[Al-Quran 50:6-8] Have they not looked at the heaven above them - how We structured it and adorned it and how it has no rifts? And the earth - We spread it out and cast therein firmly set mountains and made grow therein [something] of every beautiful kind, Giving insight and a reminder for every servant who turns [to Allah].

Thursday, October 2, 2025

Dispersal & Migration


The Cow (2:164)


إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ وَٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلَّتِى تَجْرِى فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ ٱلنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن مَّآءٍۢ فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍۢ وَتَصْرِيفِ ٱلرِّيَـٰحِ وَٱلسَّحَابِ ٱلْمُسَخَّرِ بَيْنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ ١٦٤

Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allāh has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and earth are signs for a people who use reason.

— Saheeh International

بے شک آسمانوں اور زمین کی بناوٹ میں اور رات اور دن کے آنے جانے میں اور ان کشتیوں میں جو انسانوں کے کام آنے والی چیزیں لے کر سمندر میں چلتی ہیں ، اور اس پانی میں جس کو اللہ نے آسمان سے اتارا پھر اس سے مردہ زمین کو زندگی بخشی اور اس نے زمین میں سب قسم کے جانور پھیلادئے اور ہواؤں کی گردش میں اور بادلوں میں جو آسمان اور زمین کے درمیان حکم کے تابع ہیں ، ان لوگوں کے ليے نشانیاں ہیں جو عقل سے کام لیتے ہیں

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[https://quran.com/2/164]


The dispersal of moving creatures is among the signs for those who use reason. 

Dispersal of moving creatures across the Earth is clearly evident. 

Annual migrations of some creatures is an observed and well-studied phenomenon. 

Dispersal is the moving away of creatures from their place of birth, while migration involves the moving away and then return of the individual to its place of departure, or in some cases, generational return, for example monarch butterflies. 

The Quran also mentions human movements across land and sea: 

The Night Journey (17:70)


۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍۢ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًۭا ٧٠

And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.

— Saheeh International

اور ہم نے آدم کی اولاد کو عزت دی اور ہم نے ان کو خشکی اور تری میں سوار کیا اور ان کو پاکیزہ چیزوں کا رزق دیا اور ہم نے ان کو اپنی بہت سی مخلوقات پر فوقیت دی

— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

[https://quran.com/17/70]


Adam was sent to Earth. His progeny are dispersed across the Earth. The Quran promises the Believers who are reformed of a return to Gardens of Eternity in the Skies. So, it is a generational migration of sorts for all Bani Adam who are allowed the return journey. 

So, studying the narratives in The Quran through the lens of travel, dispersal and migration of humans, the following are some examples: 


In Surah Yusuf, we read about the childhood separation (natal dispersal?) of Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام) from his family. Then, after several years, we read about the travel of the brothers to Egypt (adult dispersal?) in search of food during the years of famine. Eventually, we read about the migration of Jacob (Israel (Yaqub عليه السلام)) and all his sons (Bani Israel) and their entire family to Egypt. 


From Genesis 47 29-30 and 49 29-32, we read about Jacob (Israel (Yaqub عليه السلام))'s request to be buried where his fathers are buried (Canaan). Similarly, in Genesis 50 25, we read about Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)'s request that his bones are carried off to be buried with his fathers, when Allah rescues the Bani Israel from bondage. 

 

In Surah alQasas, and other places in The Quran, we read about Moses (Musa عليه السلام) being thrown in water (natal dispersal), and being taken up by the Pharaoh and his wife; his reunification with his mother; his migration from Egypt to Madyan (refugee, adult dispersal); his serving for eight to ten pilgrimages (annual seasonal migrations); his return to Pharaoh's court as Messenger of Allah (adult dispersal turning into migration, as in returning to the point of departure); we also read about the Exodus (mass migration) of the Bani Israel from Egypt towards Canaan.  


In Surah atTawbah, we read about the migration of Prophet Muhammad  and his companion Abu Bakr Siddiq رضي الله عنه . In Surah alFath, we read about his temporary return to Makkah (place of departure). 


In Surah alIsra, we read about Prophet Muhammad  travel (pilgrimage, migration) to beyond the seven skies to meet Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى‎ , and his return to Earth. In other places in The Quran, we read about Adam et al being sent to Earth (dispersal), and Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) and Enoch (Idris عليه السلام) being raised up (dispersal). We believe that Jesus (Isa عليه السلام) will return, completing his migration. 

In Surah alIsra, we read about Bani Israel being the seed of those carried (dispersed) with Prophet Noah (Nuh عليه السلام) in the Ark. 

In Surah alIsra, we also read about Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى dispersing (exiling) the Bani Israel from the land that they were given; and the end-time promise of collecting the Bani Israel back in the land from where they were dispersed (Jewish migration).  


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Related Posts:

Broadcast, Telecast, Disperse 

Human: Body or Soul? 

Humans & The Human Condition 




External Links:

Video: 

Migration throughout human history | Nobel Week Dialogue 2023 | The Future of Migration 


UN Migration: IOM: Fundamentals of migration 

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

Distance & Time: constant or flexible


The Earthquake (99:1-8)

99:1

إِذَا زُلْزِلَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ زِلْزَالَهَا ١

When the earth will be trembled with its quake,

— T. Usmani

When the earth is shaken with its [final] earthquake

— Saheeh International

99:2

وَأَخْرَجَتِ ٱلْأَرْضُ أَثْقَالَهَا ٢

and the earth will bring forth its burdens,

— T. Usmani

And the earth discharges its burdens[1]

— Saheeh International

[1]- See verse 84:4.

99:3

وَقَالَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ مَا لَهَا ٣

and man will say, “What has happened to it?”

— T. Usmani

And man says,[1] "What is [wrong] with it?" -

— Saheeh International

[1]- In terror and amazement.

99:4

يَوْمَئِذٍۢ تُحَدِّثُ أَخْبَارَهَا ٤

That day it will describe all its happenings,

— T. Usmani

That Day, it will report its news

— Saheeh International

99:5

بِأَنَّ رَبَّكَ أَوْحَىٰ لَهَا ٥

because its Lord will have so commanded it.

— T. Usmani

Because your Lord has inspired [i.e., commanded] it.

— Saheeh International

99:6

يَوْمَئِذٍۢ يَصْدُرُ ٱلنَّاسُ أَشْتَاتًۭا لِّيُرَوْا۟ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ ٦

That day the people will come back (from the place of reckoning) in different groups, so that they may be shown (the fruits of) their deeds.

— T. Usmani

That Day, the people will depart[1] separated [into categories] to be shown [the result of] their deeds.

— Saheeh International

[1]- From the place of Judgement to their final abode. Another interpretation is 'emerge separately' (from the graves) .

99:7

فَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًۭا يَرَهُۥ ٧

So, whoever does any good act (even) to the weight of a particle will see it.

— T. Usmani

So whoever does an atom's weight[1] of good will see it,

— Saheeh International

[1]- Or 'the weight of a small ant.'


99:8

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍۢ شَرًّۭا يَرَهُۥ ٨

And whoever does evil (even) to the weight of a particle will see it.

— T. Usmani

And whoever does an atom's weight of evil will see it.

— Saheeh International

[https://quran.com/99/1-8]


Earth can be made to move and do whatever Allah عزوجل commands it to do. Surah azZalzalah informs us of the earthquake at 'end-time' when the Earth will chronicle its events and give up its burdens. 

Time is also not a constant. It can be speeded up or slowed down. The Prophet Muhammad  was taken to meet Allah عزوجل in one night and returned. He travelled through seven skies, and back:

The Night Journey (17:1)

سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًۭا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَـٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَـٰتِنَآ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ ١

Glorious is He Who made his servant travel by night from Al-Masjid-ul-Harām to Al-Masjid-ul-AqSā whose environs We have blessed, so that We let him see some of Our signs. Surely, He is the All-Hearing, the All- Seeing.

— T. Usmani

Exalted[1] is He who took His Servant [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad ()] by night from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to al-Masjid al-Aqṣā,[2] whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing,[3] the Seeing.[4]

— Saheeh International

[1]Above any imperfection or failure to do as He wills.

[2]In Jerusalem.

[3]Who hears every sound, distinguishes every voice, understands every word, and accepts and responds to supplications.

[4]Who sees and understands all things apparent and unapparent, visible and invisible.

[https://quran.com/17/1]




understanding Hadith

Variability of Distance 

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَدِيٍّ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي الصِّدِّيقِ النَّاجِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ كَانَ فِي بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ رَجُلٌ قَتَلَ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِينَ إِنْسَانًا ثُمَّ خَرَجَ يَسْأَلُ، فَأَتَى رَاهِبًا فَسَأَلَهُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ هَلْ مِنْ تَوْبَةٍ قَالَ لاَ‏.‏ فَقَتَلَهُ، فَجَعَلَ يَسْأَلُ، فَقَالَ لَهُ رَجُلٌ ائْتِ قَرْيَةَ كَذَا وَكَذَا‏.‏ فَأَدْرَكَهُ الْمَوْتُ فَنَاءَ بِصَدْرِهِ نَحْوَهَا، فَاخْتَصَمَتْ فِيهِ مَلاَئِكَةُ الرَّحْمَةِ وَمَلاَئِكَةُ الْعَذَابِ، فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَنْ تَقَرَّبِي‏.‏ وَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَنْ تَبَاعَدِي‏.‏ وَقَالَ قِيسُوا مَا بَيْنَهُمَا‏.‏ فَوُجِدَ إِلَى هَذِهِ أَقْرَبُ بِشِبْرٍ، فَغُفِرَ لَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: The Prophet () said, "Amongst the men of Bani Israel there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine persons. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven."

Sahih al-Bukhari 3470

[https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3470]

According to this Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad  , distance is not a constant. Allah عزوجل can  order the Earth to expand or contract, and it obeys accordingly.  


Variability of Time 

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ لاَ تَقُومُ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى يُقْبَضَ الْعِلْمُ، وَتَكْثُرَ الزَّلاَزِلُ، وَيَتَقَارَبَ الزَّمَانُ، وَتَظْهَرَ الْفِتَنُ، وَيَكْثُرَ الْهَرْجُ ـ وَهْوَ الْقَتْلُ الْقَتْلُ ـ حَتَّى يَكْثُرَ فِيكُمُ الْمَالُ فَيَفِيضُ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet () said, "The Hour (Last Day) will not be established until (religious) knowledge will be taken away (by the death of religious learned men), earthquakes will be very frequent, time will pass quickly, afflictions will appear, murders will increase and money will overflow amongst you." (See Hadith No. 85 Vol 1).

Sahih al-Bukhari 1036

[https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1036]

A sign of end times is time passing quickly. It seems to have accelerated. 



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Also read: 

Space: Before and Beyond 



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