Signs & Science: Pairs of Glaciers

Creation in Pairs

Abstract

Expressing wonder at pairs of glaciers in parallel rows, their ability to grow, and the local wisdom of growing artificial glaciers by pairing male and female glaciers.

Full Text

The Bible mentions Living Water in Jeremiah 2:13 and 17:13, Zechariah 14:8 and John 4:10.

The Qur’an claims that God created everything on Earth in pairs:

سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Glory be (to) the One Who created (in) pairs all of what grows the earth and of themselves, and of what not they know.

[Al-Quran 36:36 , Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

Everything in Pairs

The ayahs preceding Q36:36 present examples from what we classify as living things:

[Al-Quran 36:33-35, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]And a Sign for them (is) the earth dead. We give it life and We bring forth from it grain, and from it they eat. And We placed therein gardens of date-palms and grapevines, and We caused to gush in it of the springs, That they may eat of its fruit. And not made it their hands. So will not they be grateful?

Water is essential for all life forms. After drawing attention to the central role of water to life forms, and stressing the need for gratitude, Q36:36 goes on to state:

[Al-Quran 36:36 , Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] Glory be (to) the One Who created (in) pairs all of what grows the earth and of themselves, and of what not they know.

The ayahs following Q36:36 present examples of pairs of what we classify as non-living:

[Al-Quran 36:37-40, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] And a Sign for them (is) the night. We withdraw from it the day. Then behold! They (are) those in darkness. And the sun runs to a term appointed for it. That (is the) Decree (of) the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing. And the moon - We have ordained for it phases until, it returns like the date stalk, the old. Not the sun is permitted for it - that it overtakes the moon, and not the night (can) outstrip the day, but all in an orbit they are floating.

Pairs of Glaciers

[Al-Quran 35:27, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] Do not you see that Allah sends down from the sky water, then We bring forth therewith fruits (of) various [their] colors? And in the mountains (are) tracts, white and red (of) various [their] colors, and intensely black (some photos at the bottom).

I used to think that Q35:27 referred only to the shades of minerals and stones in the mountains. In the photo below, parallel rows of two types of glaciers can be seen in the foreground: pure white glaciers and brownish mud-covered glaciers. Both co-exist side by side.

Near the North Face of Nanga Parbat, Himalayas

Photo courtesy: Usman Yacoob

Dated: August 18-20, 2016

وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ شَامِخَاتٍ وَأَسْقَيْنَاكُم مَّاءً فُرَاتًا

And We made therein firmly set mountains lofty, and We gave you to drink water - sweet?
[Al-Quran 77:27, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

Male & Female Glaciers

وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً مُّبَارَكًا فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ جَنَّاتٍ وَحَبَّ الْحَصِيدِ
And We have sent down from the sky water blessed, then thereby gardens and grain (for) the harvest,
[Al-Quran 50:9, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)]

The triliteral root bā rā kāf (ب ر ك) occurs 32 times in the Quran, and is generally translated as blessed or blessings. As discussed in Water Disappearing Underground:

Interestingly, Surah Al-Mulk (Sovereignity, chapter 67) which begins with the words: 'Tabaraka allathee' meaning 'He who causes to grow meaningfully' i.e. from the present to a better future, also poses the same question at the very end:

قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ أَصْبَحَ مَاؤُكُمْ غَوْرًا فَمَن يَأْتِيكُم بِمَاءٍ مَّعِينٍ

[Pickthall 67:30] Say: Have ye thought: If (all) your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water?

The local people say that the pure white glaciers (centre row in above image) are female, while the mud/debris covered brownish glaciers are male.

Growing Artificial Glaciers

Many areas of the HinduKush, Karakoram and Himalayas do not have flowing water several months of the year, such as in Gilgit-Baltistan and Ladakh. This has led to the practice of growing artificial glaciers.

Interestingly, where there is only one type of glacier, the glacier does not grow. To grow a glacier, both kinds of glaciers are needed in equal amounts.

Though much more research is needed before scientists may even be willing to consider assigning a gender to ice or water, the following links present an interesting insight into what the indigenous people ‘know’ since centuries:

Glacier Growing - A Local Response to Water Scarcity in Baltistan and Gilgit, Pakistan by Ingvar Nørstegård Tveiten

Chewang Norphel (built twelve artificial glaciers in Ladakh)

Growing Glaciers

Water

Water, the basis of all life forms, is a wondrous substance, and the world is just beginning to discover the amazing properties of water.

[Al-Quran 21:30, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] Do not see those who disbelieved that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We parted them and We made from [the] water every living thing? Then will not they believe?

[Al-Quran 18:45, Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] And present to them the example (of) the life (of) the world, like water which We send down from the sky, then mingles with it (the) vegetation (of) the earth then becomes dry stalks, it (is) scattered (by) the winds. And Allah over every thing (is) All Able.

I think that similar to the way we use electricity to code, record and transfer, water serves the same purpose in creation. There is emerging research on the properties of water, such as memory. This field of study is termed Digital Biology. I think our understanding will be radically changed once we begin to understand water and what all can be done with water.

Electricity and related gadgets have already been assigned gender roles in Electrical and Mechanical trades.

-------------------------

Photos
Compare the photos of the rocks, the glaciers and the mountain range - how similar the diversity of colours is across all photos!

Photos of a Rock