The Big Bang Theory, the Expanding Universe, and the Big Crunch – all in the Qur’an
By: Dr. Salihu Lukman
Introduction
Having specialized in environmental and water engineering, I always have to delve into some aspects of the cosmos during my class sessions especially when explaining topics such as the water cycle, global warming and climate change, atmospheric fluid mechanics, and environmental pollution. In one of those instances, I was explaining the origin of water on the planet Earth to the students which saw me going back to the estimated beginning of time, i.e., 13.8 billion years ago when the universe was born from the Big Bang according to cosmologists, and then one of the students who is a Muslim commented that he didn’t believe that the universe originated from the so-called Big Bang, what he believed was that Allah just created the universe. My response to his comment is the motivation behind writing this article. My goal is to enlighten fellow Muslims who might share similar beliefs on the Big Bang Theory by drawing their attention to the contemporary explanations of some cosmic verses in the glorious Qur’an revealed more than 1,400 years ago (when modern science was not born yet) to the last prophet, Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him and his household) that the modern science of cosmology, astrophysics, astronomy and theoretical physics are discovering from the last 100 years ago. These cosmic verses confirm that the Qur’an could not have been written by the prophet Muhammad (SAW) or by anyone except that it is a true revelation from the one and only lord of the universe, the creator of mankind, and the God of Abraham (Ibraheem), Moses (Musa), Jesus (Isa) and Muhammad (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon them all).
The Big Bang Theory and Its Origin
The Big Bang theory is a cosmological model that explains the origin and evolution of the universe. It suggests that the universe began as an extremely hot and dense singularity, a point of infinite density and temperature. Around 13.8 billion years ago, this singularity rapidly expanded, resulting in the formation of matter, energy, and the universe as we know it.
The theory is based on several key pieces of evidence, including the observation that galaxies are moving away from each other in all directions, known as the cosmological redshift. This led to the idea that the universe is expanding! Additionally, the discovery of cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, a remnant of the early universe’s intense heat, provides further support for the Big Bang theory.
According to the theory, the universe has been expanding and cooling ever since its initial expansion. This led to the formation of galaxies, stars, planets, and other celestial objects.
It’s important to note that the Big Bang theory does not explain the origin of the singularity itself, nor what might have caused it. It focuses on describing the evolution of the universe from a fraction of a second after the singularity to the present day. Scientists continue to study and refine this theory, as well as explore other cosmological models, in their ongoing quest to understand the origins and nature of our universe.
The origin of the Big Bang theory can be traced back to the early 20th century, when astronomers discovered that the universe was expanding. This discovery was made by Edwin Hubble, who observed that galaxies are moving away from each other at a rate proportional to their distance. This observation suggests that the universe was once much denser and smaller than it is today.
The Big Bang theory was first postulated by Georges Lemaître, a Belgian Catholic priest and cosmologist, in 1931. Lemaître was inspired by Albert Einstein’s theory of general relativity, which predicted that the universe was expanding. Lemaître argued that if the universe was expanding, it must have had a beginning. He called this beginning the “primeval atom.” This idea was initially met with skepticism, but it gained traction as more evidence for the expanding universe was discovered.
In the 1940s, the astronomer Fred Hoyle coined the term “Big Bang” to describe Lemaître’s theory. Hoyle was not a fan of the theory, but the term caught on and is now widely used.
In the 1960s, astronomers discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation. The CMB is a faint glow of light that is present throughout the universe. It is thought to be the leftover radiation from the Big Bang.
The discovery of the CMB provided strong evidence or proof for the Big Bang theory. Today, the Big Bang theory is the most widely accepted explanation for the origin and evolution of the universe.
In the Quran, there are verses that can be interpreted as supporting the concept of the Big Bang theory and the expanding universe. While it’s important to note that Qur’anic texts are subject to individual interpretation, here are a few verses that some may connect to these scientific concepts:
اَوَلَمۡ يَرَ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡۤا اَنَّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرۡضَ كَانَـتَا رَتۡقًا فَفَتَقۡنٰهُمَا ؕ وَجَعَلۡنَا مِنَ الۡمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ حَىٍّ ؕ اَفَلَا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ
“Did the unbelievers (who do not accept the teaching of the Prophet) not realize that the heavens and the Earth were one solid mass, then We tore them apart, and We made every living being out of water? Will they, then, not believe (that We created all this)?” (Quran 21:30) – This verse is often interpreted as referring to the initial state of the universe as a compact, closed-up entity that was then expanded or opened out.
وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا بِأَيْي۟دٍۢ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
“We built the universe with great might, and We are certainly expanding it.” (Quran 51:47) – This verse is a clear indication that Allah is certainly expanding the universe, which aligns with the idea of an expanding universe in the Big Bang theory.
These interpretations highlight a potential parallel between the Quranic descriptions and the scientific understanding of the origins and expansion of the universe. However, it’s worth mentioning that Qur’anic texts are not meant to primarily serve as scientific treatise, but rather as sources of spiritual guidance and moral teachings. Scientific theories, on the other hand, are based on empirical evidence and rigorous analysis which the Qur’an calls to in several verses.
However, the Quran encourages Muslims to observe and reflect upon the universe as a means to gain knowledge, understanding, and spiritual insight. There are verses that highlight the importance of pondering over the signs of Allah’s creation. Here are a few examples:
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the Earth and the alternation of the day and night there are signs for people of reason.” (Quran 3:190) – This verse invites individuals to reflect upon the natural phenomena around them, such as the alternation of night and day, as signs of Allah’s creation.
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ خَلْقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّلْعَـٰلِمِينَ
“And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the Earth, and the diversity of your languages and colors. Surely in this are signs for those of sound knowledge.” (Quran 30:22) – This verse emphasizes the diversity found in creation, including languages and colors, and encourages people of knowledge to reflect upon these signs.
وَسَخَّرَ لَـكُمُ الَّيۡلَ وَالنَّهَارَۙ وَالشَّمۡسَ وَالۡقَمَرَؕ وَالنُّجُوۡمُ مُسَخَّرٰتٌۢ بِاَمۡرِهٖؕ اِنَّ فِىۡ ذٰ لِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّـقَوۡمٍ يَّعۡقِلُوۡنَۙ
“And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who reason.” (Quran 16:12) – This verse highlights the subjugation of celestial bodies and the natural cycles, inviting people to reason and reflect upon the signs within them.
These verses, among others, encourage believers to observe and contemplate the natural world as a means to recognize the signs of Allah’s creation and to deepen their understanding and appreciation for His wisdom. Such reflection, which is mainly achieved using scientific methods, can enhance one’s spiritual connection and foster a sense of awe and gratitude to the Almighty God. We should also understand that science is not just like any other subject such as humanities, law, economics, etc., it is an integral part of our civilization and everyone should have a basic understanding of science and scientific analysis.
The Big Crunch
While scientists are still brainstorming and hypothesizing on how the universe will ultimately end given its rapid current expansion, four fascinating theories stand out. These are the Big Crunch, Heat Death, the Big Rip, and False Vacuum. Scientists continue to explore and study these possibilities, seeking to unravel the mysteries of our cosmic destiny.
The Big Crunch is a fascinating concept in cosmology. It is a theoretical scenario that proposes that the expansion of the universe, which began with the Big Bang, could reverse its course and lead to a collapse. This collapse would eventually cause all matter and energy in the universe to come together in a singular point known as a singularity. This would ultimately cause the cosmic scale factor to reach zero, an event potentially followed by a reformation of the universe starting with another Big Bang, thereby giving rise to an entirely new universe.
During the Big Crunch, galaxies, stars, planets, and even subatomic particles would be pulled towards each other by the force of gravity. Eventually, everything would become incredibly dense and hot, leading to a cataclysmic event where space and time cease to exist as we currently understand them.
Of the four theories about how the universe will come to an end, the Big Crunch has been clearly explained in the Qur’an as the way and manner in which the universe will end before a new one is again created. For example, some scholars refer to verses that speak of the “folding of the heavens and the Earth” as a direct reference to the collapse or destruction of the universe. One such verse is found in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:104), which states,
يَوۡمَ نَـطۡوِىۡ السَّمَآءَ كَطَـىِّ السِّجِلِّ لِلۡكُتُبِ ؕ كَمَا بَدَاۡنَاۤ اَوَّلَ خَلۡقٍ نُّعِيۡدُهٗ ؕ وَعۡدًا عَلَيۡنَا ؕ اِنَّا كُنَّا فٰعِلِيۡنَ
“On that Day We shall roll up the heavens like a scroll for writing. Even as We originated the creation first so We shall repeat it. This is a promise binding on Us; and so We shall do.”
This verse describes a scenario in which the heavens (or universe) will be folded up like a book. This is similar to the way that the universe is thought to collapse in the Big Crunch model. If the Big Bang theory and the fact that the universe is expanding have all been scientifically verified not more than 100 years ago and while the Qur’an has correctly described these two phenomena more than 1,400 years ago to the seal of all prophets, Muhammad (SAW), then, we can confidently accept the Big Crunch hypothesis as the correct one describing how the universe is going to end even though we cannot prove this hypothesis because no one will live to tell the story about how the universe ultimately ends.
For more explanation about the cosmic verses in the Qur’an, watch Dr. Zagloul Al-Najjar’s YouTube video titled, “The Scientific Precision of the Qur’an”, at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prNdIGq8gAU&list=LL&index=3
Dr. Zaghloul Al-Najjar is an Egyptian geologist and a prominent figure known for discussing the scientific miracles in the Quran. He was the chairman of the Committee of Scientific Notions in the Glorious Qur’an, Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, Cairo, Egypt.
Another remarkable Qur’anic verse describing the embryonic stages which science only got to know fully less than 100 years are verses 13-14 from Surah Al-Mu’minun.
ثُمَّ جَعَلۡنٰهُ نُطۡفَةً فِىۡ قَرَارٍ مَّكِيۡنٍ (23:13)
ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا ٱلنُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةًۭ فَخَلَقْنَا ٱلْمُضْغَةَ عِظَـٰمًۭا فَكَسَوْنَا ٱلْعِظَـٰمَ لَحْمًۭا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَـٰهُ خَلْقًا ءَاخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقِينَ (23:14)
“Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot” (Quran 23:13)
“Then We made the drop into a leech-like structure. Then of that leech-like structure, We made a chewed lump. Then We made out of the chewed lump, bones, and clothed the bones in flesh. Then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah, the best of creators.” (Quran 23:14). Who could have taught Prophet Muhammad (SAW) these facts 1,400 years ago? None but the Almighty Allah, the All-knower, the Creator of the universe and everything therein.
The cosmic verses and the embryonic verses are some of the numerous scientific verses found in the glorious Qur’an which are all testifying to the existence of an everlasting creator that the Qur’an cannot be the word of man, but a true revelation from the Almighty Allah. Read the remarkable discussion of Dr. Keith Moore, a world-renowned embryologist, from Canada, in his paper titled, ‘A Scientist’s Interpretation of References to Embryology in the Qur’an’, in The Journal of the Islamic Medical Association, Vol.18, Jan-June 1986, pp.15-16. Dr. Moore concluded thus:
“The interpretation of the verses in the Qur’an referring to human development would not have been possible in the 7th century A.D., or even a hundred years ago. We can interpret them now because the science of modern embryology affords us new understanding. Undoubtedly there are other verses in the Qur’an related to human development that will be understood in the future as our knowledge increases.”
Watch Dr. Keith Moore’s YouTube video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gC2_IMz9qcY
Does God Exist?
Whether or not God exists is a question that has been debated by philosophers and theologians for centuries. There are many arguments for and against the existence of God. Some people believe that the complexity and order of the universe are evidence of a creator. This argument states that the design of the universe is evidence of a creator. Just as a complex machine like a computer is evidence of a computer-maker, the complexity and order of the universe are evidence of a creator. Others believe that the existence of evil and suffering in the world whether natural or man-made (earthquakes, hurricanes, genocides, wars, floods, tornadoes, etc.) is incompatible with the existence of a benevolent God. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to believe in God is a personal one.
The existence of God is a matter of faith, spirituality, and individual interpretation. Different cultures, religions, and individuals hold various beliefs about the existence of a higher power or divine being. Some people find evidence of God’s existence through personal experiences, religious texts, philosophical arguments, or scientific reasoning. Others may find their beliefs rooted in atheism or agnosticism, claiming that there is insufficient evidence to support the existence of a deity. Many renowned scientists belong to the last category of atheists or agnostics.
- Albert Einstein (theoretical physicist) – Agnostic
- Neil deGrasse Tyson (astrophysicist) – Atheist
- Stephen Hawking (theoretical physicist) – Atheist
- Richard Dawkins (evolutionary biologist) – Atheist
- Carl Sagan (astronomer, cosmologist) – Agnostic
It truly shocks me when people who should have known better, who had seen and explored the wonderful universe and its supreme and fascinating design, yet, deny the existence of the Almighty Designer of the universe. When you ask all the most famous astrophysicists (e.g. Neil deGrasse Tyson), theoretical physicists (e.g. Stephen Hawking), and evolutionary biologists (e.g. Richard Dawkins) about the source of the hot and dense singularity that exploded during the Big Bang and what happened before the Big Bang, they will all tell you that they don’t know and yet, deny that the Almighty God is not the originator of the Big Bang or that He exists before the Big Bang. How can ignorance beget knowledge? If they don’t know for sure, then, they cannot rule out the existence of a creator. The best rational and reasonable response they can provide here is that God may exist even if they don’t believe in his existence. No scientist can tell you categorically how life began. Yet, when one says that God created all living things originally, the atheists amongst them will deny it under the pretense of lack of evidence. I don’t know what more evidence they need other than our very existence.
The Earth moves around the sun at a speed of 30 kilometers per second (km/s) – i.e., it travels on its orbit 30 km in just 1 second – without burning any fuel to keep it going. This is very fast, right? The moon revolves around the Earth at 1 km/s, without consuming any fuel to keep it in its orbit, unlike all other artificial satellites, because Allah’s creation is unique. Our model of the solar system depicting the sun as stationary is wrong, the Sun travels around the center of the Milky Way galaxy together with the solar system at a speed of about 230 km/s. The Milky Way galaxy itself is also moving through space with over 400 billion and their planets at a speed of about 630 km/s. This makes my intergalactic speed on Earth 890 km/s, yet, I sit down comfortably in my room without the slightest inkling that I am moving at this tremendous speed. There are over 2 trillion galaxies in the universe, and life is found only on planet Earth despite the vastness of the universe. Yet, the atheists think that it is just a coincidence! I say, no way, it is a grand design by the Almighty Allah.
Conclusion
The Quran is a book of spiritual guidance, and it also contains many proven scientific verses. Reading the Quran with the intention of deriving spiritual guidance from these verses can be a very rewarding experience for both Muslims and non-Muslims.
One way to do this is to focus on the Quran’s message about the oneness of God and the interconnectedness of all creation. The Quran teaches us that God is the creator and sustainer of the universe and that everything in the universe is interconnected. This understanding can help us to develop a sense of awe and wonder at the world around us, and it can also help us to feel more connected to God and to other people.
Another way to derive spiritual guidance from the Quran’s scientific verses is to reflect on the wisdom and power of God. The Quran describes many of the natural wonders of the universe, such as the creation of the heavens and the Earth, the development of the human embryo, and the intricate balance of the ecosystem. Reflecting on these verses can help us to appreciate the greatness of God and to develop a deeper sense of humility.
Reading the Quran with the intention of deriving spiritual guidance from the scientific verses can be a very transformative experience. It can help us to develop a deeper understanding of God, of the world around us, and of our place in the cosmos. All these cannot be achieved without understanding science and scientific methods.
Get binoculars for a starter or a telescope for an expert and start observing the stars, moon, and planets around you. I have found the Stellarium Mobile app very useful in locating celestial bodies.
Salihu Lukman is an Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hafr Al Batin, Saudi Arabia.