THE BIG BANG THEORY
Birth of the Beginning
DO NOT those who deny the truth see that the heavens and the earth were joined together and that We then split them asunder? And that We have made every living thing out of water? Will they still not believe?
E. O. WILSON (b. 1929), hailed as the father of sociobiology, once said in an interview that the Big Bang theory is more interesting than any religious theory regarding origin of the universe. In fact, the Big Bang theory is clearly mentioned in the above verse of the Quran (21: 30). The Quran is here addressing all humankind. It is speaking beyond the level of time to all humankind. It is bringing the attention of human beings to the proof of the existence of One God in the universe before their eyes. Why then do they deny it?
The Big Bang Theory has proved the existence of God from the law of nature, for only an external agent at a specific instance in time could have made a point mass into an everexpanding universe.
In 1912, the American astronomer Vesto Melvin Slipher (d. 1969) discovered from his observation of the stars from Lowell Observatory in America that some galaxies were rapidly moving outwards. This theory was later confirmed by Edwin Hubble and Milton Humason. In fact, their observations through the 100-inch telescope at Mount Wilson showed that all galaxies were moving in an outward direction. The Dutch astronomer, Willem de Sitter later accumulated further evidence in support of the theory that the universe was exponentially expanding. In 1965, New Jersey scientists Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson discovered the cosmic microwave background radiation emitted by the Big Bang that marked the origin of the universe. So much evidence has been accumulated in support of the Big Bang Theory that it has now come to be regarded as an established fact.
This theory implies that the universe is not infinite in time. It had a definite beginning. It shows that we live in an expanding universe. On all sides of us galaxies are careering outwards at a stupendous pace. It has been calculated that if this outward movement were to be reversed, it would take 20,000 million years for the whole strung-out universe to converge into one mass.
The Big Bang theory is conclusive evidence that the universe is contingent. According to the prevailing scientific view of cosmology, the universe had a distinct and singular beginning about 13.7 billion years ago. The universe, therefore, appears to be an effect and, thus, is seemingly dependent upon something outside of and beyond itself. This theory has proved the existence of God from the law of nature, for only an external agent at a specific instance in time could have made a point mass into an ever-expanding universe.
As Aristotle cogently argued, there must be a reality that causes but is itself uncaused (or, a being that moves but is itself unmoved). Why? Because if there is an infinite regression of causes, then by definition the whole process could never begin.
The more science advances, the closer it comes to God. One is
compelled to agree with what Dr. Maurice Bucaille writes in the
following paragraph of his book, The Bible, the Quran and Science:
“In view of the level of knowledge in Muhammad’s day it is
inconceivable that many of the statements in the Quran which
are connected with science could have been the work of a man.
It is moreover, perfectly legitimate, not only to regard the Quran
as the expression of a Revelation, but also to award it a very
special place, on account of the guarantee of authenticity it
provides and the presence in it of scientific statement which,
when studied today, appear as a challenge to explanation in
human terms.”
MY LORD, BUILD ME A
HOUSE IN NEARNESS
TO YOU IN PARADISE
THE QURAN 66. 11