Speed of Light

In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, Most Merciful

In His Holy Quran Allah, Glory to Him, says,

“He manages (each and every) affair from the heaven to the earth; then, it (affair) goes up to Him in a Day, the length of which is a thousand years such as you count.” [XXXII; 5]

In His Holy Quran Allah, All-Mighty, addresses a people who use the lunar calendar, which is based on the Moon’s movement round the Earth, which it completes in 28 days. If we measure the distance between the center of the Moon and that of the Earth, i.e. half of the diameter of the circle along which the Moon moves round the Earth, and if we measure the circumference of this circle after having measured half of its diameter, we get to know the number of kilometers that the Moon crosses in its trip round the Earth per month. And if we measure the circumference of this circle, and then multiply it by 12, we know the number of kilometers the Moon crosses round the Earth per year. And if, however, we multiply the number by 1000, we know the number of kilometers the Moon crosses round the Earth in one thousand years,

“…in a Day, the length of which is a thousand years such as you count.” [XXXII; 5]

In fact, in a period of a thousand years, the Moon crosses a space equal to that which light crosses in one day. This is because if we divide the distance that the Moon crosses in its trip round the Earth in one thousand years by the number of seconds per day (i.e. 60X60X24), we know the distance that light crosses in one day. And if we divide the distance by time, we get this number: 299,792.5 km’s, which is nearly equal to the speed of light, according to the statement issued by the international conference held in Paris. In fact, calculation of the speed of light was the most important discovery achieved by mankind in the 20th C. Moreover, the speed of light is the greatest speed known to man. In other words, if an object moves at a speed equal to that of light, it becomes mere light, i.e. its mass becomes zero, while its size becomes infinite; and then time stops. If, however, it moves at a speed greater than that of light, time goes back; and if it moves at a speed slower than that of light, time relaxes.

The distance that the Moon crosses on its trip round the Earth in one thousand lunar years equals the distance that light crosses in one earthly day. This is one of the concepts mentioned in “Theory of Relativity”, of which the West is very proud. In the same context, another Quranic Verse goes,

“The angels and the Spirit (Gabriel) ascend to Him (Allah) in a Day the length of which is fifty thousand years.” [LXX; 4]

In this Verse Allah, All-Mighty, does not say, “fifty thousand years of such as you count” as in the previous Verse. This is because this latter Verse speaks about angels, whose speed of movement is greater than that of light. It is well-known that the Moon goes round the Earth once every lunar month. It is also well-known that it whirls round itself in a period equal to that which it takes on its trip round the Earth, and, hence, we always see only one face of the Moon, because it goes round the Earth and round itself in the same period of time and completes its axial rotation once every twenty-nine days and eight hours and its trip round the Earth once during the same period of time.

The remarkable thing, however, is that every day, the Moon crosses 13 degrees of the circle of its trip round the Earth, and every day, its rise is 49 minutes late. In fact, without such delay of rise the Moon would always look full-moon; and such delay of rise is, therefore, what makes the Moon assumes different shapes at different stages: crescent, quarter-moon, full-moon, and half-moon. That is why Allah, Glory to Him, says,

“It is He Who has made the sun a radiance and the moon a light, and determined it (the Moon) by stations that you may know the number of years and the reckoning.” [X; 5]

Who has created and originated?! And who has made the Moon rise 49 minutes late every day, so that it assumes different shapes at different stations, and so that we know the number of the yeas and the reckoning?! It is Allah, Creator of all things, Lord of all worlds . Another thing: the Moon’s mass is 1\80 of that of the Earth; and the force of gravity on the Moon’s surface is 1\6 of that on the Earth’s surface. In other words, a man who weighs 60 kg’s on the Earth’s surface will weigh only 10 kg’s on the Moon’s surface. There are other moons that whirl round themselves once in a few years, and there are moons that are going far away and sh3er that are coming near. Sound reason, however, necessitates that if the Moon did not whirl round the Earth and round itself in the same period of time, if the Moon did not cross 13 degrees of its circle round the Earth, and if the rise of the Moon were not 49 minutes late every day, there would be no calendars or reckoning. What would happen if the distance between the Earth and the Moon were shorter than it actually is?! Allah, Glorified and Exalted, says,

“And the Sun and the Moon run along their fixed courses (exactly) as calculated with measured stages for each (for reckoning).” [LV; 5]

In other words, the distance between the Earth and the Moon is most accurately measured, for sea tides are governed by such distance. If such distance became shorter, the tide would cover all sea-shores of the continents, and life on the Earth would be impossible; and if the Moon got closer to the Earth, it would be pulled by the Earth’s gravitation and it would crash with it. If the Moon got further from the Earth, there would be no more tides that play a vital role in the life of the Earth. If the Moon kept moving away, it would be pulled by other planets, and the axial rotation of the Earth would be only four hours!! The day would be only two hours, and so would the night. This is all denoted by Allah’s Words,

“And the Sun and the Moon run along their fixed courses (exactly) as calculated with measured stages for each (for reckoning).” Allah, All-Mighty, says, “And the Moon: We have decreed for it stations till it returns like an old palm-bough.” [XXXVI; 39]

Consider: “We have decreed for it stations”! Then He, Most Gracious, goes on,

“It is not for the Sun to overtake the Moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all run: each in an orbit.” [ibid; 40]

In another Verse, He, Glory to Him, says,

“And He has made the Sun and the Moon both constantly pursuing their courses to be of benefit to you.” [XIV; 33]

It does not occur to anyone, no matter how long he lives, that it is possible for the Moon to disappear one day. Allah, All-High, says,

“…and has subjected the Sun and the Moon: each running its course for a term appointed; and Allah is fully Aware of what you do.” [XXXI; 29]

Among the Signs that bespeak Allah’s Infinite Divine Power and Might are His Words,

“Blessed is He Who has placed in the heaven big stars, and has placed therein a great lamp (the Sun) and a Moon giving light.” [XXV; 61]

, and, “See you not how Allah has created the seven heavens: one upon another, and has made the Moon a light therein, and has made the Sun a lamp?!” [LXXI; 15,16]

Due to Allah’s Infinite Divine Wisdom, the Moon’s surface does not produce but rather reflects light; and its light is 1\18 of sunlight. Allah has made it as an accurate calendar in the middle of the sky, just as He has made the Sun a daily clock. To this effect, Allah, the All-Knowing, the All-Aware, says,

“It is He Who has made the Sun a shining thing and the Moon as a light and has measured out for it (the Moon) stages so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning.” [X; 5]

To wrap up, the above-mentioned are cosmic Signs that betoken Allah’s Oneness and Infinite Divine Might and Power. They have been recently announced by Western astronomers and scientists, although they have been in the Holy Quran for more than fourteen centuries. So, where are you going, O man?! Have you deviated from contemplating them?!

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of Creations