In the second episode of this journey, I shared a few lines from a poet who was experiencing the same restlessness and uncertainty that surrounds so many human beings today.
A restlessness caused by one fundamental question:
What is the purpose of my existence?
Most people experience this inner unease.
Some recognize it.
Some try to escape it.
And some never even realize that it exists.
The poet described this reality:
The universe itself is restless.
From countless stars and galaxies
To the smallest particles of matter,
Every existence is moving.
But when a person discovers the secrets of the universe and understands the purpose behind life, that same restlessness transforms into wonder.
The poet then says:
From the great stars of the heavens
To every tiny electron,
I finally understood the dance of their endless motion —
Because everywhere, I saw Your reflection.
But what did he discover?
What secrets of the universe did he uncover?
To understand this, we must first reflect upon a few important ideas.
The Mystery of Patterns
Do you know what a palindrome is?
A palindrome is a word or sequence that remains the same whether read from the beginning or from the end.
For example:
MOM
Read forward or backward, it remains the same.
Another example:
MADAM
The structure remains unchanged.
Interestingly, when written visually, a palindrome creates a pattern that resembles a symmetrical orbital movement — something similar to the circular motion we observe in celestial systems.
This will become important shortly.
The Motion of the Cosmos
For centuries, humanity observed the heavens and wondered about their movement.
The Moon revolves around the Earth.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
The Moon completes its orbit around Earth in approximately 27.3 days.
The Earth completes its journey around the Sun in about 365.25 days.
But for a long time, people believed that the Sun itself was stationary.
Then science discovered something remarkable:
The Sun is also moving.
Our entire solar system is traveling through space.
Later, scientists discovered that our Milky Way galaxy contains a supermassive black hole at its center known as Sagittarius A*.
The Sun itself is orbiting around this massive gravitational center.
While Earth completes its orbit around the Sun in one year, the Sun takes roughly 230 million years to complete one journey around Sagittarius A*.
So nothing in this universe is truly standing still.
Everything is moving.
Everything is traveling.
Everything is in motion.
Are They Moving — Or Swimming?
Albert Einstein introduced another profound concept through his understanding of gravity and spacetime.
According to modern physics, planets are not simply moving through empty space.
They are traveling through the fabric of spacetime.
Massive objects create curves in spacetime, and their movement creates ripples known as gravitational waves.
It is similar to a boat moving through water.
The boat does not simply move.
It creates waves around itself.
In a similar way, celestial bodies move through the fabric of spacetime.
This is why astronauts train in massive pools, because moving in space has similarities to floating in water.
The Qur’an’s Remarkable Description
Now listen to what the Qur’an says:
“And He is the One Who created the night and the day, and the Sun and the Moon; each floating in an orbit.”
(Qur’an 21:33)
Notice the wording.
The Qur’an does not merely say:
“They move.”
It says:
“They swim.”
The Arabic word used is:
يَسْبَحُونَ (yasbahoon)
meaning:
“They float” or “they swim.”
This is a remarkable description.
Because swimming implies movement through a surrounding medium.
And modern physics describes celestial motion in spacetime in a way that resembles this concept.
The Hidden Structure of the Verse
Now consider something even more fascinating.
The Qur’an says:
“كلٌّ في فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ”
Every one of them is swimming in an orbit.
The phrase itself has a unique structure.
It contains a symmetry similar to a palindrome:
كلٌّ في فلك
Read as a pattern, it reflects the very idea being described:
Orbital motion.
A structure returning upon itself.
A movement within a path.
A cosmic cycle.
The same verse that describes orbital motion contains a linguistic pattern that visually resembles orbital symmetry.
The Sequence of Reflection in Surah Al-Anbiya
Now return to the broader message of Surah Al-Anbiya.
People demanded a sign.
They asked for a miracle.
The Qur’an directed them toward the universe itself.
First:
Verse 30
The heavens and Earth were once joined together — a concept modern cosmology discusses through the beginning of the universe.
Then:
Verse 31
The role of gravitational forces and stability.
Then:
Verse 32
The protected nature of the sky.
And now:
Verse 33
The motion of celestial bodies.
Not only movement.
But movement with order.
Movement with balance.
Movement with precision.
A Question Worth Asking
How could a book revealed fourteen centuries ago describe concepts that humanity would only investigate much later?
Is everything merely coincidence?
Or are these signs inviting us to think deeper?
The Qur’an repeatedly calls humanity toward reflection.
Not blind acceptance.
Not careless rejection.
But thoughtful observation.
Because the universe is not silent.
It is constantly communicating.
Every orbit.
Every star.
Every movement.
Every particle.
Points toward a greater order.
This was Reason & Reflection — Episode 12.
The journey continues.
There are still many signs hidden in creation waiting to be explored.
Until the next episode:
Reflect.
Question.
And seek the truth.
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.