Facts About Seas
& Oceans
Facts About Seas & Oceans
Deep Seas & Oceans
Marine Phenomena Between Scientific
Discoveries & The Qur'aanic Verses
Facts About Seas
& Oceans
 We present to you Dr. William W. Hay, Professor of Geological Sciences
at the University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A. he was formerly Dean of
the Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami,
Miami, Florida, U.S.A. We went with him on a marine expedition, to show us some of the
phenomena connected to our study of the scientific miracles in the Qur'aan and Sunnah. We
asked him many questions about the marine surface, the divider between the upper and the
lower sea, and about ocean floor and marine geology. We also asked Professor Hay
about the mixed-water partitions between the different seas and fresh water rivers. He was
kind enough to answer all of our questions in great detail.
With regard to the partitions between the
different seas, he explained that these bodies of water are not one homogeneous sea as
it appears to us. Rather they are different seas, distinguished by varying degrees of
salinity, temperature and density. In this slide, here the white lines represent
partitions between two different seas (not shown - WWW Ed.) Each partition divides two
seas that differ in temperature, salinity, density, marine biology and oxygen
dissolubility. Scientists first had this picture in 1942 after hundreds of marine research
stations were set up. In it we can see the divider between the Mediterranean and the
Atlantic Ocean.
Fig. 13.1
In the middle of this photo (not shown - Ed.), we see a colored
triangle. This is the base of the Rock of Gibraltar. We can observe a colored partition
between the two bodies of water, although the naked human eye cannot perceive it in
nature. This has become possible by means of satellite photography and remote-sensing
techniques. This photograph here was taken by a satellite utilizing the special thermal
characteristics of the various water bodies, and it is for this reason that the seas show
up with different colors (exact photos not shown - Ed. See Figure 13.1). For example, we
here see light blue, dark blue and black. Other bodies of water show a greenish color.
The different colors represent the difference in temperatures of the sea surface.
However, as well all know, these oceans and seas will simply appear as blue in color to
our eyes. These are partitions that can only be seen and perceived by scientific research
and modern technology. Allah Almighty has informed us in the Qur'aan that: He has let free (maraja) the two seas meeting together: Between them is a
barrier which they do not transgress. (Qur'aan 55:19-20).
Traditionally, there have been two major
interpretations of this verse. One opinion states that according to the literal meaning of
the term maraja, seas do meet and mix with each other. But the fact the Qur'aan
goes on to state that there is barrier between them, means that this barrier will simply
prevent the seas from encroaching upon each other or flooding over each other.
Proponents of the second opinion ask how can
there be a barrier between the seas so that they do not encroach upon each other, while
the verse indicates that the seas meet together? They concluded that the seas do not
meet and sought another meaning for the term maraja, but now modern science provides
us with enough information to settle this issue. The seas do meet together, as we have
seen, for example, in the picture of the Mediterranean and Atlantic Ocean (not shown - WWW
Ed.). Even though there is a slanted water barrier between them, we now know that through
this barrier the water from each sea passes to the other. But when see the water from
one sea enters the other sea, it loses its distinctive characteristics and becomes
homogenized with the other water. In a way, this barrier serves as a transitional
homogenizing area for the two waters.
This is an excellent example of Islamic
modern scientific research. Modern techniques can thus be used to prove the
inimitability of the Qur'aan. We discussed this verse and several other verses at
great length with Professor Hay, and then we asked him the following question:
"What is your opinion of this phenomenon, namely, that you have in your possession
now texts which have been revealed 1400 years ago, and which described in minute detail
secrets of the universe which no man at that time could ever have known, simply because
the techniques and the equipment were not available?"
Professor Hay replied: "I find it
very interesting that this sort of information is in the ancient scripture of the Holy Qur'aan,
and I have no way of knowing where they would come from, but I think it is extremely
interesting that they are there and that this work is going on to discover it, the meaning
of some of the passages."
He was asked: “Then you have flatly denied
it to be just from a human source. Whom do you think is the original source of such
information?”
Professor Hay: "Well, I would think
it must be the Divine Being!"
Truly this is divine knowledge which Allah
Almighty sent in order to support the Message of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon
him (sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) who said:
Each Prophet has been given something to make
his people believe in him. But I have been given a Revelation from Allah Almighty,
and I hope that I will have the greatest number of followers on the Day of Judgement.
[Al-Bukhari]
This Revelation contains its own miracle and
stands as a proof for humanity until the Last Hour.
 Deep Seas & Oceans
The miracle of the Qur'aan is an
everlasting one, which is renewed until the Last Hour, and which may be known to all
people in spite of their different cultural levels and historical times. The Bedouin in
the desert as well as the university Professor will find in the Qur'aan that which
will suffice him.
We present to you Professor Dorja Rao,
he is a specialist in Marine Geology and he is currently teaching at King Abdul-Aziz
University in Jeddah. We met him and presented a number of Qur'aanic verses containing
scientific signs in the Qur'aan. He was astonished with what he saw and heard. He has read
the interpretations of the Qur'aan and its verses in some specialized books. Among these
verses, he discussed what Allah Almighty said in the Qur'aan.
Or
(the unbelievers state) is like the depths of darkness in a vast deep ocean, overwhelmed
with billow topped by billow, topped by (dark) clouds: Depths of darkness, one above
another: If a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For any to whom Allah does
not give light, there is no light. (Qur'aan 24:40).
Professor Rao confirmed that scientists
now know darkness by means of submarines that have enabled them to dive into the
depths of the ocean, where human beings are not able to dive unaided for more than twenty
to thirty meters. Those who dive for pearls do so in shallow waters and can not dive any
deeper than this. Human beings can not survive in the deep dark part of the oceans, such
as at a depth of 200 meters. But this verse speaks about a phenomenon found in very
deep oceans.
Hence, the statement of Allah Almighty
about the darkness in a vast deep sea does not refer to just any sea, because not every
sea can be described as having accumulated darkness layered one over another. This sort of
layered darkness in deep seas has two causes out of which is the result of the
successive disappearances of color, one layer after the other. The light ray is composed
of seven colors, and when the light ray hits water, it is scattered into these seven
colors.
In this picture (See Figure 14.1) we see a ray
of light going through the depth of the ocean. The upper layer has absorbed the red
color in the first 10 meters. If a diver would dive to a depth of 30 meters and gets
wounded there, he would not be able to see his blood, because the red color does
not reach this depth. In the same way, as we see in this picture, orange rays are
absorbed next. Then at the depth of 50 meters yellow rays are absorbed. At the
depth of 100 meters green rays are absorbed. At depths beyond 200 meters, blue
rays are absorbed, and so on. From this, we can see that the ocean becomes
progressively darker, that is darkness takes place in layers of light. As for the second
reason, darkness originates as a result of barriers which conceal light.
Fig. 14.1
The light rays, which we see here,
originate from the sun and absorbed by clouds, which in turn scatter some of the light
rays, thus resulting in a layer of darkness under the clouds. This is the first layer
of darkness. Then when light rays reach the surface of the ocean, they are reflected
by the wave surface, thus giving it a shiny appearance. It is for this reason that when
there are waves, the intensity of this reflection depends on the angle of the waves.
Therefore, it is the waves that reflect light and therefore cause darkness. The
un-reflected light rays penetrate into the depth of the ocean, and thus we divide the
ocean into two main layers, the surface and the deep part. The surface of the ocean is
characterized by the light and warmth, whereas the deep is characterized by darkness.
These two parts of the ocean differ with
respect to their properties and characteristics, and the surface is further separated from
the deep part by waves. These internal waves were only discovered in the year 1900.
Scientists have recently discovered that there are internal waves which "occur
on dense interfaces between layers of different densities. The internal waves cover the
deep waters of seas and oceans because the deep waters have a higher density than the
waters above them. Internal waves act like surface waves. They can also break just like
surface waves. Internal waves cannot be seen by the human eye, but they can be
detected by studying temperature or salinity changes at a given location.
Underneath
these waves which separate the two parts of the ocean, the darkness begins. Fish at these
depths cannot see. Their only source of light is from their bodies. This darkness which is
layered or tiered one over the other is what is referred to in the Qur'aan: Darkness in a
vast deep ocean, overwhelmed by billow topped by billow. (Qur'aan 24:40)
In
other words, above those waves there are still more tiers of waves. The latter being found
on the surface of the ocean. The Qur'aan then informs us that darkness is: Topped by
clouds: Depths of darkness, one above another. (Qur'aan 24:40)
This darkness is caused by the barriers
explained, in addition to the darkness caused by the absorption of colors at the different
levels that are layered one over the other.
The
Qur'aan goes on to say: When a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! For any
to whom Allah gives not light, there is no light. (Qur'aan 24:40)
Here is total darkness, submarines must bring
their source of light with them, so who could have informed Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him (sallAllahu alaihi wa sallam) of this?
We presented to Professor Rao many
verses dealing with his area of specialization and we said: "What do you think of the
existence of scientific information in the Qur'aan? How could Prophet Muhammad peace be
upon him have known about these facts 14 centuries ago?"
 Professor Rao replied: "It is
difficult to imagine that this type of knowledge was existing at the time around 1400
years back. Maybe some of the things they have simple ideas about such, but to describe
those things in great detail is very difficult. So, this is definitely not a simple
human knowledge. A normal human being cannot explain this phenomenon in that much
detail. So I thought the information must have come from a supernatural source."
Yes, the source of such knowledge must be from
a level beyond that of man. It cannot be from nature, as Professor Rao said, but
this is far beyond nature, and far beyond human capability. What Professor Rao was
trying to say is that this is something which cannot be attributed to a natural being, for
it is truly the speech of the one who knows nature, the universe and its secrets, as
the Qur'aan tells us:
Say:
The (Qur'aan) was sent down by Him who knows the secrets (that is) in the heavens and the
earth... (Qur'aan 25:6).
It is from Allah Almighty. In this way,
the testimonies of the scientists are concentrated one after the other in order to prove
that this guidance and light contains in it the indisputable evidence of its truth, for
the Qur'aan is the source of guidance until the Last Hour.
Marine Phenomenon Between
Scientific Discoveries & The Qur'aanic Verses
 We present to
you Professor Shroeder, a marine scientist from West Germany. We met him at the
Seminar of Marine Scientists held at King Abdul-Aziz University in Jeddah. I was asked to
deliver a talk on Marine Phenomenon between scientific discoveries and the Qur'aanic
verses. The next day, Professor Shroeder stood up and commented on what I had said.
He started saying:
"I would like to comment
on the lecture which Shaykh Az-Zindani gave us yesterday, and would like to say how much I
appreciate this lecture in the framework of such a scientific meeting. One doesnt need to
be a Muslim, but even for me as a Christian, it is important to not only see science
as it is, but also see it in a broader sense and picture and when compared with religion,
see it in the framework of religion."
After that, Professor Shroeder proceeded
to discuss the relationship between science and religion. He referred to the wide gap
between the various religions and science, for there is a mutual repulsion between the
leaders of religious thoughts and the masters of natural sciences. Professor Shroeder,
however, was astonished when he was informed of the truth contained in various Qur'aanic
verses revealed 1400 years ago. He commented:
"In many religions,
we find that the leaders think science can take something from the religion. If science is
making progress, the religion has to move back, it is being encroached on. Here, we see a
completely different approach. Shaykh Az-Zindani showed us that the scientist is actually confirming what the Qur'aan is saying,
what has been said already many, many years ago in the Qur'aan. Actually, that scientists
are now discovering what has been said before, I think this is important. It is important
for a symposium or a workshop to be participated, discussed, and agreed upon by scientists
from all nations, and I am sure that all of us are going home and are now thinking more
about the relationship between religion and marine science."
It becomes clear that what scientists are
discovering only today, the Qur'aan revealed 1400 years ago. It remains for us to
ask: Who informed Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him about this? Who revealed
this knowledge to him? Because these are the truths that contemporary scientists know,
whether they be astronomers, marine scientists, geologists, or specialists in any of the
other fields of science and knowledge, but which the Qur'aan and Sunnah have
mentioned. After having listened to us, Professor Shroeder, with utmost confidence
stated the following answer.
"There is not science on
the one side, religion on the other side. People are not talking to each other, but they
are all going into one direction. They are saying the same thing in a different language,
the scientific language (the abstract language) and the language of the
scriptures, as expressed by the Shaykh."
He is demanding clearly that these facts
be presented to everyone in the entire world, but specially to scientists in their centers
of learning, in all languages, so that they may understand them clearly and so that the true
relationship between religion and science may be clarified. We are talking about the
religion that has been free from any distortion or falsification. True knowledge must be
in conformity with true religion. As in the case of Islam, the Qur'aan says:
Are
those equal, those who know and those who do not know? (Qur'aan 39:9)
Know,
therefore, that there is no god but Allah. (Qur'aan 47:19)
Say:
Behold all that is in the heavens and on earth. (Qur'aan 10:101)
Verily
in the heavens and the earth, are signs for those who believe. And in the creation of
yourselves and the fact that animals are scattered (through the earth), are signs for
those of assured faith. And in the alteration of night and day, and the fact that Allah
sends down sustenance from the sky, and revives therewith the earth after its death, and
in the change of the winds, - are signs for those that are wise. Such are the signs of
Allah, which we rehearse to thee in truth: then in what exposition will they believe after
Allah and his signs? (Qur'aan 45:3-6).
Religion urges us to acquire knowledge and
commands us to contemplate the universe in a language that contemporaries
understand.
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