The Evolution of the Universe: a New Vision

In this paper, we analyse the Quran description of phenomena linked to the evolution of the universe in the light of our present knowledge in this domain. In fact, according to the Quranic text, the verses concerning Astronomy may be classified into two categories: the verses related to the solar system and those concerning the universe in general. For the first category, the Quran specifies that towards the end of its life, the sun will start to swell (The Quran uses the term "Kuwwirat", which can literally be translated by "ballooned", which implies a homogeneous swelling). The consequences of this swelling are the following: the sky will turn red and will look like a scarlet rose; light intensity will increase and it will not be possible to observe the stars from the surface of the Earth. The Quran also specifies that the sun will get closer to the moon (that is to the earth). The Quran uses the word joined ("...And the sun and moon are joined together." Quran 75:9). The moon will be destabilized by the sun ; it will be rent and will ultimately fall onto the Earth. Moreover, the orbits of the solar system planets will be modified. As for our planet Earth, it will witness an overheating and boiling of the seas and oceans and an expansion of waters, a disintegration of mountains, expansion of the Earth crust ... The Quran also indicates that the Earth will survive in spite of these cataclysms. Concerning the universe, the Quran discusses the following points: the expansion of the universe, the repetition of the creation process, the existence of a multitude of planets resembling ours and an extra-terrestrial life. Finally, the Quran specifies that our universe is cyclic, contrary to what an increasing number of contemporaneous astronomers think. On the basis of the relativity of time referred to in the Quran, we deduce the initial structure of the universe, the general chronology of its formation and the date of the beginning of what might constitute its collapse (big crunch). (1) Professor of Data analysis at the Department of Computer Science at the Faculty of Science, Tunis, 2092 El Manar II Tunisia ; (E-mail : [email protected])