for it; that ye might know the number of years and the count (of time). Nowise did Allah create this but in truth and righteousness. (Thus) doth He explain His Signs in detail, for those who understand.

The succession of day and night on the earth is described since more than 14 centuries in the following verses through miraculous expressions that are surely revealed from Allah: [39/4-6] He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions and coordination), He makes the Night overlap spherically the Day (due to revolving the spherical earth), and the Day overlap spherically the Night: He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law) each one follows a course of motion for an appointed time.  Is not He the Exalted in Power, He Who forgives again and again? He created you (all) from a single Person: then created, of like nature, his mate; and He sent down (the design of genetic maps of) eight head of cattle in pairs for your service: He makes (creates) you, in the wombs of your mothers, in successive stages, one after another (according to a law), in three veils of darkness (three layers of protection). This is Allah, your Lord and Cherisher: to Him belongs (all) dominion. There is no god but He: then how are ye turned away (from your true Centre)?

The unity of Creation is expressed in the following verse:

[67 / 3] He Who created seven identical heavens (seven here indicates repeated creations of unlimited number of heavens as repeated cycles of the 7 days week), no want of proportion wilt (i.e. all are created as one unit with harmonic proportions) thou see in the Creation of the Most Gracious Allah. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw?

God assures that He set the laws that keep the prevailing balance and equilibrium in the universe by His Wisdom:

[15 / 19-21] And the earth We have extended it (in volume and all dimensions); place in it the settlements (that gives it the mass and gravity that stabilize its motion and the creatures on its surface); and produced (create) therein all kinds of things in a due balance (physically and proportionally, i.e. plants in balance with animals, both are in balance to atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, water in balance to needs, heat in balance to warm, etc.), And We have provided therein means of subsistence, for you and for those for whose sustenance ye are not responsible. And there is not a thing but its (sources and) treasures (inexhaustible) are with us; but We only send down thereof in due and ascertainable measures.

What is written here is just a part from unlimited number of verse which explains the wisdom of God as a Wise Creator for a magnificent universe. One of His Names Is stemmed from the word Magnificent ( the Magnificenator, i.e. the One who creates a magnificent universe)

However, several remarks may be seen regarding start of creation in the Bible:

1.Stating a God’s spirit moving over the surface of the water is illogic.

2.Considering God’s day limited by the sunrise and the sunset. In the Quran, God’s day cannot be defined by our limited days; the Quran states that God’s day may be as thousand years or fifty thousand years.

[32/5] He rules (all) affairs from the heavens to the earth: in the end will (all affairs) go up to Him, on a Day, its range may be (as) a thousand years of your reckoning

[70/4] The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years:

3.Stating that God had no formal knowledge of what will be good and what will be bad.  “He saw the light was good, God saw that was good”.

4.It states that the earth is plane; all the earth will be once in light, once in dark, one direction for the east and other direction for the west. The Quran stated the spherical overlapping of the day over the night and the night over the day, as stated previously.

5.It limits the universe creation to the earth only sources of light. So, it ignores the greatness of the whole universe.

For the reader: Can you imagine really the words of Genesis are from God and the words of the Quran are not?

I think We should actually approve the truth of the following Verse and We should say as the Muslim is accustomed to say: Sadaka (i.e. Veracity is in the Words of) Allah, The Great God.

[ 7 / 52] For We had certainly sent unto them a Book, based on science and knowledge, which We explained in detail, as a guide and a mercy to all who believe (in Him).

Who are interested in some scientific comments on these verses and more verses, He may have a look on this site: