Perhaps understanding this part of Reason & Reflection requires more than ordinary thinking.
It requires a willingness to pause, reflect, and look beyond the surface.
But I believe that if you give even a little attention to these ideas and sincerely try to understand them, you will be able to appreciate the depth of this discussion.
Have you ever heard of the Planck Epoch?
To understand it, we must first understand something fundamental about our universe.
The Four Fundamental Forces of the Universe
Modern science tells us that the universe is governed by four fundamental forces:
- Gravity
- Electromagnetic force
- Strong nuclear force
- Weak nuclear force
These forces shape everything we observe around us.
They control stars.
They govern atoms.
They determine the structure of the universe itself.
But according to cosmological models, at the earliest moments after the beginning of the universe, these forces were not separate.
They were united.
This earliest stage is known as the Planck Epoch.
Then came another stage known as the Grand Unified Epoch, where one of these forces separated from the others.
The first force to separate was:
Gravity.
Remember this point:
After the beginning of the universe, gravity was the first fundamental force to emerge separately.
But why is gravity so important?
And what exactly is gravity?
The Discovery of Gravity
Centuries ago, a man sat beneath a tree and witnessed something simple yet extraordinary.
An apple fell from a tree.
This man was Isaac Newton.
Instead of simply watching the apple fall, he asked:
Why did it fall downward?
Why did it not move sideways?
Why did it not rise upward?
That moment of reflection led to one of the greatest discoveries in human history:
Gravity.
Newton described gravity as a force that attracts objects with mass toward one another.
Later, Albert Einstein presented a deeper understanding through the theory of relativity.
According to Einstein, the universe contains a fabric called:
Space-time.
When a massive object such as a star or planet exists, it creates a curve in this fabric.
This bending of space-time is what we experience as gravity.
The Gravity That Holds the Universe Together
The Sun contains enormous mass.
Because of this, it creates a powerful curve in space-time.
The Earth moves within this curve and continues its orbit around the Sun.
The Moon similarly moves around the Earth.
Gravity is not simply a force.
It is one of the reasons the universe maintains its order.
On Earth, we experience gravity in different ways.
The Sun’s gravity keeps Earth in its orbit.
Without it, Earth would drift into the darkness of space, making life as we know it impossible.
The Earth’s own gravity also shapes our world.
The mountains.
The plains.
The landscapes.
The very structure of our planet.
Gravity allows us to stand upon the Earth.
If Earth's gravity were much stronger, movement would become extremely difficult.
If it were significantly weaker, we would struggle to remain on the ground.
A small change in this balance would completely transform life.
The Qur’an and the Signs of Creation
Now let us turn toward the Qur’an.
In Surah Al-Anbiya, Allah describes how people respond when signs come to them.
Instead of reflecting, they dismiss them.
They say:
“This is merely imagination.”
Or:
“This is only poetry.”
And they demand a great miracle.
In response, Allah directs attention toward the heavens and the earth.
The Qur’an says:
“Have they not reflected upon the heavens and the earth and all that is between them?”
And it reminds humanity:
The universe was not created as a meaningless game or a purposeless creation.
It has meaning.
It has signs.
A Great Sign in Surah Al-Anbiya
The people demanded a great sign.
And Allah pointed them toward creation itself.
Then, in Surah Al-Anbiya, verse 30, Allah says:
“Do those who disbelieve not see that the heavens and the earth were once joined together, then We separated them?”
(Qur’an 21:30)
We discussed this verse in the previous episode.
Modern cosmology describes a similar concept through the Big Bang theory:
A universe that began from an extremely dense initial state and expanded.
But Surah Al-Anbiya does not stop there.
The next verse continues.
The Mystery of “Rawasiya”
Allah says:
“And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shake with them…”
(Qur’an 21:31)
The Qur’anic word used here is:
Rawasiya
It is commonly translated as:
Mountains.
But in classical Arabic, the root meaning is connected with anchoring, stabilizing, and fixing something firmly in place.
An anchor prevents a ship from drifting.
It holds it steady.
This imagery is powerful.
Modern science tells us that gravity plays a crucial role in maintaining the stability and structure of the Earth.
The Sun’s gravity keeps Earth from wandering through space.
The Earth’s own gravitational balance shapes its environment.
And the planet’s physical structure allows life to exist.
The Qur’an describes the Earth as having stabilizing elements.
A Moment of Reflection
Now return to the bigger picture.
In Surah Al-Anbiya:
People asked for a great miracle.
The Qur’an directed them toward the universe.
Then:
First, it mentioned that the heavens and the earth were once joined and separated.
Then immediately afterward, it mentioned stabilizing elements of the Earth.
Modern cosmology discusses:
The beginning of the universe.
The emergence of forces.
The role of gravity.
And the order that governs creation.
So the question remains:
Is this merely coincidence?
Or is it a sign inviting humanity to think?
The Qur’an itself challenges those who refuse reflection.
Surah Al-Anbiya begins with the reminder:
“The time of their account has drawn near, while they turn away in heedlessness.”
(Qur’an 21:1)
Continuing the Journey
We began our reflection journey from Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 164, where Allah mentions the creation of the universe as a sign for those who use their intellect.
We asked three fundamental questions about the origin of the universe.
The third question was:
How was the universe created?
Through Surah Al-Anbiya, verses 30 and 31, we explored two profound signs.
But this journey is not finished.
In the next episode, we will examine verses 32 and beyond.
Prepare yourself.
Open your eyes.
Expand your mind.
Because the universe still has many signs waiting to be discovered.
Until next time,
May the peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.