The Light (English) The Light (English) September 2013 | Page 5

September 2013

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“Says he (man): Who will give life to the bones, when they are rotten? Say: He will give life to them Who brought them into existence at first, and He is Knower of all creation, Who made for you fire from the green tree, so that from it you kindle.” (36:78–80) Many scientific truths are conveyed in this verse. The basis of life on earth is the green matter contained in plants. Discoveries in biological science tell us that life on earth began with plants. At that time there was only water and salt available, which could support plant life of a primitive kind, like algae on the sea-bed. Gradually, plants evolved and became more advanced. This is what is meant by the words: “And We made from water everything living.” (21:30) Life did not reach the animal stage from algae in a single step, but passed through numerous stages in evolution. No one knows how many stages had to be passed through from the algae to flowering plants and magnificent trees. Just as from the dim light of the glowworm to the brightly shining sun, there are innumerable grades of light and heat, similarly there are countless stages in the evolution of plant life. “He is Knower of all creation” means that He knows not only all kinds of creation, but is the creator and knower of all these stages as well.

as beneficial as it is thought to be. If a man neglected the Quran all his life, what can he gain by listening to it when dying? We are reminded of a story that a Nawab (aristocratic ruler) in the Muslim state of Hyderabad Deccan, India, heard that there was an old woman who recited the Quran melodiously. So he engaged her to live in his mansion and recite the Quran day and night. One day, as the Nawab passed by her, hearing her recitation he asked her what she was reading. “S?ra Y? S?n,” she replied. The Nawab was struck with terror: “You are reading Y? S?n!” he exclaimed; “You accursed woman! You are going to cause someone to die.” With these words, he expelled her from his house! The S?ra Y? S?n does not deliver the message of death to the living; on the contrary, it gives life to the dead and revives decayed bones. At the close of this chapter, there occur the words:

Animal life from ‘green matter’
Commentators of the Quran have taken the “fire from the green tree” to refer to certain trees whose branches produce sparks by friction when they rub against one another. But these words do not refer to any accidental production of fire or any particular type of tree. Scientists tell us that in almo ?]?\?H\H??YH\?H\?H?Y[??X??[??H?[Y???[?X????H??Y\?H?\?\???\?[??HY?H?H?YH?][[?[X[Y?H\?\[?[??]?X?[?\??[?\??Y[??X??[??K?][???