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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