6,633
edits
Quran and a Universe from Smoke: Difference between revisions
Quran and a Universe from Smoke (view source)
Revision as of 01:11, 31 January 2021
, 31 January 2021no edit summary
| [checked revision] | [checked revision] |
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
==Introduction== | ==Introduction== | ||
Prominent [[apologists]] such as [[Harun Yahya]] and I. A. Ibrahim have claimed that the Qur'an contains an accurate account of the formation of stars and early phases of the Universe. This claim has been widely disseminated and repeated on numerous websites without any critical examination. The basis of the claim is a verse found in | Prominent [[apologists]] such as [[Harun Yahya]] and I. A. Ibrahim have claimed that the Qur'an contains an accurate account of the formation of stars and early phases of the Universe. This claim has been widely disseminated and repeated on numerous websites without any critical examination. The basis of the claim is a verse found in Surah Fussilat (Signs Spelled Out), the 41<sup>st</sup> [[Surah]] of the Qur'an which says that the "[[heaven]]s" were once smoke. Apologists argue that this information about the early universe could not have been known in 7<sup>th</sup> century Arabia and has only come to light in the 20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> centuries through modern scientific investigation. | ||
===Modern Cosmology=== | ===Modern Cosmology=== | ||
Before evaluating the claim of a miracle, it is important to have an accurate understanding of modern cosmology. In the 20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> century, theoretical physicists and cosmologists have given detailed models for the formation of the early universe, stars, galaxies, and planets. These models, often referred to as | Before evaluating the claim of a miracle, it is important to have an accurate understanding of modern cosmology. In the 20<sup>th</sup> and 21<sup>st</sup> century, theoretical physicists and cosmologists have given detailed models for the formation of the early universe, stars, galaxies, and planets. These models, often referred to as the Big Bang theory and the Nebular hypothesis, are widely supported by the scientific community.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.universetoday.com/38118/how-was-the-solar-system-formed/ |title=How Was the Solar System Formed |publisher=Universe Today |author=Abby Cessna|date= August 23, 2009|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.universetoday.com%2F38118%2Fhow-was-the-solar-system-formed%2F+&date=2013-12-20|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~yukimoon/BigBang/BigBang.htm |title=Big Bang: How Did the Universe Begin? |publisher=California Institute of Technology |author=Yuki D. Takahashi |date= Spring 2000|archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ugcs.caltech.edu%2F%7Eyukimoon%2FBigBang%2FBigBang.htm+&date=2013-12-20|deadurl=no}}</ref> | ||
In the initial expansion of the early Universe, all that existed was a dense, hot, mass of energy. As the Universe rapidly increased in size, light chemicals like hydrogen and helium began to form. For the first 380,000 years, the intense heat made it too hot for light to shine. Atoms would bump into each with enough force to break up into a dense, opaque plasma of protons, neutrons and electrons; this dense mass prevented any photons from escaping. After this phase, the universe expanded and cooled enough for electrons to combine with protons to form the first real elements. At this point, photons could move freely, and the first light could be seen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/13320-big-bang-universe-10-steps-explainer.html |title=The Universe: Big Bang to Now in 10 Easy Steps |publisher=SPACE.com |author=Denise Chow|date= October 18, 2011|archiveurl= http://archive.is/gmEOH|deadurl=no}}</ref> | In the initial expansion of the early Universe, all that existed was a dense, hot, mass of energy. As the Universe rapidly increased in size, light chemicals like hydrogen and helium began to form. For the first 380,000 years, the intense heat made it too hot for light to shine. Atoms would bump into each with enough force to break up into a dense, opaque plasma of protons, neutrons and electrons; this dense mass prevented any photons from escaping. After this phase, the universe expanded and cooled enough for electrons to combine with protons to form the first real elements. At this point, photons could move freely, and the first light could be seen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/13320-big-bang-universe-10-steps-explainer.html |title=The Universe: Big Bang to Now in 10 Easy Steps |publisher=SPACE.com |author=Denise Chow|date= October 18, 2011|archiveurl= http://archive.is/gmEOH|deadurl=no}}</ref> | ||