This is absolutely mind blowing.
The entire world has been staring in absolute awe at images that have just been released
from the James Webb telescope.
A $10 billion piece of equipment that travelled over 1.6 million kilometres to provide us
with the sharpest and deepest glimpse into the cosmos.
Capturing light from over 13 billion years back into the history of our Universe.
And while there has been much admiration of the science and technology that has brought
us these images.
This is much more than a photograph.
As scientists are pointing out themselves, this is a means towards further discovery
and finding out answers to questions we still yet don't know.
And of all questions that need to be answered, the most important question that needs to
be addressed is from where did all this come from.
You see, as incredibly beautiful, and mesmerising this entire Universe is, it requires an explanation.
The universe is adorned with galaxies and stars that are expanding, changing, being born and dying,
coming into and out of existence.
In other words, the entire universe is filled with dependent and contingent beings that
all require an explanation.
I mean, if this Universe is 13.7 billion years old, then there clearly was a time when none
of it existed.
So where did it all originally come from?
Why is there something as opposed to nothing?
And who or what is sustaining all these dependent things in the Universe?
These are questions that need to be answered.
Yet they are questions that are beyond the scope of science, for they are beyond the
realm of that which is observable and empirical.
And this is nothing against science, for there are many things that science cannot explain.
I mean science cannot explain consciousness, science cannot explain where the first cell
came from.
Science cannot give an answer for why there is life instead of no life.
Why is there something as opposed to nothing?
Yet the universe still requires an explanation, and that explanation can only be from an independent source
Something that doesn’t change.
Something that doesn’t die.
Something that doesn't come into and out of existence.
Something that all dependent things rely upon.
Something that doesn’t require any further explanation, because it is and always was.
An independent and eternal force.
An everlasting Creator.
So while we can very well, and rightfully so admire the science that brought us this
image of this magnificent scene,
Let us not forget the one who gave us this scene to begin with.
Allah.
He is the One.
And you can dismiss my claims and criticise me for bringing religion or theology into this.
But let us not forget that it was this religion, Islam, that brought us much of what we know
about the stars today.
Two-thirds of the stars in the sky with names have Arab Names, a homage to the golden age
of Islam.
The father of modern optics Ibn Al-Haytham who made way for the invention of technology
used in modern astronomy was a Muslim.
These are Muslims who were inspired by and driven by this book that constantly told them
again and again to ponder over the Universe and look into the sky for signs.
A famous American Astronomer said:
and I have no doubt in that statement.
In the entire Universe, and the creation of the Heavens and the Earth, there are signs.
of something incredible waiting to be known, and He is Allah.