CAUTION! QURA'AN IS NOT JUST A BOOK .....READ TO LEARN THE MIRACLES OF QURA'AN part2Written by Harun yahya
THE ROUNDNESS OF THE EARTH He has created Heavens and Earth for Truth. He wraps night up in day, and wraps day up in night. (The Qur'an, 39:5) In Qur'an, words used for describing universe are quite remarkable. The Arabic word that is translated as "to wrap" in above verse is "takwir". In English, it means "to make one thing lap over another, folded up as a garment that is laid away". (For instance, in Arabic dictionaries this word is used for action of wrapping one thing around another, in way that a turban is put on.) The information given in verse about day and night wrapping each other up includes accurate information about shape of world. This can be true only if earth is round. This means that in Qur'an, which was revealed in 7th century, roundness of world was hinted at. It should be remembered, however, that understanding of astronomy of time perceived world differently. It was then thought that world was a flat plane and all scientific calculations and explanations were based on this belief. The verses of Qur'an, however, include information that we have learned only in past century. Since Qur'an is God's word, most correct words were used in it when it comes to describing universe. THE PROTECTED ROOF In Qur'an, God calls our attention to a very interesting attribute of sky: We made sky a preserved and protected roof yet still they turn away from Our Signs.. (The Qur'an, 21:32) This attribute of sky has been proved by scientific research carried out in 20th century. The atmosphere surrounding earth serves crucial functions for continuity of life. While destroying many meteors big and small as they approach earth, it prevents them from falling to earth and harming living things. In addition, atmosphere filters light rays coming from space that are harmful to living things. Interestingly, atmosphere lets only harmless and useful rays– visible light, near ultraviolet light, and radio waves pass through. All of this radiation is vital for life. Near ultraviolet rays, which are only partially let in by atmosphere, are very important for photosynthesis of plants and for survival of all living beings. The majority of intense ultraviolet rays emitted from sun are filtered out by ozone layer of atmosphere and only a limited–and essential–part of ultraviolet spectrum reaches Earth. The protective function of atmosphere does not end here. The atmosphere also protects earth from freezing cold of space, which is about minus 270oC. It is not only atmosphere that protects Earth from harmful effects. In addition to atmosphere, Van Allen Belt, a layer caused by magnetic field of Earth, also serves as a shield against harmful radiation that threatens our planet. This radiation, which is constantly emitted by Sun and other stars, is deadly to living things. If Van Allen belt did not exist, massive outbursts of energy called solar flares that frequently occur in Sun would destroy all life on Earth. Dr. Hugh Ross has this to say on importance of Van Allen Belts to our lives:
| | CAUTION! QURA'AN IS NOT JUST A BOOK .....READ TO LEARN THE MIRACLES OF QURA'AN part3Written by Harun yahya
THE FUNCTION OF MOUNTAINS The Qur'an draws attention to a very important geological function of mountains. We placed firmly embedded mountains on earth, so it would not move under them… (The Qur'an, 21:31) As we have noticed, it is stated in verse that mountains have function of preventing shocks in Earth. This fact was not known by anyone at time Qur'an was revealed. It was in fact brought to light only recently as a result of findings of modern geology. According to these findings, mountains emerge as a result of movements and collisions of massive plates forming Earth's crust. When two plates collide, stronger one slides under other, one on top bends and forms heights and mountains. The layer beneath proceeds under ground and makes a deep extension downward. That means that mountains have a portion stretching downwards, as large as their visible parts on Earth. In a scientific text, structure of mountains is described as follows: Where continents are thicker, as in mountain ranges, crust sinks deeper into mantle.4 In a verse, this role of mountains is pointed out by a comparison with "pegs": Have We not made earth as a bed and mountains its pegs? (The Qur'an, 78:6-7) Mountains, in other words, clench plates in Earth's crust together by extending above and beneath Earth's surface at conjunction points of these plates. In this way, they fix Earth's crust, and prevent it from drifting over magma stratum or among its plates. Briefly, we may liken mountains to nails that keep pieces of wood together. This fixing function of mountains is described in scientific literature by term "isostasy". Isostasy means following: Isostasy: general equilibrium in Earth's crust maintained by a yielding flow of rock material beneath surface under gravitational stress.5 This vital role of mountains, that was discovered by modern geology and seismic research, was revealed in Qur'an centuries ago as an example of supreme wisdom in God's creation. We placed firmly embedded mountains on earth, so it would not move under them... (The Qur'an, 21:31)THE MOVEMENT OF MOUNTAINS In one verse, we are informed that mountains are not motionless as they seem, but are in constant motion. You will see mountains you reckoned to be solid going past like clouds. (The Qur'an, 27:88) This motion of mountains is caused by movement of Earth's crust that they are located on. The Earth's crust 'floats' over mantle layer, which is denser. It was at beginning of 20th century when, for first time in history, a German scientist by name of Alfred Wegener proposed that continents of earth had been attached together when it first formed, but then drifted in different directions, and thus separated as they moved away from each other.
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