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all other laws of science and those applicable in that plane
of existence would be those relevant to that frame of reference.
On that Day the assignment of Adam would have ended. All his
authority given to him for the discharge of his duties would
have ceased. Out of all the innumerable of his offspring,
nobody will have any assignment or authority, administrative
or managerial anywhere in that frame of reference, as they
had in this world. From the accounts of that ‘Day’
given in the Quran, it appears that all arrangements will
be in a different frame of ‘creation’ under the
laws applicable in that world of existence. Following statement
by Paul Davies may provide some idea as to how perceptions
and rationale may differ about existence in different frames
of reference, e.g., Resurrection, the Day of Recompense, Hell
etc:
"It is interesting to speculate whether `alien
beings' who evolved under very different circumstances would
share our concept of `common sense' or indeed any of our thought
patterns. If as some science-fiction writers have muse, `life'
existed on the surface of a `neutron star,’ one could
not begin to guess how such beings would perceive and think
about the `world'. It is possible that an alien's concept
of rationality would differ from ours so greatly that this
`being 'would not be at all persuaded by what we would regard
as a rational argument."
“The Day the Earth will be changed
to a different earth, and so will be the Heavens”
14-48
Taking a clue
from the above, consider the angels and the jinn who represent
different forms of creation or different ‘worlds’.
Similarly there is a possibility of other creatures or inhabitants
and other universes in the megaverse, (which now science endeavors
to explain like different ‘membranes’ (‘branes,’
or planes in the Theory of Strings.) These accounts seem to
be scientific, not necessarily mere fable or fiction. The
point is that there can be different forms of creation in
the megaverse.
Resurrection (whether it takes place, for example,
from DNA or through any other medium or method, in any manner
and form which the life assumes in that new environment or
frame of reference in the megaverse) definitely has to be
under the relevant set of laws applicable there, in that world.
Israrul Haque explains this in these words: “The physical
laws of life and death prevailing in this world will not most
probably hold good on the day of Judgement which will take
place when the earth and the heaven will have been changed.”
From the changes taking place in the stars, constellations,
planetary systems and the earth, as explained vividly by the
Quran, it appears that the laws then applicable, would be
different from the laws known to man in this world. Therefore
the Law (Amr) in operation on the Day of Recompense would
be the specific set of commands of Allah Himself applicable
on the occasion and the event, unlike the laws of this world
which can be `discovered by man and applied by him’
scientifically in this three dimensional world.
Is
the Resurrection a Physical Process?From above
discussion a definite question emerges as to whether resurrection
is a physical process.
“And
Allah it is Who sends the winds,
and they raise a cloud; then We lead it to a dead
land,
and revive the earth after its death. Such is
the resurrection” 35-9
In the past raising of clouds and the growth of
plants following rain were considered miracles, but not any
more. By comparing the resurrection to a physical process,
the Quranic verses suggest that revival after death
is also based on some physical laws. However, it
should be kept in mind that Allah is the Creator of all the
laws of the universe.The insight provided by the Quran in
the physical laws of the universe, is now being explained
by science, although not the exact elaboration of all the
facts disclosed even in one verse. For example: The theory
of Big Bang partially refers to the phenomenon
mentioned in verse 21-30. Hubble’s discovery, Einstein’s
theory of `General Relativity’ and subsequent observations
and research elaborate only some of the facts pointed out
in verse 51-47 about expansion of the universe.
Science also provides some explanations about death of stars,
planetary system, receding galaxies, etc. mentioned in the
Quran.
If the expansion continues, after billions of
years, all the energy of the sun and stars will be exhausted
and every living thing will freeze to death. (It is argued
that the universe can not expand indefinitely for ever. Therefore
theories like Contraction of the Universe and Big
Crunch are suggested). Alternatively, if there is
enough mass in the universe, gravity will one day stop the
expansion and then contraction will begin. A contracting universe
would end in a very hot and compressed state called `The
Big Crunch.’ This would also destroy all life
forms and everything. It may be noted that it suggests disorderly
destruction due to collapse and compression of the universe
under its own mass, whereas the Quran explains winding up
of different planes of existence like a scroll.
Although scientists agree that the journey of
the world and the universe will end one day, but besides mode
and method of `concluding’ the journey, the basic question
of `resurrection’, still remain to be explained in scientific
terms. The theories of Contraction of the universe
and Reversal of Time present some clues for consideration
in elaboration to verse 21-104.
Time is one of the most elusive mysteries of the
universe. Generally it is believed that time has a direction,
but physicists like Michael Berry, Thomas Gold and Stephen
Hawking. have proposed that time may reverse when
the universe begins to contract. This may have a
reference to the phenomenon mentioned in the above quoted
verse 21-104. Reversal of time may lead to raising of men
from their graves, becoming alive again!
Logic
of Reckoning
The Only One Creator-Sustainer-Regulator-Dispenser:
We have already discussed that there are many evidences in
nature and creation which lead to believe in the necessity
of One Creator and the same One as Sustainer for all creation
and entire system of existence. The concept of Sustainer includes
the necessity of the Regulator also.
Science has proved that there is a reaction for
every action. Similarly human actions are capable of generating
physical and non-physical (e.g. behavioral and social ) and
other reactions, results, consequences and impacts on others,
living or existing in the environment. They all need to be
regulated on moral, rational and scientific grounds. Both
at individual and at larger scale of a society, better performance
needs to be encouraged and rewarded. Actions capable of producing
adverse results have to be discouraged and punishment awarded
with justice. For this, a system of recompense and requital
has to be in place. The starting point of justice demands
that it has to be properly notified for information in advance
so that nobody is caught unaware. Necessary guideline and
training in this regard, is also the requirement of a judicious
system. This is what Al-Faatihah does! What should be the
Recompense for those who cause devastation, destruction and
misery of the magnitude immeasurable by human calculation,
inspite of all these warnings and training? Judge the following
piece of information:
Elugelab Island (USA): The Hydrogen Bomb or the Thermonuclear
device `Ivy Mike’, fired on November 1, 1952, used liquid
deuterium as fusion fuel and created a fireball five kilometers
wide. The mushroom cloud rose to 18,000 meters in 90 seconds.
It topped out in five minutes at 45,000 meters. The detonation
completely obliterated Elugelab island. .It created under
water crater 2,000 meters wide and 55 meters deep. (AFP-The
Dawn, October, 30, 2002)
Human activity can generate such consequences
that they linger from generation to generation or its results
and reactions take place in future; in some cases quite far
and distant in the future from the actor (s). Therefore, a
question arises as to how to pay them for such good or evil
consequences? This raises issues of morality and values: Why
should one sacrifice present for someone in the future? Why
should someone in the future suffer for the illicit action
of some one at present or from the past ? Proliferation of
population and increase in outreach of human activity has
multiplied extent of impact and outcome of many actions. This
has raised very serious concerns for the environment as a
whole [See opening verses of Surah-55 (Ar-Rahmaan)]. Human
activity on one continent or even on one planet or satellite
is definitely affecting things on distant continents and celestial
objects far away. How each one could be compensated or recompensed
if there was no single system of judgement? And, very important,
the mechanism of enforcement?
For all this the Just and All-Powerful Dispenser
and Enforcer could only be the One Who Watches closely all
entities in existence, and cause and effect of each action,
as The Ever All-Aware and Ever All-Knower of every motion,
movement, motive and all points and coordinates involved precisely,
right from the origination as Creator and all along as Sustainer.
In such a vast system and multitude of creations and activities
there can't be uniformity of decision if there were different
judges for different places and points in judgement. The uniformity
alone in justice requires The Single Super Mind for the Grand
Judgement-Allah.
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