Islamset-Quranic Verses on Creation of the Universe

Qur'anic Verses on Creation of the Universe

The aforesaid scientific theories regarding the Origin of the Universe and the planetary system are at best speculations. What is common in all these theories is that the Universe and its planetary system have a definite behavioural pattern which is governed by certain principles. The Universe and the planetary system are subject the certain laws is categorically and unambiguously referred to in the Qur' an. In the following paras we propose to quote the relevant Qur'anic verses relating to the Origin of the Universe and movement of heavenly bodies which are not only categorical, but also anticipate some of the scientific discoveries made centuries later.

In Siirah Baqarah (the Heifer) it is pointed out that 'To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: when He decreeth a matter, He saith to it: 'Be' and it is" (Al-Baqarah, the Heifer, II: 117). The Qur'an is very clear that the entire Universe had evolved out of a single gaseous nucleus. In Surah Al-Anbiya it is clearly stated that "the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of Creation) before We clove them asunder," (Al-Anbiya,' The Prophets, x:x:I: 29). The sky which was an integral part of this single nucleus was in a gaseous state in accordance with the Qur'anic Verse 11 in Surah. Fussilat (XLI): "Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke". In the light of this verse it is clearly implied that the Universe was created out of a single gaseous nucleus. This is also borne out if we read verse 30 of Siirah Al-Anbiya' (x:x:I) in conjunction with verse 11 of Surah Fussilat (XLI) as mentioned above. The Qur'anic verses also imply a definite time dimension in the separation of the heavens and the earth. Of the theories pertaining to the creation of the Universe, the Big Bang Model comes closest to the Qur'anic concept. The theory has a definite time scale. The original nucleus according to this theory was a "Primordial fire ball" which underwent a cataclysmic explosion -Big Bang -at the Zero cosmic time T. It is interesting to observe that the Qur'an speaks of "cloving asunder" the heavens and the earth from a single nucleus. The theory points to the decoupling, after time t3' of the radiation energy and matter leading to a precipitous decline in the temperature of matter vis-a-vis radiation temperature. Presumably this phenomenon of decoupling may be implied in the Qur'an when it speaks the "cloving asunder" of the sky and earth. The Qur'anic description of the creation of the Universe commences from the "decoupling" phase in its evolution. The Qur'an speaks of the eventual annihilation of the Universe which is also clearly implied in the Big Bang Model as explained earlier. However, no theory of the, Origin of the Universe can speak with the same authority as the Qur'an for man cannot correctly visualise the beginning since his telescopic observations and mathematical formulations fail to provide the clue and the scientists admit it.