Discover Space/Galaxies to Discover Islam

3:24

2 Oct 2008

Astronomy, Miracles / I'jaz

This undated video, originally created by NASA to showcase the Hubble telescope, has been augmented by the uploader with labels and text placed over the original images.  This is contextualized as a form of proselytization.

The material from NASA seems to be unchanged.  The narrator, unnamed, is recognizable as one of those used by NASA.  The video seems to have been made for Hubble’s 15th anniversary, which was in 2005.  Hubble’s web site is mentioned near the end of the video:  hubblesite.org.

The Islamic additions are generally suggestive of iʿjāz, in that the evolution of the galaxies discussed by NASA narrator are commented upon by showing text saying “Signs of the Power of Allah the Creator” and “How did Muslims know about the universe and its galaxies?”, although nothing explicitly mentions this as miraculous.  The statement of faith given at min. 3:16 is incorrect.  The only verse mentioned, 41:53, is provided in a reasonable translation, although with some spurious punctuation.

The web site mentioned in the video, www.alsunna.org, is still active, although more active in Arabic than in English.  Some of the videos it embeds no longer work.

Evaluation:

Although most of the material on Islam is quite vague and generally is within the bounds of what Muslims have historically understood as acceptable, the error/change in the statement of faith is glaring.

The science as presented by NASA is accurate and reflects the understanding of contemporary scientists.  Using science to “prove” the Qurʾān has long been questioned; see this video for a recent recanting of of the use of iʿjāz.

There is insufficient historical material on which to base an evaluation.