Before we start off, lets just get a good glimpse of the things we will be looking into; which is this development of the universe, as proposed by the Koran.
We will be looking at the first passages on the Big Bang pre-suppostion from the different translators.
Note however, that these passages provide the ground on the topic of this thread as they describe the beginning and development of the universe (according to the Koran):
Sura 021.030
YUSUFALI: Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were joined together (as one unit of creation), before we clove them asunder? We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?
PICKTHAL: Have not those who disbelieve known that the heavens and the earth were of one piece, then We parted them, and we made every living thing of water? Will they not then believe?
SHAKIR: Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were closed up, but We have opened them; and We have made of water everything living, will they not then believe?
Sura 021.031
YUSUFALI: And We have set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with them, and We have made therein broad highways (between mountains) for them to pass through: that they may receive Guidance.
PICKTHAL: And We have placed in the earth firm hills lest it quake with them, and We have placed therein ravines as roads that haply they may find their way.
SHAKIR: And We have made great mountains in the earth lest it might be convulsed with them, and We have made in it wide ways that they may follow a right direction.
Sura 021.032
YUSUFALI: And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!
PICKTHAL: And we have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents.
SHAKIR: And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy and (yet) they turn aside from its signs.
Sura 021.033
YUSUFALI: It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course.
PICKTHAL: And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.
SHAKIR: And He it is Who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (orbs) travel along swiftly in their celestial spheres.
To summarize these passages:
the Koran presents a cosmological development, that contains a range of stages:
1) the heavens and earth are joined together into one piece (nothing is mentioned of the creation of this particular piece of matter)
2) Allah splits or parts this clump of material into the earth and the pre-material of the heavens
3) Every living thing is created out of water
4) the earth is formed
5) Allah creates the heaven, which is desribe as the canopy or the roof of
the universe
6) Then Allah creates the day and the night based upon the sun’s and moon’s orbit around the earth.
The next passage, which helps us grasping the full context:
041.009
YUSUFALI: Say: Is it that ye deny Him Who created the earth in two Days? And do ye join equals with Him? He is the Lord of (all) the Worlds.
PICKTHAL: Say (O Muhammad, unto the idolaters): Disbelieve ye verily in Him Who created the earth in two Days, and ascribe ye unto Him rivals? He (and none else) is the Lord of the Worlds.
SHAKIR: Say: What! do you indeed disbelieve in Him Who created the earth in two periods, and do you set up equals with Him? That is the Lord of the Worlds.
041.010
YUSUFALI: He set on the (earth), mountains standing firm, high above it, and bestowed blessings on the earth, and measure therein all things to give them nourishment in due proportion, in four Days, in accordance with (the needs of) those who seek (Sustenance).
PICKTHAL: He placed therein firm hills rising above it, and blessed it and measured therein its sustenance in four Days, alike for (all) who ask;
SHAKIR: And He made in it mountains above its surface, and He blessed therein and made therein its foods, in four periods: alike for the seekers.
041.011
YUSUFALI: Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience."
PICKTHAL: Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and unto the earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient.
SHAKIR: Then He directed Himself to the heaven and it is a vapor, so He said to it and to the earth: Come both, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly.
041.012
YUSUFALI: So He completed them as seven firmaments in two Days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with guard. Such is the Decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.
PICKTHAL: Then He ordained them seven heavens in two Days and inspired in each heaven its mandate; and We decked the nether heaven with lamps, and rendered it inviolable. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Knower.
SHAKIR: So He ordained them seven heavens in two periods, and revealed in every heaven its affair; and We adorned the lower heaven with brilliant stars and (made it) to guard; that is the decree of the Mighty, the Knowing.
here:
1) The earth is created in two days
2) the earth is formed and made to sustain its living beings (this takes 4 days)
3) the heavens are still smoke at this time (Yusuf Ali adds ‘as’ which is not found in the Arabic); Allah calls the smoke and the earth to come together
4) then Allah makes the smoke into seven heavens, and reveals in each of them its affair
5) the lowest is adorned with stars to guard it (this took 2 days); in all 8 days!
To summarize them in comparison:
1. Sura 21 includes the origins of the heavenly material, the clump of material, which contains the earth and the edges or the seven heavens; then Allah splits it.
2. Both Sura 21 and Sura 41 state that the earth was created at this stage and even formed and made to sustain its living being.
3. Sura 41 then describes how Allah commands the earth and the smoke to come together and both Suras then state that Allah used the smoke to create the stratums of the heaven (according to Sura 21) or (or) and the seven heavens according to Sura 41.
4. The the stars are created according to Sura 41 and the sun and the moon orbit the earth according to Sura 21.
Here is the full picture:
1. Heavens and earth are united into one clump
2. The clump is separated
3. The earth is there and the rest of the clump is smoke
4. The earth is formed and blessed with all necessities for living creatures to live, and living things
are made from water
5. The earth and the smoke is called together
6. The smoke is made into the seven heavenly stratums
7. The sun, moon and the stars are created and their orbit starts
8. The heavens and the earth are brought back together again
Notes and problems on Koranic description:
1. The Koran at this point does not refer to space itself, but only the creation of matter.
2. Is it logical to assume that the earth existed in its full form prior to the sun, moon and stars and even prior to the creation of the heavenly roof and stratums?
3. How could the necessities for life on earth and the earth’s formation exist before the structure of the universe?
4. Is it logically correct to assume that earth functioned in its perfection prior to the orbit of the sun and the moon?
In this thread I will look at the Koran from three angles:
Does it consist in itself?
Is it truly consistent with modern science?
Does the Koranic description reveal new ideas proposed by Allah, Muhammad or a contemporary author, or does it plagiarise scientific ideas which were common knowledge prior to the religion of Islam?