IN THE
NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
Science and religion have been two most ardent enemies for
centuries, what religion believes in, is rejected by science and what the science
proves, is refuted by religion. In the Quran, we have a Scripture which is not
only mathematically coded, but has numerous verses with scientific
implications, far advanced than the time of its revelation. The astounding
nature of these verses serves to re-iterate that the Quran's source is divine;
no human could have known so many of these facts fourteen centuries ago.
This article examines Iron, as it occurs in the Quran - the
subject of Chapter (chapter) 57.
Chapter 57th is named after the element iron, Al Hadid
(amazingly, the geometrical values of the Arabic letters also add up to 57). It is placed right in the
middle of the Quran, and it is chosen out of all the elements of the world for
a reason. There are 114 Chapters in the Quran. 56 Chapters before
Chapter Iron and 57 Chapters after.
The Almighty introduces Iron to us in Chapter
57:25: "... And we sent down the iron, in which there is
strength and many benefits for the people…"
This verse marks the 26th occurrence of the word God (Allah)
from the beginning of this Chapter. 26 also happens to be the Atomic Number of
iron! Very much like a fingerprint that is unique for every human being,
and no two human beings have the same fingerprint, the Atomic Number of an
element is also unique for that element. Chemically, iron is a metal, and is
the 26th element in the Periodic Table, (atomic number =26), but it has the
Atomic Mass Number of 56.
The Periodic Table is an arrangement of known elements
according to their Atomic Mass. It was first compiled in 1869, by a Russian
chemist called Dmitri Mendeleev. The elements are identified and placed
according to their chemical behavior and Atomic/Molecular Mass Number. Some
have been discovered already, and others are made in the laboratory. Still
others have not yet been discovered.
The table starts with the lightest element of the world,
which is Hydrogen, and which has a molecular mass of 1. The last one on the
Table is the 106th element, Seaborgium. This element is named after Professor
Seaborge of Berkeley University, and is not found in the nature, but has been synthesized
in very small quantity in the laboratory.
The Molecular Mass is the sum of the masses of atoms, which
make up the element. Iron (denoted by the symbol: Fe), and is the 26th element
on the table.
Here are some other interesting mathematical observations
with regards to Iron:
Verse 25 of Chapter 57 is the 19th verse from the beginning
of the Chapter, where the word God (Allah) is mentioned. If we count all
the occurrence of the word God from the beginning of the Quran including 57:25
the total occurrence is 2443. Notice that Chapter 43 is the 24th initialed
Chapter and Chapter 43 has 89 verses. Number 89 is the 24th prime number.
Some of the benefits of iron are:
The vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial for our
bodies, have been discovered in the 20th century and are part of our daily
nutrition; iron is one of these minerals. Iron is present in our blood
hemoglobin and without it the chance of survival is limited. (Iron is present
in liver, spinach and certain vegetables). Pregnant women are recommended to
take iron pills to the benefit of both themselves and their babies. To
enhance the growth of the plants, trees, we feed them with iron that eventually
will benefit the human beings. Iron is used in cast iron in structures,
buildings, bridges, and skyscrapers for its strength. It is used in machinery,
equipment, cars, engines, airplanes, boats, space shuttles etc.
Why Iron? Iron is the third most abundant element of the
world; (Silicon is first. Aluminum, is the second, 5% of the earth crust contains
iron.
Where did iron come from? Scientist now know how iron got on
planet earth and in fact there is an extensive article in Time magazine[1]
about the function of iron, and the critical role it played in the formation of
life:
In the beginning, approximately 4.6 billion years ago, when
planet earth was being formed, there was hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen,
oxygen, and iron in space. These molecules were formed at the BIG Bang, and
iron started to soak up the oxygen. This prevented the carbon and the nitrogen
from reacting with oxygen. If, oxygen had combined with these two elements,
carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides would have been formed, which are both
hazardous gases for human beings. Instead, iron reacted with oxygen and turned
into rust, (this is the reaction that happens between iron and oxygen when it
forms ferric oxide). This gave carbon and the nitrogen a chance, which both
reacted with hydrogen and formed methane and ammonia. Subsequently, these two
compounds eventually formed DNA (the building block of the living creatures).
After the radioactive elements slowly increased the
temperature of the planet earth, the iron that was on the surface of the earth
for 100 millions of years, started to melt and reached the core.
According to Science News Magazine, the earth’s iron core
lies 2,900 kilometer below our feet. It has proved less accessible than the
outer reaches of the solar system! The earth's inner core remains a solid
despite the heat deep inside the planet.
Surrounding this hard center lays the outer core, which are
molten iron and other lighter elements. The movement of these fluids is
important because they generate Earth's magnetic field, one of the factors
which help this planet to be hospitable for life. In the 21st century, if we were
to open the core of the earth, we will only see iron as the major element
(there is a very low percentage of nickel present too). This explains the
electromagnetic field of the planet earth. If you take a compass it will show
you the direction of the north.
In Chapter 17 verse 49 we read: They said, "After we
turn into fragments, we get resurrected anew?
17:50 Say, Even if you turn into rocks or iron.
This verse contains remarkable insight:
All the matters seek the most stable state, which is the
lowest energy level. Iron is the most stable element in the world according to
Quantum Mechanics, therefore given time, all matters will eventually reach the
most stable state, that is they will be converted into Iron !
As you can see for yourself, a lot of the information
related to iron, has only come to light in the 20th century, and later.
These details were certainly not known in the 6th century, when Quran was
revealed.
Some may argue that at the time of Prophet Mohammed, iron
did of course exist, and therefore could be detailed (in the Quran). While it
may be true that some of their tools and utensils were made of iron, it is
almost certain that they did not have the information of the key role iron
plays in life. They could not possibly have known of its presence in the core
of the earth, its presence in our blood, it's atomic number, and many
other benefits which are crucial to life.
As a matter of fact, one cannot help but ask, why a Chapter
on iron? Why not a Chapter on silver and gold? Even with all this
information, some may still say this is just coincidence. If it is all just
coincidence, then it is truly an awesome coincidence.
However, logic, and the laws of odds, point to these phenomena
not being a result of mere coincidences. Once that realization is reached, the
only possible, humbling, response would be to give thanks and proclaim that
glory be to God, Lord of the Universe. Creator of all things, Creator of the
heavens and the earth, the Seer the Hearer, the Knower, the Most Merciful, the
Most Gracious, the Initiator, the One God, the Only God, the Almighty, the
Alpha and the Omega.
|
