ISLAM

PLACE: Mecca

DATE: 621

NAME: The Holy Quran, Surah Zumar, Verse 21

NEWS: Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky and places it in springs on the earth, then brings forth with it crops of various colors, then they wither and you see them turn yellow, then He makes them into scattered debris? Indeed, in this is a lesson for those of understanding.

SCIENCE

PLACE: France, Paris

DATE: 1580

NAME: Bernard Palissy   

NEWS: The perpetual cycle and source of water

The oldest accepted view on the origin of water is that of Aristotle[231]. According to Aristotle, water vapor rising from the earth condenses in the cold hollows of the mountains, forming underground lakes. Spring waters are fed from these lakes. According to Thales([232]), who lived about two hundred years earlier, ocean water, propelled by the pressure of winds blowing deep within the earth, gushed into the air, fell to the ground, and thus seeped into the soil. Plato([233])shared these views, believing that water returned to the ocean via a great vortex. During the Renaissance, Leonardo da Vinci([234])was the first to challenge Aristotle’s claims. Finally, Bernard Palissy provided the true explanation of the perpetual cycle of water and how water sources are fed by rain. 

The Holy Quran, on the other hand, states the role of rainwater in the verse, “Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky…” and informs us that the sources are the rainwater that is sent down, saying, “He places it in springs on the earth.” and then brings forth with it crops of various colors,” thus indicating that these sources are a fundamental necessity for sustaining the lives of living beings. Witnessing all these stages of creation that ensure the continuity of life, yet remaining oblivious to it and acting greedily only towards crops, Allah (swt) informs those servants that there will be a time when they will come to an end, and that only His essence will remain eternal, as follows: “…then those crops wither. Then He turns it into scattered debris.”

Every person or group that does not derive its power from Allah has set its sights on crops based on consumption in order to gain authority over people. This is also the underlying reason why Jews, as a race or mindset, have gained power in the countries of the world. For this reason, the verse ends by pointing out that there is a lesson in this for those with understanding, saying, “Indeed, in this is a lesson for those with insight.” The Holy Quran gave us this news 958 years ago.

We should also briefly mention the reason why rain is called “mercy.” Mercy means compassion, protection, and preservation. It is also used in the sense of “blessing” because it is the source of life for living beings. Scientifically speaking, rain is called mercy because it serves a wide area.

When an object is dropped from above, its weight and the acceleration it gains [236]cause it to fall, creating an impact on the ground. This situation has been formulated in physics under the name “Law of Falling Bodies.” We can imagine the impact that a metal coin dropped from a height of 50-60 meters would have on the ground or on a living creature there. Although clouds release rain from greater heights and in greater quantities, we never witness the rain having a destructive effect on the living beings or the ground it touches. Science explains this phenomenon as the rain falling softly to the ground as a result of the balancing of the buoyant force.

Although the distance and acceleration are the same, the fact that raindrops, which can drill through soil and mountains to create sources, do not harm any other living beings is a lesson for us. This intricate calculation, which can be described today, teaches us that rain falling while sparing us living beings is also a mercy. The rain, a marvelous art, is connected to the fact that its falling speed and mass are balanced by buoyancy and that it is brought down with a certain measure of appreciation.

The average amount of rain falling on the world per second is 16 million tons. The verse that mentions this measurement also explains mercy to us. The mercy mentioned in the verse is presented to us as protection, in that the falling rain does not harm living beings, and as a blessing, in that it nourishes resources. This systematic cycle, which is constantly repeated, is likened to resurrection after death. Allah (swt) knows best.

ALLAH (c.c.) says:

It is He who sends down rain from the sky in due measure. With it, We give life to a dead land. Thus shall you be brought forth. ([237])

[231] Greek philosopher. Born 384 BC – Died 322 BC

[232] Greek philosopher. Born 624 BC – died 546 BC

[233] Greek philosopher. Born 427 BC – died 347 BC. His real name was Aristocles. Due to his broad shoulders and athletic build, he was known and recognized by his nickname, which means “broad-chested” in Greek. He is also known as Plato.

[234] Renaissance Italian architect, engineer, and geometer (b. 1452 – d. 1519)

[235] The Quran, an everlasting miracle, p.132

[236] The derivative of speed, which changes over time

[237] Surah Zuhruf, Verse 11