| Two digital communication satellites collided one of them is Russian while the other is American for the first time. Such incident makes us contemplate what Allah says in the holy Qur’an “He withholds the sky from falling on the earth” Let’s read… |
Despite the vastness of the circumterrestrial outer space and despite the small number of satellites which are very small in comparison to the celestial bodies, and despite the highly developed techniques that astronomers have come up with, the possibility that such satellites might collide is still there and it’s actually what happened.
NASA said that the American Iridium satellite collided with an out of service Russian satellite in the Siberian atmosphere while the first was rotating very fast at the height of 780 Km. This incident has been affirmed by the Russian space agency Roscosmos saying that a Russian satellite weighing almost 1000 Kg and which was launched in 1993 and has been out of service lately collided with another satellite.
The collision caused the formation of a huge cloud in the space out of the wreckage of both satellites and it would take weeks for this cloud to vanish. NASA says that since 1957, around 6 thousand satellites have been launched three thousands of which are still currently active and they revolve round the earth constantly, but this is the first time that two satellites collide. NASA added that it’s observing the collision wreckageand hopes that most of it would burn when entering the airspace. There are concerns that the wreckage spreads in the space and collides with the International space station that revolves round the earth at the height of 435 Km. NASA, however confirmed that the collision doesn’t constitute any threat to the international space station where there are three astronauts currently adding that the station’s orbit is 400 Km less than the path of the collision’s wreckage. NASA asserts that the space station is able to maneuver when necessary to evade colliding with the wreckage.
Nickolas Johnson, spokesman of Johnson space center, says that the wreckage poses little danger to the giant Hubble space telescope which is close to the collision position and the earth observing satellites. Specialized astronomers in space say the waste that result from old satellites wreckage expressed growing concern over the increase of such waste in the space that started to constitute a danger to space shuttle flights.
A comment on this scientific news
This news about the two satellites collision made me pause and I remembered the following Qur’anic verse:
“Seest thou not that God has made subject to you (men) all that is on the earth, and the ships that sail through the sea by his command? He withholds the sky (rain) from falling on the earth except by His leave: for God is Most Kind and Most Merciful to man.” Hajj:56
And also the following verse:
“It is God who sustains the heavens and the earth, lest they cease (to function): and if they should fail, there is none—not one— can sustain them thereafter: verily He is Most Forbearing, oft-Forgiving.” Fatir: 41
These verses have long been used by skeptics as a means of challenging the truthfulness of Qur’an. Nevertheless, in light of this scientific news, we realize the significance of these Qur’anic verses. Despite the great techniques the West has; they have, for instance, scientific laboratories, intelligent minds, scientists, and giant computers. Still all such technologies failed to observe a very small satellite that was diving in the space. I’d like therefore to ask atheists how this spacious universe is functioning with all these billions of billions of celestial bodies, galaxies, meteors, black holes, and stars. Could all these bodies function by mere coincidence! That’s why we should realise the meaning of this verse:
“God! There is no god but He,—the Living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. no slumber can seize Him nor sleep” Baqara: 255
Imagine if Allah slumbers for only one second, what would happen? The entire universe would cease to exist, it would collapse, and collisions would take place, and there would be nothing left of this universe. That’s why Allah says:
“…His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding, and preserving them for He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).” Baqara: 255
All glory to Allah.
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By: Abduldaem Al-Kaheel
References: BBC
