Is man created from water or mud or dust? Is it contradiction? By: Rasheed Hasan Sometimes I visit some blog and social medias where some atheists try to bring many issues specially their discussion is on Islam and Muslims. It is interesting to read their mind most of the time they comments wot can be understood as hatred towards Islam. No problem freedom of thoughts. They try to bring contradictions from Quran. One among many is about some verses. For example:::------------- 1.“ Allah has created every moving (living) creature from water…” ( 24:45). 2.“And indeed, We created man from sounding clay of altered black smooth mud” ( 15:26). 3..“”that he created you from dust.” (30:20).……………………….. So is man created from water or mud or dust? Is it contradiction? Actually all these verses have explicit scientific answers. I shall try it independently by my limited knowledge with the help of different sources by the mercy of Allah. Their questions are like is water made of oxygen or by hydrogen but the answer ll be both. (1) “His companion said to him, in the course of the argument with him: Dost thou deny Him Who created thee out of dust then out of a sperm-drop, then fashioned thee into a man? (18: 37) In tis verse Allah puts down the basic question about the creation of human body. Body of human being is created from dust. Quran is a complete revelation and in order to understand it fully we must understand the contextual semantic interpretation of Quran. Let me give an example here wot the atheists try to play with us. Just read the verse 37 of Shura Al-Khaf (18) alone. You see there is a hidden weapon to misuse if we are not well acquainted with the whole Quran. Ironically most of we Muslims are not aware of the Quranic contextual meaning. If anyone go to explain this verse alone he shall be kicked out by them cuz tis verse is saying man is created from dust or by dust or by water wotever so Darwinian theory is going to be established. Righttttttttttttttttt? No not rightttttttttttttttttttt. We hv to connect Verse 28 of Shura Baqara with those entire verses in regards creation of mankind. It says,>>>>>> ““How can you reject the faith in Allah ? Seeing that you were without life, And He gave you life ; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will you return” ( 2:28) Therefore in order to give a scientific explanation verse 28 of Shura Al Baqara of the Quran is to be discussed. Lets we deal with it. Actually the main idea of the verse above is tat physical body of men is created from the elements present in the earth. Their basic elements present in the human body are all derived from food which is obtained primarily from the soil. Thus men and including all animals created from the extract of the soil. “How can you reject the faith in Allah ? Seeing that you were without life, And He gave you life ; then will He cause you to die, and will again bring you to life; and again to Him will you return” ( 2:28)-----------------------For understanding tis verse an explanation of the creation of the first human life and the mechanism of procreation inherent therein is needed. Some scientists believe tat human beings appeared on earth through a process of evolution from the simplest unicellular organism like amoeba. The interpretation of tis verse cn be sought in the explanation of the appearance of the first life on earth from atoms and molecules. The most convenient definition of life as molecular biologists believe is perhaps at a stage where something evolves tat is capable of using itself for building similar structures. At the molecular level as we know today, life begins by the combined chemical activities of a very complex molecule called deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and an enzyme (a protein). DNA is the master code or blue print for life, it controls and generates the process of replication. The enzyme acts as the catalyst. Thus, if one cn explain the creation of DNA and the enzyme helping its chemical activities, one explains the origin of life. Ok another explanation of tis verse lies in the fact tat human beings before their birth hv no physical existence. Lets go back at the first stage. The earliest existence of a man is the fertilized ovum containing DNA from both the parents. The ovum and sperm of parents r composed of atoms and molecules obtained from nutrition. Nw all food is obtained from vegetable and animal kingdom. All the ingredients of food such as protein, fat, carbohydrate and vitamins r organic compounds which are derived from the inorganic elements and molecules present in the earth and its environment. The mechanism for the conversion of elemental carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, sulphur, iron, manganese, cobalt, etc. into organic or organometalic molecular form by plants for use by animals is a complicated process and it is a manifestation of Divine mercy. Wow right? And thus the atoms and molecules constituting a human being r scattered on earth as some inorganic elements which are processed into organic forms by the plants. Ovum and sperm are produced from food consumed by parents in turn and the foetus develops into a full grown baby through nutrition received by the mother. Soooo the statement in the Quran that all men were without life before birth is true. Some scientists think tat once DNA is there, the process of life is automatic. But is it possible for the development of DNA automatically from nature as some believe? The structure of the DNA molecule is highly complex but most organized. According to the second law of thermodynamics for any uncontrolled process disorderliness increases. There is an increase in orderliness only when there is a purposeful planning behind. So the emergence of DNA in the form as we know it today hs been possible only by Allahs mercy. Hmm ,the so called test tube baby is nothing but the outcome of fertilization in a test tube of ripe ovum obtained from the mother with the sperm from the father in a test tube. Such fertilization outside a mothers womb also occurs in marine creatures as a natural phenomenon. If the fertilized human egg is successfully implanted in the mothers womb, then pregnancy may fee successful. So life in a test tube baby is not created by scientists. The scientific explanation for the emergence of the first speck of life on earth fits with the various verses in the Quran. However there r many questions tat these scientific theories cannot explain. It is true tat the ultimate constituents of both animate and inanimate objects r atoms and molecules. But it is not possible to explain how combination of atoms in a living being bring about life. Human life is not merely a bundle of chemicals. All the atoms and molecules as found in man by scientists being put together in a jar do not make life. We do not know where the spark of life comes from. Human being is a combination of matter and consciousness. Science cn explain only the material aspect of life. This is the limitation in the present methodology of science which explains everything from materialistic point of view. Human life is not fully defined without incorporating the human qualities like consciousness, conscience, love, affection and emotion. Science cannot explain these cardinal qualities in life. So it is not difficult to believe tat man had no existence before fertilization, but was mere lifeless inorganic atoms and molecules. Similarly when man dies, his body is again reduced to elements, whether the body is burnt by fire, or desintegrated by microbes in the grave or devoured by wild animals and birds or fishes. The same elemental materials may again be recycled to produce other animals and man. (2) “He it is Who created you from clay, and then decreed a stated term (for you)” (6:2 ).. Scientists define life as a process consisting of a series of chemical reactions using carbon based molecules by which matter is taken into a system and used to assist the systems growth and reproduction, with waste products being expelled. The cells tat make up human beings r distinguished by the presence of four major types of organic substance, namely, carbohydrate, fats, nucleic acids and proteins in addition to an array of inorganic substance. The modern approach to the problem of the origin of life hs been to determine hw these organic substances cud hv come into existence. It is believed tat chemical reactions occurring naturally in the environment tat surrounded the earth during its early history cud hv given rise to the first speck of life. The early atmosphere of the earth ws largely composed of methane (CH4) with some amonia, hydrogen and water vapour. Scientists speculate tat life began in the oceans in the presence of the primitive atmosphere through the action of naturally occurring lightning, ultraviolet radiation from the sun or cosmic rays with the formation of amino acids (23 building blocks of proteins) and other subunits of organic substances. Tis is known as the primary broth theory which received strong support when S. L. Miller in 1953 produced a host of amino acids in the laboratory by subjecting a mixture of hydrogen, amonia, methane and water vapour over a pool of water to strong electric discharges…. (Bernal J.D. Science in History, Vol. 3, Penguin). Very soon serious objection ws raised to tis primary broth hypothesis. Creating amino acids was not explaining the production of proteins and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Codes for reproduction and multiplication are contained in DNA located in a central nucleus. Due to the work of Crick and Watson the atomic structure of DNA ws known by 1958. Soon it was established tat the first stage in making a new protein was the production on the DNA of a special form of a messenger RNA (ribonucleic acid) which contains the necessary information for constructing a particular protein. In the cell cytoplasm a series of amino acids, each labeled with a short length of nucleic acid r present. When messenger RNA arrives there, the short RNA molecules attach themselves in the appropriate places on the messenger molecules thus ensuring the correct sequence and order of amino acids to make a particular protein. The atomic structure of DNA was found so complicated tat many scientists disbelieved tat DNA cud be created in the primary broth where the possibility of the various constituents of DNA being joined together in water was well nigh impossible. It was Bernal who first made the suggestion tat clay plays the most important role in creating the first speck of life(Ibid). Chemically, clay consists of stacked sheets of silicate with just enough space between individual sheets to allow air or water to circulate. Clays electrical field wud hv imposed certain orientations on any compounds passing through them. (Alexander George, Reader’s digest, pp 34-38, January, 1983). NASA (National Aeronautical Space Authority) scientists suggested tat clay acts as a catalyst in producing proteins and DNA. The clay lattice cn store energy in the form of electrons and then can release it when subjected to stress cuzed perhaps from the wetting and drying cycles when the tides rise and recedes . The released energy is then available to drive chemical reaction. Thus according to the NASA scientists clays hv the unique property of storing energy and catalyzing reactions tat join the building blocks into incipient strands of proteins and DNA. Though the last word in the matter hs not yet been spoken, it is expected tat further investigation in this line wud throw more light in this subject. Scientists today believe tat the first speck of life ws evolved when complex amino acids and precursors of DNA in the primary broth passed through the layered structure of clay. The most dramatic event of all was the primordial advance from non-life to life, which obviously took place in the sun baked clays of ocean beaches. The scientific explanation of the role played by clay for creation of the simplest unicellular organisms like amoeba is in accord with the Quranic assertion. The DNA-protein cycle resemble a modern automatic assembly line on a molecular scale, the whole process being tapecontrolled on a self-reproducing tape (DNA). In a human being tis process has to occur in every cell for producing at least two thousand different proteins without a single mistake for a single mistake is normally lethal. One is spell bound in admiration for the organization and mechanism by which protein synthesis takes place. However, the creation of a human being — the most magnificent of all creations innate with complex biochemical activities, is far off from the creation of an amoeba. ( News Week, p. 50, April 15, 1985). The creation of the first human DNA with its unique autosynthesis process cud not hv happened without a purpose, direction and planning behind. Indeed, all these cud happen only when there is a Master Mind for all these to happen. Allahu Akbar. (3) Now regarding creation of every living thing from water.…………….. The life process comprises a series of chemical reactions using carbon based molecules, by which matter is taken into a system and used to assist the systems growth and reproduction with waste products being expelled. Organisms r composed of one or more cells containing an infinite array of organic and inorganic molecules. Codes for reproduction and multiplication are contained in the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) located in a central nucleus. Chemical reactions in primitive environment tat surrounded the earth during its early history cud give rise to the first speck of life. In 1950, chemist S. L. Miller put a gaseous mixture of hydrogen, ammonia, methane and water vapours over a pool of water and passed electric sparks over it. After a few days the water in the pool contained a solution of amino acids, various combinations of which make proteins. Scientists speculate tat this kind of chemical activity in the primary broth led to the first living cells. Very soon objections were raised to this primary broth hypothesis. The molecular structure of DNA, the code or master blueprint of life, was known by this time. It was found so complicated tat many disbelieved that DNA ws produced in water where the possibility of the various constituents of DNA being joined together was impossible. The DNA looks like a twisted ladder, a double helix as it is called by the scientists. The rungs in the ladder are made up from the joining of various pairs of four molecules, namely, adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G) and cytosine (C). Each rung of the ladder is always formed by pairing molecules like AT or TA, GC or CG. The order of AT, CG, GC, and TA varies from gene to gene ensuring hereditary traits being passed over to the offspring. The rungs of the DNA molecule are the same in all living things. The differences among all living things result from the way the rungs are arranged, as well as from the ratio of the number of AT (or TA) to GC (or CG). This order and ratio makes all the differences between a flea and a dog, a rose and a cactus, a man and a monkey. ( J.G.Navarra, J.Zafforoni and J.E. Gatone, California State Deptt. Of Education). J. D. Bernal has spoken of the role of sun baked clay in the beaches in bringing the various constituents of DNA together. I hv discussed it above. Chemically clay consists of stacks of sheets of silicate, with just enough clearance between individual sheets to allow air or water to circulate. The baking and wetting of clay by the sun and sea water supplies the electrical energy for combining molecules. Clays electrical fields wud hv imposed certain orientations on any compounds passing through them. Scientists today believe tat the first speck of life was evolved when complex molecules in the primary broth passed through the layered structure of clays. The most dramatic event of all was the primordial advance from non-life to life, which apparently took place in the sun baked clays of ocean beaches. However, all the scientific views as discussed above about the origin of life from the primary broth is an oversimplification of the reality. All the molecules tat constitute life when put together in a jar wud not make life. The beginning of life must be from a DNA. The complex molecular structure of DNA poses an overwhelming problem as to its beginning by chance. For example, the DNA of a virus contains about two hundred thousand rungs and a DNA molecule within a human chromosome is made of at least six billion rungs. If a rung is misplaced a mutation occurs. Thus from various combinations of the rungs only one combination hs been suitable far human beings. If in the primary broth each of the various possibilities took place only a few days, the probability of the simplest DNA evolving by chance wud be well nigh impossible, and the possibility of human DNA evolving by chance is almost impossible when we consider tat there are 2 six billion possibilities of the rungs being rearranged.
Posted on: Wed, 22 Oct 2014 13:05:52 +0000
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