Islam has a rich tradition of exploring and understanding the universe, both through religious texts and scientific inquiry. The Islamic concept of cosmology is based on the belief that Allah S.W.T created the universe and all that exists within it. This belief is derived from the Quran, which is the holy book of Islam.
In Islamic cosmology, the universe is seen as a harmonious and orderly system, with everything in it being interconnected and interdependent. The Quran describes the creation of the universe as a deliberate act of Allah S.W.T, who brought it into existence in six distinct stages or days. These stages are often interpreted metaphorically, rather than literally.
Islam also places great emphasis on the study of nature and the pursuit of scientific knowledge. This has led to many significant contributions to fields such as astronomy, mathematics, and medicine. Some of the most famous Islamic astronomers include Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Farghani, and Al-Biruni, who made significant contributions to the understanding of the cosmos.
Overall, Islam views the universe as a manifestation of Allah’s power and wisdom and encourages the exploration and understanding of the natural world through both religious and scientific perspectives.
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Cosmology and Medieval Islamic Era
Cosmology was a significant field of study in medieval Islamic civilization, with scholars in the Islamic world making significant contributions to the understanding of the universe and its workings.
One of the most famous Islamic cosmologists was Abu Rayhan al-Biruni (973-1048 CE), who wrote extensively on astronomy, geography, and mathematics. Al-Biruni contributed to the development of trigonometry and calculated the earth’s circumference with remarkable accuracy.
Another notable figure in Islamic cosmology was Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274 CE), who made significant contributions to the study of planetary motion and wrote extensively on astronomy and philosophy. His work on the planetary motion was particularly influential, and his ideas about planetary orbits were later incorporated into the Copernican model of the solar system.
Islamic cosmologists also studied the relationship between astronomy and religion, exploring the idea that the universe was a reflection of Allah’s will and examining the role of the stars and planets in Islamic astrology.
Overall, the contributions of medieval Islamic scholars to the field of cosmology were significant and helped pave the way for later developments in astronomy and physics.
Cosmology in the Quran
Cosmology, as mentioned before, is the branch of science that studies the origin, evolution, and structure of the universe. While the Quran is a religious text that primarily deals with matters of faith and morality, it does contain references to the cosmos and the natural world. These references often reflect the understanding of the universe that was prevalent in the time and place in which the Quran was revealed, which was the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century CE.
In the Quran, several verses allude to the creation and structure of the universe. For example, in Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30), it is stated that the heavens and the earth were once a single entity that was then separated by Allah S.W.T: “Do not the unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together, then We clove them asunder, and made from water every living thing?“
Similarly, Surah Al-Baqarah (2:29) describes Allah’s creation of the universe: “It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.”
In addition to these verses, the Quran also contains passages that describe astronomical phenomena such as the movements of the sun and the moon. For example, in Surah Yasin (36:40), it is stated that the sun and the moon “swim along in an orbit.” This description is similar to the modern scientific understanding of how celestial bodies move.
Overall, the Quran provides a detailed scientific account of the universe and does contain references to cosmological concepts and phenomena that were known at the time of its revelation. These references will remain valid till the end of the world, and much of scientific exploration about cosmology is also based on these references.
Amazing Quranic Verses about cosmology
- And it is We who have built the universe with [Our creative] power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it. (51:47)
- It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful and has provided for you sustenance. (401:64)
- Do you not see that Allah has made what is in the heavens and what is in the earth subservient to you, and made complete to you His favors outwardly and inwardly? And among men is he who disputes in respect of Allah though having no knowledge nor guidance, nor a book giving light. (31:20)
- The seven heavens extol His limitless glory, and the earth, and all that they contain; and there is not a single thing but extols His limitless glory and praise: but you [O men] fail to grasp the manner of their glorifying Him! Verily, He is forbearing, much-forgiving. (17:44)
- ARE, THEN, they who are bent on denying the truth not aware that the heavens and the earth were [once] one single entity, which We then parted asunder? – and [that] We made out of water every living thing? Will they not, then, [begin to] believe. (21:30)
