اَللّٰہُ نُوۡرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ؕ

“Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth” [The Holy Quran, 24:35].

Introduction:

Nineteenth century science conceived matter to be indestructible, immutable, dynamic and eternal. Modern Nuclear‑science has, however, exploded the falsity of this myth. It has proved beyond doubt that the Atom is divisible and destructible. Thus, the Quranic concept of the mystery of the creation of Universe has been confirmed by the twentieth century Nuclear‑science. It was during the height of the nineteenth century materialistic concept that a mighty prophecy was made. It was prophesied that the falsity of this concept which was contrary to Quranic truths would soon be proved. Accordingly, in exact fulfilment of the Divine prophecy, the twentieth century nuclear‑science has established the falsehood of the nineteenth century science, thus setting a seal of confirmation on the truthfulness of the Quranic concepts about the creative forces working in the universe. Himself an unlearned man in Western science and methodology, yet Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian, the Mujaddid [Reformer] and Promised Messiah of the present century of Islam, prophesied in clear, un­ambiguous terms about the falsity of the eternal concept of matter vis‑a‑vis the reality of the Lord of the Universe as well as the futility of following the materialistic Western civilisation, at a time when these concepts were dazzling and ascendant; scientific concepts about creation of matter and life. How wonderfully true has the mighty prophecy proved to be! Could it emanate from a source other than the All‑knowing?

The Nineteenth Century Dalton’s Atomic Theory:

The nineteenth century scientific concept about the nature of creation of matter was based on Dalton’s Atomic theory. According to this theory all matter was composed of certain elements which in their final form consisted of tiny, invisible and indivisible atoms. The atoms of one element were considered to be essentially different from those of the others.

Moreover, atoms were regarded as indivisible, immutable, indestructible and eternal. Even life itself was considered as mechanical, merely a process of the result of working of the physical and chemical laws of matter and nothing more. Hence the materialistic view‑point of life was in the full ascendant.

Discovery of Radioactive Elements:

The notion of conservation of mass and eternal nature of matter was violently shaken by the discovery of the Radioactive elements, especially Radium and Uranium. It was discovered that the atoms of these elements were not stable, but were continuously undergoing spontaneous disintegration. By constantly emitting electrical radiations, they were decreasing in their mass. Atoms of these radioactive elements were thus undergoing constant change by discharging from them particles of light, heat and electric radiations (energy). Now it has become fully established that matter and energy are inter-convertible. But besides spontaneous disintegration it is now an established fact that atoms can he disintegrated artificially also by the process of “fission.” This process if continued from one atom to another to produce a “chain‑reaction”, is the great mystery underlying the invention and preparation of an Atom‑Bomb.

Internal Structure of an Atom:

The internal structure of an atom has been very much likened to our planetary solar system. Its components are protons, positively charged electrical particles; electrons, the negatively charged electrical particles; and, neutrons, the uncharged neutral particles. The protons and neutrons of an atom form its inner core or nucleus, while the negatively charged particles, the electrons, are in constant motion, revolving round the nucleus in different orbits. It is now held that the atoms of each and every element are basically composed of the same three components, protons, electrons and neutrons. The difference in the elements results from the difference in the number of protons and electrons. Thus, an atom of hydrogen, the simplest atom, consists of one positive proton, round which revolves one negative electron. Similarly, the atoms of carbon, nitrogen and oxygen are composed of six, seven and eight protons, respectively, round which revolve the corresponding number of electrons. An atom of uranium is the largest atom, consists of 92 protons, round which revolve 92 electrons in different orbits. The metal uranium is a radioactive element which constantly and spontaneously emanates particles of radiations and is the one used in the preparation of an atom bomb.

The Discovery of Isotopes of an Element:

Another significant fact in the Nuclear‑research, is the discovery of Isotopes which are different forms of the same element. They possess the same properties, but are different only in their mass. This difference in mass is due to the presence of various numbers of uncharged particles, the neutrons; whereas the number of electrical particles, protons and electrons, remains the same. Thus, the same element might have two or more forms or Isotopes which differ only in their mass, but are identical in all their properties. It is obvious from this that it is the number of electrical particles, protons and electrons, which are responsible for giving to an element its properties and characteristics.

Inevitable Conclusions from the Nuclear Structure of an Atom:

From the above brief description, let us summarise the main conclusions we arrive at:

1. Atoms of an element are divisible and consist of the same kind of electrically charged particles, protons and electrons, but vary in their number in different elements, the creative force in the universe is one and the same.
2. Existence of an atom of an element is ensured so long as the number of positive and negative electrical particles in it remains the same and equal. As soon as this balance of electrical charges is upset, there is a change in the nature of the element. For instance, by constantly emitting radiations, the radioactive elements are constantly undergoing a change in their atomic structure. The non-radioactive elements although stable in their present state, can also be made radioactive through “fission” or “fusion” by “bombarding” their nuclei with radiations, from the radioactive elements. Thus, it is possible to convert atoms of elements into electrical energy or radiations.
3. The properties or dynamicity of an element depends upon the number of electrical particles within it, and not on the mass of the atom.

Thus, the main governing principles basically working in the creative forces of nature are three; the essential unity and uniformity of matter, the balance of opposing electrical forces and the reality and dynamicity of Energy in contrast to mass and matter, which is unstable, destructible, non‑eternal and therefore unreal.

The Quranic Concept of Creation:

Fourteen centuries before the birth of modern nuclear‑science, the teachings of Quran were revealed to the Holy Prophet [Muhammad (pbuh)] from the source Divine. It was the voice of God Himself which declared immutable and unfathomable truths to humanity groping in utter darkness. It was fourteen hundred years since the truths discovered by science today saw the light of Divine revelation. Though the nineteenth‑century science in its ignorance belied these Quranic truths, yet the twentieth century nuclear‑science has set a seal of confirmation upon them. Here are some of the few relevant references from the Quranic text.

According to the science of Astronomy, the rotation of planets round the sun is the resultant of the balancing of two forces, the solar force which draws the planet towards it and the opposing force of the planet itself which seeks to draw away from the sun. In the description of Atomic structure given above and likened to the solar system, we have already seen that the existence of individuality of an Atom depends upon a balance of the positive and negative forces of the electrical particles, the protons and electrons. Any disturbance in the balancing of these two contending, but equalising forces, leads towards the disintegration of the Atom. If we turn our attention from the inanimate world, to the science of biology, it also states the same principle of balancing of the two opposing forces, in order to maintain the integrity of the life of a cell. The cell‑nucleus has an equal but opposing pair of chromosomes, each pair being derived from the male and the female parent.

This law of balancing or harmony of opposing pairs is so universal that its application to the physical, the intellectual as well the moral and spiritual systems of life of man is equally applicable and justifiable. In this connection, it is significant to note the balance of blood pressure, of body temperature, of diet, of blood sugar, levels of various salts and liquid contents of blood, and of various hormones, etc., in the physical system of man. In case of mental balance, the science of psychology teaches us that the maintenance of balance between the degree of force of various emotions and the power controlling them, is essential for the maintenance of a healthy and happy mind. The same truth is applicable to the moral and spiritual fields of human activity. We have opposing and contending moral pairs of qualities and it is through striking a just balance between the contending characteristics that we can keep up a harmonious and healthy blend of the two. However, this subject is too vast to be dealt with adequately here.

Amount of Energy or Inner Urge — The Dynamic Soul:

The third great principle underlying the mystery of creative forces taught by Nuclear‑science is the fact that the dynamic force of an atom does not depend on its mass, but on the amount of energy in the form of the number of electrical particles. The case of Isotopes provides its greatest illustration. Different forms of the same element possess the same attributes, because they possess the same number of electrical particles, but they appear to be different in their mass, because of the difference in the number of non‑charged particles.

Exactly so does the Quranic‑teaching tell us. The value and worth of an action is to be measured not by its external form, but by the real and inner urge giving rise to it. Several kinds of practices have been prescribed for observance such as prayers, pilgrimage, fasting, animal sacrifice, almsgiving, jihad, etc. For the sake of inculcating unity and giving them uniformity, the external forms for their observance have been detailed. Yet it has always been emphasised, often and anon, that it is not their apparent and physical observance that brings any results, but it is the inner urge and the intention that really matters. For instance, Quranic verses are amply eloquent on this when they say that woe be upon those worshippers who remain unmindful of their prayers, that the blood and flesh of sacrificial animals is not acceptable to God, but only the lesson of righteousness which one imbibes from it, that even alms‑giving is worthless if the spirit of sympathy and fellow‑feeling is lacking, and so on. In fact, merely the external observance of practices unattended by the true inner urge and self‑reform, go waste and act as a dead‑weight.

Analogous Parallelism between Religious and Scientific Principles:

Thus it has been demonstrated that religion and science are based on analogous principles. Both have the common object of discovering truth, both work on the same principle of surrender to the Divine laws, and both seek to make man’s life healthier, happier and higher. We have also attempted to show above that the three common concepts on the creation of universe are acceptable to both, the Quran and modern sciences; i.e., the unity and uniformity of all creation, the constructive forces of union of pairs in a balanced and harmonious blend, and the value and worth of the inner enemy or urge of the soul.

Einstein’s Hypothesis of Relativity:

Man seeks to make his life higher in the physical realm through his powers of observation, experimentation, reasoning and discovery of natural laws. In obedience to these laws, he makes inventions, thus benefiting through surrendering to Divine‑will. But the domain of science remains limited to the material world and man’s physical senses, as obviously its sphere of activity pertains to the material world. The realm of religion, however, is different, being the field of progress of man’s moral and spiritual nature. Here he has, in addition to his good senses, the Divine‑Word to aid and guide him; surrender to it is conducive to progress and advancement in these planes. In formulating scientific theories, man is often apt to err. Einstein’s Hypothesis of Relativity even postulates that man, through his physical senses and experiments with matter, can never arrive at the ultimate truth and reality, because of the very fact that he is conditioned by time and space. Whereas the basis of true religion is Divine‑communication, which in its perfect form is infallible. Hence the superiority and excellence of the perfect Divine word in the form of Quran in contrast to physical sciences, as the absolute and ultimate truth. In this age of materialism and scepticism, it was prophesied by Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian during the last decade of the nineteenth century that the Quranic concepts are absolute truths. Anything contrary to them if upheld by the then current sciences, was bound to be proved as false and Quranic teachings would shine out in all their light of truth. In accordance with this mighty prophecy uttered by him from the Divine source, we witness its fulfilment before our own eyes. Nineteenth century scientific notions about creation, which were contrary to Quranic concepts, have been shattered to pieces by the twentieth century nuclear‑science. Here below we reproduce the great prophecy of the ascendancy and prevalence of Quranic concepts over current contrary scientific notions, as uttered by this greatest saint in the history of Islam.

The Promised Messiah’s [Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad’s] Prophecy of Triumph and Victory of Islam against Alien Sciences and Cults: