Modern science supports the scientific statement in Quran about the darkness of the universe. .

1. By MagdyAbdalshafy

2. Overview It has been scientifically proven after keen observation and frequent travels into space that : There are what looks like gates in heaven The universe is engulfed in darkness. Objects can’t move in straight line. The universe is a huge structure. The Holy Qur’an, in just one verse, has stated these facts, which were revealed more than 1400 years ago.

3. Believe or not, the sun is not as it appears to us The sun, if seen from a point in space, will look like a blue dot. The centre of the sun, though the temperature is so high, is completely dark. The sun rays travel to the outer layers of the sun unseen. These invisible rays become visible only when they penetrate the earth’s atmosphere where they begin to be reflected and refracted, causing the light to be seen.

4. In these pictures, planet earth is completely engulfed in darkness. You can just see a thin layer of light . This is scientifically known as the day layer to which the Holy Quran refers.

5. The Quranic Verse on the Darkness of the Universe God says in the Holy Quran what means: “Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, (14) They would only say: "Our eyes have been covered: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." (14:14-15)

7. There are certain points through which man can travel into space.

8. The universe is structured.

9. The universe is overwhelmed with darkness.

11. The Holy verse says:….Gates from the Universe There was and still is a problem facing scientists whenever they think about travelling into space; it is the magnetic fields and gravity that overwhelms the universe. Because of this, scientists always try to find ( a gate) through which the spaceship could move freely, otherwise the movement direction of the space ship will always be affected by the gravity and the magnetic fields.

12. Remember the verse says: Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, (14) They would only say: "Our eyes have been covered: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." (14:14-15) Therefore, when the Holy Quran says gates from the heavens, it must be referring to these points that astronomers search for before launching their space ship.

15. NASA Super computer A supercomputer-produced cross-section of part of the universe shows galaxies as brighter dots along filaments of matter, with a sea of dark energy filling in between the galactic islands.

16. Movement into Space Owing to gravity in the universe, no object can move in a straight line. Not even light can move in a straight line. Space ships cannot travel into space in a straight line as well . So the Holy Qur’an always refers to the movement into space by the Arabic word “ Ya’roggon”, which means “ to move in a curve line”.

17. The verse says “Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, (14) They would only say: "Our eyes have been covered: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." (14:14-15)

18. The Darkness of the Universe The darkness of the universe was discovered when the first man travelled into space. After 200 km everything turned dark as the beautiful daylight disappeared. The sun emits unseen rays which begin to be reflected and scattered when it enters the earth’s atmosphere and thus the beautiful light that we know begins to be seen only when it enters the atmosphere.

19. The verse says Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, (14) They would only say: "Our eyes have been covered: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." (14:14-15) In order to say that the universe is engulfed in darkness, the Holy Qur’an says that if God allowed man to move into the gates of the heavens, he will feel as if his eyes were covered or closed.

20. So in this verse there is a prophecy and three scientific statements: The prophecy is that man will travel into space, and this has come true. The verse clearly states that there are what seems to be gates in the heavens. Astronomers know this fact so well, that they sometimes find themselves being forced to alter the direction of their spaceships lest they should be harmed by the heavy magnetic fields and gravity in the universe.

21. (3) And, also, there is a strong reference that the universe is a structure because buildings always have gates. (4) The phrase, “They were to continue (all day)” suggests that there is continuity of the darkness the more they go up. The word “ascend “ is not a perfect translation for the Arabic word, “Ya’rogoon” which means ascend in a (meandering/ curving/ bending) way. It doesn’t imply straightness when moving.

22. The verse says “Even if We opened out to them a gate from heaven, and they were to continue (all day) ascending therein, (14) They would only say: "Our eyes have been covered: Nay, we have been bewitched by sorcery." (14:14-15) The verse states that those who travel will feel as if their eyes are covered or blinded and this refers to the utter darkness of the universe.

23. CONCLUSION Science states that: Not every part of the atmosphere can be penetrated by the space ships. The verse states this fact by the words, “gates from heaven”. The earth is engulfed in darkness, which is suggested by the phrase, “our eyes are covered”. The universe is a huge structure. The word, “gates” is illusive to the universe being a structure.

24. We therefore ask ourselves the following questions: Who told Muhammad (SWS) these facts, which were only discovered at the end of the 20th century? Isn’t this a proof that Prophet Muhammad (SWS) received the Holy Qur’an from God? Isn’t this a proof that the universe has a creator, who created it and knows every minute details about it and it is He Who revealed these words to His Prophet?