The Amazing Quran (3)

The resting place of Noah’s Ark

The holy Quran states that Noah’s ark rested upon Al-Judi while the Bible states that the ark rested upon mount Ararat.

 “And the Ark rested… upon the mountains of Ararat.” [Bible Genesis 8:4]. According to the Holy Qur’an (11:44): “The Ark came to rest upon Al-Judi.”

But the evidence from an archaeological found in Eastern Turkey remains of an ancient vessel whose dimensions mirror those of Noah’s Ark as told in the Bible. However, the discovery was made on Al-Judi! [10,11]

Relativity of Time

Reveled by Einstein, relativity is a proven scientific fact. According to the theory, time depends on mass and velocity. In the history of evolutionary science this concept was never explained before. However Quran included information about time being relative.

"They ask you to hasten the punishment. God will not break His promise. A day with your Lord is equivalent to a thousand years in the way you count." (The Qur'an, 22:47)

"He directs the whole affair from heaven to earth. Then it will again ascend to Him on a Day whose length is a thousand years by the way you measure." (The Qur'an, 32:5)

"The angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day whose length is fifty thousand years." (The Qur'an, 70:4)

The fact that the relativity of time is so clearly mentioned in the Qur'an, which started to be revealed in 610, is evidence that it is a holy book.

The Miracle in the Iron

Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Qur'an. In Sura Hadid, meaning Iron, we are informed:

"…And We sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses for mankind...." (The Qur'an, 57:25)

Patience in Islam

A famous English proverb says “God helps those who help themselves” but being a Muslim I would mould the proverb into “Allah helps those who are patient”.

Islam attaches great importance to patience. There are many verses in the Holy Quran and ahadith that emphasize the importance and virtues of patience. Islam and patience go hand in hand; every attribute of Islam has an element of patience associated with it. Humans are faced with difficulties and challenges now and then. Struggle is important to overcome them but patient is the key to success.  If people start wrangling on such occasions then advancement in human progress would become intricate. Therefore Islam has placed great emphasis on patience, so that by avoiding all unpleasantness, man may continue his onward journey towards the higher goal.

The holy Quran stresses the need for patience in the following ayahs:

“Indeed Allah is with those who are patient.”

 “Endure with fortitude whatever befalls you.”

“.. have patience. God is with those that are patient.”

Allah chooses whether good or evil befalls a person. What we fail to realize in the whole situation is that whatever occurred could have been in our support or in opposition. But what lies in the end is the reward and it is only for those who are patient with the Decree of Allah. The Quran has to about this is:

“...and it may be that you dislike a thing that is good for you and that you like a thing that is bad for you.  God knows but you do not know.” (Quran 2:216)

Human nature is spontaneous and abrupt. We panic and become impatient. A small affliction occurs and we start complaining i.e. shakwah appears on our tongues within seconds. Shakwa is contrary to sabr (patience). If Allah can send miseries in our lives, He can also protect us from them. Patience is mandatory exercise in trying situations. . It is a virtue, which enables the individual to proceed towards worthy goals, undeflected by adverse circumstances or repeated provocations. If he allows himself to become upset by opposition, taunts or other kinds of unpleasantness, he will never reach his goals. He will simply become enmeshed in irrelevancies. Stick with patience and the reward is yours.