Does Extraterrestrial Life Exist? The Qur’an Answers in the Affirmative
By Dr. Bashir Ahmad
Wildwood, MO

The Qur’anic vision of the universe is uniquely accurate in stark contradiction to the views held by the philosophers and sages of the bygone era. Greek astronomers views had captivated minds and thinking of the bygone generation.
The sum total of their entire knowledge of the universe was the following:
a. The earth was a flat, stationary mass of dust, rock, water, air and minerals.
b. The earth occupied a position of importance in the cosmos, fixed in its mooring while the heavenly bodies revolved around.
It was Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543, a Polish astronomer, who developed the theory that the earth moves around its axis daily and around the sun in a year. He also developed the theory that the earth and the other planets revolved about a point in space near the sun.
Fearful of retribution, even with death by the non-conformists, he was prudent enough to circulate his thoughts cautiously.
Galileo (1564-1642, an Italian astronomer, espoused the Copernican theory that the planets revolved around the sun. This conflicted with the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church; he was forced to recant his findings and was placed under house arrest for the last eight years of his life. In 1992 the Catholic Church formally acknowledged its mistake of condemning Galileo.
It is astounding to realize that over 1400 years ago, the Qur’an had very clearly described the earth rotating around its axis as well as constantly moving in its orbits. Wonder upon wonder, it also clearly mentions that the moon and sun are also moving in their fixed orbits!

The Galaxies
The Qur’anic verse I shall be quoting below very clearly described that in the cosmos there are several galaxies, with their planets moving in fixed orbits. It also mentions the existence of life in them.
“Allah is He who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like there of ----65/13.
It means that the universe comprises many units of heavens, each divided into groups of seven, each having at least one earth to it.

Existence of Life in the Cosmos
A recent news item published in the St Louis Post Dispatch, (3/23/05),
testifies to the accuracy of the Qur’anic version regarding the presence of planets (like earth) in the galaxies.
Using the Spitzer space telescope, two teams studying different planets were able to distinguish the planets’ infrared radiation or heat glow, from the overwhelming glare of their parent stars. This, according to these scientists, is a major step in the quest to understand what alien planets are made of, and how they are put together to eventually facilitate an evaluation of their prospect for supporting life.
“We have been hunting for this light for almost 10 years, ever since extra solar planets were first discovered” said David Charboneu of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astro Physics.
Geoffrey Marcy, planet hunter at the University of California, Berkeley,called the results “the stuff of history books”.
Alan Boss, a planetary theorist at the Carnegie Institution in Washington DC, noted, “This discovery also shows that we are well along the way to combining astronomy and biology into the new science of astrology with the ultimate goal being to search for life beyond the Earth”.

The Qur’an affirms the existence of life in the cosmos
The Qur’an has forcefully prophesied about the existence of life in various planets in the cosmos.
“And among His sign is the creation of heavens and the earth, and of whatever living creatures (da bbah) He has spread forth in both.” Qur’an
42/30.
“Da bbah” covers all animals which creep or move along the surface of this earth. It doesn't apply to animals which fly or swim.
What a forceful claim which the most modern scientific researchers have not been able to make with any measure of certainty.
The other part of this verse is equally revealing.
“And He has the power to gather them together (jam-i-him) when he will soplease.” Qur’an 42/30
It should be kept in mind that the word jama can imply either a physical contact or a contact through communication.
Professor Archibald Roy of the University of Glasgow writes “---and it has become clear that not only there is a chance of recognizing that a signal is of intelligent origin but it would also be possible to enter into communication with the intelligent species and exchange information.” Ref. Roy, A.E.Clarke, D (1989) Astronomy: Structure of the Universe. Adam Higher Ltd. Bristol, p. 270.”
Other scientists of international fame like Professor Sagan are also strong supporters of this cause. (Ref McKie, R (September 1985 Calling outer space is anybody out there? Readers Digest (31-35)
must be stressed that the prophecies of the Qur’an run ahead of human scientific progress and also the scientific discoveries of the subsequent ages have never proved any Qur’anic prophecy to be wrong!


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