The Miracle of Iron
Description: The Quran seems to imply that the iron was something "sent dow=
n" and not from this earth, an idea not foreign to 20th century science.
Iron is one of the elements highlighted in the Quran. In the chapter known =
Al-Hadeed, meaning Iron, we are informed:
"And We also sent down iron in which there lies great force and which has m=
any uses for mankind..." (Quran 57:25)
The word "anzalna," translated as "sent down" and used for iron in the vers=
e, could be thought of having a metaphorical meaning to explain that iron h=
as been given to benefit people. But, when we take into consideration the l=
iteral meaning of the word, which is, "being physically sent down from the =
sky, as this word usage had not been employed in the Quran except literally=
, like the descending of the rain or revelation, we realize that this verse=
implies a very significant scientific miracle. Because, modern astronomica=
l findings have disclosed that the iron found in our world has come from gi=
ant stars in outer space.[1]
Not only the iron on earth, but also the iron in the entire Solar System, c=
omes from outer space, since the temperature in the Sun is inadequate for t=
he formation of iron. The sun has a surface temperature of 6,000 degrees Ce=
lsius, and a core temperature of approximately 20 million degrees. Iron can=
only be produced in much larger stars than the Sun, where the temperature =
reaches a few hundred million degrees. When the amount of iron exceeds a ce=
rtain level in a star, the star can no longer accommodate it, and it eventu=
ally explodes in what is called a "nova" or a "supernova." These explosions=
make it possible for iron to be given off into space.[2]
One scientific source provides the following information on this subject:
"There is also evidence for older supernova events: Enhanced levels of iron=
-60 in deep-sea sediments have been interpreted as indications that a super=
nova explosion occurred within 90 light-years of the sun about 5 million ye=
ars ago. Iron-60 is a radioactive isotope of iron, formed in supernova expl=
osions, which decays with a half life of 1.5 million years. An enhanced pre=
sence of this isotope in a geologic layer indicates the recent nucleosynthe=
sis of elements nearby in space and their subsequent transport to the earth=
(perhaps as part of dust grains)."[3]
All this shows that iron did not form on the Earth, but was carried from Su=
pernovas, and was "sent down," as stated in the verse. It is clear that thi=
s fact could not have been known in the 7th century, when the Quran was rev=
ealed. Nevertheless, this fact is related in the Quran, the Word of God, Wh=
o encompasses all things in His infinite knowledge.
The fact that the verse specifically mentions iron is quite astounding, con=
sidering that these discoveries were made at the end of the 20th century. I=
n his book Nature's Destiny, the well-known microbiologist Michael Denton e=
mphasizes the importance of iron:
"Of all the metals there is none more essential to life than iron. It is th=
e accumulation of iron in the center of a star which triggers a supernova e=
xplosion and the subsequent scattering of the vital atoms of life throughou=
t the cosmos. It was the drawing by gravity of iron atoms to the center of =
the primeval earth that generated the heat which caused the initial chemica=
l differentiation of the earth, the outgassing of the early atmosphere, and=
ultimately the formation of the hydrosphere. It is molten iron in the cent=
er of the earth which, acting like a gigantic dynamo, generates the earth's=
magnetic field, which in turn creates the Van Allen radiation belts that s=
hield the earth's surface from destructive high-energy-penetrating cosmic r=
adiation and preserve the crucial ozone layer from cosmic ray destruction..=
.
"Without the iron atom, there would be no carbon-based life in the cosmos; =
no supernovae, no heating of the primitive earth, no atmosphere or hydrosph=
ere. There would be no protective magnetic field, no Van Allen radiation be=
lts, no ozone layer, no metal to make hemoglobin [in human blood], no metal=
to tame the reactivity of oxygen, and no oxidative metabolism.
"The intriguing and intimate relationship between life and iron, between th=
e red color of blood and the dying of some distant star, not only indicates=
the relevance of metals to biology but also the biocentricity of the cosmo=
s..."[4]
This account clearly indicates the importance of the iron atom. The fact th=
at particular attention is drawn to iron in the Quran also emphasizes the i=
mportance of the element.
Moreover, iron oxide particles were used in a cancer treatment in recent mo=
nths and positive developments were observed. A team led by Dr. Andreas Jor=
dan, at the world famous Charit=E9 Hospital in Germany, succeeded in destro=
ying cancer cells with this new technique developed for the treatment of ca=
ncer--magnetic fluid hyperthermia (high temperature magnetic liquid). As a =
result of this technique, first performed on the 26-year-old Nikolaus H., n=
o new cancer cells were observed in the patient in the following three mont=
hs.
This method of treatment can be summarized as follows:
1. A liquid containing iron oxide particles is injected into the tumour by =
means of a special syringe. These particles spread throughout the tumour ce=
lls. This liquid consists of thousands of millions of particles, 1,000 time=
s smaller than the red blood corpuscles, of iron oxide in 1 cm3 that can ea=
sily flow through all blood vessels. [5]
2. The patient is then placed in a machine with a powerful magnetic field.
3. This magnetic field, applied externally, begins to set the iron particle=
s in the tumour in motion. During this time the temperature in the tumour c=
ontaining the iron oxide particles rises by up to 45 degrees.
4. In a few minutes the cancer cells, unable to protect themselves from the=
heat, are either weakened or destroyed. The tumour may then be completely =
eradicated with subsequent chemotherapy.[6]
In this treatment it is only the cancer cells that are affected by the magn=
etic field, since only they contain the iron oxide particles. The spread of=
this technique is a major development in the treatment of this potentially=
lethal disease. Iron has also been found to be a cure for people suffering=
from anemia. In the treatment of such a widespread diseases, the use of th=
e expression "iron in which there lies great force and which has many uses =
for mankind" (Quran, 57:25) in the Quran is particularly noteworthy. Indeed=
, in that verse, the Quran may be indicating the benefits of iron even for =
human health. (God knows best.)
Footnotes:
[1] Dr. Mazhar U. Kazi, 130 Evident Miracles in the Qur'an (New York, USA: =
Crescent Publishing House: 1998), 110-111; and www.wamy.co.uk/announcements=
3.html, from Prof. Zighloul Raghib El-Naggar's speech.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Priscilla Frisch, "The Galactic Environment of the Sun," American Scien=
tist, January-February 2000, www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail=
/assetid/21173?fulltext=3Dtrue.
[4] Michael J. Denton, Nature's Destiny (The Free Press: 1998), 198.
[5] www.inm-gmbh.de/cgi-bin/frame/frameloader.pl?sprache=3Den&url=3Dhttp://=
www.inm-gmbh.de/htdocs/technologien/highlights/highlights_en.htm.
[6] "Nanotechnology successfully helps cancer therapies," IIC Fast Track, N=
anotech News from Eastern Germany, Industrial Investment Council, October 2=
003; www.iic.de/uploads/media/NANO_FT_Nov2003_01.pdf
http://www.islamreligion.com/articles/562/miracle-of-iron/
Thank you