Atoms that come alive

Atoms are the building blocks of both animate organisms as well as inanimate objects. Since atoms are inanimate particles, it evokes extreme astonishment that they are the building blocks of living beings. This is an issue evolutionists can never explain.

Just as it is impossible to imagine pieces of stone coming together to form living organisms, it is impossible to imagine inanimate atoms coming together by themselves to form living organisms. Think about a lump of rock and a butterfly -- one is inanimate, the other is animate. Yet, when we delve into their essences, we see that both are made up of the same sub-atomic particles.

The following example may elucidate the impossibility of inanimate matter transforming by itself into animate matter in a better way: Can aluminum fly? No. If we mix aluminum with plastic and gasoline, can it fly? Of course it still cannot. Only if we bring these materials together in a way so as to form an airplane, can they fly. So, what makes an airplane fly? Is it the wings, the engine or the pilot? None of these can fly by themselves. In fact, an airplane is manufactured by the assemblage in a special design consisting of different pieces each of which has no ability to fly. The ability to fly is derived neither from aluminum, nor plastic, nor gasoline. The specifications of these substances are important, but the ability to fly can only be gained by bringing these substances together in a very special design.

Living systems are no different. A living cell is formed by the arrangement of inanimate atoms in a very special design. Faculties of living cells such as growth, reproduction and others are results of perfect design rather than the properties of molecules. The design we find at this point is only Allaah's creating the living from the dead. Allaah Says (what means): "Indeed, Allaah is the cleaver of grain and the date seed. He brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living. That is Allaah; so how are you deluded?" [Quran 6:95]

When the Theory of Evolution was advanced in the middle of the 19th century CE, scientific research conducted with primitive microscopes had created the impression that the cell was just a simple lump of matter. However, in the 20th century CE, observation and research made using advanced instruments and electron microscopes revealed that the cell has an extremely complex structure that could only have been formed as a result of perfect design. Most importantly, research showed that it is absolutely impossible for life to arise spontaneously out of inanimate matter. The source of life is life alone -- a fact has been proved experimentally too. This is a problem evolutionists can never resolve.

It is for this reason that renowned evolutionary scientists find themselves in a  great impasse and instead of presenting solid scientific evidence, resort to telling hypothetical 'tales' which amount to nothing but window-dressing. They put forward completely illogical and unscientific claims that matter has a consciousness, ability and will of its own. However, they themselves do not believe these absurd tales and are eventually forced to confess that the main questions that need to be answered cannot be answered scientifically: "The outstanding evolutionary mystery now is: how matter has originated and evolved, why it has taken its present form in the Universe and on the earth, and why it is capable of forming itself into complex living sets of molecules." [C. D. Darlington, Evolution for Naturalists, (NY, John Wiley, 1980) p. 15]

As the evolutionary scientist quoted above confesses, the basic purpose of the Theory of Evolution is to deny that Allaah (God) created living beings. This is the scenario claimed by evolutionists, describing the transformation of inanimate and unconscious atoms into animate organisms, and most significantly, into people with high levels of consciousness and intelligence: "After the Big Bang, atoms, containing precisely balanced forces, somehow brought themselves into being...These atoms first transformed themselves into cells with highly complex structures and then produced copies of the cells they formed by splitting into two, after which they started speaking and hearing. Subsequently, these atoms transformed into university professors viewing themselves under the electron microscope and claiming that they came into being coincidentally…"

It is possible to prolong this story but let us stop here and see whether unconscious atoms can spontaneously form the DNA molecule, the cornerstone of life and proteins.

DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid), which is located in the nucleus of a cell contains the codes carrying the information that controls the formation of all organs and characteristics of the body. This code is so complex that scientists were only able to translate it (to a very limited extent) as late as the 1940s. Proteins are the building blocks of living beings and play a key role in many vital functions of the organism.

DNA is a series of nucleotides arranged in a special sequence. A protein is a series of amino acids arranged again in a special sequence. First of all, it is mathematically impossible for either DNA molecules or protein molecules that come in thousands of different types to sort out the appropriate sequences necessary for life by chance. Probabilistic calculations reveal that the probability of even the simplest protein molecules achieving the right sequence by chance is zero. In addition to this mathematical impossibility, there is also an important chemical obstacle to the coincidental formation of these molecules. If the relationship between DNA and protein were a result of time, chance and natural processes, then there would be some sort of chemical affinity of DNA and protein to react, as acids and bases have a great tendency to react. In that case, if chance had really played a role, a whole host of other natural chemical reactions would occur among any random fragments of DNA and protein and the living beings we see today would not have formed.

Just as the entire Universe was created from nothing, so were living beings created from nothing. Just as only nothing can come into existence out of nothing by chance, inanimate matter cannot combine by chance to form living beings. Only Allaah, Possessor of Infinite Power, Infinite Wisdom and Infinite Knowledge, has the power to do all these. Allaah Says (what means): "Indeed your Lord is Allaah, who created the Heavens and Earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day (another night) chasing it rapidly; and (He created) the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allaah, Lord of the worlds." [Quran 7:54]

The evolutionist’s myth of homology

Structural similarities between different species are called “homology” in biology. Evolutionists try to present those similarities as evidence for evolution.

Darwin thought that creatures with similar (homologue) organs had an evolutionary relation with each other and that these organs must have been inherited from a common ancestor. According to his assumption, both pigeons and eagles had wings; therefore, pigeons, eagles and indeed all other birds with wings were supposed to have evolved from a common ancestor.

Homology is a deceptive argument advanced on the basis of no other evidence than an apparent physical resemblance. This argument has never once been verified by a single concrete discovery in all the years since Darwin’s day. In no layer of the earth has anyone come up with a fossil of the imaginary common ancestor of the creatures with homologue structures. Furthermore, the following issues make it clear that homology provides no evidence that evolution has occurred.

1.      One finds homologue organs in creatures of completely different species among which evolutionists have not been able to establish any sort of an evolutionary relationship;

2.      The genetic codes of some creatures that have homologue organs are utterly different from one another.

3.      The embryological development of homologue organs in different creatures is completely different.

Let us now examine each of these points one by one.

Similar Organs in Entirely Different Living Species

There are a number of homologue organs shared by different species among which evolutionists cannot establish any kind of evolutionary relationship. Wings are an example. In addition to birds, we find wings on bats (which are mammals), on insects and even on some dinosaurs, which are extinct reptiles. Not even evolutionists posit an evolutionary relationship or kinship among those four different classes of animal.

Another striking example is the amazing resemblance and structural similarity observed in the eyes of different creatures. For example, octopus and man are two extremely different species between which no evolutionary relationship is likely even to be proposed, yet the eyes of both are very much alike in terms of their structure and function. Not even evolutionists claim that man and octopus had a common ancestor to account for their similar eyes. These and numerous other examples confirm that the evolutionist claim that “homologue organs prove that living species have evolved from a common ancestor” has no scientific basis.

In fact, homologue organs should be a great embarrassment for evolutionists. The famous evolutionist Frank Salisbury’s confession revealed in his statements on how extremely different species came to have very similar eyes underscores the impasse of homology: “Even something as complex as the eye has appeared several times; for example in the squid, the vertebrates and the arthropods. It’s bad enough accounting for the origin of such things once, but the thought of producing them several times according to the modern synthetic theory makes my head swim.”

The Genetic and Embryological Impasse of Homology

In order for the evolutionist claim concerning “homology” to be taken seriously, similar (homologue) organs in different creatures should also be coded with similar (homologue) DNA codes. However, they are not. In most cases the genetic coding is quite different. Furthermore, similar genetic codes in the DNAs of different creatures are often associated with completely different organs.

Michael Denton, an Australian professor of biochemistry, describes in his book Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, The Genetic Impasse of the Evolutionist Interpretation of Homology: “Homologous structures are often specified by non-homologous genetic systems and the concept of homology can seldom be extended back into embryology.”

Another point is that in order for the homology claim to be considered valid, the embryological development (developmental stages in the egg or mother’s womb) of the species with homologous organs should parallel one another. In fact, the embryological development of such organs is completely different in every living species.

To conclude, we can say that genetic and embryological research has proven that the concept of homology, defined by Darwin as “evidence of the evolution of living things from a common ancestor”, can by no means be regarded as any evidence at all. In this respect, science can be said to have proven the Darwinist thesis false time and time again.

The Unique Characteristics of Our Civilization - I

Some of those who have written about the history of civilization define civilization as “a social system which helps man to increase his cultural output.”

Civilization consists of four main elements: economical resources, political systems, moral traditions and science and arts. The development and progress of a civilization requires many factors such as geographical and economic factors, and psychological factors such as religion, language and education. The collapse of a civilization stems from factors which are the opposite of those which lead to its rise and development; the most important of these destructive factors include moral and intellectual decadence, lawlessness and breakdown of social systems, the spread of oppression and poverty, the spread of pessimism and apathy and the lack of competent and sincere leaders.

 

The story of civilization began when man first appeared, and it is a long chain which one civilized nation passes on to those who come after it. Civilization is not unique to any one land or race, rather it stems from the factors we have mentioned above. There is hardly any nation that has not written some of the pages of the history of civilization, but the thing that distinguishes one civilization from another is the strength of the foundation on which it is built, the great influence that it may have, and the benefits that humanity may enjoy as a result of its rise. The more universal a civilization is in its message, the more humane it is in its inclination, the more moral it is in its direction and the more realistic it is in its principles, the more lasting will be its impact on history, the longer it will endure and the more it will deserve to be honored.

 

Our civilization is a link in the chain of human civilizations; some civilizations came before it and others will follow. There were factors that contributed to the rise of our civilization, and there are reasons for its decline, but this is not the topic under discussion here. Rather, before we examine the wonders of this civilization, we should discuss the serious role that it played in the history of human progress, and how much it contributed to the fields of belief, science, ethics, rule, art and literature, and how it had a lasting impact on humanity of all peoples and in all places.

 

The most important thing that attracts the attention of the one who studies our civilization is that it is distinguished by the following features:

 

1.     It is based on a foundation of absolute oneness in belief. It was the first civilization that proclaimed the message of One God Who has no partner or associate in His rule and dominion; He is the Only One Who is worshipped and He is the Only One Who is sought.

 

Allaah Almighty Says what means: {It is You we worship and You we ask for help.} [Quran 1: 5]

 

He is the One Who honors and humiliates, Who gives and withholds, and there is nothing in the heavens or on earth that is not subject to His dominion and held in His grasp.

 

This sublime understanding of the concept of oneness has a great effect in raising the level of mankind and of liberating the masses from the oppression of kings, nobles, powerful men and the clergy; in reforming the relationship between rulers and subjects; in guiding people to Allaah Alone, Who is the Creator of the universe and the Lord of the worlds. This belief also had a great effect on Islamic civilization which is virtually unique among all civilizations before or since in that it is free from all forms of idolatry and of idolatrous literature and philosophy in its beliefs, rule, art, poetry and literature. This is the reason why Islamic civilization refrained from translating the Iliad and the best of idolatrous Greek literature. It is also the reason why Islamic civilization fell short in some of the arts of sculpture and image-making, despite its prominence in the arts of inscription, engraving and architectural adornment. Islam, which declared war on idolatry and its manifestations, did not permit any expressions or relics of idolatry from ancient times to exist in its civilization, such as statues of great men, righteous men, Prophets or conquerors. Statues are one of the most prominent features of ancient and modern civilizations, because none of them took belief in oneness to the extent that Islamic civilization did.

 

This belief in oneness has an impact on all the foundations and systems produced by our civilization. So there is unity in its message, unity in its legislation, unity in its general aims, unity in humanity in general, unity in the way of life and pattern of thinking. Researchers studying the Islamic arts have noticed a unity of style and taste in different kinds of art, so that a piece of Andalusian ivory, a piece of Egyptian textile, a piece of Syrian pottery and a piece of Iranian metalwork, despite the differences in their forms and ornamentation, all have the same style and character.

 

2.     The second of the characteristics of our civilization is that it is human in its inclinations and objectives, universal in its ambition and message.

 

The Quran declared the oneness of mankind despite the differences in their races, places of origin and abodes. Allaah Says (what means): {O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allaah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allaah is Knowing and Acquainted.} [Quran 49: 13]

 

When the Quran declared this universal oneness of mankind with regard to truth, goodness and dignity, it made its civilization the factor that brought together all the brilliant minds of all nations and peoples over whom the banner of Islam flew. Hence, whilst every civilization may be able to boast of its brilliant sons of one nationality, only Islamic civilization can boast of the brilliant minds from all nations and peoples who built it. For Abu Haneefah, Maalik, Ash-Shaafi`i, Ahmad, Al-Khaleel, Sibawayh, Al-Kindi, Al-Ghazaali, Al-Faraabi, Ibn Rushd and their like were all of different origins but they were among the brilliant minds through whom Islamic civilization gave to humanity the marvelous intellectual products of sound human thought.

 

3.      The third of the characteristics of our civilization is the way in which it gave prominence to moral principles in all its systems and fields of activity, and never abandoned these principles or used them as means of benefitting a state, a group or an individual. In ruling, in science, in legislation, in war, in peace, in economy, in the family; it paid attention to these moral principles in legislation and in implementation of laws. In this field it reached a high level that has never been attained by any civilization before or since. The Islamic civilization left behind a legacy in that field which deserves to be admired for it alone, among all civilizations, guaranteed the happiness of man in the purest sense, not contaminated with any misery.

The Unique Characteristics of Our Civilization - II

4. The fourth of these characteristics is that it believes in knowledge in the truest sense, based on belief in the purest principles. So it addressed the rational mind and the heart at the same time, it provoked emotions and thought at the same time. This is an advantage that has not been shared by any other civilization in history. The reason why this particular characteristic of our civilization is to be so admired is because it was able to establish a state system based on principles of truth and justice, based on religion and belief without religion becoming an obstacle to the development of the state and the progress of the civilization. Rather religion was one of the greatest factors in its development. From the mosques of Baghdad, Damascus, Cairo, Cordoba and Granada the rays of knowledge shone into all parts of the world. Islamic civilization is the only one in which religion was not separated from the state even though it was spared the misery that resulted from the mixing of the two as happened in Europe in the Middle Ages. The head of state was the Caliph and a leader of the believers (Ameer Al-Mu’mineen), but he ruled in accordance with the truth, and legislation was left to those scholars who were specialized in that field. Each group of scholars had its field of specialization, and all of them were equal before the law. Superiority was determined by one's level of taqwa (piety) and service to people:

 The Prophet said: “By Allaah, if Faatimah the daughter of Muhammad were to steal, Muhammad would certainly cut off her hand.”

 

This is the religion on which our civilization is based; no special privileges and immunities are there for a chief (Caliph, President, Prime Minister), a clergyman, noble or rich…

 

Allaah Almighty Says what means: {Say, “I am only a man like you…"{[Quran 18: 110]

 

5. The last of these unique characteristics of our civilization is this amazing religious tolerance which has never been seen in any other civilization that was based on religion. If a person does not believe in any religion or any god, it is not strange for him to regard all religions as being equal and to treat the followers of all religions fairly; but if a person follows a religion and believes that his religion is true and that his belief is the best of beliefs, then he wields the sword and conquers cities, taking power and sitting in the position of a judge, but his belief in his religion and his pride in his belief does not cause him to be unfair in his judgments or to deviate from the path of justice, or force people to follow his  religion... it is strange to find such a man in history, so how about an entire civilization which is based on religion but was the most tolerant, just, compassionate and humane civilization known to history! This is how our civilization was, and we will mention dozens of examples later on. It is sufficient here to note that our civilization is unique in history because it was established by one religion but it was for all religions.

 

These are some of the unique features of our civilization when compared to the history of other civilizations. Hence, it was admired by the whole world and loved by free and intelligent people of all races and religions, at the time when it was strong and when it was ruling, directing, educating and teaching people. When it collapsed and was succeeded by another civilization, the way in which people looked at it changed. Some began to look down on it and others admired it. Some spoke of its virtues and some went to extremes in criticizing it. Thus, the views of western researchers differ concerning our civilization. They would not have done that were it not for the fact that they — the ones who set the standards and whose opinions are followed are in a position of strength and are behind the steering wheel of civilization nowadays, whereas those who are being judged, along with their civilization, are in a position of weakness and are the ones whom the strong are planning to rob of their resources and to rule their country with avarice. Perhaps this is the attitude of the strong towards the weak, whom they despise and belittle. This is what the strong have always done throughout history, apart from us when we were strong, for we were fair towards people, strong and weak alike, and we acknowledged virtue in easterners and westerners alike. Our history of exemplary characteristics includes fairness in judgment, purity of intention and sincerity of conscience.

 

It is unfortunate that we did not really notice the bias of the strong against us, or their unfairness in judging our civilization. Many of them were either religious fanatics whose prejudice blinded their eyes to the truth, or nationalist fanatics whose nationalistic pride made them refuse to attribute anything good to anyone who was not of their nation. But what is our excuse for being influenced by their view of our civilization? Why do some of our own people look down on a civilization to which the whole world bended the knee for many centuries?

 

Perhaps the excuse of those who belittle the worth of our civilization is that it is nothing when compared with the wonders, inventions and scientific marvels of modem civilization. Even if this is true, it does not justify looking down on our civilization for two reasons:

 

1.     Every civilization consists of two elements: a spiritual ands ethical element, and a material element.

 

With regard to the material element, undoubtedly each civilization supersedes those that came before. This is one of the laws that Allaah has decreed for the development of life. It is nonsense to expect an earlier civilization to have reached the level of material development of a subsequent civilization; if that were acceptable, then it would be permissible for us to look down on all the civilizations that came before our own, because of the things that our civilization has invented and the means and manifestations of civilization that were not known to any of the earlier civilizations. So the material element of civilization can never be the basis for differentiating between them.

 

It is the spiritual and ethical element that makes civilizations endure and enables them to bring happiness to mankind and save mankind from fear and pain. Our civilization surpasses all previous and subsequent civilizations in this regard, and it reached a level that has never been matched in any age of history. This is enough to give our civilization a lasting impact.

 

The purpose of civilization is to enable man to reach the highest degree of happiness, and in this regard our civilization managed to do what no other civilization in the east or in the west managed to do.

2.     Civilizations are not measured by materialistic standards or by quantities or areas, or by luxurious standards of living, food and clothing. Rather they are measured by the impact they have on human history. The same applies when we speak of battles and kingdoms; they are not measured by the size of the battlefield or the numbers of soldiers. The decisive battles of ancient times or of the Middle Ages cannot be compared to the battles of the Second World War, for although the numbers of soldiers and the means of fighting may appear insignificant, they are still regarded as important historical battles because of their far-reaching effects. The battle of Cannae in which the famous Carthaginian general Hannibal defeated the Romans is one of the battles that are still studied in the military colleges of Europe to this day. The battles of Khaalid ibn al-Waleed in the conquest of Syria are still studied and admired by western military experts, and for us they are golden pages in the history of military conquest in our civilization. The fact that the battles of Cannae, Badr, Al-Qadisiyah and Hit-teen happened so long ago does not snake people ignore that they were decisive historical battles.

A Jewish American Embraces Islam

I saw her radiant face in a mosque that is located on a hill in a small American state, reciting a translation of the Noble Quran. I greeted her and she returned the greeting warmly and cheerfully; we got talking and became good friends in no time. One night, we were on the shore of a beautiful lake, where she related to me the story of her conversion to Islam. I want to share her experience with you, dear readers, so we can deduce some wisdom from it.

The sister, who was a new Muslim, related, 

 

"I grew up in the Jewish American home of a dysfunctional and broken family; after my parents' divorce, my father married another woman. My stepmother tortured and mistreated me a lot; this drove me to run away from home when I was seventeen. I moved to another state where I met some young Arab men who were, as my homeless friends told me, 'generous'. All a girl needed to do was to give one of them a smile and she would find someone to buy her dinner and offer her a cozy place and a comfortable bed to spend the night.

 

“I followed in the footsteps of my homeless girlfriends, but at the end of each night I would run away; for I did not like such illicit relationships and I hated Arabs. Nonetheless, I was not happy with my life at all and I never felt safe or secure; I was haunted all the time by distress and a sense of loss.

 

“At this stage of my life I resorted to religion, to relish the sweetness and warmth of spirituality, hoping to find in it the motivation to keep me going in my harsh life; however, I found my religion, Judaism, unconvincing. I found it a religion that does not respect women or humanity. I realized that Judaism is a selfish religion that fosters backwardness; I did not find in it my objective, for I do not believe in superstition or myths, so I embraced Christianity. 

 

"However, in Christianity I found even more contradictions and unbelievable things which Christians were expected to believe in without questioning. I frequently asked questions such as: how could the Lord kill His son? How could the Lord have a son in the first place? How can one believe in three gods and not even be able to see any of them?I was bewildered and perplexed at all these unanswerable questions, so I gave up Christianity, yet I always believed that this universe, definitely, has a Creator. I used to spend my nights thinking and pondering on this thought until morning. 

 

"One bleak and gloomy night when it was almost dawn, I was about to commit suicide due to my state of depression. I hit rock bottom and nothing in the world made sense to me anymore. It was raining heavily that night and thick clouds had gathered, enveloping my universe as if they were imprisoning me. Watching the trees around me, I felt as if the crowding trees were looking at me furiously and the drops on rain were playing a hideous and dull melody, as I peered out of the window of an abandoned house. 

 

"For some reason I found myself praying to God, saying: ‘O my Lord, I know that You are out there… I know that You love me… I am a prisoner… I am one of your weak creatures; guide me to the right path. O my Lord, either guide me or let me die.’ I kept praying and crying bitterly that night until I fell asleep and in the morning, I woke up with a cheerful heart, but I did not know the reason behind this unfamiliar feeling. I went out on my daily pursuit of livelihood. Perhaps I would find a young man to pay for my breakfast, or wash his dishes and earn some money.

 

 

 

"Then, I met a young Arab man and we talked and talked for a very long time. After breakfast, he asked me to go with him to his home and live with him. I accepted his offer and went with him. 

 

 

“While we were having lunch, drinking and laughing, a bearded young man named Sa’d – as I came to know later when my Arab friend called out his name in surprise – visited us. This bearded young man took my friend by the hand and drove him away. I stayed there shaking; there I was, face to face with a terrorist! However, he did not do anything scary but politely asked me to go home. I told him that I had no home; he looked at me sadly and I saw on his face how he pitied me, and said, ‘Alright, you can stay here for tonight’ – since it was bitterly cold outside – ‘but you should leave tomorrow. Take this money to live on until you find a job.’

 

 

"He headed towards the door, so I asked him to stop and said, ‘Thank you! Please stay; I will leave, but I want to ask you a favor: could you tell me why you did what you did with me and your friend?" He lowered his gaze while he spoke to me, saying, ‘It is Islam; it forbids what is unlawful and makes permissible what is lawful. It also forbids sitting in seclusion with a non-Mahram (marriageable) woman and drinking alcohol, and Muslims are enjoined to treat people kindly and adopt high morals.’

 

 

“I was perplexed and surprised at his answer; were these the Muslims who were being called terrorists? I thought they carried guns and killed everybody they met; for this was the image drawn by the American media of Muslims. I told him, ‘I would like to know more about Islam, can you tell me?’ He responded, ‘I will take you to a religious Muslim family and I know that they will teach you Islam in the best way.’

 

“The next day at ten o'clock, he took me to this Muslim family who welcomed me warmly. I kept asking them about Islam and Dr. Sulaymaan, the head of the family, answered me until I was totally satisfied and convinced with everything he said about Islam. At that moment, I knew that I had found what I was looking for: a clear and straightforward religion that is compatible with common sense and I did not find any difficulty in believing what I heard about it; it was the truth.

 

 

“That day, I felt ecstatic and savored a sense of bliss when I announced I had embraced Islam, and wore the Hijaab immediately on the same day!

 

“Late that evening, Dr. Sulaymaan's wife took me to the best room in the house and told me, ‘This is your room and you are welcome to stay here as long as you wish.’ She saw me looking out of the window, smiling with tears running down my cheeks. She inquired about the reason behind my tears. I said, 'Yesterday, exactly at this time, I was standing next to a window, praying to Allaah The Almighty and imploring Him either to show me the right way or let me die. He guided me to the Right Path and now I am an honorable Muslim woman who knows her Lord, her Creator and knows the path that leads to Him; Islam is the path to Allaah.’ Dr. Sulaymaan's wife burst into tears and hugged me affectionately."

What Islam offers the Earth

One of the amazing things that strike the reader of the Quran is its significant and multifaceted emphasis on the relationship of man to the environment. This is not merely about self, family and surroundings. It’s about the whole universe—heavens and earth—and all of Allaah’s magnificent creation in them. I'm talking about all the constituents of what some call "nature," and down to the details: It’s geological foundations, waters, steady and violent shifts and movements, and its countless, varied forms of life and existence, and how it cycles and sustains them.
I know many scientists whom the Quran simply over-awed once they realized what it says about life, nature, and the universe. They were seized by the literally hundreds of Quranic verses that discuss and give guidance about the issues of the environment—all the ones we are suddenly talking about today, and plenty more that haven’t even come into view yet. What grabbed them was the realization that Allaah Almighty clearly knew how abusive unguided man would be to his planetary home.
Just look at what we have brought upon ourselves and our innocent fellows in creation in but the last handful of decades. Perhaps this is why I too now find reading the Quran's beautiful, moving, and harrowing "environmental" verses so spiritually and intellectually uplifting. Allaah Almighty Says what means: “The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.” [Quran 40:57] Or: “And there is no creature on [or within] the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you. We have not neglected in the Register a thing. Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” [Quran 6:38]
In light of the unprecedented environmental crises we are facing today, I thought to speak to a bit of what Islam has to offer man to help him get the balance back in his life and restore his intimate and timeless relationship with creation. I call them Islam’s Five Environmental Commandments:
One: Man is part of the environment
Man, literally in sum and substance, is of the environment. Thus he must feel and live in harmony with it. Both man and his environment are the creation of the God—and both are worshippers of Him—with the technical exception that man has the will to refuse to worship and obey God willingly, though he does it unwillingly from moment to moment. Allaah Says what means “The seven heavens and the earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts [Allaah] by His praise, but you do not understand their [way of] exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” [Quran 17:44] And even though the earth and surroundings were created long before man, the end of both is virtually synchronous—the end of time—hence, the implicit benefit to man for leading an environmentally friendly lifestyle. A corollary of this determinant is that the environmental crisis is a human matter and cooperation on meeting its challenges should, therefore, not be hampered by religious or other differences.
Two: Man is trustee of the environment
Man has accepted God's decree of Khilaafah (vicegerency, read verse 2:30), which makes him responsible to use the environment to achieve his God-given purpose in this life, with the condition that he maintains it for future generations, which have as much right to it as their predecessors. The Prophet said: “People (past and future generations included) share alike in water, air, and herbage." [Abu Daawood]
Three: Man shall be fair to the environment
Man cannot, and will not, fulfill or be true to his custodianship of the earth without creation-wide fairness. The Quran could not be more unequivocal when it comes to this principle. Man shall be fair in leading his life in this world because God created it in a balanced state. Should he fail, unwarranted injustice will lead to creation's disruption and its inability to continue supporting man's needs for a hospitable habitation. Read and ponder the import of verses which mean: “The sun and the moon [move] by precise calculation, and the stars and trees prostrate. And the heaven He raised and imposed the balance. That you not transgress within the balance. And establish weight in justice and do not make deficient the balance.” [Quran 55:5-9]
Four: Man shall not spread mischief in the Land
Man must realize that God forbids harm, big and small, to one's self and all others. The Prophet said: “There is no reason to) harm or reciprocate harm.” [Ibn Maajah] And Allaah Says (what means): “And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allaah is near to the doers of good.” [Quran 7:56] Many scientists and activists believe that efforts to restore a healthy balance to the environment will never be achieved to any viable degree in the face of the unfathomable destruction of our wars of greed.
Five: Man shall follow a model of moderation and conservation
Most people do not grasp that much of the pollution comes from a culture of consumerism, whose primary effect is waste. It is unfortunate that people in the underdeveloped world, including Muslims, have embraced being consumers and wasters. The Quran is true in depicting this tendency of man, especially when resources become abundant. Allaah Says (what means): “Competition in [worldly] increase diverts you. Until you visit the graveyards.” [Quran 102:1-2] But abundance does not justify wastage. God Almighty prohibits this. He Almighty Says what means: “Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.” [Quran 17:27] Insatiable pursuit of increased materials combined with technological advancement has given some nations unprecedented control over man and his environment. But history tells us that these are signs that civilizations are doomed to perish.

The facts of life, confirmed by science

Materialist philosophy lies at the basis of the theory of evolution. Materialism rests on the supposition that everything that exists is matter. According to this philosophy, matter has existed since eternity, will continue to exist forever and there is nothing but matter. In order to provide support for their claim, materialists use logic called “reductionism”. This is the idea that things which are not observable, can also be explained by material causes.
To make matters clearer, let us take the example of the human mind. It is evident that the mind cannot be touched or seen. Moreover, it has no center in the human brain. This situation unavoidably leads us to the conclusion that the mind is a concept beyond matter. Therefore, the being which we refer to as “I,” who thinks, loves, gets nervous, worries, feels pleasure or pain, is not a material being in the same way as a sofa, a table or a stone.
Materialists, however, claim that mind is “reducible to matter.”  According to the materialist claim, thinking, loving, worrying and all our mental activities are nothing but chemical reactions taking place between the atoms in the brain. Feelings of love and fear are merely chemical reactions in some cells in our brain. The famous materialist philosopher Karl Vogt stressed this logic with his famous words: “Just as the liver secretes gall, so do our brains, secrete thought.” (Encyclopedia Britannica). However, gall is matter, whereas there is no evidence that thought is the same.
One of the most prominent features of this picture is “information” which is present in nature and can never be reduced to matter.
Matter cannot produce information
There is incredibly comprehensive information contained in the DNA of living things. Something as small as a hundred thousandth of a millimeter contains a sort of “data bank” that specifies all the physical details of the body of a living thing. Moreover, the body also contains a system that reads this information, interprets it and carries out “production” in line with it. In all living cells, the information in the DNA is “read” by various enzymes and proteins are produced according to this information. This system makes the production of millions of proteins possible every second, with the required type of protein for specific places needed in our bodies. In this way, dead eye cells are replaced by living ones and old blood cells by new ones.
At this point, let us consider the claim of Materialism: Is it possible that the information in DNA could be reduced to matter, as materialists suggest? Or, in other words, can it be accepted that DNA is merely a collection of matter, and the information it contains came about as a result of the random interactions of such pieces of matter?
All the scientific research, experiments and observations carried out in the 20^th century CE show that the answer to this question is a definite “No.” The director of the German Federal Physics and Technology Institute, Professor Dr. Werner Gitt has this to say on the issue: “A coding system always entails a nonmaterial intellectual process. A physical matter cannot produce an information code. All experiences show that every piece of creative information represents some mental idea-giver who exercised his own free will, and who is endowed with an intelligent mind. There is no known law of nature, no known process and no known sequence of events which can cause information to originate by itself in matter.” (Werner Gitt. In the Beginning Was Information).
Werner Gitt’s words summarize the conclusions of the “information theory” which has been developed in the last 50 years and is accepted as a part of thermodynamics. Information theory investigates the origin and nature of the information in the universe. The conclusion reached by information theoreticians as a result of long studies is that “Information is something different from matter. It can never be reduced to matter. The origin of information and physical matter must be investigated separately.”
For instance, let us think of the source of a book. A book consists of paper, ink and the information it contains. Paper and ink are material elements. Their source is matter: Paper is made of cellulose and ink of certain chemicals. However, the information in the book is non-material and cannot have a material source. The source of the information in each book is the mind of the person who wrote it.
Moreover, this mind determines how paper and ink will be used. A book initially forms in the mind of the writer. The writer builds a chain of logic in his mind and orders his sentences. As a second step, he puts them into a material form, which is to say that he translates the information in his mind into letters, using a pen, a typewriter or a computer. Later, these letters are printed in a publishing house and take the shape of a book made up of papers and ink.
We can therefore state this general conclusion: “If physical matter contains information, then that matter must have been designed by a mind that possessed the information in question. First, there is the mind. That mind translates the information it possesses into matter, which constitutes the act of design.”
The origin of information in Nature 
When we apply this scientific definition of information to Nature, a very important result ensues. This is because Nature overflows with an immense body of information (for example in the case of DNA, and since this information cannot be reduced to matter, it therefore comes from a source beyond matter.) This fact is revealed as in the following verse in the Quran (which means): “They said: ‘Exalted are You! We have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.’” [Quran 2: 32]
One of the foremost advocates of the theory of evolution, George C. Williams, admits this reality, which most materialists and evolutionists are reluctant to see. Williams has strongly defended Materialism for years, but in an article he wrote in 1995, he states the incorrectness of the materialist (reductionist) approach which holds everything is matter: “Evolutionary biologists have failed to realize that they work with two more or less incommensurable domains: that of information and that of matter. These two domains will never be brought together in any kind of the sense usually implied by the term “reductionism.” The gene is a package of information, not an object. In biology, when you are talking about things like genes and genotypes and gene pools, you are talking about information, not physical objective reality. This dearth of shared descriptors makes matter and information two separate domains of existence, which have to be discussed separately, in their own terms.” (George C. Williams. The Third Culture: Beyond the Scientific Revolution).
Therefore, contrary to the supposition of materialists, the source of the information in nature cannot be matter itself. The source of information is not matter, but a superior Wisdom beyond matter. This Wisdom existed prior to matter. Matter was brought into existence, given form and organized by the Creator of the Heavens, the Earth and all that exists.

Accusing chaste women of adultery

Allaah Almighty Says in the Noble Quran (what means):

"The [Unmarried] woman or [unmarried] man found guilty of sexual intercourse— lash each one of them with a hundred lashes, and do not be taken by pity for them in the religion [i.e. law] of Allaah, if you should believe in Allaah and the Last Day. And let a group of the believers witness their punishment. The fornicator does not marry except a [female] fornicator or polytheist, and none marries her except a fornicator or a polytheist, and that [i.e. marriage to such persons] has been made unlawful to the believers. And those who accuse chaste women (of adultery) and then do not produce four witnesses — lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient. Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful." [Quran 24: 2-5]
Islamic law (Sharee'ah) prescribes a very heavy penalty for adultery. However, Islam does not legislate such a penalty without first putting in place sufficient legislation that protects people against falling in sin. It also ensures that the punishment is not enforced except in cases where there is certainty about the offence and its perpetrators. Islam is a complete code of living that is not based on punishment. Its basis is to provide all that promotes a clean and morally pure life. If some individuals then abandon such a clean and easy life in order to deliberately submerge themselves into filth, they incur such heavy penalty.
In the case of adultery, Islam requires four witnesses to testify that they have seen the offence, or else, a clear and confirmed confession by the perpetrators.
It may be suggested, then, that the punishment is unreal and unenforceable, which renders it ineffective as a deterrent. Punishment is not the basis of the Islamic approach; its basis is prevention, education and cultivating people’s finer feelings and consciences so that they refrain from even contemplating this offence.
Imaam Maalik narrated that a man confessed to fornication in the time of the Messenger of Allaah . The Messenger of Allaah called for a whip, and he was brought a broken whip. He said: "Above this," and he was brought a new whip whose knots had not been cut yet. He said: "Below this," and he was brought a whip which had been used and made flexible. The Messenger of Allaah gave the order and he was flogged. Then he said: "O people! Observe the limits of Allaah. Whoever has committed any of these ugly things (adultery or fornication) should cover them up with the veil of Allaah. Whoever reveals to us his wrong action, we shall perform what is in the Book of Allaah against him (i.e. the prescribed penalty)."  [Maalik]
Prescribing a very harsh punishment for adultery is not sufficient, on its own, to protect the Muslim community and ensure the purity of its atmosphere. Therefore, a supplementary order is given to isolate the adulterers from the rest of the Muslim community. It goes further to remove the air of the offence from the Muslim community, prescribing a heavy punishment for those who accuse chaste women of adultery without providing firm evidence in support of their accusation. Allaah Almighty Says in the Quran (what means):

“And those who accuse chaste women of adultery and then do not produce four witnesses — lash them with eighty lashes and do not accept from them testimony ever after. And those are the defiantly disobedient. Except for those who repent thereafter and reform, for indeed Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful".” [Quran 24: 2-5]

Allowing people to accuse chaste women, whether married or not, without a clear proof means that people could always make up such accusation, fearing no repercussion. This means that the Muslim community finds itself with a stained reputation. Every individual is threatened with false accusation. Every man suspects his wife, and every wife suspects her husband, and people doubt their legitimacy. In such an intolerable state of doubt and suspicion, every family is undermined. Moreover, when such accusations are frequently made, those who steer themselves away from adultery will begin to think that the crime is common in society. Thus, people begin to think about adultery in a different spirit, with its ghastly nature sounding less ghastly as a result of its frequent mention. Those who would not have contemplated it at all may begin to think of doing so, feeling that many others are doing it.

Thus, in order to protect people’s honor and their suffering from suspicion as a result of uncorroborated accusations, the Quran prescribes for false accusation a punishment that comes close to that of adultery. The punishment is flogging with 80 stripes, rejecting their testimony in any case or situation, and giving them the label of transgressors. The first part of the punishment is physical, while the second is moral. It is sufficient that the accuser is deprived of the right to testify, and considered deceitful. The third part of the punishment is a religious one. The one guilty of false accusation is following a line that deviates from that of faith. The only way to protect himself from such punishments is that the accuser should provide four witnesses who have seen the offence being committed, or three alongside him if he himself has seen it.
It is agreed upon by Muslim scholars that for adultery (or fornication) case to be authentically proven, four witnesses must simultaneously see, by their own eyes, the man's sexual organ inserted in the woman's sexual organ. Only when these four witnesses give such testimony is the accusation proved and the punishment of adultery (or fornication) is enforced on the perpetrators.
Such restrictions are set forth by Sharee'ah in order to limit to the least minimum the possibility of falsely accusing chaste women of adultery (or fornication), which leads to social and psychological troubles for the accused women. Even when such a sin –adultery (or fornication) - is committed, such restrictions laid by Sharee'ah will guarantee the suppression of the crime and prevents its spread among the people, which contaminates the morally pure Muslim community.

Using Food for Cosmetic Purposes

Allaah The Almighty has created man in the best shape and form; He says (what means):

·        {He Created the heavens and earth in truth and Formed you and perfected your forms; and to Him is the [final] destination.} [Quran 64:3]

·        {Who Created you, Proportioned you, and Balanced you?} [Quran 82:7]

Allaah The Exalted created everything in the universe to suit the nature of man as well as to be in harmony with the way Allaah assembled him. Allaah The Almighty made everything on earth able to meet the needs of man that vary and differ according to time and place.

Hence, man lives in an environment and climate suitable for him. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Do you not see that Allaah Has Made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply Bestowed upon you His favors, [both] apparent and unapparent?} [Quran 31:20]

One of the most important aspects of this life is food, which helps man survive and obtain various benefits. It is the source of energy and growth for the body and it resists diseases that weaken it. It was proven through medicine and experimentation conducted throughout the course of time that some kinds of food increase beauty and adornment and help to remove defects that may afflict the body and affect its beauty, or hide it.

There are two aspects of types of food that are involved in beauty:

The basic purpose for using them is treatment, and then other beneficial uses evolved from this.

Examples of this are the following:

·        Using honey to remove freckles that appear on the face.

·        Using black seed to treat Alopecia and leprosy.

·        Using lemon juice to remove the spots that surround the eyes, or any spots on the face.

There is no doubt that this kind of treatment is lawful as long as it is within the limits of Sharee‘ah as these types of food are used as a kind of treatment. The Prophet, , said: “Allaah has sent down both disease and cure and appointed a cure for every disease. So treat yourselves medically, but use nothing that is prohibited.”[Abu Daawood]

The second aspect is to use these types of food for the sake of beautification. Examples of these uses are the following:

·        Using cucumbers to remove rough skin and wrinkles.

·        Using parsley to help in purifying the skin and the face.

·        Activating the skin by using strawberry.

This category is included in the general benefits that Allaah The Almighty made lawful. This is according to the Fatwa that was issued by the Permanent Committee for Islamic Research and Issuing of Fatwas, as proven by the following:

First: Allaah The Almighty created everything on earth and made them subject to us in all forms, whether for a necessary or a complementary benefit, or a benefit that man uses to relax and renew his activity and power for the best of this worldly life and the Hereafter.

There is no doubt that using these permissible types of food in seeking beauty and adornment is one of the benefits that Allaah The Almighty has created for us; He Says (what means): 

·        {It is He who Created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He Directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and Made them seven heavens, and He Is Knowing of all things.} [Quran 2:29]

·        {Do you not see that Allaah has Subjected to you whatever is on the earth and the ships which run through the sea by His command? And He Restrains the sky from falling upon the earth, unless by His permission. Indeed Allaah, to the people, is Kind and Merciful.} [Quran 22:65]

Whoever contemplates upon these verses will find that this creation and subjugation are not restricted to a certain aspect or one creature alone, but they are general as they include everything that is of benefit, as is indicated in the phrase which means {to you}.

Second: Beautification and adornment are among man’s basic instincts and are innate in the sons of Aadam. Thus, it is one of the needs that man seeks to fulfill. The Prophet, said: “The one who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of pride will not enter Paradise.” A man said, “O Messenger of Allaah, everyone of us likes that his dress should be fine, and that his shoes should be fine.” The Prophet, , responded: “Indeed, Allaah is Beautiful and He loves beauty.”[Muslim]

The Prophet, , liked wearing perfume and had a bottle of perfume that he would use. He would say: “Three things are rendered beloved to me in the present life: women and perfume - and the coolness of my eyes lies in performing prayer.” [Ahmad]

The Prophet, , also had a Kohl (antimony) container for his eyes. He used to oil his head and beard and comb them. He also used to have certain clothes for meeting prominent persons and the chiefs of the tribes. This is also required under Sharee‘ah within the limits that Allaah has set. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And it is He who Subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He Subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.} [Quran 16:14]

Moreover, Allaah The Almighty has disapproved of prohibiting anything of this without evidence; He says (what means): {Say, ‘Who has forbidden the adornment of Allaah which He has Produced for His servants and the good [lawful] things of provision?’ Say, ‘They are for those who believe during the worldly life [but] exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’ Thus do We Detail the verses for a people who know.} [Quran 7:32]

At the same time, however, the following should be borne in mind:

·        Using these things should be according to the need that achieves what is needed. A person should not be extravagant while using them as Allaah The Almighty has forbidden this.

·        It is better to use other means that are, by default, used for cosmetic purposes, as these types of food were not originally created for cosmetic purposes. This is so as to not indulge in wastefulness.

 

Beautification and Adornment

 

The Sharee‘ah has approved of this as indicated by the following:

 

·        Advising man to look after his body and cleanliness, which is considered one of the aspects of adornment. The Prophet, , said: “Five acts are from Fitrah[natural disposition]: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, clipping the nails, plucking the hair under the armpits and cutting the moustache short.”[Muslim]

·        The Prophet, , forbade the traveler who returns at night from surprising his wife, so as not to see her in a bad condition. The Prophet, , said in this regard: “[Do not return] until the woman removes the pubic hair and combs her hair.”[Muslim]

·        The Prophet, , urged us to purify ourselves and made this purification a reason for being forgiven by Allaah The Almighty in some cases. For instance, the Prophet, , said: “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his [hair] oil or perfumes himself, then proceeds [for the Friday prayer] and does not separate two persons who are sitting together [in the mosque], then prays as much as he can according to what was predetermined by Allaah and remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, his sins between the present and the past Friday would be forgiven."[Al-Bukhaari]

 

Third: The basic rule for adornment and beautification is permissibility unless something that is prohibited under Sharee‘ah is used like impurities and alcohol that is part of the perfume industry with a high percentage. Also, gold and silk for men and the use of perfume for women at a time that she will pass by non-Mahram men.