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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