The Big Bang Theory And The Islamic Perspective On It

Darulifta Ahlesunnat

(Dawateislami)

Question

   What do the noble scholars and jurists of Islamic law say about the following: What is the Big Bang theory? What is the Islamic perspective on it? Furthermore, since this is part of the curriculum in some schools and is taught to the students, can it be studied without believing in it?

بِسْمِ اللہِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ

اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِکِ الْوَھَّابِ اَللّٰھُمَّ ھِدَایَۃَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ

   Muslims believe that there is a creator of everything from the earth to the skies and whatever is in them. He possesses great strength and authority. He is Allah Almighty. He created everyone. He created the skies and the earth in a specific duration and order.

   The Big Bang theory is the scientific theory concerning the creation of the universe. In simple words, it means ‘a great explosion.’ According to this theory, approximately 14 billion years ago, all the matter of the universe was concentrated at a single point. A massive explosion caused this matter to expand, forming galaxies, stars, planets, the skies, and the earth. Atheists deny the existence of Allah based on this theory and claim that the universe came into existence on its own in a single moment, without the creation of any creator. Regardless of whether the Big Bang occurred or not, denying the existence of a creator based on this is sheer ignorance and illogical. Suppose that the explosion did occur; how can it be proven that this wasn’t caused by the Creator through his wisdom and knowledge? Both ideologies have no connection. Many countries have atomic explosions. Does this prove that no one caused it? Absolutely not! Therefore, an explosion cannot be the explanation for the absence of a creator.

   As far as students studying this theory as part of their school curriculum, it can only be studied with the understanding that this isn’t an Islamic ideology but rather a scientific theory; and that too which isn’t proven, as explained above. But denying the existence of a creator based on this is Qat’i Kufr (absolute disbelief), and it is obligatory to avoid.

   Allah Almighty states in the Noble Qur’an:

﴿ اِنَّ رَبَّکُمُ اللہُ الَّذِیۡ خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالۡاَرْضَ فِیْ سِتَّۃِ اَیَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰی عَلَی الْعَرْشِ  ﴾

   Translation (Kanz-Ul-‘Irfan): Indeed, it is your Lord Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then did Istiwā upon the Throne (as befits His Greatness).(Al-Qur’an, Chapter 8, Surah Al-A’raaf, Verse 54)

   It is written in Tafsir Sirat-Ul-Jinan in the explanation of this verse:

یہاں سے اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ کی عظمت، قدرت، وحدانیت اوروقوعِ قیامت پر دلائل دئیے گئے ہیں۔اللہ عَزَّوَجَلَّ کی قدرت و وحدانیت کی دلیل آسمان و زمین کی تخلیق ہے کہ اللہ تعالیٰ نے آسمان اور زمین کو پیدا کیا اور چھ دن میں پیدا کیا جیسا کہ اِس آیت میں اور دیگر آیات میں فرمایا گیا۔

   Translation: Here, proofs of the greatness, authority, and oneness of Allah, as well as the establishment of Day of Judgement, have been presented. The proof for the authority and oneness of Allah is the creation of the skies and the earth as He created the skies and earth, and that too in six days, as stated in this verse as well as others.(Tafsir Sirat-Ul-Jinan, Vol. 3, p. 338, Publ. Maktaba-Tul-Madinah, Karachi)

   There is a verse in the Qur’an which mentions the skies and earth being together. It is stated:

﴿ اَوَلَمْ یَرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اَنَّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ کَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنٰہُمَا ﴾

   Translation (Kanz-Ul- ‘Irfan): And did the disbelievers not think that the heavens and the earth were together so We split them apart?(Al-Qur’an, Para 17, Surah Al-Ambiya’, Verse 30)

   One opinion about the explanation of this verse is that the sky and earth were physically together, then Allah Almighty separated them and opened them. Thus, it is stated in Tafsir Al-Tabari:    

عن ابن عباس، قوله﴿ اَوَلَمْ یَرَ الَّذِیۡنَ کَفَرُوۡۤا اَنَّ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ کَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنٰہُمَا﴾... الآية، يقول: كانتا ملتصقتين، فرفع السماء ووضع الأرض...كان الحسن وقتادة يقولان: كانتا جميعا، ففصل اللہ بينهما بهذا الهواء

   Translation: It is narrated by Ibn Abbas رضي الله تعالى عنه that Allah’s statement “And did the disbelievers not think that the heavens and the earth were together so We split them apart?” i.e. they were attached, then he raised the sky and laid the earth… Hazrat Hasan and Qatadah رضي الله تعالى عنهما state: the sky and the earth were together, then Allah Almighty separated them both by the wind.(Tafsir Al-Tabari, Vol. 18, p. 431, Publ. Muassisah Al-Risalah, Beirut)

   Whether the incident mentioned in the verse is the scientific Big Bang or not, that is unknown. But it surely isn’t the Big Bang, which means denying a creator. The rest, Allah knows best.

وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُہ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ تَعَالٰی عَلَیْہِ وَاٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم

(Allah Almighty knows best and His Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم knows best.)

Answered By: Mufti Muhammad Qasim Attari

Ref No: FAM-466

Date: 2nd Muharram Al-Haraam 1446 AH/ 9th July 2024