As tantalizing as theories go, they don’t really solve the immediate, pressing problems encountered in today’s world by a lot of the world’s population. What theories might accomplish is to open up what is seen by many as a ‘dry and worn out topic’ (religion) and put a little shot-in-the-arm interest in it.
The interest being like a fresh breeze blowing on the landscape of life – at least for those who seek out something beyond the humdrum, common events of existence. Yet knowledge or the lack thereof can be just as deadly as a cup full of poison.
To counteract that idea of deadly decay, one needs to bring in a multi-layered approach to any problem signifying a more complete and well-rounded approach to the subject. Some people, even in today’s so-called enlightened world, still think that the world is flat instead of spherical.
If so, they should base their so-called evidence, which by the way they produce, on a sound and a universal scientific evidence as well as anything that Scripture would throw in. Also, the psychological evidence about why people or nations behave in such a way needs to be explored.
Just going down a one-way street does not open up the ‘playbook’ for a more complete inspection. Therefore, outcomes are often skewed and hence, rendered unreliable at best!
So one should go back to the most excellent advice found in the Quran:
Or, WHO originates creation, then repeats it, and WHO gives you sustenance from heaven and earth? (Can there be another) god besides ALLAH? Say, “Bring forth your argument {evidence}, if you are telling the truth!” Quran (27:64)
Even with the best of evidence, then comes the interpretation thereof. True history, scientific advancement (theoretical or otherwise), psychology and Scriptural documentation, from varied sources, can help us with sound judgment but that still does not turn a theory into a completely known 100% verifiable fact!
The ‘old Tower of Babel’ found in the Old Testament depicts a post diluvium civilization bound and determined to advance in such great knowledge that they could march right up through the heavens to GOD’s THRONE and declare themselves self-sufficient entities like unto GOD HIMSELF.
What lessons can we perceive from the story of the Tower of Babel ( a kind of symbolic story) found in the Old Testament as far as it was meant to imply at those times?
Having the way to gain what they perceived as ‘the knowledge of creation’ making themselves ‘god-like’, they would be in control of their own destiny. So, they ended up biting the dust in their foolish presumptions and that is the symbolic story of mankind’s advancement and how people leave the worship of the ONE GOD and eventually attribute geniusnes and excellence to themselves.
This symbolic gesture brings to mind how mankind can praise himself as being something that he really is not. That is a self-sufficient ‘god’ in need of none but his own corrupt geniusnes.
And they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth” {meaning like the regular human beings}.
But the LORD came down to see the city and the tower which the sons of men had built.
And the LORD said, “Indeed the people are one and they all have one language, and this is what they begin to do; now {as their corrupt thinking would imply} nothing that they propose to do will be withheld from them {in their imaginations}.
Come, let US go down and there confuse their language, so that they will not understand one another’s speech.”
So the LORD scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they ceased building the city.
Therefore its name is called Babel, because there the LORD confused the language of all the earth; and from there the LORD scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth. Genesis (11:4-9)
In the Book of Daniel, we find that man, no matter what cycle or period he seems to be in, has a great deal of hope in his abilities to overcome conditions that, by the way, he created in the first place, such that Divine intervention seems like a good story to tell to frighten little children.
In the following verses, we see that man only fools himself and should rely more on his CREATOR than his self-sense of importance:
But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge {knowledge of all sorts in all disciplines}.”
Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank.
One of them said to the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?”
The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by HIM who lives forever, saying, “It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My LORD, what will the outcome of all this be?”
HE replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.
Many will be purified, made spotless and refined {in their trials but will remain on Faith}, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. Daniel (12:4-10)
Nowadays with the inventions of modern, fantastic telescopes peering back through time close enough to the creation of the universe and through the use of physics and astronomy, man has been allowed to see what was not known before the year 2022. In fact, with new, precise measurements scientists have become excited in what they have seen and what it might possibly represent scientific wise!
Awhile back I said that, to me, the Quran was cyclic in nature as in a pattern is set and what occurs is played out in such general ways. For example, we know that ALLAH has sent men as prophets to this world for our education but in the main all of them met with this feeling:
The (people) said {to the prophets}: “You are only men like ourselves; and (ALLAH) Most Gracious sends no sort of revelation: you do nothing but lie.” Quran (36:15)
Their Messengers said: “Is there a doubt about ALLAH, The CREATOR of the Heavens and the earth? It is HE WHO invites you, in order that HE may forgive you your sins and give you respite for a term appointed!” They said: “Ah! You are no more than human, like ourselves! You wish to turn us away from the (gods) our fathers used to worship: then bring us some clear authority.” Quran 14:10)
Mankind was {at one time} one single nation, and ALLAH sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings; and with them HE sent the Book in Truth, to judge between people in matters wherein they differed; but the People of the Book, after the clear Signs came to them, did not differ among themselves, except through selfish contumacy. ALLAH by HIS Grace guided the believers {that branch that was to remain loyal to HIM} to the Truth {the major points}, concerning that wherein they {the peoples} differed. For ALLAH guided whom HE will to a path that is straight {based on HIS ALL INCOMPASSING KNOWLEDGE, FAIRNESS AND WISDOM}. Quran (2:213)
Being cyclic in nature meant that the Quran could cover all things at all times in all ages with a type of constant that would remain a truism – meaning a mighty miracle in itself as a form of Creative Imagining as the universe came into being.
It is literally beyond the comprehension of the minds of men to have such infinite variety based on a type of singularity. That idea actually carries the concept of ‘Oneness’ beyond the realms of human thought! After all, one of ALLAH’s Names is AL-WITER!
The reason why this is brought up is only lightly reflected on the supposed statements from ‘Abdullah ibn Abbas concerning a certain Quranic verse and what some scientists have recently put forward about our created universe based on some observable events. These things are highly theoretical or hypothetical and not anywhere near proven and are of no concrete or special benefit to mankind at this time.
Some scientists have theorized that our current universe started from an infinitely small speck and with a ‘big bang’ exploded into what we have today. They go further with their theory in stating that the universe may seem to one day collapse in on itself and then start the ‘big bang’ process all over again!
Say: “Of your ‘partners’{those you worship besides THE ONE GOD}, can any originate creation and repeat it?” Say: “It is ALLAH WHO originates creation and {HE does} repeat(s) it: then how are you deluded away (from the truth)?” Quran (10:34)
They will dwell therein for all the time that the heavens and the earth endure, except as your LORD Wills: for your LORD is the (sure) accomplisher of what HE Plans. Quran (11:107)
And to ALLAH belongs the Ghaib (Unseen) of the heavens and the earth, and to HIM return all affairs (for decision). So worship HIM and put your trust in HIM. And your LORD is not unaware of what you (people) do.” Quran (11:123)
This may not be as ridiculous as it seems when taking certain hadiths (never mind the Quran) into consideration. But these concepts are hard for the mind to grasp and considering the time element and what normal people are going through concerning hard times, which they have to put up with, it seems almost frivolous.
And yet there is Islam which lays down the truth before mankind was even born! A great representative of Islam is the Quran followed by correct hadith material. It is not a religion missing anything!
But blind people (and we are all blind to a certain degree and in a certain sense) should be more attracted to the ‘here and now’ rather than the theoretical or improbable that may or may not be possible. Why?
Because we tend to logically build on the here and now. We know this by our human logic which dictates that ‘a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’!!!
Still, Islam is the religion that keeps on giving and considering that the Quran is only about four-fifths the size of the New Testament that is pretty amazing!
However, as difficult as things appear, it is possible to come up with some type of hypothetical thought based upon what has been given to us – both from the Quran and correct hadith material. In Islam man is not forbidden to think as long as he puts things in the proper perspective in front of his CREATOR.
What this amounts to is just hypothetical thoughts from frail earth-based creatures (man) and his attachment to his own creation, the wonders thereof and the UNIQUENESS and DOMINANCE of the ONE GOD about WHOM none has ever seen – not even Prophet Muhammad (pbh) as can be verified from a hadith from his wife ‘Aisha (ALLAH be pleased with her).
It was narrated that ‘Aisha (Mother of the believers) said: “Whoever told you that Muhammad (pbh) saw his LORD was lying. He said that no vision {physical or mental} can grasp him (cf. al-An’aam 6:103)…” (Bukhari).
It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “I asked the Messenger of ALLAH (pbh), ‘Did you see your LORD {when you reached the highest level a created creature can go – even to the level that the great Archangel Gabriel can’t reach on your night of Ascension}?’ He said, ‘HE {ALLAH} is veiled by Light {so} how could I see HIM.’” (Muslim).
The Day that WE roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed), even as WE produced the first creation, so shall WE produce a new one: a Promise WE have undertaken: truly shall WE fulfil it. Quran (21:104)
See they not how ALLAH originates creation, then repeats it: truly that is easy for ALLAH. Quran (29:19)
It is ALLAH WHO begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; then shall you {all} be brought back to HIM. Quran (30:11)
AGAIN! This is a topic that is not clear and humans are asked to work their way through with what they know (what is in their hands, so to speak) and not spend too much time in trying to guess ‘how many angels can dance on the head of a pin’:
And the similitude of this would be to ask a starving man if he would like a real sandwich placed in his hand or to be able to just dream of a sumptuous banquet.
Most people would declare this second creation a limited creation concerning the Hereafter. In truth, ALLAH ALONE KNOWS FOR SURE but ALLAH is not limited by human thought! Truly, ALLAH ALONE KNOWS BEST and HE has given us the knowledge to succeed in getting to the next level (salvation) if we but would accept it!!!
However, the form of worship in praising THE ONE AND ONLY GOD is not just limited to formal worship but to deeds, action and even thought. And the thought of ALLAH’s DOMINANCE, POWER AND TOTAL PLANNING OF PERFECTION cannot be overestimated! So, with HIS PERMISSION, we can proceed!
Hadith literature does give us some vague notion of what might be in an extended life of the universe or universes if appropriate but only in theoretical expansion. The problem comes from deciphering what is literal and what is not. With this understanding, one can now take up the idea of the notion of all things being eliminated except the ONE GOD.
This occurs when ALLAH takes away everything that HE chooses and asks ‘where are the kings of the earth’ (hadith) implying how they walked on the earth like mighty powers but were actually nothing but clay vessels raised up by HIM in the first place.
Next, we have the slaughtering of the ‘ram’ which signifies that death or that cycle of life and death are finished, yielding joy to the people of Paradise (your work is over) but horrors to the people of Hell (for now they are trapped and all hope for them is gone as they must live with their regrets – at least as long as time lasts and time, as we know it, is not an eternal variable)!
Now some Islamic philosophers no doubt have ‘dabbled’ with some notion that Hell-Fire will eventually spiral in on itself, getting smaller and smaller until it ‘winks out’ of existence. Something on the order of a white dwarf star, smaller than planet Earth but so immeasurably dense that a tablespoon of said star would weigh more than Earth and what it contains!
Presumably, the souls trapped inside would be returned to their elemental creation of something like broken DNA strands drifting like retarded, broken lifeforms full of just plain regrets of what could have been. Or something like a two year old child being simple minded (retarded) and not knowing much but able to feel some things.
Contrary to this would be the souls of Paradise who are elevated to unknown joys and perfection in such supreme bliss that man can’t conceive but only try and dream of. Islamic hadiths have put some of these ‘thoughts’ in words but words can only portray limited things.
So that dreaming would still be imperfect because the man and his thoughts still remain deficient but the possibility of untold, and as of now, unfelt greatness is there to be lived and enjoyed. Under this idea, no soul would ever want to return to the dregs that used to be called ‘life on Earth’ even if he were given all the gold the Earth actually contains!
But, if some of those scientists are correct, in thinking that the physical universe will one day collapse and then be ‘born again’, it is only fitting that there will be a physical, populated universe for what good is a universe without people in it?
Now this concept by scientists seems really ‘out of this world’ or just simply so fantastic that it is hard to believe!!! That is true but when we come to Islam, which I have always believed was ahead of science and then take ‘Abdullah bin Abbas’ description of Quranic verse (65:12) as found in the Tafseer of Bil-Ma’thur by Imam Suyuti, one can be taken aback quite a bit concerning its possibilities.
‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas, a most excellent companion of the Prophet at a very young age, may have provided a clue as to this ADAM/adam quandary. His dropped hint about such matters actually would allow science and Islam to be in agreement and to show that there is a PROTOTYPE ADAM and other adams also.
{Ibn ‘Abbas ‘supposedly’ said concerning the verse of the 7 heavens and Earths, “If I explain this verse to you, it will {be made to} feel absurd to you. And you will think of it as a lie.” He also was reputed to have said: “How can I be sure that you won’t deny the extraordinary explanation of this verse {if I give it to you?”}
Ibn ‘Abbas was once reportedly asked about the verse Q (65: 12), “It is ALLAH who has created seven heavens and of the Earth, the like of them.” He replied, “Seven Earths: INEVERY Earth is a prophet like your Prophet, an Adam like your Adam, a Noah like your Noah, an Abraham like your Abraham and a Jesus like your Jesus“… (Al-Durr Al-Manthur in the Tafseer Bil-Ma’thur by Imam Suyuti who adhered to the Sunni- Shafi’i madhhab or school of thought). The soundness or correctness of the above declaration may or may not be in doubt – as ALLAH WILLS.}
The interpretation of the Qur’an (Tafseer) began right at the time of its revelation and is one of the earliest activities in Islamic sciences. The first exegetes among the Companions of the Prophet were Ibn ‘Abbas, `Abdullah ibn `Umar, Ubayy ibn Ka’b and others.
People used to ask the Prophet all sorts of questions as to the meaning of certain statements in the verses and the Prophet undertook the teaching and explanation of the Qur’an as far as the desert Arabs would be able to comprehend it. The Prophet’s answers were stored up in the memory of his Companions and this explains the great value and respect that Muslims place on the ‘soundness’ of approved hadith materials.
Whatever the case may be, this goes a long way in explaining the DOMINANCE of ISLAM as a religion and it being thought of as ‘more than just a Religion’ and even more than just a way of life but also a veritable treasure chest of information by which mankind can worship his LORD when he is careful not to overstep the bounds dictated by the religion itself!
And so it goes!
