The Big-Bang Theory: A critical examination of words used by Allah in the Qur’an to describe it (I)
In previous articles, the attention of our noble readers was drawn to the existence of the big-bang theory in the Holy Qur’an. Critical examination of words used in describing it in the Holy Book is made under this article to find out how they corroborate the phenomenon.
The big-bang theory is a cosmological model of how the universe began as an initial “single matter”. By “single matter” is meant the fact that all matters or materials in the entire universe had been compressed into unified matter of infinite density and extremely high temperature.
By releasing the crunch on the single matter, it began to expand with a big explosion to account for the name big-bang; meaning that it made a big noise of bang. That was more than ten billion years ago when the process began. Others describe the single matter as a fire-ball of intense radiation that emitted highly energetic gamma radiations and X-rays. Within the first second of the bang the energetic gammas/interacted with each other through pair production to produce matter and anti-matter. The next second was followed by the process of annihilation in which matter reacted with anti-matter to give back the gamma rays. Thus the first couple of seconds constituted the radiation-dominated era in which space was filled with intense radiations that made space opaque or foggy thereby obstructing visibility. Alongside the expansion of single matter or fireball was the expansion of space that subsequently cooled. The result was that the highly energetic matter produced decreased in energy to enable them combine and form the elements (Hydrogen, Helium). This stage is called the recombination or the recoupling stage or era.
Following the successful formation of the elements the radiations formed that was “trapped” in the opaqueness were able to escape to the rest of the universe to give light. This element-dominated stage is called the transparent era. Then was postulated the possible existence, in the universe, of the remnant radiation energy of the fire-ball that was burning at the beginning of the big-bang. This remaining radiation is called Cosmological Background Radiation (CBR) and was discovered in 1978 by two American scientists (Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson). Coming to what the Quran revealed about the big-bang we read: “Do not the disbelievers see that the heavens (Samaa- waat) and the earth were single (unified) matter (Ratqan) then we rent them apart (Fataqnaahumaa)” Quran 21:31). The word Samaawaat (singular Samaa) is used in the Quran for space and the heavenly bodies including the galaxies. If therefore the “Samaawaat” and the earth, combined into single matter, were rent asunder/apart then it means that single matter and space began to expand simultaneously after being ripped apart by the Omnipotent God.
The next key word in 21:31 is Ratqan which derives from Rataqa, meaning to sew into a single material. Thus Ratqun is material united or joined together (Wortabet’s Arabic – English Dictionary), which becomes the single or unified matter. Finally comes the word Fataqa meaning to rent apart, implying the use of strong force in separating the constituents of the single matter. It is very surprising to note here that the word Fataha, which is closely similar to Fataqa, was not used.
Fataha is used when ordinary force is applied in separation like when you open a door. Thus the use of the most appropriate word goes to reinforce the fact that the Revealer of the Quran is perfect in knowledge into their minutest details such that He used the most appropriate word Fataqa in describing the early stages in the formation of the universe and not the slightly different Fataha. It does not need any hard thinking to conclude therefore that the above Quranic verse, revealed more than 1,400 years ago, is about the big-bang of modern science.
In short modern science could find no better words to use but the same words used by Allah in the Quran to describe the big-bang – Samaawaat (space and the heavenly bodies), Fataqa (To rip or rent asunder), Ratqun (single matter).
In reference to the radiation and recombination eras these have been subtly captured in the following Quranic verse; “Then He (Allah) turned to the heaven, while it was in a state of smoke (Dukhan), and said to it and to the earth; come ye both of you willingly or unwillingly, they said, We come willingly. So He completed them in two days” (Quran 4:12 – 13). Smoke is dukhan in Arabic which is the suspension of particles or matters in gas. This is what is termed as the radiation dominated stage in the big-bang in which the universe was very opaque. In much as smoke imparts opaqueness, so was space opaque during the radiation era. Once more the Quran uses the right word (dukhan) that corresponds to the state of opaqueness in the big-bang theory by scientists.
In the same vein Allah telling heaven and the earth in 4:12 – 13; to come forth willingly or unwillingly is only a means of increasing the eloquence of delivering the statement by putting words in the mouth of these unintelligible heavenly bodies. Thus by telling them to come forth is understood to mean that they should form out from the nebulous state of the universe, marked by the preceding era of radiations. Unwillingly means either through the unstable state of the radiation dominated era when matter formed in a second was destroyed in the next second by annihilation. Or willingly which refers to the recombination stage when matter was formed by recombination without any hindrance from high energy. The fact that heaven and earth decided to come forth willingly, meaning to form into the planets, shows that the planet and the earth were formed after the recombination stage when there was enough matter in the universe from which they evolved.
Conclusion
Diction, precision and accuracy in the use of scientific words in the Quran are hall-marks of the Holy Book. They are all pointers to the fact that the Book certainly originated from the All-Knowing Allah, Creator of the universe.
BY KHALID KOFI AHMAD
