The delicate balance on earth

The earth is a living planet where many complex systems run perfectly
without stopping at all. When compared to other planets, it is evident
thatin all its aspects the earth is specially designed for human
life.Built on delicate balances, life prevails in every spot of this
planet,from the atmosphere to the depths of the earth.
Exploring only a few of the millions of these delicate balances would
be sufficient to show that the world we live inis specially designed
for us.
One of the most important balances in our planet is revealed in the
atmosphere that surrounds us. The atmosphere of the earth holds the
most appropriate gasses in the most appropriate ratio needed for the
survival not only of human beings, but also of all the living beings
on the earth.
The 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% carbon dioxide as well as other
gasses readily available in the atmosphere represent the ideal figures
necessary for thesurvival of living beings. Oxygen, a gas that is
vital for living beings, helps food to be burned and converted into
energy in our bodies.
If the oxygen quantity inthe atmosphere were greater than 21%, the
cells in our body would soon start to suffer greatdamages. The
vegetation and hydrocarbon molecules needed for life would also be
destroyed. If this quantity were less, then this would cause
difficulties in our respiration, and the food we eat would not be
converted into energy. Therefore, the 21% oxygen in the atmosphere is
the most ideal quantity determined for life.
No less than oxygen, other gasses like nitrogen and carbon dioxide are
also arranged in the ideal quantity for the needs ofliving beings and
the continuity of life. The amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere has
the ideal ratio to balance the harmful and burningeffects of oxygen.
This ratio represents the most appropriate value required for
photosynthesis, which is essential for life's energysupply on the
earth. Moreover, the amount ofcarbon dioxide has the most appropriate
value that is needed to maintain the stability of the surface
temperature of the earth and to prevent heat loss especially at night
time. This gas, comprising 1% of the atmosphere, covers the earth like
a quilt and prevents the loss of heat to space. If this amount were
greater, the temperatureof the earth would increase excessively,
causing climatic instability and posing a serious threat against
living beings.
These proportions remain constant thanks to a perfect system. The
vegetation covering the earth converts carbon dioxide to oxygen,
producing 190 billion tons of oxygen every day. The proportion of
other gasses is always kept constant on the earth by the help of
interconnected complex systems. Life is thus sustained.
In addition to the establishment of the ideal gas mixture required for
life on the earth, the mechanisms needed to preserve and maintain this
order are created alongside with it. Any break in the balance, though
instantaneous, or any change in the ratios even for a very short time
period, would mean the total destruction of life. Yet, this does not
happen. The formation of these gasses in the atmosphere just in the
amount people need, and the constant preservation of these ratios
indicate a plannedcreation.
At the same time, the earth has the ideal size in terms of magnitude
topossess an atmosphere. If the mass of the earth were a little less,
then itsgravitational force would be insufficient and the atmosphere
would be dispersed in space. If its mass were a little greater, then
the gravitational force would be too much and the earth would absorb
all gasses in the atmosphere. There is an incredibly high number of
conditions required for the formation of an atmosphere such as the one
our world currently has and all of these conditions should exist
altogether to be able to talk of life.
The creation of these delicate proportions andbalances in the sky is
mentioned in the 7th verse of Surat ar-Rahman:
He erected heaven and established the balance. (Qur'an, 55:7)
The majority of people spend their lives withoutbeing aware of the
delicate balances and subtle adjustments in the gas composition of the
atmosphere, the distance of the world to the sun or the movements of
planets. They are ignorant of the great significance of these balances
and adjustments to their own lives. However, even a minor deviation in
any one of these arrangements would create very severe problems
regarding the existence and survival ofhumankind.
There are many other balances established on earth for the continuity of life:
For instance, if the surface gravity were stronger than its current
value, the atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane
gasses, which would mean the end of life. If itwere weaker, the
planet's atmosphere would lose too much water, and life on earth would
be impossible.
The thickness of the earth's crust constitutes another one of the
delicate balances in the earth. If the earth's crust were thicker, too
much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust and
this would have severe effects on human life.
If the opposite were true, that is, if the earth's crust were thinner,
volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great to permit life on
earth.
Another crucial balance for human life is the ozone level in the
atmosphere. If it were greater than its current value, the surface
temperatures would be too low. If it were less, surface temperatures
would be too high, and there would be too much ultraviolet radiation
at the surface.
In fact, the absence of even a single of these balances would set the
end to life on earth. However, Allah has created the universe with
infinite wisdom and power and designed the earth specially for human
life. Despite this fact, the majority of people lead their lives in
total ignorance of these events. In the Qur'an, Allah reminds people
of His blessings in the 13th verse of Surat al-Fatir:
(Allah) makes night merge into day and day merge into night, and Hehas
made the sun and moon subservient, each one running until a specified
time. That is Allah, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call on
besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck. (Qur'an,
35:13)
It is sufficient look at millions of dead planets in space in order to
understand that the delicate balances required for life on earth is
not a result of random coincidences. The conditions essential for life
are too complicated to have been formed 'on their own' and at random,
and these conditions arespecially created for life alone.
These balances we have briefly described so far are only a few of the
millions of intricate, interrelated balances and orders established so
that people can live inpeace and safety on the earth.
Examining only a part of the balances and harmony on the earth is
enough to comprehend the superior being of Allah and grasp the
existence of a planned creation in every detail of the universe. It is
no doubt impossible for a person or any other living being to build
such an enormous balance and order. Nor are the components of this
order such as atoms,elements, molecules, andgasses capable of
establishing an order based on such intricate and extremely delicate
calculations and measurements, and suchfine tunings. This is because
activities like planning, ordering, arranging, calculating, and
proportioning can only be realized by beings that possess wisdom,
knowledge andpower. The
Exalted Being Who orders, plans and balances the entire universe to be
fit for life of human beings on a planet like earth and Who sustains
it with dramatically delicate measures and balances is Allah, Who has
Infinite Wisdom, Knowledge andPower.
In the Qur'an, it is stated that those people who are able to realize
these facts are only 'people with intelligence':
In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of
night and day, there are Signs for people with intelligence: those who
remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and
reflect on the creation ofthe heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You
have not created this fornothing. Glory be to You!So safeguard us from
thepunishment of the Fire." (Qur'an, 3:190-191)