Page 190 - For Men of Understanding

ing beings. When we look at other planets in the solar system, we see that they
also experience night and day. However, because the time differences are far
bigger than those in the world, the temperature differences between day and
night are very high. The fierce wind activity in the atmospheres of other plan-
ets is not experienced in the world’s atmosphere thanks to this balanced rota-
tion.
The gases making up the atmosphere and their concentration in the atmos-
phere are extremely important for the existence not only of human beings but
also of all living beings on the earth. The formation of the gasses in the atmos-
phere in just the right proportions that remain constant is made possible by the
co-existence of numerous delicate balances.
Hundreds of points can be listed in addition to the above mentioned fea-
tures. Even the examples quoted so far, however, reveal to us a certain reality:
The world in which we live is very specially constructed for the survival of
living beings. It is the product not of coincidence but of a conscious order.
This perfect order prevailing throughout the universe leads us to a single
conclusion: a Creator with infinite power and wisdom, that is, Allah, Who is the
Possessor of all worlds, created the universe.

THE GREAT BALANCE IN THE ATMOSPHERE
There are four basic gasses in the atmosphere. These are nitrogen (78%),
oxygen (21%), argon (less than 1%), and carbon dioxide (0.03%). Gasses in the
atmosphere fall into two groups: "those that are reactive" and "those that are
non-reactive". Analysis on reactive gasses reveals that the reactions they enter
into are essential for life whereas non-reactive gasses produce compounds that
are destructive for life when they enter into reaction. For instance, argon and
nitrogen are inactive gasses. They can be involved in very few chemical reac-
tions. However, if these could react easily, like oxygen, the oceans would turn
into nitric acid, for example.
On the other hand, oxygen reacts with other atoms, organic compounds,
and even rocks. These reactions yield the most basic molecules of life such as
water and carbon dioxide.
In addition to the reactivity of gasses, their present concentrations are also
highly critical for life.

Let us look at oxygen, for instance. Oxygen is the most abundant reactive
gas in our atmosphere. The high oxygen concentration of our atmosphere is
one of the features that distinguish earth from other planets in the solar system
in which even minute amounts of oxygen are not present.
If there were more oxygen in the atmosphere, oxidation would take place

188 For Men of Understanding