There is a great secret inthe difficult tests undergone by the Prophets

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- > - > Almighty Allah of course knows that all the
prophets He created were pure believers possessed of lofty moral
values; it is He Who created them with a truedepth and pure faith.
Yetdespite being our Lord's chosen, superior and honored servants, the
prophets were still subjected to difficult tests all through their
lives. Difficulties are a great means whereby people could witness
their honesty and adopt their moral values as role models, for the
prophets to improve their closeness to and love of Allah, and for
their goodness to increase many times over in the Hereafter.
This climate of testing is described by means of the stories related
in the Qur'an. When he came tothe sea, pursued by Pharaoh's army, the
Prophet Moses (as) saw no apparent way of escape. Those who failedto
properly appreciate the infinite might of Allah said, "We are
trapped," but as revealed in verses the Prophet Moses (as) said
"Never! My Lord is with me and He will guide me." (Surat ash-Shuara',
62)
Throughout that difficulttime when he was imprisoned in the belly of
the fish, the Prophet Jonah (as) constantly turned to Allah and, as
revealed in a verse, "...called out (to the Lord) in absolute
despair." (Surat al-Qalam, 47) The Prophet Jonah (as), who sincerely
turned to Allah during this difficult test, was rescued from the belly
of the fish through our Lord's mercy and compassion, and was then sent
to a community as their prophet. This difficult test of the Prophet
Jonah is described as follows in the Qur'an:
Jonah too was one of the Messengers.
When he ran away to the fully laden ship
and cast lots and lost.
Then the fish devoured him and he was to blame.
Had it not been that he was a man who glorifiedAllah,
he would have remainedinside its belly until the Day they are raised again.
So We cast him up onto the beach and he was sick;
and We caused a gourd tree to grow over him.
We sent him to a hundred thousand or even more.
They believed and so Wegave them enjoyment for a time.
(Surat as-Saffat, 139-148)
When our holy Prophet (saas) was attacked by the pagans on two sides
together with his community there appeared to be no escape. This was
the day of a most difficult test. Atthe same time, it was a very
special test in whichtrue believers with a genuine faith in Allah, Who
trusted in Allah's help with all their hearts, and who trusted in and
embraced Him, could remain strong andexpect His help. As ordained by
Allah, those who were unable to properly appreciate Him and the
hypocrites lost hope of His mercy and began dreaming up falseideas of
their own. Our All-Mighty Lord described this difficult climate in
another verse:
When they came at you from above you and below you, when your eyes
rolled and your hearts rose to your throats, and you thoughtunworthy
thoughts about Allah, at that pointthe believers were tested and
severely shaken.
When hypocrites and people with sickness in their hearts said, 'What
Allah and His Messenger promised us was mere delusion.' and a group of
them said, 'People of Yathrib, Your position is untenable so return!'
some of them asked the Prophet to excuse them, saying, 'Our houses are
exposed,' when they were not exposed; it wasmerely that they wantedto
run away. (Surat al-Ahzab, 10-13)
In this difficult climate, our Prophet (saas) and the pure believers
with him hoped for Allah's help and support and placed their trust in
Him,saw that this had been promised by our Almighty Lord and gave
thanks. Almighty Allah reveals in a verse:
When the believers saw the Confederates they said: 'This is what Allah
and His Messenger promised us. Allah and His Messenger told us
thetruth.' It only increased them in faith and in submission. (Surat
al-Ahzab, 22)
As our Lord reveals in a later verse; "Allah made it unnecessary for
the believers to fight. Allah isMost Strong, Almighty." (Surat
al-Ahzab, 25)
The Prophet Yusuf (as) also underwent many great tests and hardships
in his life. The way he was falsely accused and left in a dungeon for
years are ofcourse very difficult tests. But there is no doubt that
one of the greatest tests he faced, and bore bravely and happily for
Allah's approval, is the way he was thrown into a well by his brothers
at an early age and waited in the darkness to be rescued. If a caravan
hadnot passed by during his time in the well, if the people in it had
not decided to draw water from the well, then he would have gone
through a martyrdom lasting several days. There is no doubt that
everything happens by Allah's Will, however. Allah created Prophet
Yusuf (as) as a worthy, superior and holy prophet and also ordained
his salvation inthe finest manner in destiny.
The Prophet Lot (as) also struggled against the pressure from a
hereticalpeople, the Prophet Job (as) displayed fortitude in the face
of sickness and physical difficulties, the Prophet Aaron (as) sought
to win over a pagan people who rejected him, the Prophet John (as) was
martyred by the deniers of his time and the Prophet Jesus (as) strove
against the snares of thehypocrites. These holy prophets were all
subjected to great tests. The Muslims who followed the prophets also
confronted similar difficulties. People who came to believe after
seeing the proofs that Allah bestowed on the Prophet Moses (as) did so
even in the knowledge that Pharaohwould cut off their opposite hands
and feet and then kill them. The companions of our Prophet (saas)
strove against the deniers who forced them from their lands, inflicted
unbelievable tortures onthem and even chose to martyr them. Believers
have been faced by severe tests when cast into the flames by a society
of non-believers. Almighty Allah describes the situation of
believerscast into the flames as follows in verses:
Cursed be the Companions of the Pit –
The fire well stocked with fuel –
When they were seated right beside it
Witnessing what they did to the believers.
The only reason they punished them was because they believed inAllah,
the Almighty, the All-Praiseworthy –
Him to whom the Kingdom of the heavens and the earth belongs. Allah is
Witness of all things.
Those who persecute men and women of the believers, and then do not
repent, will have thepunishment of Hell, will have the punishment of
the Burning. (Surat al-Buruj, 4-10)
Of course Almighty Allah is He who creates, with aspecial creation,
prophets and believers and those believers who warn their
communities,who turn to Him, who love Him above all and live for Him
alone. He has created them for paradise. But they are nevertheless
tested in the life of this world. There is a secret behind this. The
test and the difficulties involved in it are a sign of superiority,
love, self-sacrifice and a genuine and sincere love of Allah. The
prophets add to their own beauty with the fortitude, honesty,
self-sacrifice, loyalty, devotion and moral virtue they display. These
moral virtues, which make them one ofthe most valuable elements of
paradise, are a superior and worthy fortitude in the face of
difficulty and submission to Allah. Almighty Allah has prepared this
difficult environment of the test in order for us and even them to
witness their devotion and love to Him. There is no doubt that
Almighty Allah always supports and protects believers and is always by
their side. That is why it is so valuable for believers to know this
and display fortitude in difficult environments. The prophets and
those believers who follow them will certainly enjoyeternal life in
the hereafter and the finest reward for this excellent fortitude.
Almighty Allah reveals in verses:
Such people will be repaid for their steadfastness with the Highest
Paradise, where they will meet with welcome and with 'Peace'. They
will remainin it timelessly, for ever. What an excellent lodging and
abode! (Surat al-Furqan, 75-76)
The Existence of the Test Is a Great Blessing for Sincere Muslims
The existence of Allah is obvious. Whoever denies the existence of
Allah is lying and deceiving. The evidence for the sublime existenceof
Allah is everywhere. Itis impossible for anyone,confronted by this
manifest evidence, not to see the sublime and dazzling Sublime
Existence of Almighty Allah, the Existence and Might of Whom are so
clear.
Human beings, the cell, light, the atom, the Earth, the planets and
even a single match are all proof of this glorious and stunning
Creation. This cannot be denied. The reason why some people are in a
state of heedlessness with regard to Allah is not their failure to see
His manifest existence. Whatmakes it hard for these people to turn to
and submit to Allah is their inability to comprehend the existence of
the test and the secret behind it. The existence of the test
intimidates them, and itsdifficult nature prevents them being a
servant whom Allah will approveof. Otherwise, everyone is well aware
that they have to live for Allah. In one verse Almighty Allah says:
And they repudiated them wrongly and haughtily, in spite of their own
certainty about them. See the final fate of the corrupters. (Surat
an-Naml, 14)
All people know in their consciences the existence of Allah and that
they should live for Him. But some of them are confused and doubtful
in the face of the test. The reason why the people who set out
together with the Prophet Moses (as) told him "You and your Lord go
and fight. We will stay sitting here." (Surat al-Ma'ida, 24) in the
face of difficulties, is that they preferred their ownearthly desires
to undergoing hardship forAllah's sake.
The fact is that the proper behavior demonstrated by true Muslims in
the face of communities of deniers who combined to attack the Qur'an
is revealed as follows:
Those to whom people said, 'The people have gathered against you,
sofear them.' But that merely increased their faith and they said,
'Allah is enough for us and the Best of Guardians.' (Surah Al 'Imran,
173)
Muslims who sincerely submits to Allah in the face of a difficult test
aredescribed as; "Those who, when disaster strikes them, say, 'We
belong to Allah and to Him we will return'." (Surat al-Baqara, 156)
Almighty Allah reveals in another verse that attaining goodness and
truth is possible by discharging the responsibilities required by the
test, and to demonstrate such moral virtues as loyalty, fortitude and
self-sacrifice:
It is not devoutness to turn your faces to the East or to the West.
Rather, those with true devoutness are those who believe in Allah
andthe Last Day, the Angels, the Book and the Prophets, and who,
despite their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives
and to orphans and the very poor, and to travelers and beggars and to
set slaves free, and who establish prayer and pay alms; those who
honor their contracts when they make them, and aresteadfast in poverty
and illness and in battle. Those are the people who are true. They are
the people who fear [and respect Allah]. (Surat al-Baqaara, 177)
Hardships have been visited on heedless communities with a particular
wisdom and for a particular reason. Some people have a tendency to
concentrate on their own affairs and worldly matters and to forget
Allah while they enjoy plenty, abundanceand prosperity. These people
imagine that once they have means and prosperity at their disposal
nothing bad will happen to them, and imagine they have an independent
power of their own. Our Lord has tested communities that fall into
heedlessness because of plenty and well-being, despite being warned,
that regard themselves as invincible and strong, that harbor an
unjustified pride and arrogance in the face of Allah and that have
evenhad the effrontery to deny Allah, with difficulties in order for
them to find the true path, remember their mistakes and recall that
all power belongs to Allah alone. Allah reveals this fact in a verse:
We sent Messengers to nations before you, and afflicted those nations
with hardship and distress so that hopefullythey would humble
themselves. (Surat al-An'am, 42)
Testing through difficulties is of course a great and powerful
reminder for these heedless communities. Almighty Allah reveals the
situation of a heedless community thatremain in a boat surrounded by
waves all around as follows in another verse:
It is He Who conveys youon both land and sea so that when some of you
are on a boat, running before a fair wind, rejoicing at it, and then a
violent squall comes upon them and the waves come at them from every
side and theyrealize there is no way of escape, they call on Allah,
making their religion sincerely His: 'If You rescue us from this, we
will truly be among the thankful.' (Surah Yunus, 22)
The secret of the test lieshere. These people, who become aware of the
transitory nature of the life of this world, remember that all
powerlies with Allah alone and have no doubt of the need to turn to
our Lord only when surrounded by waves, return to theirformer state of
unawareness once the difficulties they face have been removed. Allah
reveals this in a verse:
But then, when He does rescue them, they become rebellious in theearth
without any right to do so. Mankind, your rebelliousness is only
against yourselves. There is the enjoyment of the life of this world
and then you will return to Us and We will inform you about what you
did.(Surah Yunus, 23)
All people know in their conscience what they should do. Everyone is
aware he should be a good servant of Allah and do all he can to
earnHis approval. The reason why some people seek not to comprehend
the might of Allah in this world and to forget this spiritual
responsibility comes from a wish to live by their earthly desires. But
the fact is that people can seek to feign ignorance about the climate
of testing all they like, yet they will still be tested. Living by
their earthly desires will never, ever give them the satisfaction and
pleasure they seek so long as they fail to heed their consciences.
They will never find the false happiness they seek in this world.
These people fail to appreciate that it is Allah Who bestows pleasure,
happiness and joy. It is of course impossible to have a clear
conscience and livea peaceful and happy life if one forgets Allah and
refuses to live for Him. People who ignore the existence of the test
fail to appreciate this reality.
What Would Happen in aWorld with No Testing?
All the beauties that make human beings human would suddenly vanish in
a climate of no testing. The values imparted by moral virtue, such as
self-sacrifice, loyalty, fortitude, love, compassion, respect,
solidarity and friendshipwould immediately lose all meaning. Competing
to do good and putting others' desires before one's own would be
regarded as unnecessary. And there would be no meaning tothe life of
someone for whom nothing is of any value or importance.
The sole reason for responding to the testing in this world with
submission and fortitude is a deep love of Allah. Everything would be
flat without testing and the love of Allah. Because man will be
deprived of all moral values to take delight in,one would turn into a
very strange creature with no other aims and expectations from life
other than eating, drinking and sleeping. Such a person can take
pleasure neither from anything he does nor the life he leads. Such a
life is the false conception of life that Darwinists have been trying
to impose people for so many years. In a world with no testing, and
therefore with no moral or ethical virtues, with no purpose to life, a
person will turn into an organism no different to the animals, just as
Darwinists maintain, and his life will resemble that of anyanimal.
When the effort made for Allah in this world comes to an end, all that
remains will be that organism's struggle for survival.
It will here be of use to recall the following point: Even animals
havea conception of affection, love, loyalty, self-sacrifice and
solidarity inspired in them by Allah. Therefore,in a climate with no
testing, people who have no purpose and who have lost all these
virtues will actually become lower than animals. Almighty Allah has
revealed that deniers who deify their own earthly desires will be
lower than animals:
Do you suppose that most of them hear or understand? They are just
like cattle. Indeed they are even more astray! (Surat al-Furqan, 44)
What some people fail tounderstand is this: the existence of testing
gives people worth. We love someone in the Hereafter because we know
he had displayed fortitude for Allah. The value of the prophets
increased many times over because they responded to difficulties in
the way Allah wanted.Someone who suffers for Allah is beautified. One
loves someone who displays moral virtues for the sake of Allah, no
matter what the circumstances, and their abodes in the Hereafter are
even lovelier. One loves and admires people who, even though human
nature has been created with a tendency toward selfish passions and
jealousy, exhibit no selfishness out of a fear of Allah, who are not
prone to envy, who regard Muslims as above themselves and who are
aware of their own helplessness before Allah. With such traits, such
people will always be remembered in the Hereafter.
Our Lord regards a person as superior because of the lofty fortitude,
patience and will he demonstrates in the course of the test. Since a
person uses this will for Allah, despite all the hardships, severe
illnesses and selfish desires in this world, since he responds to each
with fortitude and virtue and never abandons hope in Allah, he is of
great value in the eyes of our Lord.
This fortitude and will be a fine adornment of Paradise. Because
Paradise can only be attained with fortitude shown in testing for
Allah's approval and with effort made for the love of Allah. Almighty
Allah reveals in another verse:
Or did you imagine that you were going to enter the Garden without
Allahknowing those among you who had struggled and knowing the
steadfast? (Surah Al 'Imran, 142)
The following important truth must not be forgotten; Almighty AllahWho
creates difficult tests deliberately for people has also, of course,
created fortitudeand ways of overcomingthem. One of the secrets that
our Lord imparts to believers in the Qur'an isthat nobody will be
given a burden greater than he can bear:
Allah does not impose on any self any more than it can stand. For it
iswhat it has earned; against it, what it has merited. Our Lord, do
not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake! Our Lord, do not
place on us a load like the one You placed on those before us! Our
Lord, do not place on us a load we have not the strength to bear! And
pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy on us. You are our Master,
so help us against the people of the unbelievers. (Surat al-Baqara,
286)
A Muslim who turns to Allah under all circumstances is a loyal and
excellent servant of Allah. No matter what hardships he undergoes as a
result of the test, they will never be greater than he can bear.
Hardships are given in order to improve devout believers, draw them
closer to Allah, protect them against heedlessness and so theycan earn
the eternal delights and blessings ofParadise.
Someone undergoing such difficulties is also capable of properly
appreciating Paradise, with its eternal blessings. A person tested by
want and poverty in this world willgive even greater thanksto Allah
and be even closer and more devotedto Him when he sees how he can have
whatever he wants in Paradise, at the moment he wants it and with no
natural causes being involved, and will properly appreciate the
blessings of Paradise. Someone who exhibits fortitude in the face of
grave illness will doubtless feel an extraordinarily increased joy,
gratitude and love for Allah when he sees there are no such weaknesses
or sicknesses in Paradise. Everyone unjustly oppressed in this world
will be improved many times over in the infinitely peaceful and
delightful climate of Paradise, when he enjoys peace and security in
the presence of our Lord, free from alldeficiency, flaws and ugliness,
in Paradise. Forexample, a believer who is lame in this world will be
able to run around freely in Paradise, and even to fly and live just
as he wishes; a believer who is blind in this world will have an
incomparably greater power of sight in Paradise compared to that in
this world, and will look on immaculate beauties with an
infinitesatisfaction and delight. A believer with severe defects in
the face or body in this world will be created with a stunning beauty
in Paradise. This new creation is of great valueto a believer who is
aware of his former state and was patient in the face of it.
Comparing the difficult environment in this world with the eternal
life of Paradise is of course a great blessing for believers. The life
of this world is a very brief test, a transitory benefit.Those who
display fortitude in this test for the sake of Almighty Allah, who
live for Allah and who turn to Him in all their thoughts and deeds,
will of course be those who rejoice in the Hereafter.
As for those who believed and did right actions, they will be made
joyful in a verdant meadow. (Surat ar-Rum, 15)

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.