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Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Seven Earths: Scientific Proofs of Quranic Wonders

Allah Ta’ala states in Surah Talaaq (Chapter 65) verse 12: Allah is The One Who created the seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof; His orders descend between them (the heavens and the earths).
This Quranic verse tells us that Almighty God created seven heavens, as well as seven earths. The hadith (sayings of The Messenger Muhammad – salutations be upon him) also make mention of seven earths. In Bukhari Shareef, a compilation of hadith written over 1200 years ago, the following statement of Allah’s Messenger appears: “He who usurps a hand-span of land, that amount (of land) from the seven earths will be thrown around his neck (on the Day of Judgment).” “He who unjustly claims a portion of land will be swallowed by that portion down to the seven earths.” Both these quotations appear in the Book on Oppression and Usurpation of Saheeh Al-Bukhari.


Imam Fakhrud-Deen Razi, the great philosophy and jurist of Islam, who died in 1210 of the Christian era (about 800 years ago) wrote in his wonderful Commentary of the Holy Quran At TafSeerul Kabeer: ‘The seven earths are similar to the seven heavens for they are like stratum, one layer on top of the other, each layer being adjacent to the other. It is also not a far-fetched theory that seven earths may mean seven planets similar to those that are in space. These are possibilities that the intellect cannot refute or reject.’

Science in its history has never ever even entertained the idea of their being more than one earth. However, recent discoveries have proven the accuracy of both theories mentioned by Imam Razi. There are two logical possibilities for the existence of seven earths. One is that the earth consists of seven layers, as Imam Razi surmised. Based on this theory, it would not be inconsistent with science to term the seven layers of earth as “seven earths” when considering that the Arabic term for earth, ardh, is used for any mass or tract of land. Recent studies in geology have proven that the earth is composed of seven zones, identified from the inner to the outer layers as follows:
1) The Solid Inner Core of Earth: depth of 5,150 - 6,370 kilometers (3,219 - 3,981 miles)
(2) The Liquid Outer core: depth of 2,890 - 5,150 kilometers (1,806 - 3,219 miles)
(3) The “D” Layer: depth of 2,700 - 2,890 kilometers (1,688 - 1,806 miles) This layer is 200 to 300 kilometers (125 to 188 miles) thick
(4) Lower Mantle: depth of 650 - 2,890 kilometers (406 -1,806 miles)
(5) Middle Mantle (Transition region): depth of 400 - 650 kilometers (250-406 miles)
(6) Upper Mantle: depth of 10 - 400 kilometers (6 - 250 miles)
(7) Lithosphere Oceanic crust: depth of 0-10 kilometers (0 - 6 miles)
It must be remembered that according to science all these layers are made of different substances and material; hence the Holy Quran expression of seven earths must be considered in this context, since these are seven different parts of the earth. As stated earlier, the word ardh (earth) refers to a ‘tract of land’. The second logical possibility is that six other planets like our own earth do really exist. This, too, has recently been proven by science exploration of the universe.

On October 31, 2007 the Daily Telegraph reported in its online edition, Telegraph.co.uk:
“Britain's leading team of planet-hunters says it has found three new alien worlds that lie beyond our solar system, boosting confidence that Earth-like worlds are waiting to be discovered. The discovery of the planets will be announced by the Wide Area Search for Planets (WASP) project this week at an international conference in Suzhou, China, and have been called WASP-3, WASP-4 and WASP-5.”

The Daily Mail online newspaper reported on April 26, 2007 what is possibly the most extraordinary world to have been discovered by astronomers: the first truly Earth-like planet to have been found outside our Solar System. The discovery was announced today by a team of European astronomers, using a telescope in La Silla in the Chilean Andes. The Earth-like planet could be covered in oceans and may support life. This remarkable discovery appears to confirm the suspicions of most astronomers that the universe is swarming with Earth-like worlds.

CNN.com reported the following on August 24, 2004: In a discovery that has left one expert stunned, European astronomers have found one of the smallest planets known outside our solar system, a world about 14 times the mass of our own around a star much like the sun. It could be a rocky planet with a thin atmosphere, a sort of ‘super Earth’, the researchers said today. (All emphasis by the editor)

These few reports of recent discoveries made by modern science prove that there are planets out their in the universe that resemble our own earth. Scientists have in recent years discovered hundreds of planets in the solar system, and believe that there are still many more. They have discovered at least four planets that resemble our earth, and the Holy Quran has mentioned seven. It is, therefore, not far-fetched to believe that in years to come they may discover a few more, to confirm and corroborate with The Quran has said.

The striking question that emanates from this is: How could a man who was not schooled in reading or writing or any scientific skill make mention of scientific matters that researchers, using the most powerful, sophisticated, and expensive equipment, took years to discover? The irrefutable answer to this is that Muhammad was inspired by a Divine Force, who revealed The Holy Quran, for the guidance of mankind. Indeed, in this is a clear sign for those who ponder (Al-Quran)

(For more details of this and other scientific miracles of The Holy Quran, log on to: www.islam-guide.com)