[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].

Showing posts with label sea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sea. Show all posts

Thursday, September 5, 2024

The Colour of Water

 ...


The Beginning

1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

The First Day: Light

3And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. 5And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

The Second Day: Firmament

6And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. 8And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

The Third Day: Dry Ground

9And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. 10And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. ...

[The Bible, Genesis 1 1-10, Translation: KJV]

According to The Torah, it is Allah who separated the waters, such that the water above forms the sky, and the water below form the seas. The waters of the sky are above a firmament, a barrier that prevents them from falling upon the Earth. 

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالْفُلْكَ تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَاءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Hast thou not considered that God caused to be subservient to you what is in and on the earth? And the boats run through the sea by His command. And He holds back the heaven so that it not fall on the earth, but by His permission. Truly, to humanity God is Gentle, Compassionate.

[Al-Quran 22:65, Translator: Dr. Laleh Bakhtiar] 

According to The Quran, it is Allah who is holding up the sky, so that it doesn't fall upon the Earth. 

There is a space between Earth and Sky, the lowest of which is our atmosphere containing gases and clouds, then the Sun, Moon and planets and stars, and then beyond that galaxies, etc. till the firmament, which the scriptures inform us are impassable for humans, without permission (Q55:33).  

The colour of the sky during the day appears blue, and the colour of the sea is also blue. 

Scientists explain that the sky appears blue due to polarisation of light, while the sea appears blue because water is actually a faint blue, which appears colourless when in small quantities, but the colour darkens when seen in larger, deeper quantities. 

The deep blue sea at the Marshall Islands

Attribution: By Christopher Michel - the deep blue sea, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=24811686

...

Glacial rock flour makes New Zealand's Lake Pukaki a lighter turquoise than its neighbors.

Attribution: By Lake_Pukaki_-_STS088-721-15.JPG: Johnson Space Centerderivative work: Avenue (talk) - Lake_Pukaki_-_STS088-721-15.JPG, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9458252



Clouds appear white, and icebergs appear white, but the strongly compressed icebergs are a shade of blue. 

Iceberg on Jökulsárlón, Iceland

Attribution: By Andreas Tille - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=2466265

... 

Icebergs in Disko Bay in Baffin Bay, off the coast of the city of Ilulissat, Greenland

Attribution:By Buiobuione - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113977830

... 

During twilight Blue Hour, the sky and water are shades of blue: 


Praia da Ursa, Cabo da Roca, Portugal. A wide-angle view of the seascape during the blue hour

Attribution: By Rnbc, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3621257

...

Zug, Switzerland during the blue hour

Attribution: By Roy Egloff - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=113399927


So, until the darkness of the night doesn't completely veil the light of the sun, the sky and the sea appear in shades of blue. 



Links to posts about Water in this bloghttps://signsandscience.blogspot.com/p/water.html

External Links

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_ice_(glacial) 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color_of_water 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue 

From Art to Science: The Anatomy of Glaciers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mgFnMx4_M 

For more spectacular photos: https://www.rogerfishman.com 

 


Last updated on: September 13, 2024








 




Saturday, April 24, 2021

Q17 60-70 || Q12

Adam & Joseph 

DRAFT

Exploring the narrative about Adam in Surah Bani Israel (Q17:60-70) in the light of Surah Yusuf 

Surah al-Isra is also known as Surah Bani Israel. It begins with Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ night journey to meet Allah, what is known as the Mairaj. Then, we read about Moses being given the Book, and the command to to not to take anyone else as a Wakil (Trustee) except Allah. Then, it mentions their ancestor who was carried along with Noah. It then reminds them of their fate being written in The Book, and the future unfolding exactly as written. Then, Q17:13-14 informs us that every person's fate is tied to their neck, and that book will be readable by us on The Day of Judgement. 


The Vision

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لَكَ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ أَحَاطَ بِالنَّاسِ ۚ وَمَا جَعَلْنَا الرُّؤْيَا الَّتِي أَرَيْنَاكَ إِلَّا فِتْنَةً لِّلنَّاسِ وَالشَّجَرَةَ الْمَلْعُونَةَ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ۚ وَنُخَوِّفُهُمْ فَمَا يَزِيدُهُمْ إِلَّا طُغْيَانًا كَبِيرًا

 And when We said to you, "Indeed, your Lord has encompassed the mankind." And not We made the vision which We showed you except (as) a trial for mankind, and the tree the accursed in the Quran. And We threaten them but not it increases them except (in) transgression great.
[Al-Quran 17:60]

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِينَ

قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

When said Yusuf to his father, "O my father! Indeed, I I saw one ten (i.e eleven) star(s) planets and the sun and the moon; I saw them to me prostrating."
He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.
[Al-Quran 12:4-5; translation edited in italics]

Surah al-Isra and Surah Yusuf both mention visions and people's reaction to it. Surah Yusuf shows us that outcomes cannot be changed, and Allah will prevail and make His Will happen. Our Lord has encompassed all humans!  

Q17:60 mentions the vision showed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, and it also mentions the accursed tree in the same ayah. It goes on to state that this is meant to frighten people. However, instead of taking heed, people react with great transgression instead. 

Among the trees mentioned in The Quran, two profoundly harmful trees are: 

  1. the Forbidden Tree in The Garden that Adam was warned to not to even go near 
  2. the Tree of Zaqqum that will be a trial for the criminals upon resurrection 

Most religions are obsessed with a sacred tree. The Tree of Life is a popular motif that appears in Ancient Egyptian mytheme as well, and is linked to eternal life. It seems that again and over again Satan uses the tree to tempt humans to disobey and err.    

In Q12:4 Joseph mentions his vision to his father. In the next ayah we read that his father warns him to not to share his vision with his brothers lest they plot and plan against him. They would do this because of Shaitaan. Alas, they did plot and plan against Joseph. As the story unfolds, despite all the setbacks suffered by Joseph, the dream is eventually realised, and Joseph honoured above his siblings. The vision literally came true! 

Allah taught Joseph the interpretation of visions. In Surah Yusuf, he accurately interprets the dream of the prison inmates, as well as that of the King of Egypt. 



Superiority Complex, Arrogance & Jealousy  

وَإِذْ قُلْنَا لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ اسْجُدُوا لِآدَمَ فَسَجَدُوا إِلَّا إِبْلِيسَ قَالَ أَأَسْجُدُ لِمَنْ خَلَقْتَ طِينًا

And when We said to the Angels, "Prostrate to Adam." So they prostrated except Iblis. He said, "Shall I prostrate to (one) whom You created (from) clay?"
[Al-Quran 17:61]


إِذْ قَالُوا لَيُوسُفُ وَأَخُوهُ أَحَبُّ إِلَىٰ أَبِينَا مِنَّا وَنَحْنُ عُصْبَةٌ إِنَّ أَبَانَا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِينٍ

 When they said, "Surely Yusuf and his brother (are) more beloved to our father than we, while we (are) a group. Indeed, our father (is) surely in an error clear.
[Al-Quran 12:8]


Iblis considered himself a superior form of creation, because of the material used to create him. More on this in Q15 23-50 || Q12 under the sub-titles: 

  • Endotherms, The Genus Homo 
  • Ectotherms, class Reptilia, order Squamata, suborder Serpentes 
  • Biological Adam of Homo Sapiens Sapiens

The elder brothers of Joseph considered themselves a superior group. They were jealous of the greater love that their father had for Joseph and his younger brother. Satan was able to exploit the situation. 



Honoured Above Me

قَالَ أَرَأَيْتَكَ هَـٰذَا الَّذِي كَرَّمْتَ عَلَيَّ لَئِنْ أَخَّرْتَنِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ لَأَحْتَنِكَنَّ ذُرِّيَّتَهُ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

He said, "Do You see this whom You have honored, above me? If You give me respite till (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, I will surely destroy his offspring except a few."
[Al-Quran 17:62]


قَالَ يَا بُنَيَّ لَا تَقْصُصْ رُؤْيَاكَ عَلَىٰ إِخْوَتِكَ فَيَكِيدُوا لَكَ كَيْدًا ۖ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لِلْإِنسَانِ عَدُوٌّ مُّبِينٌ

He said, "O my son! (Do) not relate your vision to your brothers lest they plan against you a plot. Indeed, the Shaitaan (is) to man an enemy open.

...

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ

They said, "By Allah, certainly has preferred you Allah over us and indeed, we have been sinners."
[Al-Quran 12:5, ..., 91]

Iblis, the Satan, refused to accept Allah's command of honouring Adam. He has sworn to destroy Adam's progeny. He tried that with Jacob's family as well. Joseph's elder brothers did plot against him. Yet, when they eventually saw that Allah's plans for Joseph remained in place in spite of their plotting and planning against it, they realised their mistake, admitted it, and sought forgiveness. 

However, Iblis is still the sworn enemy of the progeny of Adam. He continues in his arrogance to mislead humans, and thereby generating more and more evidence against himself, and those who follow him. 



The Recompense

قَالَ اذْهَبْ فَمَن تَبِعَكَ مِنْهُمْ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ جَزَاؤُكُمْ جَزَاءً مَّوْفُورًا

He said, "Go, and whoever follows you among them then indeed, Hell (is) your recompense - a recompense ample.
[Al-Quran 17:63]


قَالَ لَا يَأْتِيكُمَا طَعَامٌ تُرْزَقَانِهِ إِلَّا نَبَّأْتُكُمَا بِتَأْوِيلِهِ قَبْلَ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمَا ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكُمَا مِمَّا عَلَّمَنِي رَبِّي ۚ إِنِّي تَرَكْتُ مِلَّةَ قَوْمٍ لَّا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَهُم بِالْآخِرَةِ هُمْ كَافِرُونَ

 He said, "Not (will) come to both of you food you are provided with but I will inform both of you of its interpretation, before [that] [it] comes to both of you. That (is) of what has taught me my Lord. Indeed, I [I] abandon (the) religion (of) a people, not they believe in Allah, and they in the Hereafter [they] (are) disbelievers.

...

أَفَأَمِنُوا أَن تَأْتِيَهُمْ غَاشِيَةٌ مِّنْ عَذَابِ اللَّهِ أَوْ تَأْتِيَهُمُ السَّاعَةُ بَغْتَةً وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ

Do they then feel secure (against) that comes to them an overwhelming [of] punishment (of) Allah, or comes to them the Hour suddenly while they (do) not perceive?
[Al-Quran 12:37, ..., 107]

Allah has promised recompense on the Day of Judgement. Free-will has been granted to each one to choose who they believe, and who they want to follow. Their is no compulsion in religion.  

Joseph spent his initial years with his father, the Prophet Jacob, and thus was well-acquainted with the monotheistic Abrahamic faith. When he came to Egypt as a slave, he was exposed to the polytheistic religion of the ancient Egyptians. 

Hell is the ultimate, eventual prison of the die-hard criminals, from which there will be no escape or release ever. In this-worldly prison, where Joseph was imprisoned on false charges, as per his own prayer to Allah to save him from evil and immorality, it seems the perfect setting to openly declare his belief in the true religion of Allah, and absolve himself of all the falsehood of Egyptian mythology. 

Interestingly, the dream (Q12:36) that Joseph interprets (Q12:41) comes true (Genesis 40:20-22) on Pharaoh's birthday, the only birthday celebration mentioned in the Bible. 

Related Post: Birthday Celebrations 



The Right Religion vs Satan's Religions 

وَاسْتَفْزِزْ مَنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ مِنْهُم بِصَوْتِكَ وَأَجْلِبْ عَلَيْهِم بِخَيْلِكَ وَرَجِلِكَ وَشَارِكْهُمْ فِي الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَوْلَادِ وَعِدْهُمْ ۚ وَمَا يَعِدُهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ إِلَّا غُرُورًا

And incite whoever you can among them with your voice, and assault [on] them with your cavalry and infantry and be a partner in the wealth and the children, and promise them." And not promises them the Shaitaan except delusion.
[Al-Quran 17:64]


مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Not you worship from besides Him but names which you have named, you and your forefathers, not (has) sent down Allah for it any authority. Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone. That (is) the religion the right, but most [the] men people (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:40; translation edited in italics]

Iblis has been given permission to try and delude whoever he can. People are responsible for the choices they make. He whispers suggestions, he uses people and their resources, and tries to corrupt creation. 

Related Posts: Jinn-Human Hybrids || The Evil of the الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ || World History & Future Implications 



Allah's Chosen Slaves 

إِنَّ عِبَادِي لَيْسَ لَكَ عَلَيْهِمْ سُلْطَانٌ ۚ وَكَفَىٰ بِرَبِّكَ وَكِيلًا

"Indeed, My slaves not for you over them any authority. And sufficient (is) your Lord (as) a Guardian."
[Al-Quran 17:65]


وَلَقَدْ هَمَّتْ بِهِ ۖ وَهَمَّ بِهَا لَوْلَا أَن رَّأَىٰ بُرْهَانَ رَبِّهِ ۚ كَذَ‌ٰلِكَ لِنَصْرِفَ عَنْهُ السُّوءَ وَالْفَحْشَاءَ ۚ إِنَّهُ مِنْ عِبَادِنَا الْمُخْلَصِينَ

 And certainly she did desire him, and he would have desired her, if not that he saw the proof (of) his Lord. Thus, that We might avert from him the evil and the immorality. Indeed, he (was) of Our slaves the chosen sincere.

...

قَالَ رَبِّ السِّجْنُ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِمَّا يَدْعُونَنِي إِلَيْهِ ۖ وَإِلَّا تَصْرِفْ عَنِّي كَيْدَهُنَّ أَصْبُ إِلَيْهِنَّ وَأَكُن مِّنَ الْجَاهِلِينَ

فَاسْتَجَابَ لَهُ رَبُّهُ فَصَرَفَ عَنْهُ كَيْدَهُنَّ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

He said, "My Lord, the prison (is) dearer to me than what they invite me to it. And unless You turn away from me their plot I might incline towards them and [I] be of the ignorant."
So responded to him his Lord, and turned away from him their plot. Indeed, [He] He (is) All-Hearer, All-Knower.

...

وَقَالَ لِفِتْيَانِهِ اجْعَلُوا بِضَاعَتَهُمْ فِي رِحَالِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهَا إِذَا انقَلَبُوا إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِمْ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ

And he said to his servants, "Put their merchandise in their saddlebags so that they may recognize it when they go back to their people so that they may return."
[Al-Quran 12:24, ..., 33-34, ..., 62]

The chosen slaves of Allah, those who are sincere in their worship, Allah averts from them evil and immorality. Iblis has no power over the chosen slaves of Allah.  

Those in whose hearts Allah knows good, he grants them opportunities to recognise, return and repent. Joseph hid his brothers' merchandise in their bags, so that they might recognise and return for more food. As the story unfolded, they returned, ..., and eventually they did recognise Allah's Perfect Planning, sought forgiveness, and submitted to His Will. Thus, Allah Perfected His Favour upon Jacob and his family.  



Travel 

رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِي يُزْجِي لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِي الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا

Your Lord (is) the One Who drives for you the ship in the sea, that you may seek of His Bounty. Indeed, He is to you Ever Merciful.
[Al-Quran 17:66]


مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِ إِلَّا أَسْمَاءً سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُم مَّا أَنزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَانٍ ۚ إِنِ الْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَ‌ٰلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

Not you worship from besides Him but names which you have named, you and your forefathers, not (has) sent down Allah for it any authority. Not (is) the command but for Allah. He has commanded that not you worship but Him Alone. That (is) the religion the right, but most [the] men (do) not know.
[Al-Quran 12:40]

Allah sent Adam to this Earth. Allah took Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the night journey to meet Allah, what is known as the Mairaj. He ascended and then he descended. On the day the sy is rent asunder (Q55:37), the Believers hope to ascend to the Gardens of Eternity. While all these are matters of faith, we preview Allah's special favours upon all humans in their journeys across the seas.  

The Standing Laws of Recompense, the Right Religion,  الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ, has been defined in The Quran: 




Rescue 

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ ۖ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ ۚ وَكَانَ الْإِنسَانُ كَفُورًا

And when touches you the hardship in the sea, lost (are) who you call except Him Alone. But when He delivers you to the land you turn away. And is man ungrateful.
[Al-Quran 17:67]


وَجَاءَتْ سَيَّارَةٌ فَأَرْسَلُوا وَارِدَهُمْ فَأَدْلَىٰ دَلْوَهُ ۖ قَالَ يَا بُشْرَىٰ هَـٰذَا غُلَامٌ ۚ وَأَسَرُّوهُ بِضَاعَةً ۚ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِمَا يَعْمَلُونَ

وَشَرَوْهُ بِثَمَنٍ بَخْسٍ دَرَاهِمَ مَعْدُودَةٍ وَكَانُوا فِيهِ مِنَ الزَّاهِدِينَ

وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And there came a caravan and they sent their water drawer then he let down his bucket. He said, "O good news! This (is) a boy." And they hid him (as) a merchandise. And Allah (is) All-Knower of what they do.
And they sold him for a price very low, dirhams few, and they were about him of those keen to give up.
And said the one who bought him of Egypt to his wife, "Make comfortable his stay. Perhaps that (he) will benefit us or we will take him (as) a son." And thus We established Yusuf in the land that We might teach him from (the) interpretation of the events. And Allah (is) Predominant over His affairs, but most (of) the people (do) not know.

[Al-Quran 12:19-21]

During travel, when people get into difficult situations, it is Allah who rescues them and delivers them to a place of safety. Joseph was thrown in a dry well by his brothers, but Allah was in full-control of the situation, and he was taken out of that trouble and housed in a comfortable home. 

When people travel through the seas, they encounter mighty storms. Allah rescues them from those situations, and brings them to the safety of land. However, most people are ungrateful in spite of Allah's Mercy.   



The Constant Need for Allah's Mercy

أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ وَكِيلًا

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفًا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ ۙ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُوا لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا

Do you then feel secure that (not) He will cause to swallow you, side (of) the land or send against you a storm of stones? Then not you will find for you a guardian?
Or do you feel secure that (not) He will send you back into it time another, and send upon you a hurricane of the wind, and drown you because you disbelieved? Then not you will find for you against Us therein an avenger?
[Al-Quran 17:68-69]


بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ الْمُبِينِ

Alif Laam Ra. These (are the) Verses (of) the Book [the] clear.

...

 ۞ وَمَا أُبَرِّئُ نَفْسِي ۚ إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا مَا رَحِمَ رَبِّي ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّي غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ

"And not I absolve myself. Indeed, the soul (is) a certain enjoiner of evil, unless [that] bestows Mercy my Lord. Indeed, my Lord (is) Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

...

قَالَ هَلْ آمَنُكُمْ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا كَمَا أَمِنتُكُمْ عَلَىٰ أَخِيهِ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ فَاللَّهُ خَيْرٌ حَافِظًا ۖ وَهُوَ أَرْحَمُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

He said, "Should I entrust you with him except as I entrusted you with his brother from before? But Allah (is) the best Guardian and He (is the) Most Merciful (of) the merciful."
[Al-Quran 12:1, ..., 53, ..., 64]

We are in constant danger, from within and without. We are in constant need of Allah's Protection and Mercy, everywhere, all the time. 



Honoured with Preference 

 وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَاهُم مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا

And certainly, We have honored (the) children (of) Adam and We carried them on the land and the sea, and We have provided them of the good things and We preferred them over many of those whom We have created (with) preference.
[Al-Quran 17:70]


وَقَالَ الَّذِي اشْتَرَاهُ مِن مِّصْرَ لِامْرَأَتِهِ أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ عَسَىٰ أَن يَنفَعَنَا أَوْ نَتَّخِذَهُ وَلَدًا ۚ وَكَذَ‌ٰلِكَ مَكَّنَّا لِيُوسُفَ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَلِنُعَلِّمَهُ مِن تَأْوِيلِ الْأَحَادِيثِ ۚ وَاللَّهُ غَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ

And said the one who bought him of Egypt to his wife, "Make comfortable his stay. Perhaps that (he) will benefit us or we will take him (as) a son." And thus We established Yusuf in the land that We might teach him from (the) interpretation of the events. And Allah (is) Predominant over His affairs, but most (of) the people (do) not know.

...

قَالَ هَلْ عَلِمْتُم مَّا فَعَلْتُم بِيُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ إِذْ أَنتُمْ جَاهِلُونَ

قَالُوا أَإِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَا أَخِي ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا ۖ إِنَّهُ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُحْسِنِينَ

قَالُوا تَاللَّهِ لَقَدْ آثَرَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْنَا وَإِن كُنَّا لَخَاطِئِينَ

He said, "Do you know what you did with Yusuf and his brother, when you were ignorant?"
They said, "Are you indeed, surely you, Yusuf?" He said, "I am Yusuf and this (is) my brother. Indeed, has been gracious Allah to us. Indeed, he who fears Allah and (is) patient, then indeed, Allah (does) not let go waste (the) reward (of) the good-doers."
They said, "By Allah, certainly has preferred you Allah over us and indeed, we have been sinners."
[Al-Quran 12:21, ..., 89-91]

The progeny of Adam is the dominant specie on this planet. The words كَرَّمْنَا and فَضَّلْنَا in Q17:70 need pondering upon.  

In the context of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ – Ascension & Return that this surah begins with, Q17:70 is drawing our attention to our travels over land and sea. No other creature travels the way humans travel on this planet. 

In Q12:21, the Joseph's master directs his wife to make Joseph's stay comfortable ( أَكْرِمِي مَثْوَاهُ). 

Surah Yusuf not only narrates how Joseph arrives in Egypt, but it also mentions the movements of Joseph's brothers to and from Egypt. The vision at the beginning of Surah Yusuf became a trial for his brothers when they heard about it, and in Q12:91 they acknowledge how they had been utterly unable to frustrate Allah's Plan, and admit to Allah's Preference of Joseph over them. 


Main post with introduction & links to all posts comparing Adam & Joseph 


Last updated on: May 12, 2021

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

The Flood

Related Posts:
Origins of Water

Abstract
Marvelling at the factual accuracy of the description of the Flood of Noah as evidenced through natural phenomenon. 

Full Text

وَهِيَ تَجْرِي بِهِمْ فِي مَوْجٍ كَالْجِبَالِ وَنَادَىٰ نُوحٌ ابْنَهُ وَكَانَ فِي مَعْزِلٍ يَا بُنَيَّ ارْكَب مَّعَنَا وَلَا تَكُن مَّعَ الْكَافِرِينَ
قَالَ سَآوِي إِلَىٰ جَبَلٍ يَعْصِمُنِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ قَالَ لَا عَاصِمَ الْيَوْمَ مِنْ أَمْرِ اللَّهِ إِلَّا مَن رَّحِمَ وَحَالَ بَيْنَهُمَا الْمَوْجُ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُغْرَقِينَ
وَقِيلَ يَا أَرْضُ ابْلَعِي مَاءَكِ وَيَا سَمَاءُ أَقْلِعِي وَغِيضَ الْمَاءُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَاسْتَوَتْ عَلَى الْجُودِيِّ وَقِيلَ بُعْدًا لِّلْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ
[Q11:42] And it sailed with them on the waves like mountains, and Nuh called out (to) his son, and he was [in] apart, "O my son! Embark with us and (do) not be with the disbelievers."
[Q11:43] He said, "I will betake myself to a mountain, (that) will save me from the water." He said, "(There is) no protector today from the Command of Allah except, (on) whom He has mercy." And came (in) between them the waves, so he was among the drowned.
[Q11:44] And it was said, "O earth! Swallow your water, and O sky! Withhold." And subsided the water, and was fulfilled the Command. And it rested on the Judi. And it was said, "Away with the people the wrongdoers."
[Translation: Literal (Word by Word)] 


In the description of the Flood of Noah, the Qur'an 11:42 states that the waves were like mountains. In recent history, we have witnessed the Tsunami.  Q11:44 informs us that after the flood, the water subsided. High and low tides daily display the phenomenon, most dramatically at the Bay of Fundy. During the 12.4-hour tidal period, 115 billion tonnes of water flow in and out of the bay.

Celestial origins and Earthly stores of water, water disappearing underground, and the future heating of the seas have been explored, in the light of other ayaahs of the Qur'an, in earlier blogposts.


Mountain
A mountain is a large landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area, usually in the form of a peak. The tallest and shortest registered terrestrial mountains are Mount Everest (8,848 metres (29,029 ft)) and Mount Wycheproof (43 metres (141 ft)). 

Tsunami 
[Quote] A tsunami (plural: tsunamis or tsunami; from Japanese: 津波, lit. "harbor wave"; English pronunciation: /tsuːˈnɑːmi/) , also known as a seismic sea wave, is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake. ... Unlike normal ocean waves which are generated by wind or tides which are generated by the gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun, a tsunami is generated by the displacement of water.

Tsunami waves do not resemble normal undersea currents or sea waves, because their wavelength is far longer. Rather than appearing as a breaking wave, a tsunami may instead initially resemble a rapidly rising tide, and for this reason they are often referred to as tidal waves, although this usage is not favored by the scientific community because tsunamis are not tidal in nature. Tsunamis generally consist of a series of waves with periods ranging from minutes to hours, arriving in a so-called "internal wave train". Wave heights of tens of meters can be generated by large events. Although the impact of tsunamis is limited to coastal areas, their destructive power can be enormous and they can affect entire ocean basins; the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami was among the deadliest natural disasters in human history with at least 230,000 people killed or missing in 14 countries bordering the Indian Ocean. 
...
In the 1950s, it was discovered that larger tsunamis than had previously been believed possible could be caused by giant submarine landslides. These rapidly displace large water volumes, as energy transfers to the water at a rate faster than the water can absorb. Their existence was confirmed in 1958, when a giant landslide in Lituya Bay, Alaska, caused the highest wave ever recorded, which had a height of 524 metres (over 1700 feet).
...
Animation of tsunami caused by the earthquake showing how it radiated from the entire length of the 1,600 km (990 mi) rupture
[Unquote]  

The Qur'an states that the waters which caused the flood came from within the Earth and from the sky. There is already some evidence of the celestial origin of water. Massive underground reserves of water have been discovered, and in recent history thousands of rivers have disappeared from the face of the Earth. 

It is believed that the earliest known Tsunami occured due to the Storegga Slide about 8,000 years ago. It is thought that it could have been triggered by catastrophic expansion of methane hydrates. 

Currently, the Earth's cryosphere is shrinking. Of particular concern should be the Arctic permafrost, which is melting dramatically, and massive methane releases have been recorded. For details and links, please read: When the Seas Boil


Big Waves 
Tsunamis are rare events, which very few people have seen and lived to tell the tale. However, Big Waves that Surfers ride on can be witnessed at many places in the world.


By Shalom Jacobovitz (SJ1_8558) 
[CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons 


Waters Receded
After a Tsunami, the waters recede. At low tide also waters recede. A dramatic example of waters receding is on display daily at some locations, most notably at the Bay of Fundy, Canada.

Hopewell Rocks Official Time Lapse Video 

Bay of Fundy: Tides
[Quote] The Bay of Fundy is known for its high tidal range. The quest for world tidal dominance has led to a rivalry between the Minas Basin in the Bay of Fundy and the Leaf Basin in Ungava Bay, over which body of water lays claim to the highest tides in the world, with supporters in each region claiming the record.

The Canadian Hydrographic Service finally declared it a statistical tie, with measurements of a 16.8-metre (55-foot) tidal range in Leaf Basin for Ungava Bay and 17 meters (56 feet) at Burntcoat Head for the Bay of Fundy. The highest water level ever recorded in the Bay of Fundy system occurred at the head of the Minas Basin on the night of October 4–5, 1869 during a tropical cyclone named the “Saxby Gale”. The water level of 21.6 meters (71 feet) resulted from the combination of high winds, abnormally low atmospheric pressure, and a spring tide.

Leaf Basin has only been measured in recent years, whereas the Fundy system has been measured for many decades. The tide at Leaf Basin is higher on average than tides at Minas Basin; however, the highest recorded tidal ranges ever measured are at Burntcoat Head and result from spring tides measured at the peak of the tidal cycle every 18 years.

Traditional Mi'kmaq folklore states that the tides in the Bay of Fundy are caused by a giant whale splashing in the water. Oceanographers attribute it to tidal resonance resulting from a coincidence of timing: the time it takes a large wave to go from the mouth of the bay to the inner shore and back is practically the same as the time from one high tide to the next. During the 12.4-hour tidal period, 115 billion tonnes of water flow in and out of the bay.

The tides in the Bay of Fundy are semidiurnal, which means that they have two highs and two lows each day. The height that the water rises and falls to each day during these tides are approximately equal. There are approximately six hours and thirteen minutes between each high and low tide.
[Unquote]

Last updated on: September 10, 2016