Two years ago, I wrote an article about the Big Bang theory from which the universe was born fourteen billion years ago, for prior to that period, there were no stars, no galaxies and no planets, rather, there was one, very concentrated ball which was no bigger than the sun. Due to its extreme density and gravity, the atoms from which it is composed started to nuclearly unite and that eventually caused a huge nuclear explosion. The explosion was so great and so fast that the substances (which once formed the ball) turned into cosmetic smoke which condensed and later formed into the stars and planets in numerous places.

{Then he rose over (Istawaa) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly.".} 41:11

Until this very day, the universe is widening and inflating, as similar as the inflation of a balloon, due to that enormous explosion. Scientists have confirmed this fact through observing the speed at which the stars and galaxies are becoming more distant in all directions, to the extent that some galaxies are not visible at all because they are moving at speeds which block any light from reaching to us.

The Creator, Almighty, mentioned this constant widening of the universe when he said:

{With power did We construct the heaven. Verily, We are Able to extend the vastness of space thereof.} 51:47

The word forms found in the Arabic text of this verse, which have a meaning of continuation, clearly present the conclusions which we know today (i.e. that the universe is constantly widening and inflating) to anyone who reads this verse today, after more than a thousand years since it was sent down.


Although scientists agree that the universe is constantly widening (by adapting the Big Bang theory) they dispute over the future result of this widening process:

§ Some say the universe shall continue to widen infinitely.

§ Others say it shall eventually stop widening and remain at that size.

§ Others say it shall stop widening at a certain size and then begin to shrink and thus destroy all therein until it reverts to a single ball of mass once again!

The last assumption is, actually, the most logic and fitting with the known constants of science, as the continuous decrease of the pushing force, which was caused by the big bang, will bring the widening process to a standstill and thus the universe shall begin to shrink.

This theory is called the "Big Crunch" theory and is considered to be the counterpart of the Big Bang theory. Unlike the other two assumptions, this one is supported by many Qur'anic verses. Allah, Most High, said:

{And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for books. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.} 21:104

{...It is He Who begins the creation and then will repeat it...} 10:4

{On the day when the earth will be changed to another earth and so will be the heavens, and they (all creatures) will appear before Allah, the One, the Irresistible.} 14:48

{See they not that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, is Able to create the like of them. And He has decreed for them an appointed term, whereof there is no doubt...} 17:99


It has become a reality that an increasing number of astronomers are adapting the Big Crunch theory and the assumption that a totally new universe is formed at the end of each cycle. I recall that I read last January on the BBC website a report which further strengthens this assumption and which was presented by two prominent scientists: Paul Steinhardt and Neil Turok. Using only mathematical methods, they both discovered new equations which conclude that the universe shall end and then be recreated, as part of a continuous cycle consisting of an explosion followed by a shrinking process. When the pushing force eventually becomes consumed, the internal gravitation force shall gravitate the universe towards a central point (until it becomes a single ball of mass) and at a certain extent of immense pressure and gravity the ball shall explode once again and a new universe shall be born. That means our present universe is only one episode of the many "explosion and shrinking" cycles, the end of which is known to nobody except to Allah!

Please take a look at this previously mentioned verse to realise that the "Big Crunch" theory and the "Big Bang" theory were combined in one verse:

{And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for books. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. (It is) a promise binding upon Us. Truly, We shall do it.} 21:104

This article has been translated with slight modifications to the original text. Quotations are not accurate. Translations of Qur'anic verses were quoted from the King Fahd Complex translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. The hadeeths have been freehandly translated.

Original text from http://www.alriyadh.com/2006/04/25/article149022.print