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Like any good tourist, I had to take a picture of this historic monument. It's not anything too brilliant, or magnificent, but it is a quaint, even respectable landmark to commemorate Active World's narrative of when the world was born, and who was its first citizen. There's a bit more that would be interesting to know, such as who this first citizen was in the real world, and what their relation to Active Worlds was. Was this Cy person part of the team that created Active Worlds, or is this the first unique individual that signed up to become a citizen? A lot of questions, just from one statue and its simple homage.
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
Across the way from the drive in is the downtown area of the tutorial/welcome area. It's ok, for a prop, but not much there to explore. but this city scape with the airplane taking off overhead looks pretty cool.
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
You can read up on the roles of the two groups in the previous pic. It's interesting that they have this headquarters in the welcome town, but it's just a prop building. It's a curious thing, considering the two groups are supposed to have such active roles in welcoming new people and enforcing the G-rated standards. I would have loved to see some more development where you could enter the doors and check out the offices.
There's quite a few things that appear to be under construction in town. Another place, which was something like a community center, is raising issues that there was some type of mishandling of a situation by the company that owns Active Worlds and the group that has been in charge with keeping all the different virtual places you could go, as well as the events taking place. Whatever the issue was, it led whoever was doing the community center stuff to essentially retire, so now there's no way of knowing what worlds are even still around, as well as numerous broken links
Hopefully Active Worlds can get their stuff in order in 2022. What I've seen so far, especially in the art community that I'll be showcasing soon, there is a lot of amazing past history and potential future worth saving in this virtual community.
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
Theme: Pink - Aerosmith
Similar to Active Worlds, Worlds.com is another of the myriad of virtual worlds that popped up in the mid to late 1990's. Unlike Active Worlds, Worlds remains mostly like an archive to the past, with pretty much the main updates to this virtual world having to do with maintaining the servers and making sure that it can work on the latest operating systems.
Aerosmith World is one of the main regions that you can access by the basic set of spaces you can teleport to without needing access to private servers. That said, there is nothing creepy pasta revealed here. It's just the usual cringe you get from Aerosmith in the late 90's. I would gather by the video here (which still works!), 'Pink', off their Nine Lives album, that this space was made to help promote its release back in 1997.
So yeah, SL wasn't the only world in the metaverse that, for a few years, had the eye (and funding) of the entertainment industry before they dropped it for the next big thing. This happened to Worlds 10 years before Second Life had the big push back in 2007. That Worlds is still around 25 years later should give some hope that Second Life could be around to celebrate it's 25th birthday 10 years from now. The moral being that the longevity of the metaverse isn't found in commercialism, but in community.
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
Active Worlds, does have an 'immigration' system in place, possibly for safety measures, intending to insure that underaged people don't wind up down the rabbit hole of more mature worlds beyond the more general, G to PG worlds they have in their generic list of places to teleport to. Worlds doesn't have such measures, though it's not that easy to get to the creepy pasta private servers without actively looking for them by either finding the people that built those private worlds, or looking for references of these places in obscure areas on the internet. In other worlds, you're likely not to find super creepy stuff without actively seeking it out. There also are moderators that watch the general chat, so, while a few people may slip through the cracks, the community appears to moderate these things. Most anything I've found in both worlds I've explored have been mostly G to PG, with a few cringy stuff, and yet hardly anything compared to what you can find in various moderate and adult grids and regions on SL. Not to say the creepy pasta stuff isn't true, but again, you have to actively look fort it, It's like complaining about seeing a dragon naughty bit on SL when you were searching the furry or fantasy adult sims and regions on SL. If you don't want to see it, don't seek it out.
Still working through the pics for the art sim I found. I thought I'd share this to kind of show some of the pride the community of Active Worlds has had over the years. This is what you are greeted with when you teleport into the America region. They appear to be community awards from 2006 - 2008, roughly the time that Second Life was starting to go big. It's interesting to think that Active Worlds for 10 years had teleport abilities, as well as being able to go from different regions on different servers long before SL, OpenSim, and hypergrid were a thing. Thus paying homage to one of the earliest online virtual worlds that pioneered the early days of Web 3.0.
It also goes to show that if you have a strong community of active users in your virtual world, it can remain viable, at least to those that remain dedicated to the platform. Who knows? maybe some day we'll be featured in those creepy pasta videos where people explore the hidden secrets and cult of the nearly abandoned world of Second Life. 😏👌
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
Since I'm on a winter vacation this week, I figure I might check out a few virtual worlds outside of Second Life.
For some who may not know, Active Worlds is one of the oldest virtual worlds that is still online. It began in the mid 90's, so survived the dial-up days of the internet.
Of course, it's been updated quite a bit since then, as can be seen with the multimedia capabilities at this drive in scene. When you enter the area, the environment automatically goes to an early evening sky and lighting, and even the projector room has a light bloom come out of the window it is set up in. The movie doesn't seem to be streaming as much as uploaded, so can't say for certain if they have a live stream movie capability. But it's still pretty impressive considering that this type of media would be pretty much impossible during the early days. You were lucky if you could share .gif animated images back then. So yeah, pretty impressive update work here.
Note: I have come to consider places like Worlds and Active Worlds as being open virtual worlds. These were the pioneers of virtual spaces on the internet, and among the first to quote Snow Crash, even begin to coin 'metaverse' and web3.0 in trying to explain what they are. Therefore, any group that, in a general sense, speaks of themselves as an open world, open life, virtual world, web3.0, or hypergrid, seems appropriate appropriate groups to add them to. After all, these virtual worlds were very much ahead of the game and developed a lot of the aspects that make up our virtual world experiences even to this day. Not only did they have teleportation to different regions, but to different servers, even without utilizing a hypergate, but simply by teleporting to that server, as long as you had that server's coordinates. If you don't agree with this definition, let me know, and I won't post these in your group.
Enchanting Cosplay Fantasy! 🌌 Embrace playful poses & vibrant aesthetics with dollcore, pop surrealism & more! 🌈 From dark violet to light magenta, immerse in a kaleidoscope of colors! 🔮 Explore #Cosplay #Dollcore #PopSurrealism #FantasyFridays #PlayfulPoses #ColorfulAesthetics
🚀👩🚀 Unveiling fierce "Fierce Heroines" in the sci-fi realm! 🔥 Embrace the might of glowing laser weapons, laser hand fans, blasters, and rifles! 💫 #SciFi #FierceHeroines #FemaleEnforcers #CosplayPower #EpicAction #JeremyLipkingInspired
💖 Embrace Your Confident Curves 💖 Black, Leather, Pink - a powerful combination that shines in these stunning portrayals of women! 🌈 From hustlewave to babycore, these styles exude empowerment and individuality! 💪 #WomenInArt #ConfidentCurves #FashionInspiration #Diversity #ArtisticExpression #Afrofuturism #HealthGoth #Toyism #NeoPop
The Black Stone (called الحجر الأسود al-Hajr e Aswad in Arabic) is a Muslim relic, which according to Islamic tradition dates back to the time of Adam and Eve. Historical research claims that the Black Stone marked the Kaaba as a place of worship during pre-Islamic pagan times.[1] It is the eastern cornerstone of the Kaaba, the ancient stone building towards which Muslims pray, in the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.[2] The Stone is a dark rock, polished smooth by the hands of millions of pilgrims, that has been broken into a number of fragments cemented into a silver frame in the side of the Kaaba. Although it has often been described as a meteorite, this hypothesis is still under consideration.[3]
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as part of the Tawaf ritual of the Hajj. Many of them try, if possible, to stop and kiss the Black Stone, emulating the kiss that Islamic tradition records that it received from the Prophet Muhammad.[4] If they cannot reach it, they point to it on each of their seven circuits around the Kaaba.[5]
Contents [hide]
1 Physical description
2 History and tradition
3 Ritual role
4 Scientific origins
5 Notes
6 References
7 External links
[edit] Physical description
The Black Stone, surrounded by its silver frame and the black cloth kiswah on the Kaaba in Mecca.The Black Stone consists of a number of fragments held together by a silver frame, which is fastened by silver nails to the Stone.[6] Some of the smaller fragments have been cemented together to form the seven or eight fragments visible today. The Stone's exposed face measures about 20 centimetres (7.9 in) by 16 centimetres (6.3 in). Its original size is unclear; its recorded dimensions have changed considerably over time, as the stone has been remodelled. In the 10th century, an observer described it as being one cubit (slightly over 2 feet (0.61 m) long). By the early 17th century, it was recorded as measuring 1.5 yards (1.4 m) by 1.33 yards (1.22 m). According to Ali Bey in the 18th century, it was 42 inches (110 cm) high, and Muhammad Ali reported it as being 2.5 feet (0.76 m) long by 1.5 feet (0.46 m) wide.[3]
The Black Stone was first described in Western literature in the 19th and early 20th centuries by European travelers in Arabia, who visited the Kaaba in the guise of pilgrims. Swiss traveler Johann Ludwig Burckhardt visited Mecca in 1814, and provided a detailed description in his 1829 book Travels in Arabia:
It is an irregular oval, about seven inches in diameter, with an undulating surface, composed of about a dozen smaller stones of different sizes and shapes, well joined together with a small quantity of cement, and perfectly well smoothed; it looks as if the whole had been broken into as many pieces by a violent blow, and then united again. It is very difficult to determine accurately the quality of this stone which has been worn to its present surface by the millions of touches and kisses it has received. It appeared to me like a lava, containing several small extraneous particles of a whitish and of a yellow substance. Its colour is now a deep reddish brown approaching to black. It is surrounded on all sides by a border composed of a substance which I took to be a close cement of pitch and gravel of a similar, but not quite the same, brownish colour. This border serves to support its detached pieces; it is two or three inches in breadth, and rises a little above the surface of the stone. Both the border and the stone itself are encircled by a silver band, broader below than above, and on the two sides, with a considerable swelling below, as if a part of the stone were hidden under it. The lower part of the border is studded with silver nails.[7]
Visiting the Kaaba in 1853, Sir Richard Francis Burton noted that:
The colour appeared to me black and metallic, and the centre of the stone was sunk about two inches below the metallic circle. Round the sides was a reddish brown cement, almost level with the metal, and sloping down to the middle of the stone. The band is now a massive arch of gold or silver gilt. I found the aperture in which the stone is, one span and three fingers broad.[7]
Ritter von Laurin, the Austrian consul-general in Egypt, was able to inspect a fragment of the Stone removed by Muhammad Ali in 1817 and reported that it had a pitch-black exterior and a silver-grey, fine-grained interior in which tiny cubes of a bottle-green material were embedded. There are reportedly a few white or yellow spots on the face of the Stone, and it is officially described as being white with the exception of the face.[3]
[edit] History and tradition
A 1315 illustration from the Jami al-Tawarikh, inspired by the Sirah Rasul Allah story of Muhammad and the Meccan clan elders lifting the Black Stone into place.[8]The Black Stone, in Muslim belief, has its origins since the time of Adam. According to the Hadith, "it descended from Paradise whiter than milk, but the sins of the sons of Adam made it black".[9] According to belief, an angel spoke to the great prophet Abraham, and told him to institute the rite of the stone in the Pilgrimage at Mecca.[10]
The Black Stone was revered well before the preaching of Islam by Muhammad. By the time of Muhammad, it was already associated with the Kaaba, a pre-Islamic shrine that was revered as a sacred sanctuary and a site of pilgrimage. In her book, Islam: A Short History, Karen Armstrong asserts that the Kaaba was dedicated to Hubal, a Nabatean deity, and contained 360 idols which either represented the days of the year, or were effigies of the Arabian pantheon. The Semitic cultures of the Middle East had a tradition of using unusual stones to mark places of worship, a phenomenon which is reflected in the Hebrew Bible as well as the Qur'an.[11] A "red stone" was for the deity of the south Arabian city of Ghaiman, and there was a "white stone" in the Ka'ba of al-Abalat (near the city of Tabala, south of Mecca). Worship at that time period was often associated with stone reverence, mountains, special rock formations, or distinctive trees.[12] The Kaaba marked the location where the sacred world intersected with the profane, and the embedded Black Stone was a further symbol of this as an object that linked heaven and earth.[13]
Islamic tradition holds that the Stone fell from Heaven to show Adam and Eve where to build an altar, which became the first temple on Earth. Muslims believe that the stone was originally pure and dazzling white, but has since turned black because of the sins of the people.[14] Adam's altar and the stone were said to have been lost during Noah's Flood and forgotten. Ibrahim was said to have later found the Black Stone at the original site of Adam's altar when the angel Jibrail revealed it to him.[11] Ibrahim ordered his son Ismael - who was an ancestor of Muhammad - to build a new temple, the Kaaba, in which to embed the Stone.
Muhammad is credited with setting the Black Stone in place in the wall of the Kaaba. A story found in Ibn Ishaq's Sirah Rasul Allah tells how the clans of Mecca renovated the Kaaba following a major fire which had partly destroyed the structure. The Black Stone had been temporarily removed to facilitate the rebuilding work. The clans could not agree on which one of them should have the honour of setting the Black Stone back in its place. They decided to wait for the next man to come through the gate and ask him to make the decision. That individual happened to be the 35-year-old Muhammad, five years before his prophethood. He asked the elders of the clans to bring him a cloth and put the Black Stone in its centre. Each of the clan leaders held the corners of the cloth and carried the Black Stone to the right spot. Then Muhammad himself set the stone in place, satisfying the honour of all of the clans.[15]
The Stone has suffered desecrations and significant damage over the centuries. It is said to have been struck and smashed to pieces by a stone fired from a catapult during the Umayyad siege of Mecca in 756. The fragments were rejoined by 'Abd Allah ibn Zubayr using a silver ligament.[15] In January 930 it was stolen by the Qarmatians, who carried the Black Stone away to their base in Hajar (modern Bahrain). According to Ottoman historian Qutb al-Din, writing in 1857, Qarmatian leader Abu Tahir al-Qarmati set the Black Stone up in his own mosque, the Masjid al-Dirar, with the intention of redirecting the Hajj away from Mecca. However, this failed, and pilgrims continued to venerate the spot where the Black Stone had been.[16]
According to historian Al-Juwayni, the Stone was returned twenty-three years later, in 952. The Qarmatians held the Black Stone for ransom, and forced the Abbasids to pay a huge sum for its return. It was wrapped in a sack and thrown into the Friday Mosque of Kufa, accompanied by a note saying "By command we took it, and by command we have brought it back." Its abduction and removal caused further damage, breaking the stone into seven pieces.[11][17][18] Its abductor, Abu Tahir, is said to have met a terrible fate; according to Qutb al-Din, "the filthy Abu Tahir was afflicted with a gangrenous sore, his flesh was eaten away by worms, and he died a most terrible death."[16]
The Stone has been subjected to other indignities during its history. In the 11th century, a man allegedly sent by the Fatimid Caliph Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah attempted to smash the Black Stone, but was killed on the spot, having caused only slight damage.[16] In 1674, according to Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, someone smeared the Black Stone with excrement so that "every one who kissed it retired with a sullied beard". The Shi'ite Persians were suspected of being responsible and were the target of curses from other Muslims for centuries afterwards, though explorer Sir Richard Francis Burton doubted that they were the culprits; he attributed the act to "some Jew or Greek, who risked his life to gratify a furious bigotry."[19]
[edit] Ritual role
Muslim pilgrims jostle for a chance to kiss the Black Stone; if they are unable to kiss the stone because of the crowds, they can point towards the stone on each circuit with their right hand. In each complete circuit a person says "In the name of God, God is Great, God is Great, God is Great and praise be to God". Once people have kissed the stone a guard stands ready to push them away.The Black Stone plays an important role in the central ritual of the Hajj, when pilgrims must walk seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction. They attempt to kiss the Black Stone seven times, once for each circumambulation of the Kaaba, emulating the actions of Muhammad. In modern times, large crowds make it practically impossible for everyone to kiss the stone, so it is currently acceptable for pilgrims to simply point in the direction of the Stone on each of their circuits around the building. Some even say that the Stone is best considered simply as a marker, useful in keeping count of the ritual circumambulations (tawaf) that one has performed.[20] Its black color is deemed to symbolize the essential spiritual virtue of detachment and poverty for God (faqr) and the extinction of ego required to progress towards God (qalb).[11]
Islam strictly prohibits idolatry. Muslims believe that the Stone's role in hajj is simply representative and symbolic nature, not related to belief in the stone itself as having any special power. A well-known hadith records that, when second Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab (580-644) came to kiss the Stone, he said in front of all assembled: "No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither harm anyone nor benefit anyone. Had I not seen Allah's Messenger [Muhammad] kissing you, I would not have kissed you."[21] Most Muslims follow the example of Umar: they pay their respects to the Stone in a spirit of trust in Muhammad, not with any inherent belief in the Stone. This, however, does not indicate their disrespect to the Black Stone, but their belief that harm and benefit are in the hands of God, and nothing else. Muhammad Labib al-Batanuni, writing in 1911, commented that the pre-Islamic practice of venerating stones (including the Black Stone) arose not because such stones are "sacred for their own sake, but because of their relation to something holy and respected." [22]
In recent years, however, literalist views of the Black Stone have emerged. A small minority accepts as literally true an allegorical hadith which asserts that "the Stone will appear on the Day of Judgement (Qiyamah) with eyes to see and a tongue to speak, and give evidence in favor of all who kissed it in true devotion, but speak out against whoever indulged in gossip or profane conversations during his circumambulation of the Kaaba".[22]
Writing in Dawn in Madinah: A Pilgrim's Progress, Muzaffar Iqbal described his experience of venerating the Black Stone during a pilgrimage to Mecca:
At the end of the second [circumabulation of the Kaaba], I was granted one of those extraordinary moments which sometimes occur around the Black Stone. As I approached the Corner the large crowd was suddenly pushed back by a strong man who had just kissed the Black Stone. This push generated a backward current, creating a momentary opening around the Black Stone as I came to it; I swiftly accepted the opportunity reciting, Bismillahi Allahu akbar wa lillahi-hamd ["In the name of God, God is great, all praise to God"], put my hands on the Black Stone and kissed it. Thousands of silver lines sparkled, the Stone glistened, and something stirred deep inside me. A few seconds passed. Then I was pushed away by the guard.[23]
[edit] Scientific originsThe nature of the Black Stone has been much debated. It has been described variously as basalt stone, an agate, a piece of natural glass or — most popularly — a stony meteorite. Paul Partsch, the curator of the Austro-Hungarian imperial collection of minerals, published the first comprehensive history of the Black Stone in 1857 in which he favoured a meteoritic origin for the Stone. Robert Dietz and John McHone proposed in 1974 that the Black Stone was actually an agate, judging from its physical attributes and a report by an Arab geologist that the Stone contained clearly discernable diffusion banding characteristic of agates.[3] A significant clue to its nature is provided by an account of the Stone's recovery in 951 AD after it had been stolen 21 years earlier; according to a chronicler, the Stone was identified by its ability to float in water. If this account is accurate, it would rule out the Black Stone being an agate, basalt lava or stony meteorite, though it would be compatible with it being glass or pumice.[6]
Elsebeth Thomsen of the University of Copenhagen proposed a different hypothesis in 1980. She suggested that the Black Stone may be a glass fragment from the impact of a fragmented meteorite that fell some 6,000 years ago at Wabar, a site in the Rub' al Khali desert some 1,100 km east of Mecca. The craters at Wabar are notable for the presence of blocks of silica glass, fused by the heat of the impact and impregnated by beads of nickel-iron alloy from the meteorite (most of which was destroyed in the impact). Some of the glass blocks are made of shiny black glass with a white or yellow interior and gas-filled hollows, which allow them to float on water. Although scientists did not become aware of the Wabar craters until 1932, they were located near a caravan route from Oman and were very likely known to the inhabitants of the desert. The wider area was certainly well-known; in ancient Arabic poetry, Wabar or Ubar (also known as "Iram of the Pillars") was the site of a fabulous city that was destroyed by fire from the heavens because of the wickedness of its king. If the estimated age of the crater is accurate, it would have been well within the period of human habitation in Arabia and the impact itself may have been witnessed.[6] However, a recent (2004) scientific analysis of the Wabar site suggests that the impact event happened much more recently than first thought and might have occurred only within the last 200–300 years.[24] The meteoritic hypothesis is now seen as doubtful, and the British Natural History Museum suggests that it may be a pseudometeorite, i.e., a terrestrial rock mistakenly attributed to a meteoritic origin.[25]
This is the image I download from How the WebOS evolves?? by Nova Spivack. (N.B. Nova have requested that the link is provided here, as he would update these as & when. So please check back & follow this link here.)
Thanks is due to Nova Spivack for putting this image up. I am sure all of you on the web may not be concern about the technicality of the evolutions.
But we are all into the era & it is closely related to our daily lives.
In my own words since 1980's in Nagoya Technology for The future conference.
The over many thousands years of human civilizations have never actually change. The things that happening are with the electronics; communications & Computing Technology.
We are going to redefine our real real estate based on the bits & bytes that we owned. Not the per square foots of real estate that we talking about in the era before present.
As the Web era marching into Web2.0 & web3.0 even as Nova put it here web4.0...etc.
Nothing going to change is the basic model of human communications; networking & Knowledge. Except it would be Very Highly distributed & Highly Intelligence.
With the overflow of informations on the web & search engines, human would need the artificial intelligent to assist in whatever we do, including decision & course of action.
I am sure you would be proud that you are here in the flickr community , actively contributing to the success with the like minds & the flickr-Yahoo team.
The future is certain.
One To All!!
All To One!!
al quran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2MfjN3n6M&feature=related
(The Event) The Fifty-Sixth Surah of the Qur'aan
Pickthall Translation Glossary Window
1. When the event befalleth -
2. There is no denying that it will befall -
3. Abasing (some), exalting (others);
4. When the earth is shaken with a shock
5. And the hills are ground to powder
6. So that they become a scattered dust,
7. And ye will be three kinds:
8. (First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
9. And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand ?
10. And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
11. Those are they who will be brought nigh
12. In gardens of delight;
13. A multitude of those of old
14. And a few of those of later time.
15. On lined couches,
16. Reclining therein face to face.
17. There wait on them immortal youths
18. With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
19. Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
20. And fruit that they prefer
21. And flesh of fowls that they desire.
22. And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
23. Like unto hidden pearls,
24. Reward for what they used to do.
25. There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
26. (Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
27. And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
28. Among thornless lote-trees
29. And clustered plantains,
30. And spreading shade,
31. And water gushing,
32. And fruit in plenty
33. Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
34. And raised couches;
35. Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
36. And made them virgins,
37. Lovers, friends,
38. For those on the right hand;
39. A multitude of those of old
40. And a multitude of those of later time.
41. And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?
42. In scorching wind and scalding water
43. And shadow of black smoke,
44. Neither cool nor refreshing.
45. Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
46. And used to persist in the awful sin.
47. And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,
48. And also our forefathers ?
49. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
50. Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
51. Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
52. Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
53. And will fill your bellies therewith;
54. And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
55. Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
56. This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
57. We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
58. Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
59. Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
60. We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
61. That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
62. And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect ?
63. Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
64. Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?
65. If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
66. Lo! we are laden with debt!
67. Nay, but we are deprived!
68. Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
69. Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?
70. If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?
71. Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
72. Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?
73. We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
74. Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
75. Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
76. And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
77. That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
78. In a Book kept hidden
79. Which none toucheth save the purified,
80. A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
81. Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
82. And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
83. Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
84. And ye are at that moment looking
85. - And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
86. Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
87. Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
88. Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
89. Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
90. And if he is of those on the right hand,
91. Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
92. But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
93. Then the welcome will be boiling water
94. And roasting at hell-fire.
95. Lo! this is certain truth.
96. Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
Cette visualisation est un travail basé sur la représentation et l'extraction des flux rss de trois journaux francais ( leMonde, leFigaro et liberation ) durant 3 mois : octobre, novembre, decembre 2008.
www.cybunk.com/blog2/fr/data-flow-in-rss-news-feed/
Ces captures d'écrans sont réalisées à partir d'une interface de traitement du flux en temps réel.
Représentation de l'extraction des flux rss de trois journaux francais ( leMonde, leFigaro et liberation ) durant 3 mois octobre, novembre, decembre 2008.
www.cybunk.com/blog2/fr/data-flow-in-rss-news-feed/
Ces captures d'écrans sont réalisées à partir d'une interface de traitement du flux en temps réel.
Miracle of the eye
ref:
www.miracleintheeye.com/miracle_eye_06.html
www.evidencesofcreation.com/index.php
www.astrolabe.com/books/array-quran-and-science-and-harun...
In order to better understand the perfection of God's creation, look at only a few of the millions of other examples of His art. As it says in Qur'an, all creatures are under His complete control:
. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. (Qur'an, 11: 56)
A countless number of organisms are living on this planet; and millions of different insect species alone.Of all the different types of eye, the human eye is the most superior overall, although the eyes of some species boast of features that are superior to those of humans. There are as many different types of eye as there are species, and we have already shown how impossible it is for such a variety to evolve through mutations and natural selection.
God has given every organism an eye that suits their lifestyle and feeding habits. In this section, we'll examine the eye structures of many different species.
Insect Eyes
Insects view the world through thousands of tiny eyes.
Compared to human eyes, the eyes of insects are considerably different. Their structures come in one of two types, simple or complex.
Simple-structured eyes are round and small, capable only of separating light and dark. Compound eyes, on the other hand, are larger and more complex, made up of hundreds of small pieces. Each "piece" is actually a small eye because it contains light sensitivecells, a lens, and connections to the brain.
As mentioned before, a human eye's lens can change shape, letting us focus on objects at various distances. The lens in an insect's eye cannot change shape, however, and so insects cannot focus.
The compound eye works by each of the eye's six-sided compartments (called ommatidia) detecting a tiny portion of the visual field. The information from each ommatidium is then combined, like pieces of a mosaic, to form a single image of the outside world.
The higher the number of ommatidia, the keener the vision becomes, with each unit contributing a different part of the complete picture. 35
The head of the common housefly is dominated by a pair of large compound eyes containing approximately 4,000 ommatidia. In wingless insects such as female fireflies there are 300 ommatidia, 5,100 in mayflies, 9,000 in yellow-winged coleopterans and between 10,000 and 28,000 in dragonflies and damselflies.
The wide visual perspective of a fly's eyes.
A Visual Range of 360 Degrees
The housefly's eye contains 4,000 small, simple ommatidia which can be moved at will. Since each ommatidium faces a different direction, the fly is able to see to the front, back, left, right, top and bottom, giving it a 360 degree perspective of the world.
Each ommatidium is sensitive to light shining in its direction, and uses its own lens and eight sensitive cells to process it. House flies have a combined total of 48,000 light-sensitive cells, allowing them to see 100 images per second. In this regard, their vision is ten times superior to the human eye. Two-thirds of the fly's brain is devoted purely to sight. The total number of light-sensitive cells means that 48,000 signals are sent here every tenth of a second.
Most people think of the fly as one of the most basic forms of life, but its visual system is in fact one of the most complicated we know.
Thanks to the flawless design of its eyes, the housefly can look 360 degrees around. At left, a detailed diagram of an ommatidium, of which the fly's eye contains some 4,000.
A tiny fly did not evolve or mutate its 4,000 eyes over a period a time. Clearly. This is a special creation. Of course, the fly is not composed of merely its visual system-it also has special digestive, reproductive and flight systems. Only with all its systems intact can the fly thrive. It is not possible for a fly to exist, for example, without a digestive or respiratory system. Nor are there any blind insects flying around! This is solid evidence that the fly was created by God in its current state, as mentioned in the Qur'an:
Mankind! An example has been made, so listen to it carefully. Those whom you call upon besides God are not even able to create a single fly, even if they were to join together to do it. And if a fly steals something from them, they cannot get it back. How feeble are both the seeker and the sought! (Qur'an, 22: 73)
An Insect with 56,000 Eyes
Among all known species, dragonflies have the greatest number of ommatidia. Each eye contains 30,000 of them,36 which can clearly see objects up to 20 feet away.37
To recap this phenomenon, a single tiny insect has a total of 56,000 eyes, each of which has a lens, retina, and thousands of nerves connecting it to the central nervous system. As a result of this, the dragonfly can see its prey and understand what it is seeing.
The presence of just a single eye with a single neuron and the ability to evaluate a single signal is a miracle on its own. But there are thousands of these eyes, all working in complete harmony. This is just another of God's countless phenomenon. God is the One Who has no equal in creation.
Ultraviolet Vision
Butterflies and bees both possess a special sense of sight, allowing them to reach sources of food with ease.
In some flowers, the pigments form distinct patterns that are invisible to us, but visible to bees and butterflies, who can see ultraviolet light. Called nectar guides, these patterns are like the landing strips of an airport, directing the insects to the nectar within the flower. It is as if their food sources were lit up and signposted especially for them. To our eyes, the coneflower appears to be a uniformly yellowish orange, but to a bee or butterfly, it appears as a corona of yellow with a glowing ultraviolet bull's eye in its center. This pattern guides the bee to where it can collect the nectar or pollen.
Bees feed on the pollen produced by plants. The plants, on the other hand, needs the bee to spread their pollen among other flowers of the same species in order to reproduce. Therefore, the flower uses its petals to attract the bee and sticks pollen onto the bee's legs as it feeds. Both partners possess the necessary features to enable this collaboration. Imagine a situation wherein flowers continued to reflect in the ultraviolet range, but bees were unable to see that portion of the spectrum. Both species would swiftly go extinct, because the bee would not be able to feed, nor the flower to reproduce. This is proof that these co-dependent organisms were created by the same Creator.
Birds
For a flying creature, the most important sense is sight, because the miracle of flight would become a very dangerous affair without the
ability to see. Birds, therefore, have been blessed by God with a superior sense of sight, in addition to the ability to fly.
A bird's sense of sight has a wider perspective and can operate much more quickly than a human's can. An object or view that we humans have to regard at length, a bird can see as a whole, in one quick glance.
Eyes are crucial for the predator owl, which can see ten times more powerfully than humans at night.38
Unlike a human, a bird cannot move its eyes in their sockets. But birds can quickly move their heads and necks around to expand their perspective. Without moving its head, an owl has an 80-degree field of vision. But some species of owl can rotate their heads to up to 360 degrees-a full circle!
The visual field of one human eye is 150 degrees laterally, and only 180 degrees binocularly, or a half circle.39
As mentioned already, predators such as the owl have very keen night vision, often six times greater than that of humans. This allows them to perform precisely accurate hunting maneuvers.
Larger eyes contain more visual cells, providing better vision. A predator bird can have more than a million visual cells in each of its eyes.
At night, owls and similar nocturnal birds can see much better than other species. Looking for food, these predator birds search for small animals on the ground, and their eyes can pick up the slightest movements, thanks to a high number of light-sensitive rods in their retinas. As we explained, the more rod cells, the keener night vision becomes. But for this vision, predator birds do pay a price: They sacrifice the sense of color. They see the world in black and white but, owing to their lifestyle, they do not need to see color. So cone cells are quite fewer in the eyes of nocturnal birds.
During the past minute, as you read this book, you blinked 22 times. That's how your eyes maintained their moisture and cleanliness. But for that split-second that you blinked, your eyes stopped doing their job. For the relatively sedate lifestyle of a human, this may not be a problem. But for a bird in flight, that split-second may be critical.
This is why birds have a third eyelid-a transparent layer that blinks and cleans-without their having to close their outer eyelids. This lid sweeps sideways across the eyeball, starting from the side nearest the beak. For birds that dive underwater, it also acts as goggles, protecting the eye from harm. In a sense, birds have been equipped with goggles and aviator glasses from birth.
Although nocturnal birds cannot see color, some smaller birds feed on seeds and insects, and therefore do need to discern colors. The eyes of these smaller birds are placed on either side of the head, which lets them see a wide area with minimal movement of the head and neck.
The umbrella birds, also known as black herons, encounter a number of difficulties when they hunt in water. As is well-known, most light reflects off the water-which has a negative effect on the bird's ability to see objects under the water's surface. The black heron solves this problem by spreading its wings. This cuts the sunlight and any reflections, allowing it to see more clearly and hunt for fish underwater.
If the black heron didn't use its wings this way, it would be unable to see its food and therefore starve. But seabirds are somehow born knowing the laws of optics, and take the needed precautions accordingly. Could it be that all the seabirds came together to find a practical solution to their problem? Or did they take a mass physics lesson and arrive at a solution by experimenting?
Hunting Eyes
Eagles fly at an altitude of thousands of meters, in a manner similar to modern war planes, yet are able to comb the landscape below in staggering detail. The eagle can detect even the slightest of movements or color changes while in flight. It owes this ability to a very special eye structure.
In humans, the portion of the retina with the most acute vision is the fovea centralis, which has the highest concentration of cone cells. Eagles have two foveae, giving them an incredibly sharp sense of sight. Humans have only one fovea in each eye-for binocular, or forward vision. When we look at an object, both our eyes are directed toward the object. This allows our brain to merge both the images to create a sense of depth. The eagle contains a binocular fovea like ours, but also has a fovea for monocular vision that allows each eye to look sideways and see a separate image. So eagles can see both forward and to the side at the same time.40
The eagle has a visual perspective of some 300 degrees, as well as an extra focusing power. Humans change the shape of their lenses to focus. But an eagle can change the shape of both lens and cornea. This gives it extra focusing power.41 It can also scan a 30,000 hectare (116 square miles) field from an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,700 feet), or spot a camouflaged rabbit from 90 meters (300 feet) with ease.42
To attain this super-sharp vision, an eagle's retinal cells are tinted with special colored oil droplets, increasing the contrast for objects seen against the blue sky or green forest. Thanks to this, the eagle can spot minute changes in contrast from thousands of meters above and swoop down to hunt. The fact that a mere drop of oil makes this possible is doubtlessly one of God's countless blessings.
Flying is a miracle in itself. If one aspect of the present structure or position of a bird's wing were changed, it would be unable to fly. Therefore, it isn't possible for wings to have evolved over time.
As mentioned before, something else that couldn't possibly have evolved is the visual system. This is reinforced by the flawless nature of an eagle's eye. An eye with two foveae cannot form over time, as a result of coincidences. That second fovea was deliberately created to answer the bird's needs.
For an eagle, that droplet of oil in its retina cells is of staggering importance... But who made this fine optical adjustment? Did the eagle add
the oil himself, or on other animals' recommendation? Of course not. The eagles have enjoyed this feature from birth, for thousands of years.
So why are our eyes not as sharp as an eagle's? If human eyes contained the same features, they'd each be the size of a grapefruit. Moreover, humans don't need to spot a camouflaged rabbit from a kilometer away. This is why God gave humans their present eyes in a most aesthetic form.
Jumping Spiders
Compared to ordinary spiders, the jumping spider leads a very unusual life. Rather than make a web and wait for a catch, these spiders hunt their prey instead. This is why-unlike ordinary spiders, which are almost blind-they have exceptionally acute vision.
A jumping spider hunts by securing itself to the branch of a tree with the thread it secretes. Then it throws itself toward an insect flying nearby, catching it in midair. In order to snare its catch, the spider needs to see its prey, and determine the direction and speed at which the target is traveling. Also, of course, it must determine its own speed and the duration of the leap. In order to do all this, the spider needs not only an advanced visual system, but an information processing center to make all the necessary calculations.
Jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, for a total of eight. The front two are the most impressive, perhaps the best eyes one can find in any arthropod. The retina inside the eye can move in three dimensions, enabling the spider to look in all directions and focus on its subject. The other six eyes are positioned around the head, affording 360-degree vision.43
The jumping spider's visual acuity is actually very similar to our own, such that they even perceive images on a television screen. When most animals look at a television, they see only a series of moving dots. But research has indicated that jumping spiders respond to televised pictures of other spiders and insects.
The jumping spider's visual system is highly complex and, in some respects, surpasses even a human's. A tiny spider can look in different directions, detect motions, and estimate speed and distance. Of course, the spider never asked for these abilities, nor did it develop them on its own, over time. Everything the spider possesses was given to him by God.
The Protection of Animal Eyes
As the body's most sensitive organs, the eyes must therefore be well protected. This is why animal skulls have been constructed in such a way as to provide their eyes with maximum protection.
In animals like cats and dogs, the majority of the eye lies inside the skull, with only a small portion protruding outside. The bones surrounding the eye effectively act as a shield against impacts, and the eyelids help protect against direct injury.
The eyes of a camel-a mammal that lives under incredibly harsh conditions-are provided with the protection they need. The bone structure around its eye not only protects it from impacts, but also from harsh sunrays. Not even violent sandstorms can harm a camel's eyes, thanks to its eyelashes, which are long and intertwined, preventing any dust from entering.
Eyes in the Sea
There are considerable differences between land and underwater creatures, because under the surface is effectively another world, whose inhabitants have been modeled to best suit their environment. But just because they spend their lives underwater doesn't mean that their basic requirements are any different from ours. To stay alive, they still need to breathe, feed and avoid being hunted. They have to be able to see the world around them, so that they can distinguish between prey and foe-and require special eyes that let them see clearly underwater.
Fish view their world through a transparent layer that covers their eyes, similar in principle to the goggles worn by human divers. But be it a whale or a herring, an underwater creature's field of vision is restricted. Deeper than 30 meters (99 feet) below the surface, distant vision becomes unnecessary. Most of the time, in fact, fish need to see only those objects directly in front of them, and their eyes are created to meet this need. Their rigid, globular lens is particularly adapted for seeing close objects. But when they do need to see at a distance, a set of special muscles pulls the entire lens back toward the retina.44
The spherical lens in a fish's eye works well underwater. Because of the higher degree of refraction (the bending of light) in water than in air, a fish's lens has to be much more curved than a human's. To produce a clear image, the lens bends the light a lot more than does a flatter one-such as those in humans and other land animals.45
Water creatures are always in danger of becoming food for larger creatures. But they do have a special defense mechanism not seen in mammals: Fish can perceive more than one image at the same time.
A fish's eyes are placed on either side of its head. The image seen by each eye is recorded in the opposite half of its brain. But since the image is viewed by one eye only, it is two-dimensional, which prevents the fish from judging distances. This is why, when it spots some potential threat, both eyes focus in the same direction to judge the distance. Straight ahead, the visual arcs of the two eyes overlap to provide a narrow band, where the fish enjoys binocular vision.
With the exception of a few species, fish cannot see in color. They have no need to, because only a few meters underwater, most colors are absorbed and disappear. A fish's entire world is mostly shades of blue and green.
Fish are more sensitive than land animals to dim light, because their retinas contain a higher number of cells sensitive to low intensities, letting them make use of every amount of light possible.
Sea turtles generally feed on fish. In the process, they also consume a large quantity of sea salt, which could be unhealthy if they digested it. Rather then simply eject salt from the body, the turtle transfers it to special sacs located on to the side of its eyes. Here, the salt is cleverly recycled and used to produce tears.46
Octopus Eyes
Of all the invertebrates, the octopus has one of the most complex eye structures. As in vertebrates, each of the octopus's two large, complex eyes is like a camera, in structure, and the creature's vision is acute.
The octopus eye and the vertebrate eye are extraordinarily similar. Each includes a cornea, an iris, an accommodating lens, a fluid-filled vitreous humor, and a retina. However, there are major differences. For instance, octopi change their range of focus by moving the entire lens closer or farther away from the retina, whereas we change the shape of our cellular lens in order to bring objects into focus.
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest struggles for evolutionists was in forming some explanation of how octopus eyes originated. According to evolutionary theory, octopi (which are invertebrates) and men (vertebrates) developed completely independently of each other, over time. And yet both man and octopus have equally well-developed visual systems, with similar structures performing similar functions.
But if the two species developed separately, why are their eyes so similar? It seems that the impossible has taken place not just once, but at several times and in several places. If the human eye is the product of coincidences and not creation, then shouldn't it be considerably different than the octopus's eye? The theory of evolution simply cannot answer thousands of basic questions like this.
The Archer Fish
Archer fish hunt by firing mouthfuls of water at nearby insects. Their superior sense of sight allows them to make acute geometric calculations from underwater so as to estimate the correct location of the prey in the outside air. They never miss their targets. This intelligent behavior surely is not the work of the fish itself. It is God Who inspires the Archer fish and all other creatures how to act.
This fish is famous for being a living water pistol-filling its mouth with water and squirting it at insects resting on branches or twigs above the water. The element of surprise causes the insect to lose its grip and plunge into the water, where it becomes an easy catch.
What's remarkable about the process is that even as the archer fish prepares itself, it doesn't raise its head out of the water. While still submerged, it can accurately determine the insect's location. But the apparent position of objects outside the water is distorted by the retraction of light. For example, if you wanted to shoot an arrow from beneath a swimming pool at a point in the air outside, you'd have to know at what angle light retracts upon the water and adjust your aim accordingly.
But this fish seems to overcome this problem and shoots on target every time. It is able to hit a tiny insect with no difficulty.47 All archer fish possess this ability, but not through lessons and physical calculations. It is God Who inspires this creature.
The Crab's Periscope
A crab has two eyes on the ends of stalks. These act like little periscopes, allowing the crab to see what's going on above, even if it is hiding beneath the sand. At any sign of danger, the stalks can be lowered for protection into sockets on the carapace.
REPTILE EYES
Most reptiles can see a large array of colors, allowing them to pick out even the most effectively camouflaged insects. This gives them a major hunting advantage.
Chameleons feed on insects, and their hunting tactics are most unusual because their eyes play a greater role than usual. Chameleons can move each eye independently of the other, allowing them scout the surroundings and watch their insect prey at the same time, as they edge closer to their objective.48 When it is close enough, a chameleon turns both eyes upon its prey, determines its position, and then shoots out its long sticky tongue to catch the meal.
Double Vision
On most species of snakes, the eyes are placed on either side of the head, which produces two different images in the snake's brain.
However, this location of the eyes doesn't stop the snake from seeing forward. In fact, this positioning gives the snake a wide visual perspective, allowing it to look forwards, backwards and upwards with ease.
Infrared Vision
As you've seen, the human eye can perceive only a specific range of wavelengths of light. Some species of snake are capable of seeing greater wavelengths than humans, including infrared light, which humans can sense only as heat.
Snakes have small pit organs that can visually register infrared radiation. These organs are a hundred thousand times more sensitive to infrared than human skin and can detect even the slightest change in a body's temperature.
For example, the rattlesnake can locate a warm-blooded animal or human even in pitch darkness, because such creatures radiate off heat waves that the snake can detect-an incredible advantage for any creature hunting at night.
The principle of detecting objects and soldiers by the heat they emit is also used in recent optical military equipment. It took years of research to develop the technology behind this kind of equipment, but snakes enjoy the same ability from the moment they hatch from their eggs. It took decades for humans to develop heat-sensing equipment, but snakes have always had it.
Eyelids
There are vast differences between a reptile's eyelids and the eyelids of other creatures. It may appear as if snakes do not have eyelids, for example, but their eyes are in fact covered by an immobile, transparent layer of scales.
Lizards, on the other hand, have movable eyelids. But in the desert lizard especially, the eyelids are upturned. This keeps out the sand, preventing it from harming the eye when the lizard buries itself in the sand.
The Sensitive Eyes of a Frog
Recent research has revealed some of the frog's eye's interesting abilities. One kind of retinal cell responds strongly to small, dark, round moving objects and is most active when those objects moved irregularly. It is as if the neurons of the frog eyes were designed especially to detect flies. Some scientists call their eyes "bug detectors."49
Cats' Eyes
The eye of a cat contains a layer called the tapetum lucidum, not found in humans. Positioned immediately behind the retina, it reflects incoming light, doubling the amount of light the eye can use and allowing cats to see in much dimmer light than we can.
This layer is also the reason why cat eyes seem to glow when a flashlight beam is shined directly at them.
Cat eyelids are prized wide open at night, allowing as much light as possible to enter. Another reason why cats can see so well in the dark is because their retinas contain more rod cells than cone cells. Thanks to this system created by God, wild cats can comfortably hunt at night.
source:
Miracle of the eyes
ref:
www.miracleintheeye.com/miracle_eye_06.html
www.evidencesofcreation.com/index.php
www.astrolabe.com/books/array-quran-and-science-and-harun...
In order to better understand the perfection of God's creation, look at only a few of the millions of other examples of His art. As it says in Qur'an, all creatures are under His complete control:
. There is no creature He does not hold by the forelock. (Qur'an, 11: 56)
A countless number of organisms are living on this planet; and millions of different insect species alone.Of all the different types of eye, the human eye is the most superior overall, although the eyes of some species boast of features that are superior to those of humans. There are as many different types of eye as there are species, and we have already shown how impossible it is for such a variety to evolve through mutations and natural selection.
God has given every organism an eye that suits their lifestyle and feeding habits. In this section, we'll examine the eye structures of many different species.
Insect Eyes
Insects view the world through thousands of tiny eyes.
Compared to human eyes, the eyes of insects are considerably different. Their structures come in one of two types, simple or complex.
Simple-structured eyes are round and small, capable only of separating light and dark. Compound eyes, on the other hand, are larger and more complex, made up of hundreds of small pieces. Each "piece" is actually a small eye because it contains light sensitivecells, a lens, and connections to the brain.
As mentioned before, a human eye's lens can change shape, letting us focus on objects at various distances. The lens in an insect's eye cannot change shape, however, and so insects cannot focus.
The compound eye works by each of the eye's six-sided compartments (called ommatidia) detecting a tiny portion of the visual field. The information from each ommatidium is then combined, like pieces of a mosaic, to form a single image of the outside world.
The higher the number of ommatidia, the keener the vision becomes, with each unit contributing a different part of the complete picture. 35
The head of the common housefly is dominated by a pair of large compound eyes containing approximately 4,000 ommatidia. In wingless insects such as female fireflies there are 300 ommatidia, 5,100 in mayflies, 9,000 in yellow-winged coleopterans and between 10,000 and 28,000 in dragonflies and damselflies.
The wide visual perspective of a fly's eyes.
A Visual Range of 360 Degrees
The housefly's eye contains 4,000 small, simple ommatidia which can be moved at will. Since each ommatidium faces a different direction, the fly is able to see to the front, back, left, right, top and bottom, giving it a 360 degree perspective of the world.
Each ommatidium is sensitive to light shining in its direction, and uses its own lens and eight sensitive cells to process it. House flies have a combined total of 48,000 light-sensitive cells, allowing them to see 100 images per second. In this regard, their vision is ten times superior to the human eye. Two-thirds of the fly's brain is devoted purely to sight. The total number of light-sensitive cells means that 48,000 signals are sent here every tenth of a second.
Most people think of the fly as one of the most basic forms of life, but its visual system is in fact one of the most complicated we know.
Thanks to the flawless design of its eyes, the housefly can look 360 degrees around. At left, a detailed diagram of an ommatidium, of which the fly's eye contains some 4,000.
A tiny fly did not evolve or mutate its 4,000 eyes over a period a time. Clearly. This is a special creation. Of course, the fly is not composed of merely its visual system-it also has special digestive, reproductive and flight systems. Only with all its systems intact can the fly thrive. It is not possible for a fly to exist, for example, without a digestive or respiratory system. Nor are there any blind insects flying around! This is solid evidence that the fly was created by God in its current state, as mentioned in the Qur'an:
Mankind! An example has been made, so listen to it carefully. Those whom you call upon besides God are not even able to create a single fly, even if they were to join together to do it. And if a fly steals something from them, they cannot get it back. How feeble are both the seeker and the sought! (Qur'an, 22: 73)
An Insect with 56,000 Eyes
Among all known species, dragonflies have the greatest number of ommatidia. Each eye contains 30,000 of them,36 which can clearly see objects up to 20 feet away.37
To recap this phenomenon, a single tiny insect has a total of 56,000 eyes, each of which has a lens, retina, and thousands of nerves connecting it to the central nervous system. As a result of this, the dragonfly can see its prey and understand what it is seeing.
The presence of just a single eye with a single neuron and the ability to evaluate a single signal is a miracle on its own. But there are thousands of these eyes, all working in complete harmony. This is just another of God's countless phenomenon. God is the One Who has no equal in creation.
Ultraviolet Vision
Butterflies and bees both possess a special sense of sight, allowing them to reach sources of food with ease.
In some flowers, the pigments form distinct patterns that are invisible to us, but visible to bees and butterflies, who can see ultraviolet light. Called nectar guides, these patterns are like the landing strips of an airport, directing the insects to the nectar within the flower. It is as if their food sources were lit up and signposted especially for them. To our eyes, the coneflower appears to be a uniformly yellowish orange, but to a bee or butterfly, it appears as a corona of yellow with a glowing ultraviolet bull's eye in its center. This pattern guides the bee to where it can collect the nectar or pollen.
Bees feed on the pollen produced by plants. The plants, on the other hand, needs the bee to spread their pollen among other flowers of the same species in order to reproduce. Therefore, the flower uses its petals to attract the bee and sticks pollen onto the bee's legs as it feeds. Both partners possess the necessary features to enable this collaboration. Imagine a situation wherein flowers continued to reflect in the ultraviolet range, but bees were unable to see that portion of the spectrum. Both species would swiftly go extinct, because the bee would not be able to feed, nor the flower to reproduce. This is proof that these co-dependent organisms were created by the same Creator.
Birds
For a flying creature, the most important sense is sight, because the miracle of flight would become a very dangerous affair without the
ability to see. Birds, therefore, have been blessed by God with a superior sense of sight, in addition to the ability to fly.
A bird's sense of sight has a wider perspective and can operate much more quickly than a human's can. An object or view that we humans have to regard at length, a bird can see as a whole, in one quick glance.
Eyes are crucial for the predator owl, which can see ten times more powerfully than humans at night.38
Unlike a human, a bird cannot move its eyes in their sockets. But birds can quickly move their heads and necks around to expand their perspective. Without moving its head, an owl has an 80-degree field of vision. But some species of owl can rotate their heads to up to 360 degrees-a full circle!
The visual field of one human eye is 150 degrees laterally, and only 180 degrees binocularly, or a half circle.39
As mentioned already, predators such as the owl have very keen night vision, often six times greater than that of humans. This allows them to perform precisely accurate hunting maneuvers.
Larger eyes contain more visual cells, providing better vision. A predator bird can have more than a million visual cells in each of its eyes.
At night, owls and similar nocturnal birds can see much better than other species. Looking for food, these predator birds search for small animals on the ground, and their eyes can pick up the slightest movements, thanks to a high number of light-sensitive rods in their retinas. As we explained, the more rod cells, the keener night vision becomes. But for this vision, predator birds do pay a price: They sacrifice the sense of color. They see the world in black and white but, owing to their lifestyle, they do not need to see color. So cone cells are quite fewer in the eyes of nocturnal birds.
During the past minute, as you read this book, you blinked 22 times. That's how your eyes maintained their moisture and cleanliness. But for that split-second that you blinked, your eyes stopped doing their job. For the relatively sedate lifestyle of a human, this may not be a problem. But for a bird in flight, that split-second may be critical.
This is why birds have a third eyelid-a transparent layer that blinks and cleans-without their having to close their outer eyelids. This lid sweeps sideways across the eyeball, starting from the side nearest the beak. For birds that dive underwater, it also acts as goggles, protecting the eye from harm. In a sense, birds have been equipped with goggles and aviator glasses from birth.
Although nocturnal birds cannot see color, some smaller birds feed on seeds and insects, and therefore do need to discern colors. The eyes of these smaller birds are placed on either side of the head, which lets them see a wide area with minimal movement of the head and neck.
The umbrella birds, also known as black herons, encounter a number of difficulties when they hunt in water. As is well-known, most light reflects off the water-which has a negative effect on the bird's ability to see objects under the water's surface. The black heron solves this problem by spreading its wings. This cuts the sunlight and any reflections, allowing it to see more clearly and hunt for fish underwater.
If the black heron didn't use its wings this way, it would be unable to see its food and therefore starve. But seabirds are somehow born knowing the laws of optics, and take the needed precautions accordingly. Could it be that all the seabirds came together to find a practical solution to their problem? Or did they take a mass physics lesson and arrive at a solution by experimenting?
Hunting Eyes
Eagles fly at an altitude of thousands of meters, in a manner similar to modern war planes, yet are able to comb the landscape below in staggering detail. The eagle can detect even the slightest of movements or color changes while in flight. It owes this ability to a very special eye structure.
In humans, the portion of the retina with the most acute vision is the fovea centralis, which has the highest concentration of cone cells. Eagles have two foveae, giving them an incredibly sharp sense of sight. Humans have only one fovea in each eye-for binocular, or forward vision. When we look at an object, both our eyes are directed toward the object. This allows our brain to merge both the images to create a sense of depth. The eagle contains a binocular fovea like ours, but also has a fovea for monocular vision that allows each eye to look sideways and see a separate image. So eagles can see both forward and to the side at the same time.40
The eagle has a visual perspective of some 300 degrees, as well as an extra focusing power. Humans change the shape of their lenses to focus. But an eagle can change the shape of both lens and cornea. This gives it extra focusing power.41 It can also scan a 30,000 hectare (116 square miles) field from an altitude of 4,500 meters (14,700 feet), or spot a camouflaged rabbit from 90 meters (300 feet) with ease.42
To attain this super-sharp vision, an eagle's retinal cells are tinted with special colored oil droplets, increasing the contrast for objects seen against the blue sky or green forest. Thanks to this, the eagle can spot minute changes in contrast from thousands of meters above and swoop down to hunt. The fact that a mere drop of oil makes this possible is doubtlessly one of God's countless blessings.
Flying is a miracle in itself. If one aspect of the present structure or position of a bird's wing were changed, it would be unable to fly. Therefore, it isn't possible for wings to have evolved over time.
As mentioned before, something else that couldn't possibly have evolved is the visual system. This is reinforced by the flawless nature of an eagle's eye. An eye with two foveae cannot form over time, as a result of coincidences. That second fovea was deliberately created to answer the bird's needs.
For an eagle, that droplet of oil in its retina cells is of staggering importance... But who made this fine optical adjustment? Did the eagle add
the oil himself, or on other animals' recommendation? Of course not. The eagles have enjoyed this feature from birth, for thousands of years.
So why are our eyes not as sharp as an eagle's? If human eyes contained the same features, they'd each be the size of a grapefruit. Moreover, humans don't need to spot a camouflaged rabbit from a kilometer away. This is why God gave humans their present eyes in a most aesthetic form.
Jumping Spiders
Compared to ordinary spiders, the jumping spider leads a very unusual life. Rather than make a web and wait for a catch, these spiders hunt their prey instead. This is why-unlike ordinary spiders, which are almost blind-they have exceptionally acute vision.
A jumping spider hunts by securing itself to the branch of a tree with the thread it secretes. Then it throws itself toward an insect flying nearby, catching it in midair. In order to snare its catch, the spider needs to see its prey, and determine the direction and speed at which the target is traveling. Also, of course, it must determine its own speed and the duration of the leap. In order to do all this, the spider needs not only an advanced visual system, but an information processing center to make all the necessary calculations.
Jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, for a total of eight. The front two are the most impressive, perhaps the best eyes one can find in any arthropod. The retina inside the eye can move in three dimensions, enabling the spider to look in all directions and focus on its subject. The other six eyes are positioned around the head, affording 360-degree vision.43
The jumping spider's visual acuity is actually very similar to our own, such that they even perceive images on a television screen. When most animals look at a television, they see only a series of moving dots. But research has indicated that jumping spiders respond to televised pictures of other spiders and insects.
The jumping spider's visual system is highly complex and, in some respects, surpasses even a human's. A tiny spider can look in different directions, detect motions, and estimate speed and distance. Of course, the spider never asked for these abilities, nor did it develop them on its own, over time. Everything the spider possesses was given to him by God.
The Protection of Animal Eyes
As the body's most sensitive organs, the eyes must therefore be well protected. This is why animal skulls have been constructed in such a way as to provide their eyes with maximum protection.
In animals like cats and dogs, the majority of the eye lies inside the skull, with only a small portion protruding outside. The bones surrounding the eye effectively act as a shield against impacts, and the eyelids help protect against direct injury.
The eyes of a camel-a mammal that lives under incredibly harsh conditions-are provided with the protection they need. The bone structure around its eye not only protects it from impacts, but also from harsh sunrays. Not even violent sandstorms can harm a camel's eyes, thanks to its eyelashes, which are long and intertwined, preventing any dust from entering.
Eyes in the Sea
There are considerable differences between land and underwater creatures, because under the surface is effectively another world, whose inhabitants have been modeled to best suit their environment. But just because they spend their lives underwater doesn't mean that their basic requirements are any different from ours. To stay alive, they still need to breathe, feed and avoid being hunted. They have to be able to see the world around them, so that they can distinguish between prey and foe-and require special eyes that let them see clearly underwater.
Fish view their world through a transparent layer that covers their eyes, similar in principle to the goggles worn by human divers. But be it a whale or a herring, an underwater creature's field of vision is restricted. Deeper than 30 meters (99 feet) below the surface, distant vision becomes unnecessary. Most of the time, in fact, fish need to see only those objects directly in front of them, and their eyes are created to meet this need. Their rigid, globular lens is particularly adapted for seeing close objects. But when they do need to see at a distance, a set of special muscles pulls the entire lens back toward the retina.44
The spherical lens in a fish's eye works well underwater. Because of the higher degree of refraction (the bending of light) in water than in air, a fish's lens has to be much more curved than a human's. To produce a clear image, the lens bends the light a lot more than does a flatter one-such as those in humans and other land animals.45
Water creatures are always in danger of becoming food for larger creatures. But they do have a special defense mechanism not seen in mammals: Fish can perceive more than one image at the same time.
A fish's eyes are placed on either side of its head. The image seen by each eye is recorded in the opposite half of its brain. But since the image is viewed by one eye only, it is two-dimensional, which prevents the fish from judging distances. This is why, when it spots some potential threat, both eyes focus in the same direction to judge the distance. Straight ahead, the visual arcs of the two eyes overlap to provide a narrow band, where the fish enjoys binocular vision.
With the exception of a few species, fish cannot see in color. They have no need to, because only a few meters underwater, most colors are absorbed and disappear. A fish's entire world is mostly shades of blue and green.
Fish are more sensitive than land animals to dim light, because their retinas contain a higher number of cells sensitive to low intensities, letting them make use of every amount of light possible.
Sea turtles generally feed on fish. In the process, they also consume a large quantity of sea salt, which could be unhealthy if they digested it. Rather then simply eject salt from the body, the turtle transfers it to special sacs located on to the side of its eyes. Here, the salt is cleverly recycled and used to produce tears.46
Octopus Eyes
Of all the invertebrates, the octopus has one of the most complex eye structures. As in vertebrates, each of the octopus's two large, complex eyes is like a camera, in structure, and the creature's vision is acute.
The octopus eye and the vertebrate eye are extraordinarily similar. Each includes a cornea, an iris, an accommodating lens, a fluid-filled vitreous humor, and a retina. However, there are major differences. For instance, octopi change their range of focus by moving the entire lens closer or farther away from the retina, whereas we change the shape of our cellular lens in order to bring objects into focus.
As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest struggles for evolutionists was in forming some explanation of how octopus eyes originated. According to evolutionary theory, octopi (which are invertebrates) and men (vertebrates) developed completely independently of each other, over time. And yet both man and octopus have equally well-developed visual systems, with similar structures performing similar functions.
But if the two species developed separately, why are their eyes so similar? It seems that the impossible has taken place not just once, but at several times and in several places. If the human eye is the product of coincidences and not creation, then shouldn't it be considerably different than the octopus's eye? The theory of evolution simply cannot answer thousands of basic questions like this.
The Archer Fish
Archer fish hunt by firing mouthfuls of water at nearby insects. Their superior sense of sight allows them to make acute geometric calculations from underwater so as to estimate the correct location of the prey in the outside air. They never miss their targets. This intelligent behavior surely is not the work of the fish itself. It is God Who inspires the Archer fish and all other creatures how to act.
This fish is famous for being a living water pistol-filling its mouth with water and squirting it at insects resting on branches or twigs above the water. The element of surprise causes the insect to lose its grip and plunge into the water, where it becomes an easy catch.
What's remarkable about the process is that even as the archer fish prepares itself, it doesn't raise its head out of the water. While still submerged, it can accurately determine the insect's location. But the apparent position of objects outside the water is distorted by the retraction of light. For example, if you wanted to shoot an arrow from beneath a swimming pool at a point in the air outside, you'd have to know at what angle light retracts upon the water and adjust your aim accordingly.
But this fish seems to overcome this problem and shoots on target every time. It is able to hit a tiny insect with no difficulty.47 All archer fish possess this ability, but not through lessons and physical calculations. It is God Who inspires this creature.
The Crab's Periscope
A crab has two eyes on the ends of stalks. These act like little periscopes, allowing the crab to see what's going on above, even if it is hiding beneath the sand. At any sign of danger, the stalks can be lowered for protection into sockets on the carapace.
REPTILE EYES
Most reptiles can see a large array of colors, allowing them to pick out even the most effectively camouflaged insects. This gives them a major hunting advantage.
Chameleons feed on insects, and their hunting tactics are most unusual because their eyes play a greater role than usual. Chameleons can move each eye independently of the other, allowing them scout the surroundings and watch their insect prey at the same time, as they edge closer to their objective.48 When it is close enough, a chameleon turns both eyes upon its prey, determines its position, and then shoots out its long sticky tongue to catch the meal.
Double Vision
On most species of snakes, the eyes are placed on either side of the head, which produces two different images in the snake's brain.
However, this location of the eyes doesn't stop the snake from seeing forward. In fact, this positioning gives the snake a wide visual perspective, allowing it to look forwards, backwards and upwards with ease.
Infrared Vision
As you've seen, the human eye can perceive only a specific range of wavelengths of light. Some species of snake are capable of seeing greater wavelengths than humans, including infrared light, which humans can sense only as heat.
Snakes have small pit organs that can visually register infrared radiation. These organs are a hundred thousand times more sensitive to infrared than human skin and can detect even the slightest change in a body's temperature.
For example, the rattlesnake can locate a warm-blooded animal or human even in pitch darkness, because such creatures radiate off heat waves that the snake can detect-an incredible advantage for any creature hunting at night.
The principle of detecting objects and soldiers by the heat they emit is also used in recent optical military equipment. It took years of research to develop the technology behind this kind of equipment, but snakes enjoy the same ability from the moment they hatch from their eggs. It took decades for humans to develop heat-sensing equipment, but snakes have always had it.
Eyelids
There are vast differences between a reptile's eyelids and the eyelids of other creatures. It may appear as if snakes do not have eyelids, for example, but their eyes are in fact covered by an immobile, transparent layer of scales.
Lizards, on the other hand, have movable eyelids. But in the desert lizard especially, the eyelids are upturned. This keeps out the sand, preventing it from harming the eye when the lizard buries itself in the sand.
The Sensitive Eyes of a Frog
Recent research has revealed some of the frog's eye's interesting abilities. One kind of retinal cell responds strongly to small, dark, round moving objects and is most active when those objects moved irregularly. It is as if the neurons of the frog eyes were designed especially to detect flies. Some scientists call their eyes "bug detectors."49
Cats' Eyes
The eye of a cat contains a layer called the tapetum lucidum, not found in humans. Positioned immediately behind the retina, it reflects incoming light, doubling the amount of light the eye can use and allowing cats to see in much dimmer light than we can.
This layer is also the reason why cat eyes seem to glow when a flashlight beam is shined directly at them.
Cat eyelids are prized wide open at night, allowing as much light as possible to enter. Another reason why cats can see so well in the dark is because their retinas contain more rod cells than cone cells. Thanks to this system created by God, wild cats can comfortably hunt at night.
source: www.iqrasearch.com/surah-Mumenoon-translation.html
Astronomy in the Quran
The Quran is full of reflections on the Heavens. In the preceding chapter on the Creation, we saw how the plurality of the Heavens and Earths was referred to, as well as what the Quran calls an intermediary creation 'between the Heavens and the Earth', modern science has verified the latter. The verses referring to the Creation already contain a broad idea of what is to be found in the heavens, i.e. of everything outside the earth.
Apart from the verses that specifically describe the Creation, there are roughly another forty verses in the Quran which provide information on astronomy complementing what has already been given. Some of them are not much more than reflections on the glory of the Creator, the Organizer of all the stellar and planetary systems. These we know to be arranged according to balancing positions whose stability Newton explained in his law of the mutual attraction of bodies.
The first verses to be quoted here hardly furnish much material for scientific analysis: the aim is simply to draw attention to God's Omnipotence. They must be mentioned however to give a realistic idea of the way the Quranic text described the organization of the Universe fourteen centuries ago.
These references constitute a new fact of divine Revelation. The organization of the world is treated in neither the Gospels nor the Old Testament (except for a few notions whose general inaccuracy we have already seen in the Biblical description of the Creation). The Quran however deals with this subject in depth. What it describes is important, but so is what it does not contain. It does not in fact provide an account of the theories prevalent at the time of the Revelation that deal with the organization of the celestial world, theories that science was later to show were inaccurate. An example of this will be given later. This negative consideration must however be pointed out. [ I have often heard those who go to great lengths to find a human explanation-and no other-to all the problems raised by the Quran Bay the following: "if the Book contains surprising statements on astronomy, it is because the Arabs were very knowledgeable on this subject." In so doing they forget the fact that, in general, science in Islamic countries is very much post-Quran, and that the scientific knowledge of this great period would in any case not have been sufficient for a human being to write some of the verses to be found in the Quran. This will be shown in the following paragraphs.]
A. GENERAL REFLECTIONS CONCERNING THE SKY
--sura 50, verse 6. The subject is man in general.
"Do they not look at the sky above them, how We have built it and adorned it, and there are no rifts in it."
--sura 31, verse 10:
"(God) created the heavens without any pillars that you can see..."
--sura 13, verse 2:
"God is the One Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see, then He firmly established Himself on the throne and He subjected the sun and moon . . ."
These two verses refute the belief that the vault of the heavens was held up by pillars, the only things preventing the former from crushing the earth.
--sura 55, verse 7:
"the sky (God) raised it . . ."
--sura 22, verse 65:
"(God) holds back the sky from falling on the earth unless by His leave . . ."
It is known how the remoteness of celestial masses at great distance and in proportion to the magnitude of their mass itself constitutes the foundation of their equilibrium. The more remote the masses are, the weaker the force is that attracts one to the other. The nearer they are, the stronger the attraction is that one has to the other: this is true for the Moon, which is near to the Earth (astronomically speaking) and exercises an influence by laws of attraction on the position occupied by the waters of the sea, hence the phenomenon of the tides. If two celestial bodies come too close to one another, collision is inevitable. The fact that they are subjected to an order is the sine qua non for the absence of disturbances.
The subjection of the Heavens to divine order is often referred to as well:
--sura 23, verse 86. God is speaking to the Prophet.
"Say: Who is Lord of the seven heavens and Lord of the tremendous throne?"
We have already seen how by 'seven heavens' what is meant is not 7, but an indefinite number of Heavens.
--sura 45, verse 13:
"For you (God) subjected all that is in the heavens and on the earth, all from Him. Behold! In that are signs for people who reflect."
--sura 55, verse 5:
"The sun and moon (are subjected) to calculations"
--sura 6, verse 96:
"(God) appointed the night for rest and the sun and the moon for reckoning."
--sura 14, verse 33:
"For you (God) subjected the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses. And for you He subjected the night and the day."
Here one verse completes another: the calculations referred to result in the regularity of the course described by the heavenly bodies in question, this is expressed by the word da'ib, the present participle of a verb whose original meaning was 'to work eagerly and assiduously at something'. Here it is given the meaning of 'to apply oneself to something with care in a perseverant, invariable manner, in accordance with set habits'.
--sura 36, verse 39: God is speaking:
"And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she returns like an old shriveled palm branch."
This is a reference to the curled form of the palm branch which, as it shrivels up, takes on the moon's crescent. This commentary will be completed later.
--sura 16, verse 12:
"For you (God) subjected the night and the day, the sun and the moon; the stars are in subjection to His Command. Verily in this are signs for people who are wise."
The practical angle from which this perfect celestial order is seen is underlined on account of its value as an aid to man's travel on earth and by sea, and to his calculation of time. This comment becomes clear when one bears in mind the fact that the Quran was originally a preaching addressed to men who only understood the simple language of their everyday lives. This explains the presence of the following reflections.
--sura 6, verse 97:
"(God) is the One Who has set out for you the stars, that you may guide yourselves by them through the darkness of the land and of the sea. We have detailed the signs for people who know."
--sura 16, verse 16:
"(God sets on the earth) landmarks and by the stars (men) guide themselves."
--sura 10, verse 5:
"God is the One Who made the sun a shining glory and the moon a light and for her ordained mansions, so that you might know the number of years and the reckoning (of the time). God created this in truth. He explains the signs in detail for people who know."
This calls for some comment. Whereas the Bible calls the Sun and Moon 'lights', and merely adds to one the adjective 'greater' and to the other 'lesser', the Quran ascribes differences other than that of dimension to each respectively. Agreed, this is nothing more than a verbal distinction, but how was one to communicate to men at this time without confusing them, while at the same time expressing the notion that the Sun and Moon were not absolutely identical 'lights'?
B. NATURE OF HEAVENLY BODIES
The Sun and the Moon
The Sun is a shining glory (diya') and the Moon a light (nur). This translation would appear to be more correct than those given by others, where the two terms are inverted. In fact there is little difference in meaning since diya' belongs to a root (dw') which, according to Kazimirski's authoritative Arabic/French dictionary, means 'to be bright, to shine' (e.g. like a fire). The same author attributes to the substantive in question the meaning of 'light'.
The difference between Sun and Moon will be made clearer by further quotes from the Quran.
--sura 25, verse 61:
"Blessed is the One Who placed the constellations in heaven and placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light."
--sura 71, 15-16:
"Did you see how God created seven heavens one above an other and made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp?"
--sura 78, verses 12-13:
"We have built above you seven strong (heavens) and placed a blazing lamp."
The blazing lamp is quite obviously the sun.
Here the moon is defined as a body that gives light (munir) from the same root as nur (the light applied to the Moon). The Sun however is compared to a torch (siraj) or a blazing (wahhaj) lamp.
A man of Muhammad's time could easily distinguish between the Sun, a blazing heavenly body well known to the inhabitants of the desert, and the Moon, the body of the cool of the night. The comparisons found in the Quran on this subject are therefore quite normal. What is interesting to note here is the sober quality of the comparisons, and the absence in the text of the Quran of any elements of comparison that might have prevailed at the time and which in our day would appear as phantasmagorial.
It is known that the Sun is a star that generates intense heat and light by its internal combustions, and that the Moon, which does not give of flight itself, and is an inert body (on its external layers at least) merely reflects the light received from the Sun.
There is nothing in the text of the Quran that contradicts what we know today about these two celestial bodies.
The Stars
As we know, the stars are heavenly bodies like the Sun. They are the scene of various physical phenomena of which the easiest to observe is their generation of light. They are heavenly bodies that produce their own light.
The word 'star' appears thirteen times in the Quran (najm, plural nujum); it comes from a root meaning to appear, to come into sight. The word designates a visible heavenly body without saying of what kind, i.e. either generator of light or mere reflector of light received. To make it clear that the object so designated is a star, a qualifying phrase is added as in the following sura:
--sura 86, verses 1-3:
"By the sky and the Night-Visitor, who will tell thee what the Night-Visitor is, the Star of piercing brightness." [ Here, the sky and a star are used to bear witness to the importance of what is to come in the text.]
The evening star is qualified in the Quran by the word takib meaning 'that which pierces through something' (here the night shadows) . The same word is moreover used to designate shooting stars (sura 37, verse 10): the latter are the result of combustion.
The Planets
It is difficult to say whether these are referred to in the Quran with the same exact meaning that is given to the heavenly bodies in the present day.
The planets do not have their own light. They revolve around the Sun, Earth being one of them. While one may presume that others exist elsewhere, the only ones known are those in the solar system.
Five planets other than Earth were known to the ancients: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Three have been discovered in recent times: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
The Quran would seem to designate these by the word kaukab (plural kawakib) without stating their number. Joseph's dream (sum 12) refers to eleven of them, but the description is, by definition, an imaginary one.
A good definition of the meaning of the word kaukab in the Quran Seems to have been given in a very famous verse. The eminently spiritual nature of its deeper meaning stands forth, and is moreover the subject of much debate among experts in exegesis. It is nevertheless of great interest to offer an account of the comparison it contains on the subject of the word that would seem to designate a 'planet'.
Here is the text in question: (sura 24, verse 35)
"God is the light of the heavens and the earth. The similitude of His light is as if there were a niche and within it a luminary. The luminary is in a glass. The glass is as if it were a planet glittering like a pearl."
Here the subject is the projection of light onto a body that reflects it (glass) and gives it the glitter of a pearl, like a planet that is lit by the sun. This is the only explanatory detail referring to this word to be found in the Quran.
The word is quoted in other verses. In some of them it is difficult to distinguish which heavenly bodies are meant (sura 6, verse 76; sura 82, verses 1-2).
In one verse however, when seen in the light of modern science, it would seem very much that these can only be the heavenly bodies that we know to be planets. In sura 37, verse 6, we see the following:
"We have indeed adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets."
Is it possible that the expression in the Quran 'lowest heaven' means the 'solar system'? It is known that among the celestial elements nearest to us, there are no other permanent elements apart from the planets: the Sun is the only star in the system that bears its name. It is difficult to see what other heavenly bodies could be meant if not the planets. The translation given would therefore seem to be correct and the Quran to refer to the existence of the planets as defined in modern times.
The Lowest Heaven
The Quran mentions the lowest heaven several times along with the heavenly bodies of which it is composed. The first among these would seem to be the planets, as we have just seen. When however the Quran associates material notions intelligible to us, enlightened as we are today by modern science, with statements of a purely spiritual nature, their meaning becomes obscure.
Thus the verse quoted could easily be understood, except that the following verse (7) of the same sura 37 speaks of a 'guard against every rebellious evil spirit', 'guard' again being referred to in sura 21, verse 32 and sura 41, verse 12, so that we are confronted by statements of quite a different kind.
What meaning can one attach moreover to the 'projectiles for the stoning of demons' that according to verse 5, sura 67 are situated in the lowest heaven? Do the 'luminaries' referred to in the same verse have something to do with the shooting stars mentioned above? [ It is known that when a meteorite arrives at the upper layers of the atmosphere, it may produce the luminous phenomenon of a 'shooting star'.]
All these observations seem to lie outside the subject of this study. They have been mentioned here for the sake of completeness. At the present stage however, it would seem that scientific data are unable to cast any light on a subject that goes beyond human understanding.
C. CELESTIAL ORGANIZATION
The information the Quran provides on this subject mainly deals with the solar system. References are however made to phenomena that go beyond the solar system itself: they have been discovered in recent times.
There are two very important verses on the orbits of the Sun and Moon:
--sura 21, verse 33:
"(God is) the One Who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is travelling in an orbit with its own motion."
--sura 36, verse 40:
"The sun must not catch up the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. Each one is travelling in an orbit with its own motion."
Here an essential fact is clearly stated: the existence of the Sun's and Moon's orbits, plus a reference is made to the travelling of these bodies in space with their own motion.
A negative fact also emerges from a reading of these verses: it is shown that the Sun moves in an orbit, but no indication is given as to what this orbit might be in relation to the Earth. At the time of the Quranic Revelation, it was thought that the Sun moved while the Earth stood still. This was the system of geocentrism that had held sway since the time of ptolemy, Second century B.C., and was to continue to do so until Copernicus in the Sixteenth century A.D. Although people supported this concept at the time of Muhammad, it does not appear anywhere in the Quran, either here or elsewhere.
The Existence of the Moon's and the Sun's Orbits
The Arabic word falak has here been translated by the word 'orbit'. many French translators of the Quran attach to it the meaning of a 'sphere'. This is indeed its initial sense. Hamidullah translates it by the word 'orbit'.
The word caused concern to older translators of the Quran who were unable to imagine the circular course of the Moon and the Sun and therefore retained images of their course through space that were either more or less correct, or hopelessly wrong. Sir Hamza Boubekeur in his translation of the Quran cites the diversity of interpretations given to it: "A sort of axle, like an iron rod, that a mill turns around; a celestial sphere, orbit, sign of the zodiac, speed, wave . . .", but he adds the following observation made by Tabari, the famous Tenth century commentator: "It is our duty to keep silent when we do not know." (XVII, 15). This shows just how incapable men were of understanding this concept of the Sun's and Moon's orbit. It is obvious that if the word had expressed an astronomical concept common in Muhammad's day, it would not have been so difficult to interpret these verses. A Dew concept therefore existed in the Quran that was not to be explained until centuries later.
1. The Moon's Orbit
Today, the concept is widely spread that the Moon is a satellite of the Earth around which it revolves in periods of twenty-nine days. A correction must however be made to the absolutely circular form of its orbit, since modern astronomy ascribes a certain eccentricity to this, so that the distance between the Earth and the Moon (240,000 miles) is only the average distance.
We have seen above how the Quran underlined the usefulness of observing the Moon's movements in calculating time (sura 10, verse 5, quoted at the beginning of this chapter.) This system has often been criticized for being archaic, impractical and unscientific in comparison to our system based on the Earth's rotation around the Sun, expressed today in the Julian calendar.
This criticism calls for the following two remarks:
a) Nearly fourteen centuries ago, the Quran was directed at the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula who were used to the lunar calculation of time. It was advisable to address them in the only language they could understand and not to upset the habits they had of locating spatial and temporal reference-marks which were nevertheless quite efficient. It is known how well-versed men living in the desert are in the observation of the sky. they navigated according to the stars and told the time according to the phases of the Moon. Those were the simplest and most reliable means available to them.
b) Apart from the specialists in this field, most people are unaware of the perfect correlation between the Julian and the lunar calendar: 235 lunar months correspond exactly to 19 Julian years of 365 1/4 days. Then length of our year of 365 days is not perfect because it has to be rectified every four years (with a leap year) .
With the lunar calendar, the same phenomena occur every 19 years (Julian). This is the Metonic cycle, named after the Greek astronomer Meton, who discovered this exact correlation between solar and lunar time in the Fifth century B.C.
2. The Sun
It is more difficult to conceive of the Sun's orbit because we are so used to seeing our solar system organized around it. To understand the verse from the Quran, the position of the Sun in our galaxy must be considered, and we must therefore call on modern scientific ideas.
Our galaxy includes a very large number of stars spaced so as to form a disc that is denser at the centre than at the rim. The Sun occupies a position in it which is far removed from the centre of the disc. The galaxy revolves on its own axis which is its centre with the result that the Sun revolves around the same centre in a circular orbit. Modern astronomy has worked out the details of this. In 1917, Shapley estimated the distance between the Sun and the centre of our galaxy at 10 kiloparsecs i.e., in miles, circa the figure 2 followed by 17 zeros. To complete one revolution on its own axis, the galaxy and Sun take roughly 250 million years. The Sun travels at roughly 150 miles per second in the completion of this.
The above is the orbital movement of the Sun that was already referred to by the Quran fourteen centuries ago. The demonstration of the existence and details of this is one of the achievements of modern astronomy.
ref: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LdpBrbcG-I
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlSCsUQD6xs
future: spain in the quran
pope says: forward a new suggestion, arguing that the principles of Islamic finance may represent a possible cure for ailing markets.
The Vatican’s official newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano, recently published an article titled “Islamic finance proposals and ideas for the West in crisis,” prepared by Italian economists Loretta Napoleoni and Claudia Segre, in which it was suggested that the basic rules of Islamic finance could relieve suffering markets and particularly international financial systems. Noting that Islam prohibits “riba,” Arabic for the usurious loaning of money, the article argued that “sukuk bonds,” securities that comply with Islamic law, may be an alternative to interest. The article stressed that sukuk bonds are always real investments and never speculative.
The article said that in this atmosphere of crisis banks should take Muslims as an example and that the Islamic finance system may pave the way for the establishment of new rules in the Western world. The Vatican has suggested that the current capitalist system has failed. Pope Benedict XVI recently harshly criticized the capitalist system and the greediness of bank owners in the West. In the meantime, the Vatican itself has been badly affected by the crisis. It had recorded an 18 billion euro budget surplus in 2007, but this number had declined to 6 billion euros by the end of 2008 and is expected to fall further in 2009.
ref:
www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=37462
Joseph, Mary's husband, was "90 years old" when he married 12 to 14-year old Mary!Was he too a pedophile?
What about Mary, Jesus' Mother peace be upon both of them? How old was she when she got pregnant?
Not only was it a custom in the Arab society to Engage/Marry a young girl it was also common in the Jewish society. The case of Mary the mother of Jesus comes to mind, in non biblical sources she was between 11-14 years old when she conceived Jesus. Mary had already been "BETROTHED" to Joseph before conceiving Jesus. Joseph was a much older man. therefore Mary was younger than 11-14 years of age when she was "BETHROED" to Joseph. We Muslims would never call Joseph a Child Molester, nor would we refer to the "Holy Ghost" of the Bible, that "Impregnated" Mary as a "Rapist" or "Adulterer".
"....it is possible that Mary gave birth to her Son when she was about thirteen or fourteen years of age...." (Source) [2]
Also, this paragraph was sent to me by brother Mike, who embraced Islam recently; may Allah Almighty always be pleased with him: According to the Priest of Saint Mary's Catholic Church: "Mary was approximately 14 years old when she got pregnant with Jesus. Joseph, Mary's Husband is believed to be around 36. Mary was only 13 when she married Joseph. When she first was arranged with Joseph she was between 7 to 9 years old."
According to the "Oxford Dictionary Bible" commentary, Mary (peace be upon her) was was 12 years old when she became impregnated.
So if I want to be as silly and ridiculous as many of the Christians, I would respond to them by saying that Mary was psychologically and emotionally devastated for getting pregnant at a very young age. And speaking of "child molesting", since most Christians believe that Jesus is the Creator of this universe, then why did GOD allow himself to enter life through a 12-year old young girl's vagina? Please note that we Muslims love and respect Allah Almighty, Mary, Jesus and Allah's Message to the People of the Book (The Jews and Christians). In other words, we Muslims would never make fun of Christianity through such childish topic like this one as many ridiculous Christians do make fun of Islam through our Prophet's (peace be upon him) marriage.
Joseph, Mary's husband, was "90 years old" when he married 12 to 14-year old Mary! Was he too a pedophile?
From dan1988.blogspot.com/2006/02/...ry-aisha.html:
Hypocrisy of Jews & Christians
It is quite hypocritical of Jews and Christian to criticize the marriage of Aisha. Talmud (Jewish scripture) says:
"Marrying off one's daughter as soon after she reaches adulthood as possible, even to one's Slave. (From the Talmud, Pesachim 113a)"
As we discussed, in biblical times adulthood could refer to the age of Puberty or even younger age.
Regarding the Marriage of Mary to Joseph, Catholic Encyclopaedia ( www.newadvent.org/cathen/08504a.htm), says:
"When forty years of age, Joseph married a woman called Melcha or Escha by some, Salome by others; they lived forty-nine years together and had six children, two daughters and four sons, the youngest of whom was James (the Less, "the Lord's brother"). A year after his wife's death, as the priests announced through Judea that they wished to find in the tribe of Juda a respectable man to espouse Mary, then twelve to fourteen years of age, Joseph, who was at the time ninety years old, went up to Jerusalem among the candidates; a miracle manifested the choice God had made of Joseph, and two years later the Annunciation took place."
Note: That article on Catholic Encyclopaedia obtains its information from early
Christian writing including apocryphal writings.
The Catholic Encyclopaedia goes on to conclude "...retained the belief that St. Joseph was an old man at the time of marriage with the Mother of God." If Christians do not find any difficulty in accepting "Mother of God" (according to Catholic Encyclopaedia), who was 12-14, marrying a 90 year old man then why do they raise objection towards the marriage of Aisha (RA) to the Prophet?
- What about the Bible's Prophets' marriages?
When we read the Bible, we learn about some Prophets marrying many wives, even hundreds of wives in some cases. Let us look at some of the verses from the Old Testament:
In Exodus 21:10, a man can marry an infinite amount of women without any limits to how many he can marry.
In 2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Chronicles 3:1-9, 14:3, King David had six wives and numerous concubines.
In 1 Kings 11:3, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.
In 2 Chronicles 11:21, King Solomon's son Rehoboam had 18 wives and 60 concubines.
And knowing that the Bible's Old Testament allowed before for men to have sex with girls who were at the age of 3, then it wouldn't surprise me that those Prophets who had 700 wives for instance, had many very young "teenage" girls before as their wives.
It wouldn't surprise me if they too had wives that were younger than Mary when she got pregnant, and younger than Aisha when she got married.
Since there are so many wives that those Prophets married (hundreds of wives), then how would anyone know that they didn't marry young women as our beloved Prophet peace be upon him did with his marriage to Aisha peace be upon her?
What about the X-Rated P O R N ography in the Bible?
When we read the Bible, we learn about some weird *!*!*!*!ographic teachings that are certainly not appropriate for anyone with morals to read. Please visit X-Rated *!*!*!*!ography in the Bible to see the many *!*!*!*!ographic verses in the Bible. You will read for instance, about Solomon's wife's vagina tastes like wine for him!
You will also see examples of Prophets sleeping with their neighbor's wives, such as the following:
David watches a women bathe, likes what he sees, and "goes in unto her." Let us look at 2 Samuel 11:2-4 "One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, and David sent someone to find out about her. The man said, 'Isn't this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?' Then David sent messengers to get her. She came to him, and he slept with her. (She had purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she went back home." This Holy Figure in the Bible is a pervert!.
So what happened to "If a man commits adultery with another man's wife--with the wife of his neighbor--both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death. (From the NIV Bible, Leviticus 20:10)"????
How come Leviticus 20:10 was compromised in the Bible and was never applied to King David?! Didn't King David know about this law? Yet, the Jews use his star as their holy symbol; the David Star, and the Christians call Jesus his son; "Son of David".
It seems to me quite clearly that the Bible is nothing but a compromised corrupted Book as Jeremiah 8:8, 2 Samuel 11:2-4 and Leviticus 20:10 suggest.
If the strong eats the weak in the Bible, then what moral and wisdom are we to learn from this book?
A 10 year old girl who memorised a whole bible (kitab)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4mGLlh2P0w
This is the story of a 10-year-old
girl named Bar`ah, whose parents were doctors and had moved
to Saudi Arabia in search of a better life.
At this age, Bar`ah memorized the
entire Qur'an with tajweed, she was very intelligent and
her teacher used to tell her she was advanced for her
age.
Her family was small and committed
to Islam and its teachings... . suddenly one day her mother
started feeling severe abdominal pain and after tests and
checkups it was confirmed that she had cancer, but it was
found in its late stages.
The mother thought she should tell
her daughter, especially if she woke up one day and
didn't find her mother beside her... so she told her:
"Bar`ah I will go to paradise ahead of you, but I want
you to read the Quran you memorized every day since it will
protect you in this life..."
The little girl didn't
really understand what her mother was trying to tell
her.... but she started feeling the change in her
mother's status, especially when she was transferred to
stay at the hospital on a permanent basis. The little girl
use to come to the hospital after school and recite the
Quran for her mother until the evening when her father would
take her home.
One day the hospital called the
husband and informed him that his wife's condition was
very bad and he needed to come as fast as he could, so the
father picked Bar`ah up from school and headed to the
hospital. When they arrived he asked her to stay in the
car... so that she wouldn't go into shock if her mother
passed away.
The father got out of his car,
with tears filled in his eyes, he crossed the street to
enter the hospital but was suddenly hit by a speeding car
and died in front of his daughter who came crying to her
father...!
The tragedy of Bar`ah is not over
yet... the news of her father's death was hidden from
the mother, but after five days the mother passed away
as well. She was alone without her parents, and her
parents' friends decided to find her relatives in Egypt
so that they could take care of her.
Soon after Bar`ah started having
severe pains similar to her mothers and after a few tests
and checkups it was confirmed it was cancer... at the
surprise of every one she said: "Alhamdu Lillah, now I
will meet my parents."
All of the family friends were
shocked. This little girl being faced with calamity after
calamity and she is patient and satisfied with what Allah
ordained for her!
People started hearing about
Bar`ah and her story, and a Saudi decided to take care of
her... he sent her to the UK for treatment of this
disease.
One of the Islamic channels (Al
Hafiz - The protector) got in contact with this little girl
and asked her to recite the Quran... and this is her
beautiful voice with recitation.. .
YouTube - الطفلة براءة أجمل الأصوات 10
They contacted her again before
she went into a coma and she made dua for her
parents and sang a nasheed...
YouTube - بنت ابكت المذيع لجمال صوتها الخيالي Her Voice Is Not Normal
The days passed by and the cancer
spread all over her body, the doctors decided to amputate
her legs, and she has been patient with what Allah ordained
for her... after a few days the cancer spread to her brain,
upon which doctors decided for another urgent brain
surgery... and now her body is in a UK hospital in full
COMA...
Please pray and make du'a for
Bara'a, for our brothers and sisters in Haiti, and for
all those who are suffering--please keep them in your
prayers.
ABOUT HISTORY OF ZUMZUM.
www.iccservices.org.uk/news_and_events/updates/zamzam_stu...
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.
About 4,000 years ago, a young infant was crying for water and rubbing his feet in the sands of a desolate valley, where stands today the magnificent house of God, the Ka'aba, and the city of Makkah. His mother was running in between the nearby hills known as Safa and Marwa in search of water, possibly to ask for water from a passing caravan. All of a sudden, she saw water gushing out under the feet of her infant son. This was the beginning of the famous well of Zum Zum that continues to flow even today.
The infant was Ismael and his mother Hajira, wife of Ibrahim. At that time, these two were the only habitants of the valley of Makkah, described in the Holy Quran as a valley without a blade of grass. They were left in the then barren valley by Hazrat Ibrahim under the command of Allah who had a great designs for the place. They were the first citizens of Makkah, the most revered place and seat of the religion of Islam. Makkah, today, is a city with more than a million people and the well of Zum Zum is located in the heart of the city.
The well of Zum Zum is the oldest flowing well in the world and is located right in the Mutaf (circling area around the Ka'aba), about 150 feet from Baitullah Sharif and towards eastern the side. As she was trying to contain the newly-appeared spring, Hajira said "Zum Zum" meaning "stop" or "hold on." Since then, this water has been flowing and carries the name of Zum Zum.
After being in use for many centuries, it disappeared after the Bani Jurham, a tribe of Makkah in whom Ismael was married, filled it up with soil before leaving Makkah. It remained obliterated and untraced for quite a few centuries till its location was disclosed in a dream to Abdul Mutallib, the grandfather of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) in the first half of the 6th century AD, that is about 540 AD. Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, in spite of opposition from the local leaders and chieftains of Makkah, excavated the ground with the help of his only son, Haris, till he found the well (in all, he was blessed with ten sons, but nine were borne after the rediscovery of Zum Zum).
The well's dimension of 18ft x 12ft x 5ft of water depth was measured in 1971 by Tariq Hussain, a Pakistani chemical engineer who was then working with the Saline Water Desalination Corporation at the Jeddah plant. He was assigned to take a water sample from the well of Zum Zum for chemical and biological examination, and to disprove the claim of an Egyptian doctor that the water of Zum Zum is contaminated with sewage leakages from Makkah's sewage system. The dimensions measured by Tariq Hussain in 1971 are the same to which the well was excavated by Hazrat Abdul Mutallib, and has remained unaltered for 1,400 years.
The city of Makkah is located in a valley with hard, granite mountains on all sides, and the Haram Sharif (Masjid-ul-Haram) located at its lowest point. There is about 50 to 100ft deep sandy silt formation underlain by igneous rocks. The well of Zum Zum is located in this sand/silt formation and its water level is about 40 to 50ft below the natural ground level.
The source of the well of Zum Zum has been traced to an aquifer extending out to the hills of Taif. This was accidentally discovered in June 1982, while a tunnel on the Safa side of Haram Sharif was being excavated. While excavating the tunnel roof, water profusely started flowing, so much so that the contractor was confronted with a difficult situation. At the same time, the flow into the Zum Zum well turned slack and for the first time in 1,400 years, the well almost ran dry. His Majesty, King Fahad of Saudi Arabia, immediately appointed a committee to look into the matter that included Dr Adnan Niazi, professor of Geo-Physics at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
The water tests showed that the tunnel water and the water in the well of Zum Zum were the same and therefore it was confirmed that the tunnelling operation had ruptured the aquifer bringing water to the well. Immediate repairs were undertaken and as the rupture was closed, the Zum Zum flow was restored. A visit to the tunnel saw almost a flood coming out of the ruptured roof of the tunnel in the month of Ramzan in (June) 1982.
Before discussing the well of Zum Zum any further, the ground-water theory and equations that govern its flow into a well have to be discussed to provide a basis to the readers for comparing the hydraulics of the Zum Zum well with the ground-water theory. There are two types of wells, namely open and deep wells (also called tube wells)
Open wells are hand-dug wells in a shallow water table and can be up to 10 to 15ft in diameter. The depth generally is less than 100ft and the sides, if not by rocks, are held by loosely-joined bricks or stone masonry to allow the water to percolate into the well. The bottom is loaded with gravel to stop sand boil in case of high discharge and high draw in the well level.
The main disadvantage of such a well is low discharge, about 0.1 cubic ft per second or 45 gallons per minute or less, since higher discharge will cause higher draw in the well, causing sand boil in the bottom, muddy discharge and ultimately well failure due to collapse of the well sides.
Deep wells penetrate deep into aquifers and are machine-bored. If bored in solid rocks, they are without screen and if in alluvium or fine sand, a screen is provided to hold the formation. These wells are 12 to 15 inches in diameter and operate for high discharges up to three cubic ft per sec (1,326 gallons per minute).
The well of Zum Zum used to have a manual system of drawing water, till the early 1950s. In those days, the peak discharge drawn during Haj season would just suffice the number of Hajis not exceeding a hundred thousand.
Today, Hajis exceed 2.2 million and in addition, the Zum Zum water is being pumped to Masjid-i-Nabvi in Madina through a 450km-long pipeline from Makkah. The installed pump capacity today is 3 cft/sec (1,350 gallon/minute).
The well of Zum Zum has been in operation since the last 1,450 years at a stretch. Till an electric motor and pump was installed in the late 1940s or the early 50s, the discharge never exceeded 0.05 cft/sec (about 22.5 gallons per minute). The discharge from the well since then is on a constant rise with an increase in number of Hajis. It has now reached 3cft/sec (1,346 gallons per minute) and runs constantly for hours per day, and sometimes without stopping for days.
It must be mentioned here that in 1968, as a result of a high-intensity storm during the Haj season, the Baitullah got flooded and the water level stood at the door sill of the Ka'aba, about 7ft above the ground. The basement of Haram Sharif was flooded and about 30 Hajis died by drowning. It was then thought by the authorities that since the run-off has entered the Zum Zum well, it should be cleaned. Therefore, after the water in the Mutaf was pumped out, high-discharge pumps (up to 4cft/sec, i.e. 1,800 gallons/min) were installed to remove the accumulated water in the well.
The idea was to use these pumps to dry out the well, and then allow it to be filled by pure Zum Zum filtering through the sand. It is on record that even 4cft/sec pumps could not lower the water level in the well. After it was observed that there was no sign of the well drying up, the attempt was abandoned after a few hours of pumping.
The Zum Zum well testifies what the blessed Prophet (Peace be upon him) said that when the spring appeared under the feet of the infant Ismael, his mother, Hazrat Hajira, while trying to contain the water with her hands, said "Zum Zum." Had she not said this, with Allah's mercy this water would have sufficed the whole of humanity.
Today, Zum Zum water is supplied to 2.2 million Hajis during the Haj season and to Madina. All the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow have failed in the case of Zum Zum, a living miracle in witness to the truth of Islam. Zum Zum tastes slightly different from fresh water due to the presence of calcium and magnesium salts. These salts help to take away the feeling of tiredness and refresh its users. It is a common for returning Hajis who take Zum Zum to their places to find it fresh on its use even after many years.
There is no other well in Makkah valley with the same characteristics as Zum Zum. Few wells that exist have a very small discharge with typical desert characteristics.
Any open well in the world, after a few years, suffers from the growth of algae, making water unpalatable and causing taste and odour problems. Here, Zum Zum has been operational for fourteen centuries without any biological or algae growth, and remains in use without any kind of treatment (recently chlorination is being done by Saudi authorities).
In Zum Zum there lies a sign for those who seek the truth about Islam, and the truthfulness of Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him); of Allah, the Creator of the laws of hydraulics and ground-water flow and the well of Zum Zum.
source:
Miracle A house without a babies cry is an empty house.
The baby cries and the mother feeds the baby with natural milk! This milk is not the same as the man-made milk and then the baby goes to sleep! well until another few hours!
Can anyone create a milk like the milk of the mother? all praise to the one above for this milk is all the baby requires.
by-firdous.blogspot.com/2009/08/wwwhealthymuslimcom.html
ref:
www.ezsoftech.com/akram/women.asp
www.creationofman.net/chapter5/chapter5_12.html
www.thelastingmiracle.com/eng/article.aspx?id=1&cat=1
Choosing your Religion
"Each child is born in a state of "pure monotheism", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or another religion” (Bukhari)
According to this statement of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), everyone enters this world with the basic knowledge of the oneness of God and the difference between right and wrong. Of course after being born innocent, we are all then subject to the influence of our family and society at large. If a child is born to non-Muslim parents then it can be assumed that they will raise their child according to their own system of belief. The child has no say in the matter until they reach the age of discernment. However, all humans are born with the instinctive attachment to God without the influence of doctrine. This spirituality draws them closer to the Creator of this World. For many, this inclination opens their eyes and causes them to reflect upon the validity of their own beliefs. It also empowers them to ask questions and seek knowledge to ensure that they are following the correct path of righteousness.
The right to choose our own religion is the most powerful choice any of us can make. Some humans choose to believe and worship in a certain manner because that is what they saw their parents doing. Others turn down the misguided path of Atheism, perhaps, because they have become disillusioned with religion altogether or because a smooth-talking scientist caught their attention with their assertions that this World merely evolved by chance. Even a child could make an argument to refute this claim that has taken, so-called, scientists years to formulate. For example, if a child indiscriminately throws several building blocks into the air, the blocks land randomly to the floor. The blocks don’t land in the formation of a perfectly stacked building! Neither do they land in any form whatsoever. The same thing goes for the universe. We see a vast system of complex organization, especially here on the Earth. Everything is explicitly planned and structured according to a plan. So, who planned it all?
The Planner
The answer to who planned this Universe and everything in it can be found in your own heart. Why does your heart beat? If you ask a Scientist he will say that it is electricity from your brain. But where did that electricity come from? Are you plugged into something? How do our bodies function at all? The stomach digests food more efficiently than any manmade machine ever could. Everything that exists, whether it is the human body or the stars in the sky, was intelligently designed by the command of the Most Wise and Gracious Creator.
The Reality
In His infinite Love, Compassion and Beneficence, God Almighty sent Prophets (pbut) to guide humanity to live a spiritual life of worship and piety towards others. He supported His Prophets (pbut) with miracles to shake man out of his slumber and open his eyes to their Lord. These miracles have been recorded in all the books of God and prove that there is a Master Creator who not only created this Universe but has complete control over it. God created the Laws of Nature and can change them at will.
Seekers of truth often reach a point of confusion upon realizing that believers of every religion, sect or philosophy all claim to have the one and only correct ideology. For those who believe in God there are only three possibilities:
-Everyone is right.
-Everyone is wrong.
-Only one is right and the rest are following religions that have been tainted by the hands of man.
However, everyone cannot be right since each religion differs from the other in their basic foundations. Every religion views the nature of God and how we relate to Him differently. Similarly, everyone cannot be wrong. Many people believe that all religions are wrong because of the evils of man who happened to claim religion. As a result, many humans have followed a path of Atheism or left it up to themselves to determine who Allah is and how He should be worshipped. That’s why God sent Muhammad (pbuh) with the Qur’an as the last chance for mankind to get it right and worship the One and Only God who has no partner in His divinity or dominion. Even critics of Islam have no choice but to concede to the fact that the Holy Quran is the only Scripture that has not been tampered with and is in agreement with modern science.
God Almighty has provided us with guidance to lighten our path and lead us back to Him. We innately lack the knowledge and wisdom to hold such a responsibility by ourselves. God is most perfectly Just. He has given us a chance to make our lives full of purpose during our time on Earth so that we can be judged fairly on the Day of Judgment.
The reality is that only one religion can be right. Indeed God sent Prophets to all people throughout the ages. It was the responsibility of religious leaders to preserve the scriptures and apply their laws from Prophet to Prophet and nation-to-nation. No doubt they failed. Muslims believe that God revealed the same religion to each Prophet. That religion was Islam, which means to submit to the Will of God and seeking His Forgiveness in sincere repentance when coming up short.
Other religions are called by different names like Judaism and Christianity. However, these names are manmade labels. In the Bible, for example, there is not an instance where Jesus (pbuh) refers to his religion as ‘Christianity’. Islam means to live in submission to the One and only God. I ask the sincere reader who believes in Prophets, Did those Prophets teach anything else but living a life seeking to please God in submission to His will? Of course they did. The Holy Qur’an repetitively states that the Prophets called mankind to Islam.
Clearing your Prejudices
For seekers of the truth, when choosing your own religion consider these points:
-God gave us the ability and intellect to make this crucial decision, hence it is our decision and we don't need our parents, family, or society to make it for us.
-God did not leave us to go astray without any guidance. Indeed, He sent us Prophets (pbut) with scriptures to show us the right path. The proof of this is in the various miracles performed by these Prophets (pbut), which have been recorded throughout time.
-Seeking the pure message of God is vital as all humans will be called to account for their chosen faith and actions in life, which will inevitably determine thier eternity.
-One can only make a fair rational decision in seeking the right religion if emotions and prejudices, which often blind one to the truth, are put aside.
Is Islam Right for You?
You may have never thought that one day you would be able to change the religion your parents taught you about. Remember that nothing is set in stone and you have a right to believe as you see fit. When thinking about Islam for your religion, consider these facts about it:
* Islam is consistent with logic and rational thinking.
* Islam opens the door for anyone to challenge its authenticity. It also provokes you and shows you how to challenge it, that you may achieve certainty in it.
* Islam provides the needed answers for all important and fundamental questions concerning God, the purpose of life, and the Hereafter.
* Islam is supported by contemporary miracles and proofs. For example, the Holy Quran that was revealed 1,400 years ago reveals innumerable miracles that are 100% compatible with recently established science. Read "The Bible, the Quran, and Science" by Maurice Bucaille who accepted Islam after researching for this book.
* Islam combines the awareness of the Hereafter with our daily lives making a strong bond between the two through our sense of accountability.
* Islam is more than a "religion" in common terminology. It truly is a comprehensive system of life with a detailed law and ethical system. It establishes systems for worship, family living, government, politics, education, economics and social relations.
* Islam is based on a established system of law founded on authentic texts (statements of God and His messenger). It is not based upon human emotion, philosophies or religious hierarchies that have no solid foundation in authentic revelation.
* Islam encourages people to seek knowledge and contribute to the world.
* Islam provides true equality, solving the age-old problems of race and gender. Islam treats all believers as equals irrespective of race, gender, nationality, or social status.
The choice is yours to make. Don’t rely on what others say or be afraid to forge your own path. Take a chance read through our website and get an English translation of the Holy Qur’an to truly discover what Islam is really all about!
The Koran is divided into 114 Surahs (chapters), containing approximately 6,200 verses comprising some 80,000 words or 330,000 individual characters
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4mGLlh2P0w
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSCNzvCv5NA&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yO15aBFfeF8&feature=fvwrel
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Quf6nLfFL_Y&feature=related
Its time for our wednesday weekly inspiration and this week we share with you the story of a young girl named Baraa’ah who memorised the Qur’aan and was afflicted with trials that many adults amongst us would not be able to cope with. We came across her story on a blog and felt compelled to share her story with you all.
This is her story:
This story is of a little girl named Bar`ah who is 10 years old, her parents were doctors who moved to Saudi Arabia in search of better life.
At this age, Bar`ah memorized the whole Quran with tajweed, she was very intelligent, her teacher use to tell her she should be in middle school not primary school.
Her family was small and committed to Islam and its teachings…. suddenly one day the mother started feeling sever abdominal pain, after tests and checkups she found out that she has cancer, but in its late stages.
The mother thought she should tell her daughter, specially if she wakes up one day and didn’t find her mother beside her… so she told her: “Bar`ah I will go to paradise ahead of you, but I want you to read the Quran you memorized every day since it will protect you in this life…”
The little girl didn’t really understand what her mother was trying to tell her… but she started feeling the change in her mother’s status, especially when she was transferred to stay in hospital on a permanent bases. The little girl use to come to the hospital after her school and recite the Quran for her mother till the evening when her father used to take her home.
One day the hospital called the husband and informed him that the his wife’s condition was very bad and he needed to come as fast as he can, so the father picked Bar`ah from her school and headed to the hospital, when they arrived he asked her to stay in the car… so that she wouldn’t get shocked if her mother passed away.
The father got out of his car, with tears filled in his eyes and while crossing the road to enter the hospital, he was hit by a speeding car and died in front of his daughter who came crying to her father…!
The tragedy of Bar`ah is not over yet… the news of her father’s death was hidden from the mother, but after 5 days the mother passed away leaving Bar`ah alone in this life. She become alone without her parents, and her parents’ friends decided to find her relatives in Egypt so that they can take care of her.
Suddenly, Bar`ah started having sever pain like her mother, after a few tests and checkups it was confirmed it was cancer… at the surprise of every one she smiled and said: “Alhamdu Lillah, at last, I will be seeing my Baba and Mama soon.”
All of the family friends were shocked and surprised, this little girl being faced with calamity after calamity and she is patient and satisfied with what Allah ordained for her!
The following is a short video clip from a television program on al-Haafidh channel where children of all ages call in to recite on the live programs. In this clip, the young Baraa’ah calls to recite some verses from Soorah as-Saaffaat and the Shaykh is overcome with emotion when he asks about her health and well-being, so much so that he is driven to tears. The clip ends with the Shaykh supplicating to Allaah to cure her.
Bara’s tragic story became known in Saudia Arabia then an anonymous Saudi Man, a good Samaritan, decided to send Bara’a to London for medical treatment. While Bara’a was being treated in the hospital in London she was interviewed by an Egyptian TV station, called al-Hafiz TV. She was asked to recite verses from the holy Quran aired for a special program dedicated to Quran recitation. Her recitation was powerful and heavenly sweet and brought tears to the program anchor. I am certain it will bring tears to anyone who listens to her beautiful recitation (see link below).
The cancer has taken its toll on Bara’s health and she went through a lot of pain and suffering in the hospital. She was going into commas periodically. During these difficult times, another TV station interviewed her in the hospital and asked her to recite a song about the Mother and orphans. She made millions crying in the Arab world while she was singing .
Days past and she continues living at the mercy of the cancer which by now has spread to her legs which doctors decided to amputate in an attempt to limit the spread of her cancer. During these difficult times she has continued to go into comma periodically but when she is awake she begins to recite Quran to keep her spirit alive. Days passed, the cancer spread to her brain and doctors decided to perform brain surgery to remove the cancer cells. She is still in the hospital fighting for her life. So please remember her in your Du’a and May Allah the most High save her life.
Below are some more clips of her reciting, some of which she was reciting whilst lying on hospital beds;
www.quranhifdh.com/2010/03/weekly-inspiration-baraaah/
The Koran is divided into 114 Surahs (chapters), containing approximately 6,200 verses comprising some 80,000 words or 330,000 individual characters
source:
Miracle of the child
God bought you out of your mothers womb knowing nothing at all …..
www.scribd.com/doc/18543292/Harun-Yahya-Islam-Miracle-of-...
"Each child is born in a state of "pure monotheism", then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or another religion” (Bukhari)
www.thelastingmiracle.com/eng/article.aspx?id=1&cat=1
According to this statement of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), everyone enters this world with the basic knowledge of the oneness of God and the difference between right and wrong. Of course after being born innocent, we are all then subject to the influence of our family and society at large. If a child is born to non-Muslim parents then it can be assumed that they will raise their child according to their own system of belief. The child has no say in the matter until they reach the age of discernment. However, all humans are born with the instinctive attachment to God without the influence of doctrine. This spirituality draws them closer to the Creator of this World. For many, this inclination opens their eyes and causes them to reflect upon the validity of their own beliefs. It also empowers them to ask questions and seek knowledge to ensure that they are following the correct path of righteousness.
The right to choose our own religion is the most powerful choice any of us can make. Some humans choose to believe and worship in a certain manner because that is what they saw their parents doing. Others turn down the misguided path of Atheism, perhaps, because they have become disillusioned with religion altogether or because a smooth-talking scientist caught their attention with their assertions that this World merely evolved by chance. Even a child could make an argument to refute this claim that has taken, so-called, scientists years to formulate. For example, if a child indiscriminately throws several building blocks into the air, the blocks land randomly to the floor. The blocks don’t land in the formation of a perfectly stacked building! Neither do they land in any form whatsoever. The same thing goes for the universe. We see a vast system of complex organization, especially here on the Earth. Everything is explicitly planned and structured according to a plan. So, who planned it all?
The Planner
The answer to who planned this Universe and everything in it can be found in your own heart. Why does your heart beat? If you ask a Scientist he will say that it is electricity from your brain. But where did that electricity come from? Are you plugged into something? How do our bodies function at all? The stomach digests food more efficiently than any manmade machine ever could. Everything that exists, whether it is the human body or the stars in the sky, was intelligently designed by the command of the Most Wise and Gracious Creator.
The Reality
In His infinite Love, Compassion and Beneficence, God Almighty sent Prophets (pbut) to guide humanity to live a spiritual life of worship and piety towards others. He supported His Prophets (pbut) with miracles to shake man out of his slumber and open his eyes to their Lord. These miracles have been recorded in all the books of God and prove that there is a Master Creator who not only created this Universe but has complete control over it. God created the Laws of Nature and can change them at will.
Seekers of truth often reach a point of confusion upon realizing that believers of every religion, sect or philosophy all claim to have the one and only correct ideology. For those who believe in God there are only three possibilities:
-Everyone is right.
-Everyone is wrong.
-Only one is right and the rest are following religions that have been tainted by the hands of man.
However, everyone cannot be right since each religion differs from the other in their basic foundations. Every religion views the nature of God and how we relate to Him differently. Similarly, everyone cannot be wrong. Many people believe that all religions are wrong because of the evils of man who happened to claim religion. As a result, many humans have followed a path of Atheism or left it up to themselves to determine who Allah is and how He should be worshipped. That’s why God sent Muhammad (pbuh) with the Qur’an as the last chance for mankind to get it right and worship the One and Only God who has no partner in His divinity or dominion. Even critics of Islam have no choice but to concede to the fact that the Holy Quran is the only Scripture that has not been tampered with and is in agreement with modern science.
God Almighty has provided us with guidance to lighten our path and lead us back to Him. We innately lack the knowledge and wisdom to hold such a responsibility by ourselves. God is most perfectly Just. He has given us a chance to make our lives full of purpose during our time on Earth so that we can be judged fairly on the Day of Judgment.
The reality is that only one religion can be right. Indeed God sent Prophets to all people throughout the ages. It was the responsibility of religious leaders to preserve the scriptures and apply their laws from Prophet to Prophet and nation-to-nation. No doubt they failed. Muslims believe that God revealed the same religion to each Prophet. That religion was Islam, which means to submit to the Will of God and seeking His Forgiveness in sincere repentance when coming up short.
Other religions are called by different names like Judaism and Christianity. However, these names are manmade labels. In the Bible, for example, there is not an instance where Jesus (pbuh) refers to his religion as ‘Christianity’. Islam means to live in submission to the One and only God. I ask the sincere reader who believes in Prophets, Did those Prophets teach anything else but living a life seeking to please God in submission to His will? Of course they did. The Holy Qur’an repetitively states that the Prophets called mankind to Islam.
Clearing your Prejudices
For seekers of the truth, when choosing your own religion consider these points:
-God gave us the ability and intellect to make this crucial decision, hence it is our decision and we don't need our parents, family, or society to make it for us.
-God did not leave us to go astray without any guidance. Indeed, He sent us Prophets (pbut) with scriptures to show us the right path. The proof of this is in the various miracles performed by these Prophets (pbut), which have been recorded throughout time.
-Seeking the pure message of God is vital as all humans will be called to account for their chosen faith and actions in life, which will inevitably determine thier eternity.
-One can only make a fair rational decision in seeking the right religion if emotions and prejudices, which often blind one to the truth, are put aside.
Is Islam Right for You?
You may have never thought that one day you would be able to change the religion your parents taught you about. Remember that nothing is set in stone and you have a right to believe as you see fit. When thinking about Islam for your religion, consider these facts about it:
* Islam is consistent with logic and rational thinking.
* Islam opens the door for anyone to challenge its authenticity. It also provokes you and shows you how to challenge it, that you may achieve certainty in it.
* Islam provides the needed answers for all important and fundamental questions concerning God, the purpose of life, and the Hereafter.
* Islam is supported by contemporary miracles and proofs. For example, the Holy Quran that was revealed 1,400 years ago reveals innumerable miracles that are 100% compatible with recently established science. Read "The Bible, the Quran, and Science" by Maurice Bucaille who accepted Islam after researching for this book.
* Islam combines the awareness of the Hereafter with our daily lives making a strong bond between the two through our sense of accountability.
* Islam is more than a "religion" in common terminology. It truly is a comprehensive system of life with a detailed law and ethical system. It establishes systems for worship, family living, government, politics, education, economics and social relations.
* Islam is based on a established system of law founded on authentic texts (statements of God and His messenger). It is not based upon human emotion, philosophies or religious hierarchies that have no solid foundation in authentic revelation.
* Islam encourages people to seek knowledge and contribute to the world.
* Islam provides true equality, solving the age-old problems of race and gender. Islam treats all believers as equals irrespective of race, gender, nationality, or social status.
The choice is yours to make. Don’t rely on what others say or be afraid to forge your own path. Take a chance read through our website and get an English translation of the Holy Qur’an to truly discover what Islam is really all about!
Holy scriptures- sura waqiah 56:72 (al -quran)
al quran
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT2MfjN3n6M&feature=related
(The Event) The Fifty-Sixth Surah of the Qur'aan
Pickthall Translation Glossary Window
1. When the event befalleth -
2. There is no denying that it will befall -
3. Abasing (some), exalting (others);
4. When the earth is shaken with a shock
5. And the hills are ground to powder
6. So that they become a scattered dust,
7. And ye will be three kinds:
8. (First) those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
9. And (then) those on the left hand; what of those on the left hand ?
10. And the foremost in the race, the foremost in the race:
11. Those are they who will be brought nigh
12. In gardens of delight;
13. A multitude of those of old
14. And a few of those of later time.
15. On lined couches,
16. Reclining therein face to face.
17. There wait on them immortal youths
18. With bowls and ewers and a cup from a pure spring
19. Wherefrom they get no aching of the head nor any madness,
20. And fruit that they prefer
21. And flesh of fowls that they desire.
22. And (there are) fair ones with wide, lovely eyes,
23. Like unto hidden pearls,
24. Reward for what they used to do.
25. There hear they no vain speaking nor recrimination
26. (Naught) but the saying: Peace, (and again) Peace.
27. And those on the right hand; what of those on the right hand ?
28. Among thornless lote-trees
29. And clustered plantains,
30. And spreading shade,
31. And water gushing,
32. And fruit in plenty
33. Neither out of reach nor yet forbidden,
34. And raised couches;
35. Lo! We have created them a (new) creation
36. And made them virgins,
37. Lovers, friends,
38. For those on the right hand;
39. A multitude of those of old
40. And a multitude of those of later time.
41. And those on the left hand: What of those on the left hand ?
42. In scorching wind and scalding water
43. And shadow of black smoke,
44. Neither cool nor refreshing.
45. Lo! heretofore they were effete with luxury
46. And used to persist in the awful sin.
47. And they used to say: When we are dead and have become dust and bones, shall we then, forsooth, be raised again,
48. And also our forefathers ?
49. Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Lo! those of old and those of later time
50. Will all be brought together to the tryst of an appointed day.
51. Then lo! ye, the erring, the deniers,
52. Ye verily will eat of a tree called Zaqqum
53. And will fill your bellies therewith;
54. And thereon ye will drink of boiling water,
55. Drinking even as the camel drinketh.
56. This will be their welcome on the Day of Judgment.
57. We created you. Will ye then admit the truth ?
58. Have ye seen that which ye emit ?
59. Do ye create it or are We the Creator ?
60. We mete out death among you, and We are not to be outrun,
61. That We may transfigure you and make you what ye know not.
62. And verily ye know the first creation. Why, then, do ye not reflect ?
63. Have ye seen that which ye cultivate ?
64. Is it ye who foster it, or are We the Fosterer ?
65. If We willed, We verily could make it chaff, then would ye cease not to exclaim:
66. Lo! we are laden with debt!
67. Nay, but we are deprived!
68. Have ye observed the water which ye drink ?
69. Is it ye who shed it from the raincloud, or are We the Shedder ?
70. If We willed We verily could make it bitter. Why then, give ye not thanks ?
71. Have ye observed the fire which ye strike out;
72. Was it ye who made the tree thereof to grow, or were We the grower ?
73. We, even We, appointed it a memorial and a comfort for the dwellers in the wilderness.
74. Therefor (O Muhammad), praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
75. Nay, I swear by the places of the stars -
76. And lo! that verily is a tremendous oath, if ye but knew -
77. That (this) is indeed a noble Qur'an
78. In a Book kept hidden
79. Which none toucheth save the purified,
80. A revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.
81. Is it this Statement that ye scorn,
82. And make denial thereof your livelihood ?
83. Why, then, when (the soul) cometh up to the throat (of the dying)
84. And ye are at that moment looking
85. - And We are nearer unto him than ye are, but ye see not -
86. Why then, if ye are not in bondage (unto Us),
87. Do ye not force it back, if ye are truthful ?
88. Thus if he is of those brought nigh,
89. Then breath of life, and plenty, and a Garden of delight.
90. And if he is of those on the right hand,
91. Then (the greeting) "Peace be unto thee" from those on the right hand.
92. But if he is of the rejecters, the erring,
93. Then the welcome will be boiling water
94. And roasting at hell-fire.
95. Lo! this is certain truth.
96. Therefor (O Muhammad) praise the name of thy Lord, the Tremendous.
Picture of avatars attending a TalkScience event in Second Life.
TalkScience@bl.uk is a series of events hosted by the British Library, providing opportunities to inform, engage, debate and network with scientists and all those who use scientific information.
Wednesday 24 September 2008
* Is Web2.0 all about attitudes or technologies?
* What can Web2.0 do for your research?
* As a scientist, are there good reasons for getting involved beyond social ‘not working’?
* Web3.0: another buzzword or a semantic revolution for science on the web?
Timo Hannay is the Publishing Director of Nature.com. With a background in biosciences research, Timo oversees Nature’s growing portfolio of web-based activities including Nature Network, Connotea, and other initiatives using Web2.0 functionality to connect and involve researchers.
Timo was speaking live in the British Library and the event was simultaneously screened on the Elucian Islands, Nature's home in Second Life.
source:
www.alifmusic.net/profiles/blogs/number-of-human-joints-p...
Number of human joints: prophet Mohammad scientific miracle
Abu Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Man has three
hundred and sixty joints. He has to give charity; one for each joint."
The people said: "O Allah's Prophet! Who can afford this?" He (peace be
upon him) said: "To bury the phlegm you find in the mosque or to remove
things (stones) from the path of the people. If you can not afford so,
it is sufficient to pray two rak´ahs of Duha."
The Scientific Fact: The joint is a point of articulation of two bones, a bone and
gristle, or two gristles in anypart of the human body.
The total number of joints, according to scientists, is:
1- Skull joints: 86
2- Throat joints: 6
3- Thorax joints: 66
4- Spine and Pelvis joints: 76
5- Upper limbs: 32 x 2 = 64
6- Lower limbs: 31 x 2= 62
Total number of joints: 360
Facets of Scientific Inimitability: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said that the number of
joints in the human body is 360, although at that time it was impossible
to know such information, for most of the joints are very small and
hard to see with the naked eye. The exact number of joints was not
discovered until development in the fields of anatomy and histology.
Thus, the Prophet (peace be upon him) accurately pinpointed the number of
joints fourteen centuries ago while modern anatomy came to assert this
scientific fact only recently.
valeed.hubpages.com/hub/Salaat-Muslim-Prayer
Salaat is the practice of formal Muslim prayer in Islam. A Muslim must pray five times a day, at the stated Salaat times. Before prayer ablution (Wudu) is necessary. Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) said ablution is the key to prayer. In ablution Muslims wash their hands, face and feet, and after the completion of ablution they go to the mosque for offering prayers, where the Imam (prayer leader) faces Makkah and leads the prayers. The men stand in one, two, three or more rows behind him. The prayers consist of reciting passage from the Holy Quran. While praying the Muslims bow before Allah and kneel (sajda ) with the face to the ground. Friday prayers are preceded by a sermon (khutba ) delivered by the Imam.
source:
miracles in our bodies! hair in our windpipe!
Miracles in Our Bodies
The air conditioner running nonstop in our body
Breathing is one of the acts that you unconsciously perform throughout the day. Many processes take place during this action, in which the nose, windpipe and lungs are involved. In reality, breathing means feeding oxygen to your body cells. Cells cannot survive unless they are provided with oxygen. This is why you can hold your breath for only a brief time. If this duration is lengthened, your cells die, which results in the death of your body.
The air you breathe is first cleaned in your nose. Your nose, which carries out air conditioning, is lined with hairs that function like a filter. These hairs process the polluted or cool air to make it agreeable to the lungs. It is thanks to these hairs that the air we take in is filtered, cleaned, humidified, warmed and purified of bacteria. Indeed, these tiny hairs protect our bodies against about 20 billion particles of foreign matter every day.
Twenty billion is about 3 times the world population. It is quite a thorough process that the nose knows and by which it distinguishes that many particles of foreign matter. Twenty billion particles of foreign matter cannot possibly be recognised and hindered from passing through the nose by chance. This clearly reveals the greatness of Allah's power of creation. Some people, however, claim that this happens by chance, even though they are well aware of the truth. Such people, who believe in the theory of evolution, maintain that all living beings, including everything what we have dealt with so far in this book, came into existence spontaneously and as a result of random occurrences sometime in the past. Do you wonder why they do so? They claim so in order to deny Allah's existence. And to do that they think there is only one way, which is to claim that everything occurs by chance. However, one merely has to give it a little thought to grasp how senseless this claim is. Now let's take the system in the nose as an example to refute this claim.
The air conditioning system in the nose is another perfect part of the human body. Surely such a perfectly running system could not have come into existence as a result of coincidences. Making a comparison may help us to comprehend this impossibility better. Consider an air conditioner, which controls the temperature so as to protect you from heat in the summer and to warm you up in the winter, and which is remote-controlled. Could such a system have come into existence by chance? What would happen if all of its parts were disassembled and left in that condition? Would they come together in time and turn into a complete air conditioner on their own?
The system that runs in your body while you are breathing possesses a much more perfect system than any air conditioner, which cools the air for you in the summer.
Certainly not. For any machinery to come into being, some intelligent person should work on it. This is quite incontrovertible. Let alone machinery, even in a jigsaw puzzle somebody has to reassemble the pieces correctly in order to get the picture. Your nose, which functions as an air conditioner, is composed of numerous components too and possesses a much more perfect system than any air conditioner in the world. Just as an air conditioner cannot come into being by chance, neither can a nose, which is even more advanced. This fact reveals to us that this organ, which is known as "the best air conditioning system in the world", is created by our Lord. Allah stresses His attribute of Creator in the following verse:
He is Allah-the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise. (Surat al-Hashr: 24)
Hairs in the Windpipe That Can Navigate Faultlessly
The air that is purified in the nose will proceed through the respiratory tract. The next area for the inhaled air after the nose is the windpipe. In this air, there is still foreign matter-like dust-that is harmful to one's health. Therefore, it is necessary to have the inhaled air go through another security check before it reaches the lungs. This security is ensured by the slippery layer that lines the surface of the respiratory tract. This membrane is called mucous layer.
In the air we inhale, there are many microbes and harmful substances. We are protected against many of these thanks to the hairs lining the respiratory tract. They cannot harm us thanks to this system that Allah created for us.
Mucous, which forms this layer, grasps tiny particles like dust that we've taken in together with the air and hinders them from entering the lungs. Yet, in addition to this, the accumulated foreign matter must also be eliminated from the body. At this
The hairs in the windpipe, seen in the picture above, grip the foreign particles and prevent them from entering the respiratory tract.
point, another security mechanism comes into play. This mechanism consists of tiny hair-like structures called cilia, which lie under the mucous layer. These tiny hairs rhythmically beat upwards towards the mouth. This can be compared to ears of wheat waving in the wind all in the same direction. Thanks to this movement of the cilia, mucous, which holds the foreign matter, is carried upwards in the windpipe.
source:
allahs name appears on a babies ear
Miracle of allahs name appears on a babies ear
Inside the ear of a baby born in Dubai, the word all is seen
other sources
elderofziyon.blogspot.com/2010/09/miracle-allah-ear-2010-...
source:
sky in uk picture taken on the first of Shaban 2009 - in the uk
After Rajab al-Murajab, Shaban al-Moazzam is the second month of Ibadah (worship) in order to make preparations for the grand and majestic month of Ramadhan al-Mubarak - the month of fasting and forgiveness.
Shaban al-Moazzam is a month of high excellence and is dedicated to the Leader of the Prophets, Muhammad (saw). He used to keep fasts during this month and join it with the month of Ramadhan al-Mubarak. He used to say, "Sha'ban is a month dedicated to me. Whoever keeps one fast during my month will definitely go to heaven".
It has been reported from Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) that on the commencement of this month, Imam Zainul Abideen (as) would gather his companions and address them, "O my companions, do you know which month this is? It is the month of Sha'ban about which Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to say that it is dedicated to him. So keep fasts during this month in the love of your Holy Prophet (saw) and to attain closeness to your Creator. By Allah (SWT) in whose hands is my soul, I have heard from my father, Hussain ibn Ali (as), that he had heard from Commander of Faithful, Imam Ali (as), that whoever keeps fast during the month of Sha'ban in the love of Prophet Muhammad (saw) and to attain closeness to Allah (SWT) will become a friend to Allah (SWT) and on the Day of Judgement will be close to Allah (SWT) by His grace and Paradise will be assured to him."
This is the month of asking for forgiveness of sins, giving alms, charity and fasting. Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to observe fasts during the whole month. Imam Zainul Abideen (as) has said: "Whosoever is in love with Prophet Muhammad (saw), wishes to seek nearness to Allah (SWT) and receive His bounties, favours and rewards in this world and in the hereafter, must connect Shaban with Ramadhan in the matter of fasting and special prayers".
It is also reported from Prophet Muhammad (saw), "Whosoever observes nine fasts in the whole month of Shaban should not fear the interrogation of Munkar and Nakeer. Whosoever observes twelve fasts in the month of Shaban, 70,000 angels will descend over his/her grave on the first night of his burial, the night of Wahshah, to remove his/her fear and loneliness".
Keeping fast on Thursdays of the month of Shaban also carried great significance. It has been reported that the heavens are decorated each Thursday in the month of Sha'ban and the angles pray to Allah (SWT) to forgive all those who fast on that day and their prayers are accepted. It is stated in the reports of the narrations of Prophet Muhammad (saw) that whoever fasts on Mondays and Thursdays of this month, Allah (SWT) will fulfill twenty of his worldly wishes and twenty of his wishes of the Hereafter.
It is recommended to give alms in this month even if it is as small as a half date. Almsgiving in this month brings about rescue from Hellfire. In this respect, it has been narrated that when Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) was asked about the merits of observing fasting in Rajab al-Murajab, he answered, "Why do you not ask about the merits of observing fasting in Sha'ban." "What is then the reward of him who observes fasting on one day in Sha'ban, Son of the Messenger of Allah?" asked the narrator. Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) answered, "The reward will be Paradise. I swear it by Allah (SWT)." The narrator then asked again, "What are the best deeds that should be done in the month of Sha'ban." Imam Ja'far Sadiq (as) answered, "Almsgiving and seeking forgiveness are the best deeds in Shaban al-Moazzam. Verily, if anyone of you gives alms in Sha'ban, Almighty Allah (SWT) will breed those alms in the very same way as you breed your small camels. Hence, these alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the day of Resurrection."
Recommended Fasts for the Islamic Lunar month of Sha'ban:
1st, 2nd and 3rd of Shaaban. 1st Thursday, Mid-Wednesday and last Thursday of Shaaban. 13th, 14th and 15th of Shaaban.
Any Thursday, Friday and Saturday of Shaaban. The last three days of Shaaban to connect with the Holy month of Ramadhan.
Other Aamal for the Islamic Lunar month of Shaban al-Moazzam:
Recite everyday 70 times: Astaghfirullaha wa as-aluhut Tawbah (I seek forgiveness from Allah (SWT) and beseech Him repentant).
Recite everyday 70 times: Astaghfirullahal Ladhee Laa ilaaha illa Huwar-Rahmanur-Raheemul-Hayyul-Qayyoomu wa Atoobu ilaihi (I seek forgiveness of Allah who is "There is no god save He", the Beneficent, the Merciful, the Ever-living, the Eternal and I turn repentant to Him).
Give as much Sadaqah (alms) as possible.
Recite Salawaat as many times as possible on Prophet Muhammad (saw).
Recite 1000 times the following Dhikr within the month i.e. divide it throughout the month of Shaaban:
Laa ilaaha illallahu walaa Na'budu illa iyyaahu Mukhliseena Lahud-deen walau karihal-mushrikoon (There is no god save Allah, we do not worship save Him, making religion pure for Him only, however much the disbelievers be averse).
source:
echo-of-islam.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-post.html
The Quranic verse detailing about the resting place of the Prophet Nuh's Ark (or in english Noah's Ark) is found in Chapter Hood, verse 44 (Qur.aan 11:44). The verse says:
" When the word went forth: "O earth! swallow up thy water and O sky! withhold (thy rain)!" and the water abated and the matter was ended. The Ark rested on Mount Judi and the word went forth: "Away with those who do wrong! "
The 49th verse of the same Chapter says:
" Such are some of the stories of the Unseen which We have revealed unto you: before this neither you nor your people knew them. So persevere patiently: for the end is for those who are righteous "
Martin Wroe, LONDON - Noah's Ark has been found on the Turkish-Iranian border, 32 kilometres from Mount Ararat, according to the leader of a team of scientists that has been investigating the site for six years.
The Turkish government is so convinced by the findings that, after years of intransigence, it has designated the site one of special archaeological interest and agreed to its excavation next summer.
On surrounding terrain, the American and Middle Eastern scientists have identified huge stones with holes carved at one end, which they believe are "drogue-stones," dragged behind ships in the ancient world to stabilise them. Radar soundings indicate unusual levels of iron-oxide distribution.
Salih Bayraktutan, head of geology at Turkey's Ataturk University, estimates the age of the 'vessel' at more than 100,000 years. "It is a man-made structure and for sure it is Noah's Ark." The site is directly below the mountain of Al Judi, named in the Koran as the Ark's resting place.
David Fasold, an American shipwreck specialist with no religious affiliation, has led the investigation. He says subsurface radar surveys of the site have produced "very good pictures." "The radar imagery at about 25 metres down from the stern is so clear that you can count the floorboards between the walls."
He believes the team has found the fossilised remains of the upper deck and that the original reed substructure has disappeared. But the findings have infuriated the scores of Christian Ark-hunters who travel to Turkey, convinced the Ark will only be found on Mount Ararat.
Fasold, who calls himself an "Arkologist," also argues that it was not a great flood that pushed the Ark into the mountains. He says it was "an astronomical event causing a tectonic upheaval, a tidal bore causing gravitational pull in the ocean waters that forced the boat into the mountains."
Some of Fasold's team of geophysicists and geologists are reserving final judgement until the excavation and carbon-dating. But in a British TV series on the environment next month, team member Vendyl Jones, a Middle East archaeologist and inspiration for film character Indiana Jones, says it is "between maybe and probably" that they have found Noah's Ark.
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/saidbak/1321375158/]
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[http://www.flickr.com/photos/saidbak/1320396723/]
source:
www.iqrasearch.com/surah-Mumenoon-translation.html
Quran Chapter 2 - Quran Translation of Surah Al-Baqara (The Cow)
1. Alif-Lam-Meem. (These letters are one of the miracles of the Quran and none but Allah (Alone) knows their meanings).
2 This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden) and love Allah much (perform all kinds of good deeds which He has ordained)).
3 Who believe in the Ghaib and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat), and spend out of what we have provided for them (i.e. give Zakat , spend on themselves, their parents, their children, their wives, etc., and also give charity to the poor and also in Allahs Cause - Jihad, etc.).
4 And who believe in (the Quran and the Sunnah) which has been sent down (revealed) to you (Muhammad Peace be upon him ) and in (the Taurat (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel), etc.) which were sent down before you and they believe with certainty in the Hereafter. (Resurrection, recompense of their good and bad deeds, Paradise and Hell, etc.).
5 They are on (true) guidance from their Lord, and they are the successful.
6 Verily, those who disbelieve, it is the same to them whether you (O Muhammad Peace be upon him ) warn them or do not warn them, they will not believe.
7 Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allahs Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment.
8 And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not.
9 They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!
10 In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.
11 And when it is said to them: "Make not mischief on the earth," they say: "We are only peacemakers."
12 Verily! They are the ones who make mischief, but they perceive not.
13 And when it is said to them (hypocrites): "Believe as the people (followers of Muhammad Peace be upon him , Al-Ansar and Al-Muhajiroon) have believed," they say: "Shall we believe as the fools have believed?" Verily, they are the fools, but they know not.
14 And when they meet those who believe, they say: "We believe," but when they are alone with their Shayatin (devils - polytheists, hypocrites, etc.), they say: "Truly, we are with you; verily, we were but mocking."
15 Allah mocks at them and gives them increase in their wrong-doings to wander blindly.
16 These are they who have purchased error for guidance, so their commerce was profitless. And they were not guided.
17 Their likeness is as the likeness of one who kindled a fire; then, when it lighted all around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness. (So) they could not see.
18 They are deaf, dumb, and blind, so they return not (to the Right Path).
19 Or like a rainstorm from the sky, wherein is darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers in their ears to keep out the stunning thunderclap for fear of death. But Allah ever encompasses the disbelievers (i.e. Allah will gather them all together).
source:
Miracle of hand lines
ref:
community.livejournal.com/khilafah/78185.html
as u know 18 and 81 are written in our hands in Arabic.
u must have heard these 2
18+81=99=Al Asma'ul Husnaa
81-18=63=the hijri years Muhammad(saw)lived.
now he found this:
when we write it like this:
18 81=1881=19x99
19 is the miracle of Quran(we are not submitters,if you want to see really Quran is coded somehow with 19,check www.quranmiracles.com
it is the miracle of Quran,not the miracle of Rashid Khalifa.)
99 is Al Asma'ul Husnaa (again) :)
and suddenly,i found this
81 18=8118=123x66
66 is the abjad of Allah(swt)
123 also means something but what?
The Amazing Facts of Quran
Check this out, very interesting findings of Dr. Tariq Al Swaidan might
grasp your attention:
Dr.Tarig Al Swaidan discovered some verses in the Holy Qur'an that mention
one thing is equal to another, i.e. men are equal to women.
Although this makes sense grammatically, the astonishing fact is that the
number of times the
word man appears in the Qur'an is 24 and number of times the word woman
appears is also 24, therefore not only is this phrase correct in the
grammatical sense but also true mathematically, i.e. 24 = 24.
Upon further analysis of various verses, he discovered that this is
consistent throughout the whole Qur'an, where it says one thing is like
another. See below for astonishing result of the words mentioned number of
times in Arabic Qur'an:
Dunia (one name for life) 115. Aakhirat (one name for the life after this
world) 115
Malaika (Angels) 88 . Shayteen (Satan) 88
Life 145 .... Death 145
Benefit 50 . Corrupt 50
People 50 .. Messengers 50
Eblees (king of devils) 11 . Seek refuge from Eblees 11
Museebah (calamity) 75 . Thanks 75
Spending (Sadaqah) 73 . Satisfaction 73
People who are mislead 17 . Dead people 17
Muslimeen 41 . Jihad 41
Gold 8 . Easy life 8
Magic 60 . Fitnah (dissuasion, misleading) 60
Zakat (Taxes Muslims pay to the poor) 32 . Barakah (Increasing or blessings
of wealth) 32
Mind 49 . Noor 49
Tongue 25 . Sermon 25
Desite 8 . Fear 8
Speaking publicly 18 . Publicising 18
Hardship 114 .... Patience 114
Muhammed 4 . Sharee'ah (Muhammed's teachings) 4
Man 24. Woman 24
And amazingly enough have a look how many times the following words appear:
Salah 5, Month 12, Day 365,
Sea 32, Land 13
Sea + land = 32+13= 45
Sea = 32/45*100=71.11111111%
Land = 13/45*100 = 28.88888889%
Sea + land =100.00%
Modern science has only recently proven that the water covers 71.111% of the
earth, while the land covers 28.889%.
Is this a coincidence?
Question is that Who taught Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) all this?
Quran Chapter 1 - Quran Translation of Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2 All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
3 The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
4 The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)
5 You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6 Guide us to the Straight Way
7 The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).
source:
Miracle of the baby birth
ref:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcyjnsETfVE
www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPTem4G9gmg&feature=related
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iGZB4Wjktk&feature=related
Miracle of gaza: 1500 die and 3700 babies born in palestine!
The signs of Allah’s greatness keep on occurring. During the recent Israeli attack that had killed 1500 Palestinians, Allah made 3700 babies appeared. “If they killed a thousand of us, then we will bring on thousands more as their replacements,” thus a mother in Gaza said.
In contrast to the mentality of the Zionist-Jews forces who are known to be afraid of death, giving birth is a part of Jihad for the Gazan citizens. Due to that, death is not a thing that they cry over.
If there are phrases that say, “One gone, a thousand emerged,” then in Gaza what happened was “One thousand Gazan gone, three thousands more appeared”. The sorrow of the Gazan citizens over the death of 1412 sons and daughters of Gaza, was straight away soothed by Allah SWT with the birth of 3700 babies. Interestingly, they were all born within the 22 days of Israeli attacks on this small city.
Hamam Nisman, the Director of the Social Communication Service in the Health Ministry of the Gazan government said that in 22 days of Israeli attack, a total of 3700 babies were born in Gaza.
“3700 babies have been born between the 27th December 2008 and 17th January 2009 when Israel launched assaults that had caused the death of 1412 Gazan citizens, in which the majority of them are made up of women and children,” he said.
In January alone, the number of birth is the highest ever being registered compared to the other months preceding it. “50 thousands cases of birth are recorded every year in Gaza, and in each month around 3000 to 4000 births are recorded. However during the 22 days of Israeli attacks, we recorded 3700 number of births and for the rest of January, 1300 number of births were recorded. This means that there was an increase in the number of births in the month of January till it reached 1000 cases,” he said as cited by islamonline.net.
“This is a ‘karomah’ for the people of Gaza, who had lost a lot of souls,” he expressed full of happiness.
According to him, if the numbers of death and birth in Gaza are compared , then the number of birth reaches 50 thousands whereas the number of death reaches 5 thousands every year.
“Israel is deliberately killing the women and children in order to destroy the future of Gaza, 440 children and 110 women had been killed and 2000 children as well as 1000 women were wounded,” he revealed.
“The New Anwar” Sent Down From Heaven
Anwar, is the name of a Gazan new-born baby from the family of Mahmud Ulyan. It was also the name of his blood brother who had been Shaheed earlier.
“They had killed Anwar, and heaven is now sending down the new Anwar”
The Al Yarmuk street, west of Gaza city had lost 15 of its residents during the Israeli attacks. However they now have received 30 newborn babies, born during that period.
It seems that Israel will keep on confronting the demographic problem of Palestine, where the number of birth in the country is increasing after the war occurred. Ummu Ahmad, the mother of 4 children affirmed the matter.
“By the wills of Allah, I will give birth to one child every year, we will keep on fighting them, if they kill a thousand of us, then we will bring on thousands others to replace them.”
The statistics showed that in the last 10 years, there was an increase in the number of population in Gaza, from 1 million it now becomes 1.5 millions. It means that the increase has reached 50%. If Gaza contributed 36% into the total population of Palestine in 1997, now the population of Gaza makes up 40 % of the overall population of Palestine.
It is estimated that by the year 2025 the citizens of Palestine would reach 6 millions. It is this growth that worries Israel. Urnun Suvir, a lecturer at the University of Haifa wrote in his latest book, that the increase in the number of Palestinian population would threaten the strategy of Israel and endanger the existence of “Israeli State”.
Israel can anytime make their plan, however the fact is that the plan of Allah is far more formidable and greater. (hidayatullah)