Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Abstract

The Quran states: “He (God) keeps the heavens from falling down on the earth without His permission” (22:65). This poetic verse hints at cosmic protection – a “heavenly shield” that prevents the sky from literally falling on us – while also acknowledging that any celestial calamity occurs only by God’s leave. Modern science reveals multiple mechanisms that indeed protect Earth from frequent devastating meteor strikes, effectively keeping “the heavens” from crashing down. Earth’s atmosphere incinerates most small meteoroids, and the layout of our solar system (especially giant Jupiter’s gravity) diverts many potential impactors thequran.love thequran.love. These safeguards have made our planet a relatively safe haven for life thequran.love. Yet, when God “permits” a cosmic upheaval, it can serve a greater purpose: for example, a single massive asteroid impact 66 million years ago caused the dinosaurs’ extinction but paved the way for mammals – and eventually humans – to flourish thequran.love thequran.love. This commentary explores the convergence of scripture and science on this topic. We discuss the Quran’s depiction of a “well-secured canopy” above Earth thequran.love in light of astronomical defenses against meteors, examine the cataclysmic dinosaur-ending impact as a possible fulfillment of divine wisdom, and contrast the Quran’s sober descriptions of meteors with the erroneous views and myths prevalent in various cultures thequran.love thequran.love. The evidence suggests a remarkable alignment between the Quranic worldview and scientific reality, inviting a deeper reflection on divine compassion, cosmic purpose, and our planet’s fortunate place in the heavens.

Read further in the PDF file: