The History of God-Realization

The vast universe and all the human beings in the world have, without doubt, been created according to the divine plan, in terms of which all things have to have a meaningful conclusion. This, without doubt, must be the subject of serious study, related as it is to the individual as well as to the whole of human history. The picture that is formed by a thorough study of the relevant literature is presented below. According to scientific study, God, the Lord of the World, initiated the beginning of the universe about thirteen billion years ago. During this period the entire universe gradually came into existence in a planned way. This period may be broadly divided into six major phases.

1. The Big Bang: As is known, the first event which took place in the universe was that the Creator caused a huge explosion to take place in space about 13 billion years ago. This explosion was called the Big Bang by the English astronomer, Fred Hoyle, in 1949. This Big Bang has now become a scientifically established fact. This explosion which started the present universe has been hinted in the Quran: “Do not those who deny the truth see that the heavens and the earth were joined together and that We then split them asunder?” (21:30) This means that, in the light of scientific knowledge, there was initially a super atom within which existed all the particles of the universe. After this explosion, the particles of the Big Bang spread rapidly in every direction and then, as a result of very wise planning, passing through different stages, the combination of these particles brought into existence the present universe.
2. The Solar Bang: Another major event pertaining to this gradual process may be called the Solar Bang. After a long process, the solar system, with all its planets, came into existence. This event of the universe has been implied in the Quran thus: “It is He who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, each gliding in its orbit” (21:33).

This solar system is situated at the border of the great galaxy which is called the Milky Way. Due to its positioning, the solar system had a safe area in the universe which is essential for the survival of a creature like man.

3. The Water Bang: The third event of the universe is what we may call the Water Bang. That is, the cooling of the planet earth and then the coming into existence of the reservoir of water on earth. And then the birth of all kinds of life due to the presence of water. This event is alluded to in the Quran: “And that We have made every living thing out of water? Will they still not believe?” (21:30). Water is of major importance to all living things. In some organisms up to the 90% of their body weight is made up of water. Up to 60% the body of the human adult consists of water.
4. The Plant Bang: The fourth major event to take place on the earth was the world of vegetation having come into existence. This may be called the Plant Bang, which made the earth a green planet. This event is described thus in the Quran: “From the rain clouds We send waters pouring down in abundance, so that We may bring forth thereby grain and a variety of plants and gardens dense with foliage.” (78:14-16)
5. The Animal Bang: The fifth phase is that of different kinds of living things coming into existence on earth, right from insects to elephants and tigers. This fifth phase of creation may be termed the Animal Bang. The number of living species is so great as to be almost incalculable.

“Eight million seven hundred thousand is the latest estimated total number of species on the earth and the most precise calculation ever offered, according to a study co-authored by a researcher working with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Around 6.5 million species have been found on land and 2.2 million (about 25% of the total) dwell in the ocean depths. The report also shows that 86% of all species on land and 91% of those in the seas have yet to be discovered, described or catalogued.” (Census of Marine Life, Washington DC, August 23, 2011)

6. The Human Bang: The sixth Bang is what may be called the Human Bang. In this last phase, man was created, and human beings spread across earth by reproduction, generation after generation. It has become apparent that over 13 billion years, every kind of creative event has taken place in a planned way. The purpose of this was that in the last phase man would be created and settled on the earth and then given the opportunity to bring civilization into existence by his own independent efforts. Civilization amounted to the partial unfolding of the words of God (Quran 31:27, 18:109) in a limited sense. The result of these workings of nature was to give a human being the opportunity to elevate his mind to a high level of development.