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Abstract
Qur’an chapter 56 links the Inevitable Event to the ‘setting’ of the stars [end stage of stellar evolution?] with the statement that, if we understood, we would realise it is a great oath! Qur’an verses 17:49-51 state that even if humans became stones or iron, or anything harder that humans can imagine, yet they will be resurrected.
Current theory of Stellar Evolution postulates that the end stage of a massive star’s life is when silicon is burnt into iron. Beyond this, according to the theory, no further burning is possible.
Full Text
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَّوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيمٌ
[Al-Qur’an 56:75-76, translator: Sahih International] Then I swear by the setting of the stars, And indeed, it is an oath - if you could know - [most] great.
Chapter 56 of the Quran informs us of the Inevitable Event: resurrection and segregation of humans into three groups, and how each group will be eternally recompensed for their performance in the temporal life on Earth. Verses 60-62 go on to state that it will be an alternate, unknown form of creation, drawing our attention to the forms of creation we already know on Earth. In the latter part of the chapter, an oath is taken of the ‘setting’ of the stars [end stage of stellar evolution?] with the statement that, if we understood, we would realise it is a great oath! Qur’an verses 17:49-51 state that even if humans became stones or iron, or anything harder that humans can imagine, yet they will be resurrected.
Root (و ق ع) and its Usage in the Quran
An Arabic word may have a range of meanings depending on context. Does the ‘setting’ of the stars in 56:75 refer to the end stage of stellar evolution? Quran 53:1 takes an oath by the star when it ’setteth’ and Quran 77:8 takes the oath by when the stars are ‘put out’
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُومِ
[Al-Qur’an 56:75, translator: Sahih International] Then I swear by the setting of the stars,
12 times as the form I verb waqaʿa (وَقَعَ)
used as: incumbent/has fallen/so was established/fell/(it had) occurred/then fall down/it falls/(is) fulfilled/And (will be) fulfilled/then fall down/occurs/will occur
once as the form IV verb yūqiʿa (يُوقِعَ)
used as: cause
once as the noun mawāqiʿ (مَوَٰقِع)
used as: by the setting
once as the noun waqʿat (وَقْعَت)
used as: at its occurrence
six times as the active participle wāqiʿ (وَاقِع)
used as: fall/befall/surely to occur/(will) surely occur/will surely occur/bound to happen
twice as the active participle wāqiʿat (وَاقِعَة):
used as: the Event/the Occurrence
once as the form III active participle muwāqiʿū (مُّوَاقِعُو):
used as: are to fall in it
End Products of Stellar Evolution
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 17:49-51, Translator: Pickthall] And they say: When we are bones and fragments, shall we forsooth, be raised up as a new creation? Say: Be ye stones or iron Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;
Theory of Stellar Evolution informs us that the end stage of a massive star’s life is when silicon is burnt into iron. Beyond this, according to the theory, no further burning is possible.
‘Silicon (Si), a nonmetallic chemical element in the carbon family (Group 14 [IVa] of the periodic table). Silicon makes up 27.7 percent of Earth’s crust; it is the second most abundant element in the crust, being surpassed only by oxygen. The name silicon derives from the Latin silex or silicis, meaning “flint” or “hard stone.” … ’
‘Stars greater than 25 solar masses undergo a more violent end to their lives. Carbon core burning lasts for 600 years for a star of this size. Neon burning for 1 year, oxygen burning about 6 months (i.e. very fast on astronomical timescales). At 3 billion degrees, the core can fuse silicon nuclei into iron and the entire core supply is used up in one day.’
Supernova kaleidoscope image by Hubble Space Telescope: http://www.nature.com/news/supernova-kaleidoscope-seen-for-first-time-1.17062?WT.mc_id=TWT_NatureNews
Some Hereafter Concepts in the Qur’an:
Another Creation
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 29:20, Translator: Shakir] Say: Travel in the earth and see how He makes the first creation, then Allah creates the latter creation; surely Allah has power over all things.
Destruction & Re-creation of the Heaven [singular]:
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 21:104, Translator: Sahih International] The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it.
Destruction & Re-creation of the Heavens [plural]:
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 39:67, Translator: Sahih International] They have not appraised Allah with true appraisal, while the earth entirely will be [within] His grip on the Day of Resurrection, and the heavens will be folded in His right hand. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 14:48, Translator: Sahih International] [It will be] on the Day the earth will be replaced by another earth, and the heavens [as well], and all creatures will come out before Allah , the One, the Prevailing.
Edge of the Heaven
[Al-Qur’an 19:68-72, translator: Sahih International] So by your Lord, We will surely gather them and the devils; then We will bring them to be present around Hell upon their knees. Then We will surely extract from every sect those of them who were worst against the Most Merciful in insolence. Then, surely it is We who are most knowing of those most worthy of burning therein. And there is none of you except he will come to it. This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. Then We will save those who feared Allah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.
[Al-Qur’an 15:41-44, translator: Sahih International] [Allah] said, "This is a path [of return] to Me [that is] straight. Indeed, My servants - no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. And indeed, Hell is the promised place for them all. It has seven gates; for every gate is of them a portion designated.”
Wormhole [Safe Passage]
[Al-Qur’an 57:12-13, translator: Sahih International] On the Day you see the believing men and believing women, their light proceeding before them and on their right, [it will be said], "Your good tidings today are [of] gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein you will abide eternally." That is what is the great attainment. On the [same] Day the hypocrite men and hypocrite women will say to those who believed, "Wait for us that we may acquire some of your light." It will be said, "Go back behind you and seek light." And a wall will be placed between them with a door, its interior containing mercy, but on the outside of it is torment.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 15:14, Translator: Sahih International] And [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend,
[Al-Qur’an 70:3 Translator: Shakir] From Allah, the Lord of the ways of Ascent. To Him ascend the angels and the Spirit in a day the measure of which is fifty thousand years.
Size of the Garden
The reward will vary in accordance with the quality of faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in 57:21 and 3:133, and as stated in 8:4 below. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 57:21, Translator: Shakir] Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers; that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 3:133, Translator: Shakir] And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil)
[Al-Qur’an Chapter 8:4, Translator: Shakir] These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades and forgiveness and an honorable sustenance.
References
Periodic Table
Stellar Evolution
