The Quran, the holy book of Islam, contains numerous verses that have intrigued scholars and scientists for centuries. Among these is the mention of phenomena that align remarkably with modern scientific discoveries. One such phenomenon is the sensation of “swimming” or “floating” in space, a feeling that astronauts have reported experiencing during space missions.
Quranic Verses Mentioning Swimming or Floating in Space
One of the most significant verses that alludes to a concept similar to “swimming” or “floating” in space is found in Surah Adh-Dhariyat (Chapter 51:7):
وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الْحُبُكِ
“Wa al-sama’i dhati al-hubuk”
“By the sky full of paths (or orbits).”
(Quran 51:7)
The Arabic word “الحُبُك” (al-hubuk) refers to something woven or interwoven, implying the intricate design of the heavens. Some scholars interpret this as referring to the complex orbits of celestial bodies, but it can also be understood as the interconnectedness and movement within space.
Another verse that is often cited in this context is from Surah Al-Anbiya (Chapter 21:33):
وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ
“Wahuwa allathee khalaqa allayla waalnnahara waalshshamsa waalqamara kullun fee falakin yasbahoona”
“And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (heavenly bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course.”
(Quran 21:33)
Here, the word “يَسْبَحُونَ” (yasbahoona) is crucial. It comes from the root word “سَبَحَ” (sabaha), which means to swim or to float. This verse, therefore, can be interpreted as describing the motion of celestial bodies as akin to swimming in their orbits, suggesting a state of fluidity and motion within the cosmos.
The Concept of Floating in Space in Modern Science
The concept of floating or swimming in space is well understood in modern physics and space exploration. When astronauts are in space, they experience microgravity, which results in a sensation of weightlessness. This is often described as a floating or swimming feeling because the absence of significant gravitational pull makes their movements resemble swimming in water.
This phenomenon was first directly experienced by Yuri Gagarin, the Soviet astronaut, during his historic flight on April 12, 1961, when he became the first human to orbit the Earth. Since then, numerous astronauts have reported similar sensations during their missions. The experience of microgravity is now a well-documented phenomenon and is a crucial aspect of training for space missions.
Parallels Between Quranic Verses and Modern Discoveries
The Quranic verses mentioned earlier can be seen as a remarkable reflection of this modern understanding. The description of celestial bodies “swimming” in their orbits aligns with the modern scientific observation that objects in space move in a state of relative weightlessness. While the Quran does not explicitly describe human experience in space, the choice of language in these verses is particularly striking. The use of “يَسْبَحُونَ” (yasbahoona) suggests an intuitive grasp of the fluid nature of space long before humans had the technology to experience it firsthand.
Also, read Expansion of the Universe