Page 288 - Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an
P. 288
Allah's Miracles in the Qur'an
would have caused the sea to retract, leaving the reef exposed. Naum
Volzinger, of the Institute of Oceanography of the Russian Academy of
Sciences, stated that "if the [east] wind blew all night at a speed of 30
metres per second then the reef would be dry." He also said that "it
would take the Jews-there were 600,000 of them-four hours to cross the
7 kilometre reef that runs from one coast to another… then, in half an
hour, the waters would come back." 217 In addition, Volzinger said that
he and his colleague Androsov studied the issue strictly from Isaac
Newton's point of view. As he put it, "I am convinced that God rules the
Earth through the laws of physics." 218
It must not be forgotten that there is always a possibility of this
natural phenomenon taking place. If Allah so desires, this miracle can
take place again when the requisite conditions-such as windspeed, time
and place-are met. However, the truly miraculous aspect here is the fact
that these events took place just when Prophet Musa (as) and his tribe
were about to be vanquished. The fact that the waters withdrew just as
Prophet Musa (as) and the community with him were about to cross
them-not to mention the way that the waters returned just as Pharaoh
and his army were crossing-is a clear example of the aid that Allah
gives to the faithful. Indeed, the way that Prophet Musa (as) relied on
and trusted in Allah is an example of the most pleasing moral values:
And when the two hosts came into sight of one another Musa's com-
panions said, "We will surely be overtaken!" He said, "Never! My Lord
is with me and He
will guide me."
(Qur'an, 26:61-62)
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