The question Darwinism and materialism will never be able to answer:what is the origin of life?

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(The following is an excerpt from the book titled Origins of Life*, by
Hugh Ross ** and Fazale Rana *** )
Currently scientists standno closer to understanding life's beginning
than they did when Stanley Miller conducted his first experiments
fifty years ago. Though some scientists assert that the research is in
its infancy, significant resources have been brought to bear on the
origin of lifequestion over the past five decades. To date, noreal
answers have emerged. Rather, a misguided approach hasessentially
stalled the research program.
Best-selling author Paul Davies makes this point in his book The Fifth Miracle:
When I set out to write this book, I was convinced that science was
close to wrapping up the mystery of life's origin… Having spent a year
or two researching in the field, I am now of the opinion that there
remains a huge gulf in our understanding… Thisgulf in understanding is
not merely ignorance about certain technical details; it is a major
conceptual lacuna. (Paul Davies, The Fifth Miracle:The Searchfor the
Origin and Meaning of Life (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1999), pp.
17-18)
Davies' statements likely surprise most people, including scientists.
From popular media reports, one would thinkresearchers have all but
finalized the explanationfor life's beginning. But such is not the
case.
Davies explains why this mismatch persists between public perception
and stark reality:
Many investigators feel uneasy about stating in public that the origin
of life is a mystery, even though behind closed doors they freely
admit that they are baffled. There seems to be two reasons for their
unease.First, they feel it opens the door to religious …..
explanations. Second, they worry that a frank admission of ignorance
will undermine funding. (Davies, pp.17-18)
So scientists are keepingquiet and searching for new directions in
which to proceed. Their behind-the-scenes frustration became evident
(to these authors) at the combined meetings of the International
Societyfor the Study of the Origin of Life and the International
Conferenceon the Origin of Life, held both in 1999 at the University
of California, San Diego, and in 2002 in Oaxaca, Mexico (hereafter
referred to as ISSOL 1999 or ISSOL 2002). This joint scientific
meeting, held every three years, attracts leading origin oflife
investigators from around the world and serves as a platform for them
to share and discuss their latest findings.
The atmosphere at such gatherings typically crackles with anticipation
as participants gather to hear about new discoveries and
breakthroughs. However, at both of these last two ISSOL events, a grim
mood laced with desperation prevailed. Participants acknowledged that
some fifty years of well-funded investigation have led toone barricade
after another. The old intractable problems remain as new ones come to
light. (Fazale R. Rana, "Origin-of-Life Predictions Face Off:
Evolution vs Biblical Creation," Facts for Faith 6 (Q2 2001),
pp.41-47)
…..Origin of life researchers cannot identify any location on
primordial Earth suitablefor production of prebiotic molecules. Those
studying the problems cannot explainhow the uniform "handedness"
(homochirality) of aminoacids, nucleotids, and sugars could emerge in
any so-called prebiotic soup.
Data from the geological, geochemical,and fossil records all place
impossible constraints on naturalistic scenarios. Life arose rapidly
and early in Earth's history - as soon as Earth could possible support
it. Origin of life researchersrecognize that life had no more than
tens of millions of years to emerge. Life also appeared under
amazingly harsh conditions - conditions that would not allow lifeto
survive, let alone originate.
Earth's first life was complex chemically… Consistent with this.
Investigators have discovered that life in itsmost minimal form
requires an astonishing number of proteins that must be spatially and
temporally organized within the cell.
Many [under the leadership of militant atheist Richard Dawkins
converted to the Space Religion ] now speculate that life may have
originated somewhere other than on Earth.
* Hugh Ross and Fazale Rana, Origins of Life , Navpress 2004, CO, pp.25-27

The explanation of Chapter Al-Humazah

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- > - > The Soorah (Quraanic chapter) Al-Humazah (The
Mocker) [No. 104] is one of the short Chapters of the thirtieth part
of the Noble Quran. Herein is its explanation extracted from 'Tafseer
Ibn Katheer', which is one of the most reliable books of Tafseer
(interpretation).
The text of the chapter:
In the name of Allaah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
1. Woe to every scorner and mocker
2. Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it.
3. He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal.
4. No! He will surely be thrown into the Crusher.
5. And what can make you know what is the Crusher?
6. It is the fire of Allaah, [eternally] fueled,
7. Which mounts directed at the hearts.
8. Indeed, it [i.e. Hellfire] will be closed down upon them
9. In extended columns
The explanation:
" Woe to every scorner and mocker "
That is, who holds people in contempt and belittles them, as in the
Words of Allaah, the Most High, which mean: " [And] scorner, going
about with malicious gossip ." [Quran, 68: 11]That is, according to
Ibn 'Abbaas and Qataadah a backbiter who goes about amongst the people
sowing dissension and discord between them, carrying tales and causing
corruption. It isnarrated by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim that the Messenger
of Allaah was passing by two graves and he said:
"Assuredly, they are both being punished, not for a major sin,
butbecause one of them did not clean himself after urinating and the
other used to carry tales." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]
Imam Ahmad has narrated that Hudhayfah said: "I heard the Messenger of
Allaah saying: "The tale-bearer will not enter Paradise." [Muslim]
"Who collects wealth and [continuously] counts it."
That is, who hoards his money and occupies himself in counting it,
like a miser, as in Allaah's Words, which mean: " And collected
[wealth] and hoarded it." [Quran 70: 18] His wealth diverts him: All
day he spends time counting and piling up his money and at night, he
sleeps like a rotting corpse .
" He thinks that his wealth will make him immortal."
That is, he believes that his accumulated wealth will prolong his life
in this world.
"No!!"
That is, the matter is in no way ashe supposes .
"He will surely be thrown into theCrusher"
That is, surely, the one who piles his wealth in a miserly manner will
be thrown in a crushing fire which burns up to the heart while he is
still alive .
" And what can make you know what is the Crusher? It is the fire of
Allaah, [eternally] fueled, which mounts directed at the hearts."
Thaabit said: "It means that it(the fire) burns them up to their
hearts while they are alive." Then,he said, "The punishment reachesits
climax." - At this point, Thaabit began to cry (at the thought of such
a terrible torment). According to Muhammad Ibn Ka'b the fire eats away
the flesh of the body until it reaches up to the heart, then it
proceeds up to his throat, then it commences again with his body .
" Indeed, it [i.e. Hellfire] will be closed down upon them"
There is no escape for them from it, nor any relief since, according
to Ibn 'Abbaas, the Arabic word Mu'sadah used in this verse means that
it (the fire) locks all doors upon them so that there is no escape.
Qataadah said it means a fire that blocks out all the light and
prevents any exit from it, while Ad-Dahhaak said it means an
all-encompassing fire from whichthere is no door by which to exit.
According to Abu 'Imraan Al-Jawni "When the Day of Resurrection comes,
by Allaah's command, every tyrant, every devil and every person who
used to fear people (rather than Allaah) will be fettered in irons,
then Allaah will order that they be thrown into the Fire and they will
be covered by it, then - by Allaah - their feet will not be able to
obtain any position on the ground - ever; nor will they be able to see
the sky from it, for their eyes will never be able to close in sleep,
nor – by Allaah – will they taste therein any cold (refreshing) drinks
– ever." [Ibn Abi Haatim]
"In extended columns"
'Atiyah Ibn 'Awfi said that it means columns of iron, while As-Suddi
said, "It means columns of fire." Qataadah said that according to Ibn
'Abbas, it means the doors (of the fire) are extended. Al-'Awfi also
attributesto Ibn 'Abbaas that it means that Allaah will place them in
the Fire with extended columns over them, buttressed by supports to
which they are chained by their necks and the doors are locked upon
them. Qataadah also said: "We used to say that they are punished with
columns of fire." This was the preferred explanation of Ibn Jareer
while Abu Saalih said that the verse means: "In heavy shackles (which
bind them)".

Ibn Al-Haytham: the father of modern optics

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- > - > Abu 'Ali Al-Hasan bin Al-Haytham (965-1040 C.E.)
was one of the most eminent physicists, whose contributions to optics
and scientific methods are outstanding. Known in the West as Alhazen,
Ibn Al-Haytham was born in 965 CE in Basrah, and was educated in
Basrah and Baghdad.Thereafter, he went to Egypt, where he was asked to
find ways of controlling the flood of the Nile.
After failing in his attempt to regulate the flow of the Nile, Ibn
Al-Haytham feared that al-Hakim would punish him. To avoid punishment,
he pretended to be insane until al-Hakim's death. He also traveled to
Spain and during this period, he had ample time for his scientific
pursuits, which included optics, mathematics, physics, medicine and
development of scientific methods -- on each of which he has left
several outstanding books.
He made a thorough examinationof the passage of light through various
media and discovered thelaws of refraction. He also carriedout the
first experiments on the dispersion of light into its constituent
colors. His book Kitaab-al-Manaadhir was translated into Latin in the
MiddleAges, as also his book dealing with the colors of sunset. He
dealt at length with the theory ofvarious physical phenomena like
shadows, eclipses, the rainbow and speculated on the physical nature
of light.
Ibn Al-Haytham is the first to accurately describe the various parts
of the eye and give a scientific explanation of the process of vision.
He also attempted to explain binocular vision, and gave a correct
explanation of the apparent increase in size of the sun and the moon
when near the horizon.He is known for the earliest use of the camera
obscura . He contradicted Ptolemy's and Euclid's theory of vision,
that objects are seen by rays of light emanating from the eyes;
according to him the rays originate in the object of vision and not in
the eye. Through theseextensive researches on optics, he has been
considered as the Father of Modern Optics.
The Latin translation of his main work, Kitaab-al-Manaadhir , exerted
a great influence upon Western science, for example on the work of
Roger Bacon and Kepler. It brought about great progress in
experimental methods. His research in catoptrics centered on spherical
and parabolic mirrors and spherical aberration. He made theimportant
observation that the ratio between the angle of incidence and
refraction does notremain constant and investigatedthe magnifying
power of a lens. His catoptrics contains the important problem known
as 'Alhazen's problem'. It comprises drawing lines from two points in
the plane of a circle meeting at a point on the circumference and
making equal angles with the normal at that point. This leads to an
equation of the fourth degree.
In his book Meezaan al-Hikmah , Ibn Al-Haytham has discussed
thedensity of the atmosphere and developed a relation between it and
the elevation. He also studiedatmospheric refraction. He discovered
that the twilight only ceases or begins when the sun is 19° below the
horizon and attempted to measure the heightof the atmosphere on that
basis. He has also discussed the theories of attraction between
masses, and it seems that he wasaware of the magnitude of acceleration
due to gravity.
Ibn Al-Haytham's contribution to mathematics and physics was
extensive. In mathematics, he developed analytical geometry
byestablishing a link between algebra and geometry. He studiedthe
mechanics of motion of a body, and was the first to maintain that a
body moves perpetually unless an external force stops it or changes
its direction of motion. This would seem equivalent to the first law
of motion.
The list of his books runs to 200 or so, very few of which have
survived. Even his monumental treatise on optics survived through its
Latin translation. During the middle Ages, his books on cosmology were
translated into Latin, Hebrew andother languages. He has also written
on the subject of evolution, a book that deserves serious attention
even today.
In his writing, one can see clear development of the scientific
methods as developed and applied by the Muslims, comprising the
systematic observation of physical phenomena and their linking
together into a scientific theory. This was a major breakthrough
inscientific methodology, making itdistinct from guess-work and
conjecture, and placed scientific pursuits on a sound foundation
comprising systematic relationship between observation, hypothesis and
verification.
Ibn Al-Haytham's influence on physical sciences in general and optics
in particular, has been heldin high esteem and, in fact, it ushered in
a new era in optical research, both in theory and practice.

Pondering on Allaah's signs

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In the Quran, it is mentioned thatthe unbelievers are the people who
does not recognize and appreciate the signs of Allaah. The
significance of a believer is his ability to see those signs and
proofs. They know that these are not created in vain; they can realize
the power and great art ofAllaah everywhere and find ways to appraise
Him. About such people Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "Who
remember Allaah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides
and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth,
[saying], 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are
You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the
Fire.'" ] Quran 3:191]
Many times in the Quran, there are expressions like "will you not take
heed?", "...there is a sign for thinking men" which emphasize the
importance of pondering on the signs of Allaah. Allaah has created an
endless list of things to be the subjects of pondering. Everything we
see and sense is indeed a manifestation and sign of Allaah; so all
those in heavens and in earth and in between may be a means of
pondering for us. Allaah Saya (what means): "He causes to grow for you
thereby the crops, olives, palm trees, grapevines, and from all the
fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought."
[Quran 16: 11]
Let's think for a while of one of the items mentioned in the above
verse; for instance, the"date-tree, as well known, growsup from a seed
out of the earth. From this tiny seed (a seed is not even 1 cm3 in
size), an enormous wooden mass of several meters long and hundreds of
kilograms of weight, forms. The only thing that seed can use while
constituting this great mass is the earth in which it is buried.
How can a seed know how to constitute a tree? How does it know how to
decompose the necessary substances in the soil to form food? How can
it predict the required shape and structure? This last question is
especially important, because it isnot an ordinary wooden piece that
emerges out from the seed. The seed develops a complex living organism
with roots for assimilating substances from the earth, with veins in
itself and with branches that are perfectly organized. A human being
has difficulty while drawing even a picture of a tree, but on the
otherhand a simple seed can produce that extremely complex object
using the substances in the soil.
This observation concludes that aseed is extremely intelligent and
wise, even more than us. Or better to say, there is an
amazingintelligence in what a seed does. But what is the source of
that intelligence? How can it be possible for a seed to have such an
intelligence and memory like acomputer "chip"?
The chips are produced by peoplewho have intelligence and knowledge.
Just like a seed whichis created by Allaah with the ability to develop
a tree. Every seed on earth is encompassed by Allaah and grows within
His knowledge. He Almighty Says (what means): "Indeed, Allaah is the
cleaver of grain and date seeds. He brings the living out of the dead
and brings the dead outof the living. That is Allaah; so how are you
deluded?" [Quran 6: 95]
A seed is merely one of the numerous signs that Allaah has created in
the universe. If men begin to think with not only theirminds but also
with their hearts, asking the question of 'why' and 'how' to
themselves, they can understand that all the universe is a proof of
the existence and power of Allaah, the Most Exalted.
However, the unbelievers cannot understand such things, since they
don't have the ability to"see" this purpose- as the Quran expresses
(what means): "…They have eyes with which they do notsee…" [Quran 7:
179] i.e., they do not have the wisdom and comprehension to realize
the important reality with their materialistic vision.
On the other hand, believers are different than this 'blind' group,
because they realize and accept that the whole universe is created by
Allaah with a certain aim and wisdom. This belief is the first step of
faith. As faith andwisdom, both of which are in parallel, increase,
they will start to identify every detail of Allaah's creation.
One of the things to be done to identify the details of Allaah's
Creation is to be careful and observant. Because the ability to see
the signs of Allaah and not tobe "blind" like the unbelievers, require
a high concentration.
Allaah Almighty Says (what means): "Unquestionably, to Allaah belongs
whatever is in the heavens and earth. Already He knows that upon which
you [stand] and [knows] the Day when they will be returned to Him and
He will inform them of what they have done. And Allaah is Knowing of
all things.." [Quran 24: 64]
"Unquestionably, they are in doubt about the meeting with their Lord.
Unquestionably He is, of all things, encompassing." [Quran 41:54]
One should train himself to recognize the signs of Allaah and should
always keep this in mind. Otherwise, mind will start to wander,
jumping from one topic to another, wasting time thinking about useless
things.
Mind is like water; unless it is directed which way to flow, it
spreads away, to the places that you would not want it to flow. This
is a kind of unconsciousness;you cannot control your mind. You cannot
focus and concentrate on a subject. Actually, you cannot conceive the
truth behind the events happening and also cannot ever have the
competence to interferein them. On the contrary, your mind gets
directed by those events. You are "bewildered" all the time, which is
not an attribute of a believer, but the unbelievers, as Allaah
Almighty Says (what means): "...And he who associates with Allaah – it
is as though he had fallen from the sky and was snatched by the birds
or the wind carried him down into a remote place." [Quran 22: 31]
Believers, on the other hand, are the ones who direct their minds, try
to better perceive Allaah, and who try to better serve His religion.
The believers are the ones "who turn away from ill speech" [Quran
23:3]. They free their minds from any useless thoughts and whenever
they realize the appeal of Satan, they rescue themselves just like
AllaahAlmighty Says in the Quran (what means): "Indeed, those who fear
Allaah – when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him]
and at once theyhave insight." [Quran 7: 201]
Therefore, the believers should be careful to keep their minds free of
useless thoughts and ponder only on useful things thatserve them in
their life and keep them close to the Mighty Creator.