Quran and modern science compatible or incompatible
5. GEOLOGY MOUNTAINS ARE LIKE TENT PEGS In geology, the phenomenon of ‘folding’, is a recently discovered fact. Folding is responsible for the formation of mountain ranges. The earth’s crust, on which we live, is like a solid shell, while the deeper layers are hot and fluid, and thus inhospitable to any form of life. It is also known that the stability of the mountains is linked to the phenomenon of folding, for it was the folds that were to provide foundations for the reliefs that constitute the mountains. Geologists tell us that the radius of the Earth is about 6,035 km and the crust on which we live is very thin, ranging between 2 to 35 km. Since the crust is thin, it has a high possibility of shaking. Mountains act like stakes or tent pegs that hold the earth’s crust and give it stability. The Qur’an contains exactly such a description: “Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, and the mountains as pegs?” [Al-Qur’an 78:6-7] The word awtaad means stakes or pegs (like those used to anchor a tent); they are the deep foundations of geological folds.
A book entitled ‘Earth’ is regarded as a basic reference textbook on geology in many universities around the world. One of the authors of this book is Dr. Frank Press, who was the President of the Academy of Sciences in the USA for 12 years and was the Science Advisor to former US President Jimmy Carter. In this book, he illustrates the mountain in a wedge-shape and the mountain itself as a small part of the whole, whose root is deeply entrenched in the ground. 1 According to Dr. Press, the mountains play an important role in stabilizing the crust of the earth. The Qur’an clearly mentions the function of the mountains in preventing the earth from shaking: “And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them.” [Al-Qur’an 21:31] 2 The Qur’anic descriptions are in perfect agreement with modern geological data. MOUNTAINS FIRMLY FIXED The surface of the earth is broken into many rigid plates that are about 100 km in thickness. These ____________________________________________________________ 1 Earth, Press and Siever, p. 435. Also see Earth Science, Tarbuck and Lutgens, p. 157 2 A similar message is contained in the Qru'an in 31:10 and 16:15
- Page 2 and 3: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious
- Page 4 and 5: THE CHALLENGE OF THE QUR’AN Liter
- Page 6 and 7: 2. ASTRONOMY CREATION OF THE UNIVER
- Page 8 and 9: SHAPE OF THE EARTH IS SPHERICAL In
- Page 10 and 11: that the light of the moon is refle
- Page 12 and 13: motionless at the centre of the sol
- Page 14 and 15: only recently by modern astronomy,
- Page 16 and 17: and the earth and all that is betwe
- Page 18 and 19: 3. PHYSICS ATOMS CAN BE DIVIDED In
- Page 20 and 21: 4. HYDROLOGY THE WATER CYCLE In 158
- Page 22 and 23: EVAPORATION “By the Firmament whi
- Page 26 and 27: plates float on a partially molten
- Page 28 and 29: ecomes homogenized with the other w
- Page 30 and 31: overwhelmed with billow topped by b
- Page 32 and 33: is further separated from the deep
- Page 34 and 35: 8. BOTANY PLANTS HAVE MALE AND FEMA
- Page 36 and 37: 9. ZOOLOGY ANIMALS AND BIRDS LIVE I
- Page 38 and 39: period of 6 months and comes back t
- Page 40 and 41: Besides giving the physical descrip
- Page 42 and 43: 10. MEDICINE HONEY: HEALING FOR HUM
- Page 44 and 45: 11. PHYSIOLOGY BLOOD CIRCULATION AN
- Page 46 and 47: 12. EMBRYOLOGY MUSLIMS SEEK ANSWERS
- Page 48 and 49: In the same manner, he acquired mor
- Page 50 and 51: In embryonic stages, the reproducti
- Page 52 and 53: The Arabic word nutfatin amshaajin
- Page 54 and 55: FOETUS PROTECTED BY THREE VEILS OF
- Page 56 and 57: acquiring the appearance of a leech
- Page 58 and 59: and provide elegant scientific desc
- Page 60 and 61: Scientifically we know that at this
- Page 62 and 63: 13. GENERAL SCIENCE FINGERPRINTS
- Page 64 and 65: for Allah is Exalted in Power, Wise
- Page 66 and 67: The scientific evidences of the Qur
A book entitled ‘Earth’ is regarded as a basic<br />
reference textbook on geology in many universities<br />
around the w<strong>or</strong>ld. One of the auth<strong>or</strong>s of this book is<br />
Dr. Frank Press, who was the President of the<br />
Academy of Sciences in the USA f<strong>or</strong> 12 years <strong>and</strong><br />
was the Science Advis<strong>or</strong> to f<strong>or</strong>mer US President<br />
Jimmy Carter. In this book, he illustrates the<br />
mountain in a wedge-shape <strong>and</strong> the mountain itself<br />
as a small part of the whole, whose root is deeply<br />
entrenched in the ground. 1 Acc<strong>or</strong>ding to Dr. Press,<br />
the mountains play an imp<strong>or</strong>tant role in stabilizing<br />
the crust of the earth.<br />
The Qur’an clearly mentions the function of the<br />
mountains in preventing the earth from shaking:<br />
“And We have set on the earth<br />
mountains st<strong>and</strong>ing firm,<br />
lest it should shake with them.”<br />
[Al-Qur’an 21:31] 2<br />
The Qur’anic descriptions are in perfect agreement<br />
with <strong>modern</strong> geological data.<br />
MOUNTAINS FIRMLY FIXED<br />
The surface of the earth is broken into many rigid<br />
plates that are about 100 km in thickness. These<br />
____________________________________________________________<br />
1<br />
Earth, Press <strong>and</strong> Siever, p. 435. Also see Earth Science,<br />
Tarbuck <strong>and</strong> Lutgens, p. 157<br />
2<br />
A similar message is contained in the Qru'an in 31:10 <strong>and</strong> 16:15
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