Scientific Principles Governing the Universe are not Absolute but are Subservient to God

By S. Arshad, New Age Islam 25 March 2022 God Says He Can Change Any Scientific Principle If He So Wills Main Points: 1. He says that different stages of foetus in the womb are commanded by Him. 2. The shadow has been made dependent on the sun. 1. 3۔God decided the attributes and principles of the Universe 3. Night and day can be lengthened at His will. ----- There has been a lot of debate and discussion on the relevance of religion in the face of scientific developments and on the confrontation between religion and science. From the point of view of the Quran, the universe is the creation of God and God has not only created the universe, but also created the scientific principles and the properties of the matter. If honey has healing properties or poison has killing properties, the properties have been endowed with them by God. And since the properties of the matter are ordained by God, they can be altered or suspended by God if He so wills. But at the same time, God says that He does not interfere with the working of matter or of the universe so that man on earth does not face inconvenience. He therefore, says "La Tabdeela Likalimatillah"(There is no change in His word). But He reminds man from time to time of His power and authority to suspend or alter the principles governing the universe. ------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Islam, Science and the Muslim Predicament ------------------------------------------------------------- There are two sections of scientists. One section believes that there is an unseen power in the universe that governs it. The second section does not believe in the presence of an invisible power governing the universe. This section believes in the doctrine that all the creations of the universe have their inherent properties and principles and are governed by their own principles. In other words, they believe in the Theory of Dependent Origination (Pratityasamutpad) of Buddhism. But God makes it clear in the Quran that since the universe has been created by Him, it is also governed by Him and the properties endowed with the matter are not inherent and absolute. One example of this is the suspension of the burning property of fire when prophet Abraham a.s. was thrown into it at the order of the king. There are other verses in which God reiterates His position on the working of matter and of the components of the universe. He says: "Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, chasing it rapidly; and the sun, the moon and the stars subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command (Amr).Greatness is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.(Al Araf:54) God has not created only the Khalq (the physical form of the creations) but als the Amr (the inner qualities, properties and principles). Since He has created the universe and its properties. He has full control over it. "Allah is the One who created seven heavens in layers, and likewise for the earth. The divine command descends between them so you may know that Allah is most capable of everything and that Allah certainly encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Talaq:12) To demonstrate His power to create Khalq and Amr, God cites the example of the evolution of foetus in the womb. God says, "Then He developed the drop into a clinging clot of blood, then developed the clot into a lump of flesh, then developed the lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being a new creation So greatness is to Allah, the the best of creators."(Muminun:14) From the scientific point of view, the evolution of the fetus in the womb is a natural process but God says that every stage in the process is ordained by God. One important verse in the Quran is about the shade of things. We know that shades of physical objects are dependent on the motion of the sun. The contraction and expansion of the shades occurs due to the position of the sun. Therefore, the existence of the shade seems absolute. But it is not. God says, "Have you not seen how your Lord spreads the shade. If We willed, We could have made it stationary. Instead, We have made the sun its pilot (daleel). So We gradually roll up the shade Unto us."(Furqan:45-46) Here, God says that shade is an independent creation created by Him for the comfort of human beings. If there was no shade on earth, life would have been miserable and difficult for creatures on earth. But He made shade subservient to the sun and the shade seems to be moving with the sun. If He had willed, the shade would have been stationary. Therefore, the existence of the shade dependent on the movement of the sun is relative and not absolute. ------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Islam Does Not Inhibit Science: Islamic Culture Has Produced Many First-Rate Scientists Who Were Also Devout In Their Religious Observances ------------------------------------------------------------- Another verse that demonstrates the relativity of the appearance of night and day is as follows. "Say, "Have you considered if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light. Then will you not hear? Say, "Have you considered if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest.. Then will you not. See"(Al Qasas:71-72) One more verse that demonstrates the relativity of the properties of the matter is as follows: "And in the story of Ad was another lesson, when We sent against them the devastating wind . There was nothing it came upon that it did not reduce to ashes."(Az Zariat:42) Generally strong winds or windstorms are devastating in the sense that it sweeps away or uproots and destroys everything that comes across it because of its sheer force and speed. But the verse says that the winds had burning properties or radioactive properties and so everything that came across it turned into ashes. Such radioactive waves are produced by atomic explosions and are not present in natural windstorms. This shows that by God's decree, the natural winds that swept the nation of Ad had been endowed with radioactive properties. ------------------------------------------------------------- Also Read: Virus, Islam and Science ------------------------------------------------------------- From the discussion carried out above, it becomes clear that God asserts His complete authority over the universe. The properties and principles of matter and creations are relative and not absolute. Perhaps these verses have been revealed to reject the belief of scientists and a section of thinkers and philosophers that matter has inherent and absolute qualites and properties that can never change. God says that properties of matter are endowed by God and He can change it though He does not do it generally and when He does, the phenomenon is called a miracle. ---- S. Arshad is a columnist with NewAgeIslam.com. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-science/scientific-principles-universe-god/d/126648 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism