Page 100 - Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an
P. 100
Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an
Following the development of the atomic theory of the Greek
philosopher Democritus, people used to believe that matter consisted
of minute, indivisible and indestructible particles known as atoms.
However, advances in the study of atoms have refuted this notion. At
the present time, modern science has revealed that the atom, previous-
ly regarded as the smallest particle, can actually be split. This fact only
emerged in the last century, but was revealed in the Qur'an 1,400 years
ago:
… He is the Knower of the Unseen, Whom not an atom's weight eludes,
either in the heavens or in the earth; nor is there anything smaller or larg-
er than that which is not in a Clear Book. (Qur'an, 34:3)
… Not even an atom's weight eludes your Lord, either on earth or in
heaven. Nor is there anything smaller than that, or larger, which is not
in a Clear Book. (Qur'an, 10:61)
This verse refers to "atom" and smaller particles still.
Up until 20 years ago, it was believed that the smallest particles
were the protons and neutrons which comprise the atom. Very recent-
ly, however, even smaller particles of which these themselves consist
were discovered. A specialised branch of physics, called "particle
physics," emerged to study these "sub-particles" and their particular
behaviour. Particle physics research has revealed that the protons and
neutrons which comprise the atoms actually consist of sub-particles
known as quarks. The size of these quarks, the basic components of
protons, whose small size is beyond human conception, is astonishing:
10 -18 (0.000000000000000001 of a metre). 50
Another point worthy of note is that these verses draw particular
attention to the weight of the atom. The word "mithqaal," in the expres-
sion "mithqaalu tharratin" (an atom's weight) in the above verses, means
weight. In fact, it has been discovered that the protons, neutrons and
electrons which form the atom are also compounds which give the
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