By: Allama Mohammed Shihabuddin Nadvi
Divine Creations are Organized
The universe is not the outcome of any spontaneous accident nor is in existence independent of a manager. There exits, rather, a creator and administrator who has created it very thoughtfully and administers its affairs in a planned way. There is not even a shred of waywardness in his creations. They have been created, and are functioning, in accordance with the eternal plan and the rules and regulations (rules of providence) set out by the Almighty. Hence, not even a tiny speck of this universe falls outside the realm of divine providence. The glorious Qur’an stipulates these rules of providence thus:
He created all things and ordained them a physical code.1
We have, indeed, created every thing according to a specific code.2
Allah is the creator of all things; he is the guardian and disposer of all affairs.3
You will not witness any waywardness in the creation of the most gracious.4
No change occurs in the creation of Allah.5
A general principle could be discerned in the interpretation of these laws of providence, which strings together all the laws of nature:
Glorify the name of your most high Lord who created all things and then proportioned them in their bodily systems; who ordained all these natural phenomena a physical code and guided them to follow it.6
These are marvellously precise verses that are absolutely clear in their meaning. They encompass all the phenomena of nature from the mineral and the celestial worlds to the plant and animal kingdoms. The entire universe is systematically organised and works flawlessly. All the natural phenomena, from the tiny atoms to the gigantic solar systems and the galaxies owe their origin and existence to a set of physical laws. At quite a few places, the Qur’an very thoroughly deals with even the systems and physical laws governing these phenomena.
Subjugation of Physical World is Subject to Laws of Nature
Benefits that flow from the study of the physical and biological laws are twofold. If, on the one hand, it reveals the existence and benevolent providence of a supreme creator, on the other hand, it helps man in the realm of material advancement. This phenomenon is termed as tasqeer or ‘subjugation’ by the Qur’an. In this respect, the Lord of the world has subjugated all the phenomena of nature to man so that he could derive the material benefits from them and progress steadily in the field of the vicegerency of earth. The Almighty says:
Don’t you see that Allah has subjugated to you all that is in the heavens and on the earth, and made his bounties, both seen and unseen, flow to you in exceeding measure?7
Unseen Bounties and Modern Technology
This verse uncovers the reality that the universe basically consists of two types of divine bounties: seen and unseen. The former are those that man has continued to know and utilize since the time of the first man, Prophet Adam, peace be upon him. And the latter are those physical forces like electricity, steam, sound, light, etc. that have come to light as a result of subjugation of matter and energy. Study of the magnet has given rise to the electrical, steam, mechanical, and radiation energies. Similarly, reflections upon the tiny atom have unleashed the gigantic nuclear energy hidden in it.
Thus, if the modern man is performing miracles in the civilizational and military spheres by arming himself with these unseen bounties, he is equally bullying therewith the weaker nations as well. Utilisation of these material energies was made possible just because the Creator of the universe had destined them to be conquered by man quite earlier, that is, the physical laws governing their behaviour had been perfected on the principle of cause and effect much before the creation of man itself. He wouldn’t have successfully utilised them, otherwise. It has to be remembered in this respect that whenever an experiment is repeated in this sphere, similar results are obtained always without any discrepancy whatsoever.
Vicegerency of Earth and Ilmul Asthma
The Almighty has, for the special benefit of man, enacted such laws for the physical world that the modern science has now discovered and is exploiting their latent benefits. This has resulted in the human life benefiting enormously in the material arena. But, by the same token, humanity has been led to the verge of extinction too.
This has laid bare the fact that science creates absolutely nothing; it simply attempts to discover the divine laws and explores the means to control them. In this respect, ‘science’ is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the natural world through observation and experiment8, whereas ‘technology’ is the application of this scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It is this knowledge that Prophet Adam was bestowed with immediately after his creation (see Qur’an, 2:31). All the exegetes of the Qur’an are unanimous on this count. Adam was honoured with this science intellectually and theoretically, while it is the modern man who is deriving practical benefits from it. Its importance has marvellously been stressed in the Qur’an in order to motivate the Muslims; consequently, they benefited from it enormously through constant research and development, and, thus, laid the foundation of modern science in the medieval period. But, this reality eluded the latter Muslims, who are now made to bear its disastrous consequences. It is obvious that the physical sciences and the vicegerency of the earth are mutually co-existent, and can never be de-linked. The physical science termed in the Qur’an as ilmul asma, represents the knowledge about the names, structure, and behaviour of things, and the explorations of the modern science are nothing but the study of this very structure and behaviour of the natural phenomena.
Ilmul Asma is Absolute
It could further be inferred from this discussion that there has occurred no change in the ilmul asma since the time of Adam, that is, the knowledge imparted to him by the Almighty concerning the nature of the physical phenomena continues to hold good even today. To apprehend any change in it is similar to attributing changes in the marvellously laid down divine rules themselves.
Those of the laws of nature that have duly been established through observation and practice are the eternal laws of divine providence, which never undergo any change. The extraordinary feats in the field of technology would have never been made possible, otherwise. Some of the principles concerning the physical, chemical, biological, and astronomical worlds, which defy any variation in them, would be dealt with very briefly in the following pages. They are pregnant with insights for the Ummah. Considering them to be a bunch of evolving hypotheses incredibly amounts to regarding the very laws of divine providence to be ever changing.
Some Principles of Physics
Physics is the branch of science or ilmul asma that is concerned with the nature and properties of matter9 and energy. It deals with natural forces such as heat, light, sound, mechanics, electricity, magnetism, and atomic and nuclear energies which have definite physical properties. A few commonly comprehensible properties of these phenomena are discussed here.
Heat obtained through burning is stored and utilised for running large machines. Motors, cars, trains, aeroplanes, rockets, missiles, etc. operate on this basis. Heat pushes an object, which rotates the wheels and starts the motor. Various kinds of fuel are used for this purpose. Electricity lights the lamp regularly. Sound is recorded in accordance with certain principles of acoustics, and could be reproduced again. It is transmitted from one end of the globe to another within a fraction of a second through radio, television, telephone, etc. This has been made possible consequent to the discovery of electromagnetic waves, which travel with the speed of light at 186,000 miles per second thereby capable of making more than seven rounds of the earth in a second. Even images are carried simultaneously to every nook and corner of the globe through television. Man, thus, enjoys live coverage of events from politics to entertainment to sports, sitting in the privacy of his home. This achievement owes its origin to the discovery of electromagnetic waves and the invention of artificial satellites in equal measure. These geostationary satellites transmit live audio-visual or data feeds immediately anywhere. Computers and fax machines that instantly transmit written messages, also operate on the same principles. The realm of telecommunications has been revolutionised rendering even the far-flung satellites of our solar system such as the Mars and the Jupiter to be communicable. The markets are today flooded with strange electronic gadgets which all operate on the principles of electromagnetism.
The discovery of atomic energy has almost caused a revolution in our lives. This energy possesses both the constructive and the destructive capabilities and is used in the generation of electricity, which aids in the development of industry and civilisation. As an isotope, it has some widely useful applications in the fields of medicine, health, and agriculture. On the negative side, it is being used in the manufacture of atomic and hydrogen bombs, which could annihilate the entire humanity instantly.
Aren’t these the wonders of modern technology? Can these still be referred to as a bunch of evolving hypotheses? It is evident that these sciences continue to produce constant results unless the laws of nature themselves decide to change. It is also apparent that it is the Almighty who has destined the different attributes of heat, light, sound, electricity, magnetism, and nuclear energy, which are now unfolding as a result of the cause and effect phenomenon. Man has absolutely no role to play either in their structure or behaviour other than merely manipulating them; thus, if the applied science is considered to be evolving, it presupposes that the divinely ordained laws and the principle of cause and effect are, as well, evolving. When it is seen that these laws are not changing, then the question of changes in the applied sciences doesn’t arise at all. All the technological innovations are producing steady results. As long as these physical phenomena continue to produce stable results, imputation of change in them is utterly unfair.
A Few Principles of Chemistry
Chemistry deals with the composition, properties, and interactions of the substances of which matter is composed. In other words, it enables systematic study of the structure of the providential phenomena, their elemental composition, and the physical properties of these elements and their compounds. Chemical analysis of all the phenomena of nature has shown that they are composed of just 92 natural elements, such as hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, gold, silver, sodium, sulphur, zinc, aluminium, lead, uranium, etc.10
These elements have been classified in related groups. The elements in each group are alike in forming compounds, and also have other similar properties. This similarity results from a similarity among the electronic structures of elements. Majority of these elements are metals, while others are non-metals and gases11. Each of these 92 elements has unique characteristics. Hydrogen, for instance, is a combustible gas, whereas oxygen aids in combustion. It has been established that fire cannot be lit in the absence of oxygen. Similarly, the objects such as wood, coal, paper, husk, etc., which catch fire, contain carbon. Petroleum and cooking gas too are composed of carbon.
When two or more elements combine to form compounds, properties of individual elements disappear, and an altogether new substance emerges, possessing totally different qualities. When, for instance, atoms of hydrogen and oxygen chemically unite in definite proportions, a molecule of water is formed, which, instead of burning or aiding in burning, is surprisingly an extinguishing substance; thus, a water compound carrying completely different properties replaces the individual characteristics of the constituent elements. This is the law of providence in existence since eternity and would continue to exist eternally. The realm of elements and atoms is filled with similar laws of providence.
Hydrogen, with atomic number one, is the lightest of the elements, whereas uranium is the heaviest, carrying atomic number 92. All the other elements are placed in between in order of their respective weights. About one-fifth of air we breathe is oxygen, and about half of the outer crust of the earth is also composed of the same gas. When very pure oxygen is needed, as in hospitals, it is prepared commercially by the electrolysis of water. Most of the time, however, oxygen is obtained from the air.12
Chemical analysis of human body reveals that its water content averages roughly 75 per cent13. Likewise, fruits, vegetables, and milk too constitute water predominantly. Water freezes at zero degree Celsius, and boils at 100 degrees. As stated earlier, water is composed of hydrogen and oxygen. Scientists are today in a position to manufacture water by chemically combining these two individual elements. Explorations are underway to discover these two basic elements in the other planets with a view to establishing permanent human habitations there, so that water could be obtained through them artificially even if it is not found naturally.
Gold could also be manufactured artificially by adjusting the protons present in the nuclei of the atoms of cheaper metals to 79, which is the number of protons present in a gold atom.
Through the invention of powerful machineries, it is now possible to analyse the blood of a patient to find out its chemical composition. Using the sample of just a drop of blood, these machines ascertain the amount of all the substances found in the human blood and print their detailed chart on paper in a matter of few minutes. X-rays are another useful invention employed for diagnosing the internal malfunctioning of human organs.
The applied chemistry finds such countless applications, which are fact of modern life today, and would always remain so, without any change.
References:
- Qur’an, 25:2 2. Qur’an, 54:49
- Qur’an, 39:62 4. Qur’an, 67:3
- Qur’an, 30:30 6. Qur’an, 87:1-3
- Qur’an, 31:20 8. It could also be defined in the strict Islamic sense as the study of the acts and attributes of the Almighty that are in force in the natural or providential world.
- Common bodily substance of all the phenomena of nature present in the form of different chemical elements. It is contained in the form of solid, liquid, and gas. All the material bodies of the world exist in these three precise forms. ‘Matter’ in its general sense just applies to this ‘common substance.’
- As these elements have been discovered by the western nations, they have named them either in their language or after their respective discoverers. They would have carried altogether different names had the Muslims themselves detected them.
- The details could be found in any book on chemistry.
- Alan Sherman, Sharon Sherman & Leonard Russikoff, Basic Concepts of Chemistry, Houghton Mifflin, Boston, U.S.A., Fourth Edition, 1988, P.284.
- The New Book of Popular Science, Grolier Incorporated, 1987, V.3, P.383.