Origin of the Universe and Dark Matter

                  

According to Big Bang Theory, this universe has come into existence when ‘singularity’- i.e. finite matter smashed into infinite density, infinite pressure, infinite temperature and infinitely small size- started expanding to cool down and solidify gradually into form of universe as we find it today.  Some scientists suggest there was no time and space before this Big Bang; but they are unable to explain where the ‘singularity’ existed, if no space existed before Big Bang. In this article we would shed light on Islamic version about origin of universe, the way universe is created.

From the outset, it needs to be clarified that Allah has not created this universe only once; it is Allah’s Sunnah to create universe, to destroy it, and again create it in the manner it was created first time.

There are many verses in Quran, which state that Allah originates His creation and then repeats it; the instances are yunus-34; al-naml-64; al-ankbut-19. But sura al-anbiya specifically states this practice of Allah about this universe. It sates:

“On the day when We will roll up sky like the rolling up of the scroll for writings, as We originated the first time, We shall reproduce it; a promise (binding on Us); surely We will bring it about” (al-anbiya-104).

From this above quoted verse, it is clear that one day our sky will be destroyed being rolled up like a scroll. After that it will be again created exactly in the manner it was created for the first time. Regarding the previous creation of this sky Quran states:

“It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the sky and made them seven skies, and He is Knowing of all things” (al-baqra-29).

From this verse, it is clear that seven skies were created out of one sky. Because as per al-anbiya-104, our sky is to be created exactly in the manner it was created the first time, it means not only our sky will be re- created by Allah but also all seven skies will be re-created.This verse (al-baqra-29) also shows that our earth lies in the first sky.  Allah first created all that is on the earth and then He directed Himself to the sky of the earth and made them seven skies. Because sky is something which lies above the earth and all seven skies were made out of the sky which was above our earth, it means our earth lies in the first sky. This verse also proves that seven skies do not mean seven parts of one sky (some people say seven skies mean seven space layers in our single sky). By the word 'them', it is clear the seven skies are separate entities. If instead of 'them', singular word 'it' had been used, we might infer that seven skies lie in single sky. In other words, this verse shows that seven skies are separate entities; they are not parts of our single sky.

From the verses mentioned above ( yunus-34; al-naml-64; al-ankbut-19), it is evident that it is Allah’s practice to create, to destroy and recreate universe. These verses state:

“……who originates creation and then repeats it?" Say, "Allah originates creation and then repeats it, so how are you deluded?" (yunus-34).

“Is He [not best] who originates creation and then repeats it…?” (al-naml-64).

“Have they not considered how Allah originates creation and then repeats it? Indeed that, for Allah , is easy” (al-ankbut-19).

We cannot say how old is this practice of Allah to create, destroy and then again create this universe. Though origin of Allah’s Entity cannot be found in any point of time  but origin of creations can be found in any point of time. In fact time and space are continuing since their inception.  Because from the above stated verses it is evident it is Allah’s practice to create and recreate this universe, and because longevity of time cannot be determined, we may infer universe has been created by countless times in the past before Big Bang. Because existence of time and space is essential for creating universe, it may mean space and time were already present when this universe we are living in was created as a result of BIG BANG. Big Bang Theory also affirms the presence of matter in the form of ‘singularity’ before the Big Bang took place. The presence of matter before Big Bang -in whatever form it may be- proves existence of space and time before Big Bang. In other words, the Big Bang created/expanded matter but it did not create space and time; space and time prevailing in this universe were already present before the Big Bang which created matter which was gradually transformed into present day universe we are living in. Similarly time and space were always present already before every time Big Bang took place in the past to create the universe; as universe has been created by countless times in the past, every time space and time were already present before every time Big Bang took place to create the universe.  

One may argue that it might be that every time universe is destroyed, time and space is also destroyed; time and space are created afresh at every Big Bang. Such an argument is not tenable on the basis of Quran. According to Quran time and space are continuing since undetermined time in the past. 

Quran states:

“On the day, i. when We will roll up sky like the rolling up of the scroll for writings, ii. as We originated the first time, iii. We shall reproduce it; a promise (binding on Us); surely We will bring it about” (al-anbiya-104).

     If we take the words ‘on the day’ as applying only to the first phrase, the meaning remains incomplete and does not make any sense. Actually, in this verse the words ‘on the day’  apply to all three phrases ending up into the words ‘We shall reproduce it’. It means the day the sky will be rolled up, it will be reproduced the same day.  We know that the concept of ‘day’ is associated with time. Therefore, we may infer that ‘time’ existing before the destruction of the sky continues to exist after the destruction of the sky and reproduction of the sky. In other words, time and space are continuously present before destruction of the sky and after/before reproduction of the sky. As sky will be/is reproduced in the manner it was first time produced, it means time and space were present when sky was produced first time, and time and space are always present before reproduction of sky each time through Big Bang. In other words, time and space are continuing since their inception; time and space are not destroyed with the destruction of the sky.

According to Big Bang Theory at one stage, whole matter of the universe was present in the form of ‘singularity’ with infinitely small size, infinite temperature, infinite pressure and infinite density. Then a Big Bang occurred which resulted in sudden expansion of matter/energy in the space; this energy gradually transformed into the universe as we see it today. According to one version of the Theory, time and space were created at the time of Big Bang; but this view is not endorsed by Quranic version as has been detailed above.  According to Quranic version, time and space are always present before occurring of a Big Bang.  


Al-anbiyaa-104 also hints at the way the universe is destroyed. The verse states:

“On the day when We will roll up sky like the rolling up of the scroll for writings, as We originated the first time, We shall reproduce it; a promise (binding on Us); surely We will bring it about” (al-anbiya-104).

        Combining Big Bang Theory and the way of destruction of the universe described in this above stated verse, we may understand the phenomenon of making and un-making of the universe. This phenomenon explains that at one point of time, whole matter of the universe exists as a ‘singularity’ with infinitely small size, infinitely temperature, infinitely density and pressure. Then suddenly this matter is erupted into the space. Such eruption is quite in line with physical laws; it is just like eruption of a Pressure Cooker when high pressure is created inside it. With this great eruption which is commonly called Big Bang, matter/energy starts expanding with pressure into the space which is already present there. Gradually this matter/energy is solidified and transformed into the universe as it exists today. The universe consisting stars/planets is still expanding with pressure into the space, as has been mentioned in al-dhariat-47 which states “And the sky We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander”. When this universe expands into the space, it pushes the space around it; the more space is being pushed, the greater it is being condensed. That is why space is most condensed on the first sky. Because the first sky is at the bottom of all seven skies, it is most depressed space of all seven skies. That is why events are becoming faster on 1st sky as we move from first sky to upper skies (for details plz see my article "Time Travel). When the pressure with which the universe is expanding will become lesser than the pressure exerted by the space on peripheral universe, the universe will be started to be rolled up by the space like rolling up a scroll -as has been mentioned in al-anbiyaa-104. The concept of rolling up the universe like  a scroll may be better understood by looking into the model of the universe described in my article "Model of Universe -a Quranic perspective"; this model looks like an open book whose each page is one of the seven skies. The more the universe will be rolled back, the greater pressure will be built inside the universe and finally whole matter of the universe will be smashed into ‘singularity’ with infinite pressure, temperature, density and infinitely small size. When the pressure inside this singularity will become greater than the pressure being exerted by the space on this singularity, this singularity will again erupt into the space in the form of Big Bang to make the universe afresh. This process of making and un-making the universe is continuing since existence of time and space, and will continue till time and space exist.

From the above discussion, we may also infer that space is not an empty entity; it can exert pressure on the universe/celestial bodies. It means, space also contains matter. In other words, matter has two types- one contained in the celestial bodies/universe (which was/is created out of Big Bang) and the other contained in the space (which is present in space since before Big Bang). We have already seen in my many previous articles particularly in the article “Reality of Creation-existence in pairs”, that everything exists in pair. Matter also exists in pair. The matter contained in the universe/celestial bodies is paired with matter contained in the space. The difference is that the matter contained in the celestial bodies/universe may be called ‘Luminous Matter’, because it is visible; and the matter contained in the space may be called ‘Dark Matter’, because it is invisible. Quran states about these two kinds of matter as follows:

“[All] praise is [due] to Allah , who created the skies and the earth and made the darkness(es) and the light…” (al-anam-1).

In this verse, it is stated that Allah has created ‘darkness’ and ‘the light’. We know that light is a form of matter; this form of matter was released during Big Bang; all the rest of matter may be called ‘Dark Matter’ which is spread everywhere in the space since before Big Bang. It is this ‘Dark Matter’ which determines the location of celestial bodies/universe by exerting pressure on them; it is this ‘Dark Matter’ which holds together the celestial bodies/universe in the space by exerting pressure on them; it is this Dark Matter’s pressure on the celestial bodies, which, along with curved space, provides for the gravitational pull exerted by the celestial bodies. We have already seen in my article “Law of Gravity and Quran” that gravitational force is something coming from outside, not coming from inside of the celestial bodies. It may be this "Dark Matter" which is responsible for holding together an atom/constituents of an atom.

We may conclude that time and space existed before the Big Bang. The universe has been destroyed by countless times in the past  to be recreated every time through a Big Bang. The process of making and un-making of the universe is continuing since existence of time and space; time and space are continuing to exist since their inception. Like everything else matter also exists in pair. The matter contained in celestial bodies/universe (created out of Big Bang) may be called ‘luminous matter’ and is paired with matter contained in the space (the matter present in space since before Big Bang) which may be called ‘dark matter’. This ‘dark matter’ holds this universe/celestial bodies together, and provides, along with curved space, for gravitational force exercised by the celestial bodies.It may be this "Dark Matter" which is responsible for holding together an atom/constituents of an atom.