Underground Rivers - University of New Mexico

Chapter 5 -- The Crescent
CHAPTER 5
THE CRESCENT
We will see in Chapter 40, Sinkholes, how scuba divers successfully linked two systems of
underground waterways to form in combination the world's longest underground river.
The Arabs of 600-1200 were likewise linkers of underground rivers, their curation being the bridge
from a faltering Western legacy to the concepts we recognize today.
We should qualify our employment of the term "Arabic" in its geo-political, not ethnic, sense.
Subjects of Arabic rule included Persians, Negroid Africans, Christians of many stripes, Jews and
others.
The original Hebrews had no ethnic advantage in attention to water. All desert peoples accorded
water cultural importance. The Shari'a, the source of Islamic law -- and thus the crux of Arabic
identity -- literally means "source of water." Qur’anic verses alluding to water underground
include,
And give glad tidings to those who believe and do righteous good deeds, that for them will be
Gardens under which rivers flow. -- 2:25.
For such, the reward is Forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens under which rivers flow,
wherein they shall abide forever. -- 3:136.
I will remit from them their evil deeds and admit them into Gardens under which rivers flow. --
3:195.
But, for those who fear their Lord, are Gardens under which rivers flow. -- 3:198.
Lo! Allah will cause those who believe and do good works to enter Gardens under which rivers
flow. -- 22:23.
He sendeth down water from the sky, so that valleys flow according to their measure. -- 13:17.
And We [Allah] have placed therein gardens of the date-palm and grapes, and We have caused
springs of water to gush forth therein. -- 36:34.
Hast thou not seen how Allah hath sent down water from the sky and hath caused it to
penetrate the earth as water springs?... Lo! Herein verily is a reminder for men of
understanding. -- 39:21.
If all your water were to disappear into the earth, who then could bring you gushing water? --
67:30.
The degree to which ancient texts lend themselves to modern interpretation is a never-ending
challenge.
Consider, for example, "tajri min tahtiha al-anhar," the Arabic phrase common to the above texts
translated as "under which rivers flow." In contextual Arabic, the phrase suggests rivers running
through gardens surrounding an elevated dwelling, the palaces of Paradise in this case.
Shehzad Saleem addresses our question directly in "Will Paradise have Underground Rivers?"
Renaissance, January 2012.
In order to understand the Qur'anic description of Paradise, it may be noted that the Arabs of
the times of the Prophet (peace and mercy upon him) had a special taste regarding gardens.
To them, the most scenic of gardens and orchards were those which were situated at some
height above the ground level on some mountain or hill such that rivers and streams would flow
around and beneath them at a lower altitude. The height not only adds to the beauty of the
orchard, but also secures it from floods and similar calamities.
DRAFT 1122//66//22001122
Uppddaatteess aatt hhttttpp::////www. .uunnm. .eedduu//~rrhheeggggeenn//UnnddeerrggrroouunnddRi ivveerrss. .hhttml l
45