IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIUOS, THE MOST MERCIFUL
Science and religion have been two
most ardent enemies for centuries, what religion believes in, is rejected
by science and what the science proves, is refuted by religion. For the
first time in history we have a scripture which is not only mathematically
coded, but has numerous verses with scientific implications, far advanced
than the time of it's revelation therefore, proving that it must be from a
divine source and not of human conjecture. Sura 57th is dedicated to the
element iron, Al Hadid (the geometrical values of the Arabic letters add
up to 57). It is placed right in the middle of the Quran and it is chosen
out of all the elements of the world for a reason. There are 114 Suras in
the Quran you will count 56 Suras before you get to Sura iron and 57 Suras
will remain after Sura iron to the end of the Quran.
The Almighty introduces the Iron to us in Sura 57:25…… And we sent
down their on, in which there is strength and many benefits for the
people……. In this verse the 26th occurrence of the word God is being
mentioned from the beginning of this sura. 26 is the Atomic Number of
iron, and like the finger print that is unique for every human being, and
no two human beings have the same finger print, the Atomic Number of an
element is also unique for that element.
Chemically iron is a metal and is the 26th element in the Periodic Table,
(atomic number=26) but it has the Atomic Mass Number of 56.
Let us look at the Periodic Table where all the elements of the world
known today have a place according to their Atomic Mass Numbers, some are
discovered already and some are made in the laboratory. Others will be
discovered in future.
In 1869 a Russian chemist called Dimitri Mendeleev came up with the idea
of arranging the elements of the world known at the time, according to
their Atomic Mass in a Table. Those elements known up to that time were
obviously identified and placed according to their chemical behavior and
Atomic/Molecular Mass Number and as for the rest their spots were
designated, but the elements had to be discovered in future.
The table starts with the lightest element of the world known as Hydrogen
that has a molecular mass of 1. The last one on the Table is the 106th
element, Seaborgium. This element is called after professor Seaborge of
Berkeley University, and is not found in the nature, but has been
synthesized in very small quantity in the laboratory. The Molecular Mass
is the sum of the masses of atoms, which make up the element.
Iron (we show it with the symbol Fe) and is the 26th element on the table.
Please see the Periodic Table of the elements. Now let us look at some
mathematical relationship of this verse. Verse 25 is the 19th verse from
the beginning of the Sura 57 where the word God is mentioned. If we count
all the occurrence of the word God from the beginning of the Quran
including 57:25 the total occurrence is 2443. Notice that
Sura 43 is the 24th initialed Sura and Sura 43 has 89 verses. Number 89 is
the 24th prime number.
Some of the benefits of iron are:
The vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial for our bodies, have been
discovered in the 20th century and are part of our daily nutrition; iron
is one of these minerals. iron is present in our blood hemoglobin and
without it the chance of survival is limited. (Iron is present in liver,
spinach and certain vegetables). Pregnant women are recommended to take
iron pills to the benefit of both themselves and their babies. To enhance
the growth of the plants, trees, we feed them with iron that eventually
will benefit the human beings.
Iron is used in cast iron in structures, buildings, bridges, and
skyscrapers for its strength. It is used in machinery, equipment, cars,
engines,
airplanes, boats, space shuttles etc. Why Iron? Iron is the third most
abundant element of the world; (Silicon is first. Aluminum, is the second,
5% of the earth crest contains iron. Where did iron come from? Scientist
now know how iron got on planet earth and in fact there is an extensive
article in Time magazine[1} about the function of iron and the importance
of iron for life!
When 4.6 billion years ago planet earth was being formed, at the beginning
there were hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and iron in the space. These
molecules were formed at the BIG Bang and iron started to soak up the
oxygen and therefore prevented the carbon and the nitrogen from reacting
with oxygen. If, oxygen had combined with these two elements, carbon
dioxide and nitrogen oxides would have been formed, which are both
hazardous gases for human beings, instead iron reacted with oxygen and
turned into rust, (this is the reaction that happens between iron and
oxygen when it forms ferric oxide). This gave a chance to carbon and the
nitrogen which both reacted with hydrogen and formed methane and ammonia
subsequently. These two compounds eventually formed DNA (the building
block of the living creatures). After the radioactive elements slowly
increased the temperature of the planet earth, the iron that was on the
surface of the earth for 100 millions of years, started to melt and
reached the core.
According to, Science News Magazine[2] the earth 's iron core lies 2,900
kilometer below our feet. It has proved less accessible than the outer
reaches of the solar system! The earth's inner core remains a solid
despite the heat deep inside the planet. Surrounding this hard center lies
the outer core, which are molten iron and other lighter elements. The
movement of these fluids is important because they generate Earth's
magnetic field.
One of the factors, which help this planet, to be hospitable for life. In
21st century if we were to open the core of the earth we will only see
iron as the major element (there is a very low percentage of nickel
present too). This explains the electromagnetic field of the planet earth.
If you take a compass it will show you the direction of the north.
In Sura 17 verse 49 we read:
They said, "After we turn into fragments, we get resurrected anew? 7:50
Say, Even if you turn into rocks or iron. All the matters seek the most
stable state which is the lowest energy level, iron is the most stable
element in the world according to Quantum Mechanics, therefore given time
all the matters, will eventually reach the most stable state that is, they
will be converted into Iron provided they are given enough time.
As you can see for yourself a lot of the information related to iron is a
phenomenon of the 20th century and not the 6th century when Quran was
revealed. Some may argue that at the time of Prophet Mohammed iron was
also present and it is true that some of their tools, utensils were made
of iron but for sure the key role of the iron in life, it's presence in
the core of the earth, it's presence in our blood, it's atomic number, and
many other benefits of it which are crucial to life were not known to
human being. As a matter of fact one may ask why a Sura on iron? Why not a
Sura on silver and gold?
With all this information, some may say this is just a coincidence, if it
is a coincidence it is truly an awesome coincidence but if it is not a
coincidence and it is meant to be this way then Glory be to God, Lord of
the Universe. Creator of all things, Creator of the heavens and the earth,
the Seer the Hearer, the Knower, the Most Merciful, the Most Gracious, the
Initiator, the One God, the Only God, the Almighty, the Alpha and the
Omega.
Manije Khorasani
March,2001
References:
[1} October,11, 1993
[2] March, 28th,1992
