Between Science and Quran

The “Big Bang”

Dr. Hussein Mhanna

A theory that became a fact*More than 1400 years ago the Holy Quran

referred to the beginning of the creation of the universe in one of its Holy verses , this reference is in conformity of what is now scientifically known as " the Big Bang " .

*The Big Bang, a theory that explains how the universe came into being , is the most accepted theory in this regard. This theory, now a fact, is scientifically proved. When this theory first appeared, it was shrugged and even rejected by atheists as it means that the universe has a beginning, that is, there must be a creator. Atheists welcomed many other theories such as Darwinism and materialism.

What is the “Big Bang”?!

What is the “Big Bang”?!*The "Big Bang" is the term given to what is currently the

most widely accepted scientific model for the origin and evolution of the Universe. The creation of the universe is explained by astrophysicists in a widely accepted phenomenon, popularly known as the ‘Big Bang’. It is supported by observational and experimental data gathered by astronomers and astrophysicists for decades.

* According to the ‘Big Bang’, the whole universe was initially one big mass (Primary Nebula).

*Then there was a ‘Big Bang’ (Secondary Separation) which resulted in the formation of Galaxies. These then divided to form stars, planets, the sun, the moon, etc.

*The origin of the universe was unique and the probability of it occurring by ‘chance’ is zero.

*Note

* The earliest instant of the Big Bang expansion is still an area of open investigation.

*The Big Bang theory does not provide any explanation for the initial conditions of the universe; rather, it describes and explains the general evolution of the universe going forward from that point on.

*History*Georges Lemaître first proposed what became the Big Bang

theory in what he called his "hypothesis of the primeval atom".

*The framework for the Big Bang model relies on Albert Einstein's general relativity and on simplifying assumptions such as homogeneity andisotropy of space.

*The governing equations were first formulated byAlexander Friedmann and similar solutions were worked on by Willem de Sitter.

*In 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered that the distances to far away galaxies were strongly correlated with their redshifts—an idea originally suggested by Lemaître in 1927.

*on 17 March 2014, astronomers at the Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics announced that they had detected and produced "the first direct image of gravitational waves across the primordial sky" within the cosmic microwave background, providing strong evidence for inflation and the Big Bang.

Life Stages of the Universe

*The Big Bang

*The expansion

*The early hot state

(The gaseous cloud )

*The formation of light elements

*The formation of galaxies

Evidence of the “Big Bang” theory

*The Hubble diagram

*Abundance of light elements

*Large scale structure

*The cosmic microwave background Radiation (CMBR)

*Fluctuation in the CMBR

*Galactic evolution and distribution

*Primordial gas clouds

*Dark matter

*Consistency

*And many others

Galaxies are moving away from us

*In 1912, Vesto Slipher calculated the speed and direction of “spiral nebulae” by measuring the change in the wavelengths of light coming from them. He realized that most of them were moving away from us. We now know these objects are galaxies, but a century ago astronomers thought these vast collections of stars might actually be within the Milky Way.

*In 1924, Edwin Hubble figured out that these galaxies are actually outside the Milky Way.

*So, if these galaxies are far, far away, and moving quickly away from us, this suggests that the entire Universe must have been located in a single point billions of years ago.

Abundance of light elements*In the earliest moments after the Big Bang,

there was nothing more than hydrogen compressed into a tiny volume, with crazy high heat and pressure. The entire Universe was acting like the core of a star, fusing hydrogen into helium and other elements.

*This is known as Big Bang Nucleosynthesis.

*As astronomers look out into the Universe and measure the ratios of hydrogen, helium and other trace elements, they exactly match what you would expect to find if the entire Universe was once a really big star.

Cosmic Microwave Background radiation

*In the 1960s, Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson were experimenting with a 6-meter radio telescope, and discovered a background radio emission that was coming from every direction in the sky – day or night.

*Theories predicted that after a Big Bang, there would have been a tremendous release of radiation. And now, billions of years later, this radiation would be moving so fast away from us that the wavelength of this radiation would have been shifted from visible light to the microwave background radiation we see today.

*In other words: Very early in its history, the whole Universe was very hot. As it expanded, this heat left behind a "glow" that fills the entire Universe. The Big Bang theory not only predicts that this glow should exist, but that it should be visible as microwaves (part of the Electromagnetic spectrum) and this is the Cosmic Microwave Background which has been accurately measured.

The detailed, all-sky picture of the infant universe created from nine years of WMAP data. The image reveals 13.77 billion year old temperature fluctuations (shown as color differences) that correspond to the seeds that grew to become the galaxies. The signal from our galaxy was subtracted using the multi-frequency data. This image shows a temperature range of ± 200 microKelvin.

9 year WMAP image of background cosmic radiation (2012)

The formation of galaxies and the large scale structure of the cosmos

*About 10,000 years after the Big Bang, the Universe cooled to the point that the gravitational attraction of matter was the dominant form of energy density in the Universe.

*This mass was able to collect together into the first stars, galaxies and eventually the large scale structures we see across the Universe today.

Galactic Evolution and Distribution

*The first quasars and galaxies formed about a billion years after the Big Bang.

*Since then larger structures have been forming, such as galaxy clusters and superclusters.

*Populations of stars have been aging and evolving, so that distant galaxies (which are observed as they were in the early universe) appear very different from nearby galaxies (observed in a more recent state).

*Moreover, galaxies that formed relatively recently appear markedly different from galaxies formed at similar distances but shortly after the Big Bang.

*These observations are strong arguments against the steady-state model.

Hubble Goes to the Extreme to Assemble Farthest-Ever View of the

Universe (XDF image)* Like photographers assembling a portfolio of best shots, astronomers have assembled

a new, improved portrait of mankind's deepest-ever view of the universe. Called the eXtreme Deep Field, or XDF, the photo was assembled by combining 10 years of NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken of a patch of sky.

* By collecting faint light over many hours of observation, it revealed thousands of galaxies, both nearby and very distant, making it the deepest image of the universe ever taken at that time.

* The history of galaxies -- from soon after the first galaxies were born to the great galaxies of today, like our Milky Way -- is laid out in this one remarkable image.

* Hubble pointed at a tiny patch of southern sky in repeat visits (made over the past decade) for a total of 50 days, with a total exposure time of 2 million seconds. More than 2,000 images of the same field were taken.

* The universe is 13.7 billion years old, and the XDF reveals galaxies that span back 13.2 billion years in time. Most of the galaxies in the XDF are seen when they were young, small, and growing, often violently as they collided and merged together. The early universe was a time of dramatic birth for galaxies containing brilliant blue stars extraordinarily brighter than our sun. The light from those past events is just arriving at Earth now, and so the XDF is a "time tunnel into the distant past." The youngest galaxy found in the XDF existed just 450 million years after the universe's birth in the big bang.

* Hubble gave astronomers their first view of the actual forms and shapes of galaxies when they were young. This provided compelling, direct visual evidence that the universe is truly changing as it ages. Like watching individual frames of a motion picture, the Hubble deep surveys reveal the emergence of structure in the infant universe and the subsequent dynamic stages of galaxy evolution.

Hubble eXtreme Deep Field "XDF" (2012) view – Every speck of light is an entire galaxy - some of these are as old as 13.2 billion years - the observable universe is estimated to contain 200 billion galaxies

XDF image shows mature galaxies in the foreground plane - nearly mature galaxies from 5 to 9 billion years ago - protogalaxies beyond 9 billion years.

A closer look…

The Video on the next slide explains more…

If it doesn’t open you can watch it here or here

Or download it here

Primordial Gas Clouds*In 2011 astronomers found what they believe to be

pristine clouds of primordial gas, by analyzing absorption lines in the spectra of distant quasars.

*Before this discovery, all other astronomical objects have been observed to contain heavy elements that are formed in stars.

*These two clouds of gas contain no elements heavier than hydrogen and deuterium.

*Since the clouds of gas have no heavy elements, they likely formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang, during Big Bang nucleosynthesis. Their composition matches the composition predicted from Big Bang nucleosynthesis.

*This provides direct evidence that there was a period in the history of the universe before the formation of the first stars, when most ordinary matter existed in the form of clouds of neutral hydrogen.

So lets wrap up:

*The entire matter of the universe was collected

at one single point

*Then it exploded: The Big Bang.

*There was a gas cloud

*The denser parts started forming galaxies

*During all this time the Universe is expanding

OK… enough science,now lets see what the

Quran says about that…

The “Big Bang”in the Quran

*Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

Sahih International

*And have not the ones who disbelieved seen that the heavens and the earth were an integrated (mass), then We unseamed them, and of water We have made every living thing? Would they then not believe?

Dr. Ghali

{21:30}

The meanings of the Quranic words

*“Ratq” in arabic: means when 2 or more entities are joined / sewn / blended together to form one entity.

*The Quranic word “Ratq” is what is referred to in modern science as “one mass”.

* It is used to refer to the state of the universe before being exploded.

*“Fatq” is the opposite of “Ratq”: unstitch / tear apart / cleave

*It refers to the explosion / Big Bang, of that original “one mass”

Scientific Facts in simple words

We notice here two remarkable features of the Qur'an.

*The first feature is that it expresses scientific truths that will be verified many centuries later.

*The second feature is that the Qur'an expresses those truths using terms and expressions that would avoid confusing its first readers in the seventh century.

*Note also that the verse starts with a prophecy that has come true; it states that those who will discover how the universe came into being will be among the disbelievers and that prophecy was fulfilled because those who discovered this fact were not believers in Islam.

*Unlike the meanings of the big bang , the Quranic words denote system , wisdom , creativity while the words Big Bang , a term invented by scientists , implies random chaos.

The Primordial Gas Cloud

in the Quran

*Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke…

Sahih International

*Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke…

Yusuf Ali

{41:11}

The skies were smoke

*Concerning the creation of the heavens and the earth, the Qur'an says that ,prior to the creation, the Heaven was smoke.

*As mentioned earlier, modern science supports the idea that right after the Big Bang, the universe was indeed a gaseous cloud.

*“Astronomers have found pristine clouds of the primordial gas that formed in the first few minutes after the Big Bang. The composition of the gas matches theoretical predictions, providing direct evidence in support of the modern cosmological explanation for the origins of elements in the universe.”

(http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6060/1245)

Smoke or Gas?!*"Smoke is generally made up of a gaseous substratum, plus, in more or less stable suspension, fine particles that may belong to solid and even liquid states of matter at high or low temperature".

Dr. Maurice Bucaille in his book called The Bible, the Qur'an and Science

*Therefore there’s no contradiction betweem the Quranic use of the Arabic word dukhan (translated smoke) and a modern interpretation of that word as a gaseous mass with fine particles when speaking of the formation of the universe. 

*Remember that the Quran was revealed in the 7th century, where people had no concept of “gas”, but could  easily relate to the image of smoke.

Mass Density of the Universe*Mass Density of the Universe had to be at an

accurately calculated value, not more, nor less!

* If larger: Too much deuterium from Big Bang, hence stars burn too rapidly No universe formation

*If smaller: No helium from big bang, hence not enough heavy elements No universe formation

Limits for the Universe by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. in Astronomy

The Expansion of the Universe

in the Quran

{51:47}

*And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.

Sahih International

*And the heaven (is also a sign). We have built it with (Our) Hands (i.e., Capability) and surely We are indeed extending (it) wide.

Dr. Ghali

The Expansion of the Universe

*Until the 20th century the prevailing belief was that the universe has a constant nature .

*However, modern research, observations, and calculations carried out by means of modern technology have revealed that the universe in fact had a beginning and that it constantly expands.

*The expansion of the universe , a corollary of the Big Bang , is mentioned in the Holy Quran as evidence to Allah's infinite Might of Allah.

*The word “moosi’oon” in verse {51:47} means “ steadily expanding”, so the word indicates  that the universe is not static but assures that the universe is constantly expanding.

Expansion rate of the universe

*The expansion of the universe had to be at an accurately calculated rate, not more, nor less!

*If larger: No galaxy formation.

*If smaller: Universe collapses prior to star formation.

Limits for the Universe by Hugh Ross, Ph.D. in Astronomy

Every explosion leaves a mess,Except this one!

Order from Disorder!* To me, the greatest discovery yet to come will be to find how this universe,

coming into being from a Big Bang, developed its laws of operation. I call this "Law without Law" [Or "Order from Disorder"].

*One of the biggest problems is how to state the problem. It's an old saying that the minute you can state a problem correctly you understand 90 percent of the problem. One of the greatest problems concerns the meaning of measurement or observation. According to quantum theory, measurements can influence what happens. The fact that it is difficult to talk about this problem in an easy way suggests that we have much to learn.

* Putting it another way:

*How can we possibly imagine the universe with all its regularities and its laws coming into being out of something utterly helter-skelter, higgledy-piggledy and random?

*Or, in still another form:

* If you were the Lord constructing the universe, how would you have gone about it?

John A. Wheeler (father of the Black Hole)

Imam Ali describes the Creation of the

Universe * TَقVْت Tـ َف ZُهTاَن TَحVْب Zـ ُس Tَأ TَشVَنT ُثZَّمd َأ...gاِء Tَج Vاألْر dَق TَشTَو ،gاِء Tَو Vاألَج

(الخطْبة األَولى من َنهج الْبالغة)

*Imam Ali uses the same arabic word used in the Quran “fatq”:

{Then He (Allah) created the rupturing of the atmospheres, and the cleaving of the directions…}

First sermon of Nahj-ul-Balagha

How could Muhammad know all that?!

“Thinking where Muhammad came from . . . I think it is almost impossible that he could have known about things like the common origin of the universe, because scientists have only found out within the last few years, with very complicated and advanced technological methods, that this is the case.”

Dr. Alfred Kroner

(Dr. Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geologists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of the Department of Geology at the Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany.)

*Sources*http://quran.com/

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bang

*http://www.universetoday.com/106498/what-is-the-evidence-for-the-big-bang/

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_diagram

*http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2012/37/image/a/warn/

*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble_Extreme_Deep_Field

*http://www.sciencemag.org/content/334/6060/1245

*http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110142050.htm

*http://www.doesgodexist.org/Charts/EvidenceForDesignInTheUniverse.html

*http://www.quran-m.com/firas/en1/index.php/universe/139-the-big-bang-between-science-a-quran.html

*http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul-balagha-part-1-sermons/sermon-1-praise-due-allah-whose-worth-cannot-be-described#creation-universe