Verse no.2 of Shura Fatiha.“Praise be to Allah,the Sustainer & the Cherisher of the worlds (1:2)

Significance of verse number 2 of Shura Fatiha. “Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer and the Cherisher of the worlds.” Part 1.

“Scales: Big and Small

In astronomy, as in all of science, we measure quantities and when we make measurements we present our results with numbers. These measurments relate to sizes of objects, durations, energy of observed processes, and temperature (and more ...). Part of understanding what a number - a numerical value based on some measurments - conveys is actually having a "feeling" for how "big" or how "small" a number is in relation to other numbers. In fact, this is how we understand and relate to the world around us in our daily experiences which involve as varied activities as running, driving, working, and even using our language to talk and relate information to others. Sizes of objects and duration of events make sense only in relation to other sizes and other durations which "we have in mind". Suppose someone tell you that Mars is about 80 million kilometers from the Earth. What does this number mean?

Well, from your daily experiences this number should sound "very large". Part of this has to do with the fact that in our experience - limited here on the surface of the Earth - we don't travel that large of a distance in a day or two. We go 10 or 20 or 30 or ... few hundred kilometers. So, 78 million kilometers is very large compared to our dialy distances on the Earth. On the other hand, if someone tell you that the size of an atom is about 0.000000000001 kilometers, you would say that "wow, that is so tiny!". And yes compared to our expereinces it is small.

Notice that "large" and "small" only make sense in relation - or by reference - to other things that we do have a sense of. If you were told that the size of our Galaxy is about:1,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilometers, then, comparatively this dwarfs the 78 million kilometer distance from Earth to Mars ... all of a sudden, Mars feels like the next door neighbor (which, on the astronomical scale of distances it actually is!).

So, the basic point of all this is that in order for you to interpret numbers in astronomy, in order to understand what someone means when they give you a distance or a time or an energy that seems "incomprehensible", you should have a feeling of scales of distance and time and energy that are present in the universe. For instance, how large is a typical star compared to the size of the city of Denver? How much energy does the Sun put out in one day, compared to ... say, how much electricity we use in one day? These are the kinds of things that allow us to anchor a reference of number to hold on to, and it is only in relation to such an anchor that astronomically measured quantities will begint to make sense to you. Powers of 10.

We might have already noticed that the numbers involved in astronomy range over a very large scale of sizes. The smallest sized objects you'll hear about (the electron and the atom )is much much much smaller than the Earth which is in turn itself much much much smaller than the Size of the Galaxy, and the scales continue up like this to the size of the Universe. Since these numbers range over such small and such large values we get tired of writing out so many zeros, as was being written in the pervious section. We introduce something called powers of 10 notation. This is just a very simple introduction; you will get more and more experienced with this notation as you study astronomy and as you go along to the secions and examples on scientific notation and algebraic powers.

Perhaps it is best to illustrate this with an example. Consider the size of our Galaxy again ...: Example: We said that the size of our Galaxy is 1,000,000,000,000,000,000 kilometers. To get away from this cumbersome notation we count the number of zeros, which in this case is 18 zeros (count this yourself and maker sure you agree). We notice that 10 has one zero and 100 has two zeros and so on ... thus, each zero reprsents one power of 10, or one order of magnitude. So, instead of writing 18 zeros in front of 1, we write 10 and realize that if we multiply 10 by itself 18 times we will get a number with 18 zeros in front of it. Thus we write: 1018. We say that out galaxy is "10 to the power of 18" kilometers long!

This illustrates the basic idea of powers of 10. Each zero represents a power of 10, and if the zero is to the right of a number it represents a power of 10 larger and if a zero is to the left of a number it represents a power of 10 smaller (in this case we use negative powers). So, we can say that:

Length of our Galaxy is: 1018 kilometers From Earth to Mars it is 107 kilometers From School to my house it is: 10 kilometers The size of an atom is: 10-12 kilometers Powers of 10 thus allow us to compare sizes (and durations ... see scales below). We can say that the size of our galaxy is "11 orders of magnitude larger than the distance from here to mars and it is 17 orders of magnitude larger than the distance from school to my house". Basically, powers of 10 allow us to talk about degrees of "largness" and "smallness". This might seem confusing at this point, but it will clarify as you see more and more examples - which are abundant in astronomy.” http://lasp.colorado.edu/~bagenal/MATH/math0.html ===== The meaning of Rabbul Alamin is that Allah is the Sustainer and the Cherisher of the Worlds. The plural use of the word ‘world’ refers in the conventional sense to the plant world, animal world, human world and material world. In order to comprehend the significance of the use of the plural form ‘worlds’, one has to recognise that there are worlds within and beyond our familiar world. Modern scientific knowledge enables one to classify these worlds in terms of a length scale.

How big or how small is the unit of this scale ? In the case of the elementary particles like proton, the unit is of the order of 10'13 cm or less. On the other hand, the size of the known part of the universe is about 1028 cm (This fi ure means that twenty eight zeros should be placed after the digit-l (one) ie IOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO0000000000. How large this number lS can be understood from the fact that in order to cover this distance (1028mm, light travelling at the rate of 3x 10‘“ cm/sec (i.e. 186,000 miles/sec) would need a total time of more than ten billion years (1 billion = 109).

What a tremendous difference in size between the smallest and the largest of the creation of Allah that we have known till now. Such a big scale may be divided conveniently into four types of parts or sizes : 1. From the proton to the world of giant molecules ; 2. -From giant molecules to plants and animals (i.e. from 10'5 cm to the order of 10+5 cm); 3. Our planet earth (109 cm);

4. From our planet to the known part of the universe (i.e, 109 cm to 1028 cm). The differentiation of the length scale in the above four parts may be arbitrary. But these parts represent four different kinds of worlds. The interesting thing is that matter behaves differently in different regions of the length scale. This may become apparent as we discuss the inherent characteristics of the different worlds.

Part 2 Worlds of size 1 : Let us consider the microcosmos, i.e. the world of elementary particles, nuclei, atoms, etc. The laws of this world are not directly perceptible to our senses; we cannot see to the constituents of this world. For example we cannot see an atom. To understand why we cannot see very small things, we have to comprehend what the act of observation actually means. When we observe an object, light waves do scatter from it and enter into our eyes. Without 'such scattering, things would not make themselves appear to us.

Now, if a light wave falls on an object and completely engulfs it, then obviously light cannot be scattered from this object. Thus, for light to scatter from any object, the size of the object must be larger than the wavelength of the visible light incident on it. The size of an atom is much smaller than the wavelength of visible light. So, when a light wave falls on an atom, it covers the whole of the atom and as a result, the light cannot be scattered. Hence the atom cannot be seen. In order to collect information about the atom, we have to employ wavelengths smaller than the size of the atom.

But these waves are not visible to our eyes. These are the x-rays or more powerful gamma-rays. In comparison to the visible light waves, these small waves are mUCh more energetic. The investigation of atoms with these energetic waves 18 beset With a problem : to have information at a certain moment about a particle means that we must determine its position and momentum. But when powerful radiation is employed to determine the whereabouts of an electron, for example, (namely, where it is and what it is doing, i.e. its position and momentum) then the quanta of this radiation give a heavy jolt to the electron, thereby disturbing both its position and momentum.

The diffracted radiation, of course, gives some information about a position and a momentum of the electron. But these are not the position and the momentum which the electron would have had, if it were not disturbed by the radiation quanta. Thus, there is some uncertainty in the information about the electron at the time the radiation quanta impinge on it. The uncertainties in the measurements of position and momentum, however , r not related. In fact, the product of these uncertainties is o the order of h (a universal Planck’s constant). This is known a Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle.

All this demonstrates. that the truth which we obtain about the state of the electron by using powerful radiation is only an apparent truth and not the real truth. The degree of the apparent truth from the real truth would depend on how much we hv disturbed the object while observing. This points to an important philosophical aspect of the micro-world namely, that in such worlds, the very act of observation is a kind of disturbance and the Measure has an interaction with the measured,'a feature hitherto unseen in the world of the large. In fact, the micro world is guided by a different kind of mechanics namely quantum mechanics which is quite distinct from classical mechanics which governs the motion of matter-on a big scale. Thus the laws of motion of the small and the laws of motion of the large are dramatically different from each other. This provides us with further support for classifying worlds in terms of a length scale.

Part 3. Worlds of size 2: Objects of these worlds are directly perceptible to our senses-we see them. And the interesting thing is that while we see them, we do not actually disturb them as we do in the world of the tiniest things. Why we do not disturb things here in the act of observation can again be made clear through the example of observing an ant. The size of the ant is much larger than the wavelength of visible light.

Thus light can be easily scattered from the ant and tat being so the ant can easily be seen. True, photons (the particle of light) impinging on the ant do give a jolt but this jolt is hardly appreciable in view of the heavy mass of the ant compared to the mass of an electron considered earlier while discussing the behaviour of the micro-world. Since the act of observation does not bring about any appreciable change in the position and momentum of the objects observed, the observer in these worlds does not influence events here, the measurer does ,not disturb the measured. Also, classical mechanics seems to be perfectly suitable for describing kinematic behaviour in these worlds.

Part 4. Worlds of size 3 : The planet earth has been given a unique position in the classification of worlds on the basis of a length-scale. This is because the lives and environments of many an organism including man, the vicegerent “of Allah have been conditioned by Allah through the atmosphere, gravitational field and the motion of the earth , etc.

The rotation of the earth on its axis and around the sun provides a standard of time. The circumference of the earth, appropriately subdivided into smaller sections, provides us with a standard of length. The gravitational pull of the earth is a vital phenomenon for all life existing on its surface . The interaction between the land, water and air systems of the earth determines the delicate ecological balance in favour of the existence of all life-forms on the planet earth.

This planet also helps us understand, to some extent, the magnitude of the vastness of the universe in relation to its own size. Thus, considered from many points of view, the planet earth occupies a sufficiently privileged position so as to be called a world by itself. The motion of the planet is regulated by classical mechanics and is a predictable one.

Part 5 == Worlds of size 4 :

Here we are far out into space and are dealing, on most occasions, with large distances and large masses. Although the laws and concepts of Newtonian physics are used in the motion of such masses, both the special and the general theory of relativity are involved for an accurate description of the motion. Because of the large distances involved, the information about the macro cosmos is usually obtained with the help of radio signals. Since the range of size 4 is very very large, a large number of worlds can be accommodated within this range. In fact, it is quite likely that such worlds (living and non—living ) with all their wonderful varieties may exist elsewhere in the universe in a form identical with or presumably different from our own.

The earth is a planet to the star, the sun. The sun is a star belonging to the galaxy, the Milky Way, which contains about 100 billion stars. And about 100 million galaxies have, so far, been detected in the universe. Stars, with properties regarding mass, surface temperature, luminosity, present and future age in the stable condition (on the main sequence), etc. which are comparable to those of the sun, most probably, have planets revolving around them, with earth like characteristics. About a quarter of the stars of the Milky Way galaxy have such properties. Making allowance for binary and multiple stars, it is estimated that there are about 20 billion such stars in our galaxy alone.

Considering the identified 100 million galaxies and making allowance for all sorts of handicaps, it is undoubtedly a very cautious estimate that there are at least 1 billion stars with planets having life on them.

Life chemistry on the earth depends on the production of complex carbon compounds and the presence of liquid water as solvent. In other habitable planets of other stars, life chemistry may be identical with that on the earth, or may be different. For example. silicon may replace carbon as the basic bio-chemical element, liquid ammonia may play the role of solvent, etc.

The present estimate is that each star like the sun with life-time some billions of years in the stable condition (on the main sequence) possesses at least one planet on which life has developed.

More or less , forty different kinds of complex molecules including some organic molecules like formaldehyde, cellulose, etc. have been detected in the inter steller medium. From these perspectives on the different types of worlds point to the fact that if Allah had declared Himself as the Sustainer of the universe and not as the Sustainer of the worlds, these all the fine intricacies and characteristics of the different worlds would not appear to be so meaningful. In fact, the different worlds that we have characterised so far in terms of a length scale which is the only basic thing we have been able to measure so far, are different in all aspects. Each type of world has its own structure, its own probing techniques, its own mechanics. And it is Allah alone Who has all the information about all the worlds. == Part 6

Apart from the material worlds and their classification discussed above, one may also wonder about the spiritual world. However, with all the tools and techniques of "modern scientific methodology at our disposal, the spiritual world does not lend itself to an analysis in the same sense that living or non-living matter does. It could very well be that the present scientific methodology accepted so far for the study of matter is quite inadequate to probe into the mysteries of the spiritual world. It is for this reason that we have not been-able to dwell on the spiritual world which is best perceived through personal experiences. Sustenance of the worlds.

—— So far we have discussed only the structures of the different worlds; now let us talk of their sustenance. Whether a world is small or big, Allah has made wonderful arrangements for the sustenance of all the inhabitants of that world. In this connection, let us consider the world of the small. A large number of micro-organisms surround our life and environment and 'without many of these, our existence would be endangered. Some of the micro organisms, e.g. virus, bacteria, microscopic fungi, etc. are so small that they cannot be seen by the naked eye unless aided by a powerful microscope.

These organisms can be placed in a world which lies between the first and the second scales mentioned in the beginning of my discussion.

The organisms are varied in nature and their mechanisms of food collection are so very novel. Some collect food from the soil, some collect from the plant body and still some others collect from animal bodies. And they all store their food. It is not only that Allah has made provision for the food of these micro-organisms but that through these organisms, arrangement has been made for the sustenance of plants and higher animals.

These micro—organisms are like soldiers - Allah has given them the power to fight and also to proliferate. If this proliferation becomes considerable and poses a threat to any life, then Allah has also arranged for a biological control to combat the imbalance in the number of these micro- organisms for" purposes of maintaining an ecological balance in nature. If We now leave the micro world and look at the inhabitants of a comparatively bigger world, e.g. insects, birds and beasts, higher plants and human beings, then also the stupendous varieties existing in these higher forms of life simply captivate our eyes.

Each life form has its own food, its own communication signal, its own housing pattern, and its own reproduction mechanism. But the wonderful thing to note is that Allah has left none without food, none without shelter, none without a defence mechanism.

Whether they inhabit a small or a large world, they have a means of sustenance and Allah is their Sustainer.

However, if by Rabbul Alamin, we mean that Allah is the Sustainer of the living worlds, then the story remains incomplete.

By the sustenance of the world is actually meant both! the living and inanimate worlds. We are familiar with the sustenance of the living worlds but the sustenance of inanimate objects may sound somewhat strange. The fact of the matter is that without the sustenance of inert matter, the sustenance of living matter would simply not have been possible. Allah has arranged for the. stability of the basic elements needed for the existence of life.

This stability has been arranged through the governance of matter. If atoms were not stable, the solar systems would not be stable. In order to ensure the stability of matter Allah has introduced four forces namely, nuclear force, weak nuclear force, electro magnetic force and gravitational force.

The first three are operative in the range of sizes I and 2 mentioned earlier while the fourth one although universal works mainly between large bodies,i. e. between bodies of sizes 2, 3 and 4. It is quite interesting to note that just as big solar systems consisting of a sun and its planets exist, similarly a tiny solar system also exists in the atom consisting of the nucleus and the electrons whirling round it in specified orbits.

The 'big solar system is controlled by an attractive gravitational inverse square force, i.e. a force proportional to the inverse of the square of the distance between the two bodies. The tiny solar system is governed by an attractive electro magnetic force namely the Coulomb force, again an inverse square force. The two worlds are so vastly different in scale, the forces governing them are so vastly different in strength (in fact the gravitational force is about 10"'38 times weaker than the electromagnetic force).

Yet the distance dependence of the forces remains the same. What a superb organisation of matter in which it can be shown that the minutest of details mattered the most ! Even if matter passes from one state to another or if matter is converted into energy or vice versa, the mode of conversion is so fashioned that it preserves an ecological balance of nature conducive to all forms of lives and their environment, as. are known till today. Interestingly enough, newer and newer worlds of both living and non- living types are being revealed with the progress of modern science. It is significant to find that more than 1400 years ago, Allah had hinted, in the Quranic revelation, at all such worlds through the plural use of the word “world” .

In conclusion, it can be said that the various types of worlds of inanimate and living matter which we have discussed so far are indeed governed and sustained by Allah through the operation of a magnificent set of rules. lndeed, Allah is the Sustainer and Cherisher of the worlds