The Physics of the Day of Judgment
By DrMohammed HumaYoun Khan

When we are dead and have become dust and bones,
shall we then, indeed be raised again?
Al Quran Sura 37 verse l6

PREFACE

We did not will ourselves into existence nor do we accept death willingly. Life seems almost endless especially when things are going well. As we rush through our daily business we hardly notice the irony, that all this must eventually end.

All major religions of the world ascribe to some form of belief in life after death. The Day of judgment is one of the fundamental beliefs of the Muslims, Christians, and Jews. Hindus also have their almost endless reincarnations followed by the final reunion with the supreme being. Even if we believe firmly in "The day of Judgment," anything that can enhance our belief is highly desirable. In this context let us look at the story of Prophet Ibrahim (peace be on him) given in the Quran. (Sura ii verse 260). Prophet Ibrahim wanted to know how Allah gives life to the dead. He said that he believed that it is the truth but he would like to have some reassurance. Allah then showed him a miracle. If a great prophet like Ibrahim could wish for reassurance then surely simple folks like us are in need of a lot more. This is especially true in the present day world where many beliefs have been demolished by advances in science. Fortunately for the Muslims, scientific advancements have explained many of the obscure verses in the Quran and have given new meaning to others. Quran, because of this, stands raised far above other religious books in its authority as a truly revealed book.

There is only one version of the Quran. It is the only religious book that even the critics of Islam admit was never altered since its revelation to Prophet Mohammed (Pbuh) fourteen hundred years ago. There are many verses in the Quran that describe scientific facts that were discovered only in the last one hundred years. There is consistency in its description of various phenomenon. The verses accurately describe ideas that are in agreement with modern observations about the universe. According to the Quran, life originated in w ater and was created in numerous stages. There is mention of the orbits of sun and moon and possibility of numerous other worlds like the earth. There is also the impression of higher dimensions. The paradise and hell appear to be beyond this universe in some other dimension.

In this article, I would like to propose that even at the present time with our limited knowledge, there are remarkable similarities between some theories of cosmology and the day of judgment described in the Quran. I believe in the future, science will reinforce these predictions. However this is not the only way the day of judgment could come and indeed the real knowledge is with Allah only.

In the name of Allah The Beneficent,The Merciful Man thinks that We shall
not assemble his bones Yes Truly! Yes, We are able to resfore his very
fingers! Sura 75 verses 3 & 4

INTRODUCTION TO COSMOLOGY

To understand how the fiuture of the universe is linked to the day of judgment we will need to know some cosmology. We will in the next few pages learn, how the universe began, what it is like now and what are the future possibilities in store for us. Our solar system consists of earth and nine other planets that are moving in an orbit around a star we call the sun. The sun along with two hundred billion other stars, comprises our galaxy "The Milky Way," which is similar to "The Andromeda" galaxy, that is shown on the cover of this article. The galaxies are roughly shaped like a disc, with the stars moving in circular orbits at various distances around a large central mass.

THE LIGHT YEARS

The vastness of the universe requires, that the distances be measured in "Light years." Light year is the distance, traveled by light, in a year, at the speed of three hundred thousand kilometers per second. The distance from the earth to the sun is eight minutes at the speed of light. Compared to this the nearest star from earth other than our sun is four light years away. Our galaxy, "The Milky Way," is one hundred and fifty thousand light years across. This means that traveling at the speed of light, it will take one hundred and fifty thousand years to go from one side of it to the other. Average separation of the galaxies is about ten million light years. Many hundred billion such galaxies are part of the truly gigantic universe.

The creation of the heavens and the earth is definitely greater thing than the
creation of mankind, but most of mankind knows not. Sura 40 verse 57.

THE RECEDING GALAXIES

When the light that is coming from galaxies other than our "Milky Way," is analyzed, using an instrument called the spectroscope, we find that they are moving away from us at tremendous speeds. The more distant a galaxy is the greater is its speed of recession. This motion of the galaxies is due to the expansion of the universe. The universe began in a tremendous explosion called "The big bang" and is expanding since then. The universe is not just a sphere of galaxies rushing away from each other into unending emptiness of space. It is like a balloon with many dots on it, each representing a galaxy. The surface of this balloon, that is two dimensional, represents all the three dimensions of our space, and is expanding into a higher dimension, that is beyond our imagination.

THE FUTURE OF THE UNIVERSE

It is not known if the universe would expand for ever, or one day it uould start contracting. In either case the future of all the inhabitants of the universe would be rather bleak. If the expansion continues then aRer billions of years all the energy of the sun and the stars will be exhausted and every thing will die a cold death. After a while only expanding emptiness will remain. Alternatively if there is enough mass then the gravity will one day stop the expansion and the contraction will begin. A contracting universe will eventually end in a very hot and compressed state called "The Big Crunch." This will destroy all the life forrns as we know.

Besides the above two depressing and purposeless scenarios of the future there is a third possibility. Some physicists feel that time may reverse when the universe starts contracting. This possibility, has a striking resemblance to the Quranic description of the day of judgment. Now, let us turn our attention to the evolution of the universe. We will learn how this leads to the end that coincides with another beginning, that we call the day of judgment. The uncanny agreement of cosmology with the Quranic revelation will become self evident

THE PHYSICS OF THE DAY OF JUDGMENT

For some, science has taken the place of the miracles in the twentieth centurys and religion is nothing more than an interesting cultural pastime. The commonly overlooked fact is, that it is God who has made the laws of the universe upon which science and technology is based. Physicists and cosmologists all over the world, are working towards a better understanding of the structure of the universe. However to the misguided mind, the universe has a purposeless existence. It is a universe with random design and aimless laws. From the Islamic point of view, the universe has been created for a purpose and it will exist till its purpose is fulfilled; then it will cease to exist.

We shall show them our signs on the horizons and within themselves until it
will become apparent to them that it is the Truth. Is your lord nor sufficient
since He is witness over all things? Al-Quran Sura 41: verse 53

RESURRECTION: IS LIKE REVIVAL OF
BARREN LAND

And Allah it is Who sends the winds and they raise a cloud; Then We lead it
to a dead land and revive the earth after its death. Such is the Resurrection.
Sura 35 verse 9.

Raising of clouds and growth of plants following rain are not miracles but are due to various laws of physics and biochemistry. The Quranic verses suggest that revival aRer death is also based on some physical laws, that we are not aware of as yet. We believe that Allah is the creator of all the laws of the universe.

THE BIG BANG

The universe came into existence billions of years ago in a tremendous explosion called"The big bang." This is mentioned in the Quran in the follosing verses: have not "those who disbelieve " known that heavens and earth were of one piece and We parted them and We made every living
thing of water. Will they not then believe? Sura 21 verse30

The discovery of "The Big Bang" and of "The aquatic origin of life" was made by the non Muslims, ("those who disbelieve"). In the beginning all the matter and space (heavens) were at one point (one piece). Then every thing was separated in what the physicists describe as "The big bang." The evidence for "The big bang" is so overwhelming that it is now considered a fact and not a theory.

THE EXPANSION OF THE UNIVERSE

The Universe has been expanding since its creation. This great discovery was made by Hubble, an astronomer, in the early part of this century. It was also predicted by the Einstein's theory of "General Relativity." The expansion of the universe is clearly mentioned in the following Quranic verses:

The heavens we have built with power and We are expanding it. Sura 51
verse 7

THE CONTRACTION OF THE UNIVERSE
AND REVERSAL OF TIME

Time is one of the most elusive mysteries of the universe. No one knows what time really is. Albert Einstein said that time is the thing that we measure with the clock. Time passes slowly at high speeds and stops- altogether at the speed of light. Time has a direction, it always moves towards the filture. We see rain falling from the sky, objects breaking up, people getting older, and people dying. We never see a glass getting unbroken or any one coming back from the dead. Physicists like Michael BerTy, Thomas Gold, and Steven Hawking have proposed that-time may reverse then the universe starts contracting. Verses in the Quran suggest that one day the universe will start contracting and then the day of judgment will begin.

The day when We shall roll up the heavens as a recorder rolls up a written
scroll. As We began the first creation, We shall repeat it. Sura 21 verse 104

In the above verses the contraction of the universe is compared to the closing of a scroll. That is when time may reverse. Reversal of time will cause man to rise back from his grave and again become alive. Every event will happen again as every thing, is recorded in time.

This book pronounces agains you with truth. We have caused (all) you did
to be recorded. (in time). Sura 5 verse 29

And there is nothing hidden in the heavens or the earth but it is a clear
record ( in time) Sura 27 verse 75.

As the history of earth runs backwards, nations will retum one after another. All the good and evil deeds of the individual as well as the nations will become completely apparent as the time runs backwards.

(time reversal)
And you will see each nation crouching each nation called to its record. (In
time). And it will be said to them: This day you are repaid for what you used
to do. Sura 45 verse 28

Playing back of time will make people see what they had done before. They will have no control over their hands, feet, mouths, and eyes. All the wrong and right things that were done before will be repeated by them again. In this sense the hands, feet, etc., will become witness against them in front of all the angels and Allah. They will not be able to deny any of their wrong doings.

(time reversal)
On the day when the their tongues and their hands ond their feet testify
against them as to what they used to do.
Sura 24: Verse 24

We warn you of doom at hand. A day when a man will look on that his own
hand has sent before, and desbelievers will cry "Would that we were dust"
Sura 78 verse 40

(Prophets will be returned into their time as time runs backwards) And the
messengers are brought into their time appointed. Sura 77 verse 11

NO FREE WlLL IN THE CONTRACTING
UNIVERSE

Man is given free will to choose between right and wrong in the expanding universe. That is when all his deeds are recorded in time. In the contracting universe there will be no free will, and no one will have power to harrn or do good to others.

A day when no soul has power at all over any other soul. The absolute
command on that day is Allah's
Sura 82 verse 19.

REVERSAL OF GRAVITY

Gravity is due to minute differences in time at different heights. Time passes at slightly faster rate at the top of a mountain as compared to sea level. This difference in time although imperceptible to us, can be measured with the aid of atomic clocks. If time reverses in the contracting phase of the universe then this time difference will also reverse. This will cause the gravity to reverse producing an earth quake of a magnitude never seen before.

: 1 When earth is shaken with her final earthquake Sura 99: Earthquake
(Gravity reversal)

When the trumpet is blown one blast. And the earth with the mountains
shall be lifted and crushed with one crash.
Sura 69 (Reversal of gravity) Verse 13-14

(Breaking up of mountains, throwing out of molten lava) When the sky will
be like molten copper and hills will be like flakes of wool. Sura 70 verse 8

Despite reversal of gravity, mass of the earth will not disperse completely, as reversal of time will constantly direct all the matter to return to its previous position.

EARTH: "EMPTY FROM INSIDE"

The reversal of gravity will cause the earth to throw out all of its insides to become a gigantic empty ball.

And when earth is spread out. And cast out all that was in her and is
"empty". Al-Quran: Sura 84 verses 3-4

THE CENTER SKY IN THE HOLLOW
EARTH.

As reversal of gravity changx the eath into a hollow structure, sky or heaven will also ch~ so that it will be in the center of the hollow earth.

On the day when the earth will be changed to other than this earth, and the
heavens also. And they will come forth unto Allah, The One The Almighty.
Al-Quran:Sura 14 verse 48

The following verses describe the day of judgment in a comprehensive manner. The day of judgment will start with the final earthquake as the gravity reverses. The reversal of gravity will cause the earth to throw out all that was inside it to become completely empty. The people will come back alive one after another, (in scattered groups) inside this hollow earth that will have sky towards its center. The history of nations will be played back as time passes backwards. Nations as well as people will then see what they had done before, and they will be judged accordingly.

1. When earth is shaken with her final earthquake.
2. And earth yields its burdens. (From within)
3. And man says what aileth her.
4. That day she will relate her chronicles..(History in time)
5. Because your Lord inspires her.
6. That day mankind will issue forth (from earth) in scattered groups to be
shown their deeds. (As time runs backward)
Sura 99: Earthquake.

To an inquiring mind it may occur now that reversal of time will lead to resutrection from the grave and then we should get younger, go through our childhood and regress into nothingness in our mothers wombs. This is what the time reversal theories would have us believe; again a purposeless exercise. Well not quite so. The great earthquake is not to scare us, it is part of the phenomenon that will make the higher dimensions, the beyond, accessible. That is where, is hell and the gardens of Eden. In the next few pages we will see how precisely God has designed the universe. Not only life is recreated, arrangements have been made for it to escape the collapsing universe, into the worlds that exist in the higher dimensions.

THE HIGHER DIMENSIONS

Mathematically there are infinite number of dimensions. However we live in only a three dimensional space. Every object in our daily lives, has a length, width, and height. The concept of dimensions more than our three is impossible to imagine. Near the sun the gravity is more intense and an extra curvature in the space in a higher dimension is present. This was first taken into account by Einstein to accurately calculate the orbit of the inner planet, Mercury.

There was a time when people believed that the earth is flat. They were afraid of the possibility of falling off the earth if they traveled too far. This cannot happen because the surface of the earth is curved and continuous like that of a ball. To get off the earth we just need to move in a dimension (direction) that is perpendicular to the surface. That is straight up, from any where we are.

We face a similar conceptual problem in understanding the higher dimensions. We may imagine that we can leave the universe only by traveling very far, and that is not true. Even if we travel billions of miles, we will still remain within the confines of our three dimensional space.

And we know that we cannot escape from Allah in the earth, nor can we
escape by flight. Sura 72 verse 12

The only way to go beyond the universe is by moving into a higher dimension in a direction that is perpendicular to our three dimensional space, from right where we are. However that is also not possible as our space is not continuous with the higher dimensions. For that to occur, our space will have to be literally torn apart first and then get connected to the higher dimensions. This may happen only in the center of the black holes.

And heaven is opened and becomes as gates. Sura 78 verse 19

THE BLACK HOLES

The opening of gates in the sky is a concept similar to that of black holes. Such openings can be the gate ways to beyond the universe through the higher dimensions. Massive stars that collapse inward under their own weight can form the black holes. Gravity in such objects is so strong that even light cannot escape and they become completely invisible. Hence the name black holes. Physicists believe that space time may be ripped apart in the black holes, producing gateways to beyond this universe. SQwever th~ mas of the black holes also obstructs the opening it is supposed to produce.

In the contracting universe this problem will not exist. The reversal of gravity in the contracting phase will change all the heavenly bodies into massive hollow structures leaving ernpty skies towards the center, where even the reversed gravity of relatively lighter objects like earth, will have a run away effect. Thus the fabric of space time will be torn apart, forming portals or gateways to the higher dimensions in the center sky of the hollow earth.

And the heavens will split asunder For that day it will be frail. Sura 69
verse 16
ANGELS DESCEND THROUGH THE PORTALS IN THE CENTER SKY,
NO ONE WILL BE LEFT BEHINDA day when the heavens and the clouds
will be rent asunder and the angels will be sent down a grand descent .Sura
25 verse 25

And think of the day when We remove the hills and you see the earth
emerging and we gather them together So as to leave not one of them
behind. Sura l8 verse47

The collapsing universe will be ultimately destroyed in a fireball which physicists call the "Big Crunch." Every one will be gathered. Any one remaining behind will regress to nothingness, because the time will be running backwards. The gathering and removal of humans to "The beyond " would probably be accomplished by the angels of "the grand descent."

In our final journey through the gates that will open in the center sky we would go across many planes or dimensions. The word "ride" is used in the Quran as if this journey will be accomplished by riding on "something."

That you shall "ride" on from plane to plane. Sura 84 verse 19

WHEN WILL THE DAY OF JUDGMENT
ARRIVE?

Men ask you of the Hour. Say the knowledge of it is with Allah only.
What can convey to you it may be that the Hour is Near. Sura 33 verse 63

They bid you to hasten on the doom And if a term had not been
appointed, the doom would have deSnitely come on them. And it will
come upon them suddenly when they perceive not. Sura 29 verse 53

Superficially it seems that if we knew the rate at which the expansion of the universe is slowing down then we should be able to predict when the day of judgment will begin. However if time is related to the expansion of space, then we cannot observe the slowing of the expansion. This would be like trying to measure the speed of a car with a clock that is connected to its wheels. As the car slows down the clock will also slow down and speed would always appear the same.

The threatened hour is near. None beside Allah can disclose it. Are you
surprised then at this statement?
Sura 53 verse 57,58,59

Even the most advanced civilization in the universe would always Observe that the universe is expanding at the same rate as it started with. This of course means that the day of judgment cannot be predicted by any one and may come at any time. Only God or the angels who are independent of our time will perceive the slowing of time in the universe as the day of judgment approaches. The concept of slowing of time and higher planes is implied in the following verses.

1. A questioner questioned concerning the doom to fall.
2. Upon the disbelieves, which none can repel.
3. From Allah, Lord of the Ascending Stairways.
4. As the angels and the Spirit ascend to Him in a day
The span of that is fifty thousand years.
Sura 70 verse 1-4
The Ascending Stairways. (Dimensions)

The ascending stairways imply many levels, planes or dimensions, and Allah is the Creator of all the dimensions. As the day of judgment approaches, an observation made from outside our universe will suggest, that our time has slowed down as compared to some standard time that exists beyond our universe. The above verses do not say that human beings will make this observation. The observation that one day on earth has become like fifty thousand years appears to be made by Allah as the angels come back to him.

WAITING IN THE GRAVE FOR THE DAY
OF JUDGMENT TO ARRIVE?

In the Quran the soul is compared to consciousness and death is compared to sleep. Once death overcomes us there is no perception of passage of time and next thing we would see will be the Day of Judgment.

. And agony of death comes in truth.
This is what you wished to avoid
. And the trumpet is blown.
This is the threatened Day.
Sura 50 verse 19-20

. And on The Day when the Hour arrives the guilty will swear that they
remained (dead) butfor an hour, thus they were ever deceived. But to those
to whom knowledge andfaith are given will say: "The truth is that you have
remained (dead) until the Day of Resurrection By Allah 's decree. This is the
Day of Resurrection, Butyou used not to know.
Sura 30 verse 55-56

On that Day, when the real truth will become apparent to every one, those who disbelieved will be regretful and full of remorse. They would wish that they had never existed; but then, there would be no room for a second chance on the Day of judgment.

And to Allah belongs the Sovereignty of heavens and the earth On the Day
when the Hour rises, Those who follow falsehood will be lost. Sura 45 verse
27