بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Origin of the Universe, Life from Water, and Orbits;
The origins of the universe, the emergence of life from water, and the mechanics of planetary orbits are deeply intertwined, with modern science suggesting that the fundamental building blocks for all three were established shortly after the Big Bang.
Origin of the Universe
The Big Bang: The universe began approximately 13.8 billion years ago, expanding from an extremely hot, dense state.
Initial Elements: Within the first few minutes, hydrogen and helium formed. Roughly 380,000 years later, the universe cooled enough for electrons to orbit nuclei, creating the first atoms.
Star Formation & Water: Water (H₂O) appeared much earlier than previously thought, within 100-200 million years after the Big Bang, produced in the first supernovae. This early water likely assisted in cooling gas clouds, allowing the first stars and galaxies to form.
Life from Water
Aquatic Origin: Life on Earth is widely believed to have originated in water, specifically around hydrothermal vents on the deep seafloor, which provided the necessary chemical energy.
"Water World" Theory: Evidence from, for example, the moons Europa and Enceladus supports the idea that life requires liquid water as a solvent.
Water Delivery: While Earth was initially dry, water was likely delivered to the inner solar system by icy asteroids and comets as the early solar disk dissipated. Some studies suggest this water is actually older than the Sun.
Prebiotic Soup: Early experiments (Miller-Urey) showed that amino acids, the building blocks of life, could form in a water-rich, volatile atmosphere.
Orbits
Formation of Orbits: As the solar system formed, a rotating disk of gas and dust (including icy water particles) surrounded the young Sun, with material colliding and accreting into planets.
Gravity and Motion: Johannes Kepler's laws described the motion of planets, while Isaac Newton later identified gravity as the force maintaining these orbits.
Early Evidence: Galileo's observation of moons orbiting Jupiter provided early evidence against a geocentric model, confirming that heavenly bodies orbit objects other than Earth.
Rogue Planets: Gravitational interactions in dense stellar nurseries can eject planets from their original orbits, creating "rogue planets" that move independently.
Key Connections
Water is not just a terrestrial necessity but a widespread, primordial ingredient for planet formation.
The same gravitational laws governing the orbits of planets also dictate the formation of planetary systems.
The search for life is heavily focused on finding "wet" planets (like Mars or icy moons).
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًۭا فَفَتَقْنَـٰهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ٣٠وَجَعَلْنَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِهِمْ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا فِجَاجًۭا سُبُلًۭا لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ ٣١وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ فِى فَلَكٍۢ يَسْبَحُونَ ٣٣وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ سَقْفًۭا مَّحْفُوظًۭا ۖ وَهُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ ٣٢
[Do the disbelievers not realize that the heavens and earth were ˹once˺ one mass then We split them apart? And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe? And We have placed firm mountains upon the earth so it does not shake with them, and made in it broad pathways so they may find their way. And We have made the sky a well-protected canopy, still they turn away from its signs.1And He is the One Who created the day and the night, the sun and the moon—each travelling in an orbit.
(Surah Al Anbiya /21: Ayat 30–33)
Reflection: This remarkable passage touches on multiple acts of creation and sustenance, presenting them as evidence for faith. It begins with a bold cosmological statement: the heavens and earth were once a unified entity (“joined together”) before God separated them. This implies the universe had a single origin – a beginning point – before the differentiated heaven and earth came to be. It then immediately mentions that water is the basis of life (“every living thing” made of water), highlighting the essential role of water in creation.
The rhetorical question “Will they not then believe?” connects
these facts of nature to an appeal for faith – as if to say, understanding
these truths should lead one to acknowledge the Creator. Next, the verses
reinforce themes discussed earlier: mountains to stabilize the earth
(preventing constant shaking), paths to travel (natural routes), and
the sky as a protected canopy (shielding life), though sadly, people
ignore these signs. Finally, the passage culminates in a description of celestial
bodies in motion: the alternation of night and day, and the fact that the sun
and moon each “swim” in an orbit. In short, [Surah Al Anbiya: Ayat30–33] presents a mini narrative
of creation: a universe with a beginning, life emerging with water, Earth
shaped with stability and guidance for humans, a sky that protects, and
celestial orbits that regulate time.
The spiritual takeaway is
powerful: such an intricately arranged reality is calling on humans to “not
turn away” but to recognize the Creator’s hand. It combats disbelief
by urging people to reflect on origins and order – from the
macro-scale origin of the cosmos to the micro-scale composition of living cells
– as clear pointers to God’s existence and care. The inclusion of both cosmic
phenomena (Big Bang-like separation, orbital motion) and everyday phenomena (rain,
mountains, daily cycle) shows how the Qur’an weaves them into a single coherent
argument for faith. It’s saying, in essence: Look at the big picture
and the small details – everywhere you will find the mark of divine wisdom. The
passage also links to hope and accountability: the One who brought forth life
and set this careful order can surely resurrect and gather us (implied by
reminding disbelievers to believe).
Scientific Insight: These verses align strikingly with several modern scientific concepts:
Primordial Unity and Separation (Big Bang): “The heavens and the earth were joined together, and then We split them apart” is often paralleled with the Big Bang theory of cosmic origin. According to modern cosmology, at the very beginning, all matter and energy were concentrated in an extremely hot, dense state – essentially a singular “joined” entity. The universe then expanded and separated into distinct parts over time. As one scientific summary states: “Around 13.7 billion years ago, everything in the entire universe was condensed in an infinitesimally small, hot, and dense point (a singularity). This then rapidly expanded,” giving rise to space and time as we know them. In the early moments, there wasn’t yet “earth” or “heavens” (stars/galaxies); it was an undifferentiated plasma.
Only later did subatomic particles and hydrogen form, then coalesce into stars (which produce heavier elements that later form planets). In that sense, “heavens and earth” (meaning the sky above and earth below, or broadly, cosmic matter and future planetary matter) were initially one connected fabric of energy before separating into structured forms. The Qur’anic wording captures the essence of this scenario in accessible terms for its audience: everything was once one mass, then parted. It is important not to claim the Qur’an is a physics textbook (it doesn’t mention timescales or plasma), but the agreement in concept is noteworthy. This verse stands out given that historically many thought the universe was eternal and static. The Big Bang theory, which only became accepted in the mid-20th century, confirmed a singular origin and subsequent expansion (a “splitting apart”).
It’s as if (Surah Al Anbiya /21: Ayat 30 above) anticipated the idea of a common origin of all creation. Some Islamic commentators in the modern era gleefully note how (Surah Al Anbiya /21: Ayat 30 above) phrasing fits this scientific discovery closely, though classical scholars had various interpretations (some thought it referred to the separation of rain clouds from sky, or of the earth from a primal nebula). Regardless, the resonance with Big Bang and unified origin is strong and often cited in the discourse on “Qur’an and science.” It’s certainly a point of fascination that a 7th-century text speaks of the universe’s beginning in a way that harmonizes with today’s astrophysics understanding.
Life from Water: “We made from water every living thing.” Biologically, it is true that every known life form on Earth is composed mostly of water. Cells are typically 70% or more water by weight. Water is the solvent of life’s chemistry, enabling proteins to fold, nutrients to transport, and metabolic reactions to occur. Furthermore, the consensus among scientists is that life originated in water, likely in Earth’s early oceans or hydrothermal vents. Fossil evidence and geochemistry indicate life began in the seas perhaps ~3.5 to 4 billion years ago.
There is also the fact that life absolutely requires liquid water – wherever we find water on Earth, we tend to find life, and where water is absent (like dry deserts or sterilized spacecraft), life struggles or is absent. NASA’s astrobiology motto has been “follow the water” when searching for life on other planets. The Qur’an, using water as the essence of life, is a profound truth. It not only preempts the discovery of cells’ composition, but also can be read to imply life’s origin from water. Some classical commentators even said this verse indicates life began in water, which is an impressive insight before modern science. An interesting side note: recently, scientists like those at NASA’s JPL have simulated how life’s building blocks could form in undersea alkaline hydrothermal vents.
These vents create natural proton gradients and chemical cycles – essentially a natural “laboratory” that could assemble organic molecules into the first cells. What do these vents gush? Heated water with minerals. So indeed, the frontiers of origin-of-life research echo “from water every living thing.” It’s one of the undisputed principles of biology that water is the matrix of life. For someone hearing this in Muhammad’s time, it might simply mean “all living things need water to survive” (an obvious fact in a desert context). But the wording “made every living thing from water” hints at a material origin, which is scientifically spot-on.
Mountains and Pathways (Geological stability and routes): “Placed mountains on earth lest it should shake with them, and made broad pathways so they might be guided.” This reiterates 16:15. We’ve already discussed how mountains contribute to tectonic stability and climate regulation. This verse adds “broad pathways,” implying natural travel routes. The combination suggests that Earth’s topography was shaped in a way to both stabilize (via mountains) and facilitate (via valleys and plains) human life. Geologically, the formation of large mountain ranges (through plate collisions) often also creates adjacent basins and plains (due to crustal warping), which can become fertile valleys or travel corridors.
For example, the rise of the Himalayas created the vast Indo-Gangetic plain, one of the world’s flattest, most fertile, and most populated areas, literally a “broad pathway” along north India. One could say the verse astutely observes a pattern: where there are mountains, there are often wide valleys or plateaus that humans use. Science would explain isostasy, erosion, and deposition – when mountains rise, nearby land often sinks a bit or gets filled with eroded sediment, forming flat areas. It’s a holistic view of terrain formation. That this is linked to guidance (both physical guidance and possibly metaphorical guidance by the signs of God) shows how intimately people’s environment is tied to their journey of life.
Sky as a Protected Canopy: “We made the sky a protected canopy.” This is a clear reference to the protective functions of Earth’s atmosphere and perhaps magnetosphere.
We’ve touched on this in;
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍۢ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّۭ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ ٢
It is Allah Who has raised the heavens without pillars—as you can see—then established Himself on the Throne. He has subjected the sun and the moon, each orbiting for an appointed term. He conducts the whole affair. He makes the signs clear so that you may be certain of the meeting with your Lord.
[Surah Ar R'ad/13: Ayat 2]
and
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
لَقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَـٰبًۭا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ ۖ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ١٠
We have surely revealed to you a Book, in which there is glory for you. Will you not then understand?
[Surah Al Anbiya/21: Ayat 10]
But here it’s concise: the sky (heaven) serves as a shield. We know the ozone layer protects life from harmful ultraviolet radiation, the atmosphere as a whole burns up most meteors (so we don’t get constant bombardment), and the magnetosphere deflects solar wind and cosmic rays. Earth is uniquely well-protected compared to, say, the Moon (which has no atmosphere, so every meteor hits the surface and there’s no UV shield). This verse says disbelievers “turn away” from these signs – indeed, for a long time, people didn’t realize how lucky we are for our atmosphere. Only in the last century did we discover the ozone layer and then, unfortunately, damage it with CFCs, prompting global action to heal it (successful, mostly). The mention in a 7th-century text that the sky is a secure canopy is another example of a prescient observation: only someone who reflects on why things don’t fall from the sky constantly or why sunlight doesn’t kill us might surmise some form of protection is in place. Today’s science not only confirms this protection but quantifies it (e.g., UV-B absorption by ozone, meteor burn-up altitude ~80 km up, etc.).
Celestial Orbits (Sun, Moon, Night, Day): “He created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; each is swimming along in an orbit.” This encapsulates the concept that all these elements – day/night (which result from Earth’s rotation), and the sun and moon – move in defined paths. We’ve earlier discussed:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
وَٱلشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّۢ لَّهَا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ ٣٨وَٱلْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلْعُرْجُونِ ٱلْقَدِيمِ ٣٩لَا ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنۢبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدْرِكَ ٱلْقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّۭ فِى فَلَكٍۢ يَسْبَحُونَ ٤٠
[The sun travels for its fixed term. That is the design of the Almighty, All-Knowing.As for the moon, We have ordained ˹precise˺ phases for it, until it ends up ˹looking˺ like an old, curved palm stalk.It is not for the sun to catch up with the moon,1 nor does the night outrun the day. Each is travelling in an orbit of their own.]
[Surah Yassin/36: Ayat 38–40]
in detail, which similarly mentions celestial bodies “swimming” in orbits.
So, literally, everything is in orbit. The use of the term “swim” (yasbaḥūn) conveys the image of effortless gliding through space, much like planets indeed travel through the vacuum of space with no friction, resembling celestial swimmers. It’s poetically and scientifically apt. Historically, no one knew about galactic orbits, but they did perceive regular movements of sun and moon. The Qur’an doesn’t delve into what each is orbiting, just that they have orbits – which is true. Critics in the past might have thought the sun doesn’t orbit anything (since in Ptolemaic astronomy everything orbits Earth), but the Qur’an doesn’t fall into the trap of geocentrism; it just says they all move in orbits. Modern science filled in the details: Earth orbits sun, moon orbits Earth, sun orbits in galaxy. There’s a nice consistency here: no conflict with our current understanding, and even a subtle hint that orbits are ubiquitous.
Taken together, (Surah Al Anbiya /21: Ayat 30–33-above) is like a summary of cosmological and biological knowledge in
four short verses: universe’s beginning, water-based life, geological features
aiding life, atmospheric protection, and cosmic mechanics. For a believer, it’s
a powerful sign that the Qur’an, while not a science book, aligns with
scientific reality in profound ways. For a scientist (Muslim or not), it’s
at least an interesting set of statements to ponder how a 7th-century person
might have such insights or whether it’s lucky phrasing that stands the test of
time.
At the very least, these
verses have encouraged positive discussions: many Muslims working in science
mention (Surah Al Anbiya /21: Ayat 30 - above) as an inspiration to study cosmology or biology, feeling their
faith told them of these truths centuries ago. While one must be careful not to
oversimplify (the Qur’an doesn’t give equations or specifics), the spirit
of inquiry is certainly there: “Will you not then believe?” –
or one might say, “will you not then investigate and reflect?” because
belief in Islam is often a result of deep reflection (tafakkur) on such signs.
Thus, the convergence here between scripture and science can serve as a bridge,
encouraging a holistic appreciation of truth, where scientific discovery becomes
a means of spiritual remembering, exactly as the Qur’an suggests in these
ayat (signs).
An illustration of a cosmic explosion and
expansion, evocative of the Big Bang. The Quran’s phrase “the heavens and the
earth were joined together and We split them apart” (Surah Al Anbiya/21: Ayat 30) can be compared to
the modern Big Bang theory of an initial singularity followed by cosmic
expansion.
