Essential in the production of not only light, but also hydrogen and oxygen, the sun plays a primary role in sustaining all of creation across the globe. Swearing, “by the dawn when it breathes“ (“itha tanaffasa”), Allah reveals in the Qur’an the life-sustaining production of oxygen, which is performed only during daylight. Ceasing production as the night “closes in,” oxygen production once again resumes as the horizon approaches the dawn.
So I swear by the retreating stars –
Those that run [their courses] and disappear –
And by the night as it closes in
And by the dawn when it breathes
[That] indeed, the Qur’an is a word
[conveyed by] a noble messenger
{Surah Al-Takwir 81:15-19}
Earth’s Oxygen Production Resumes Daily at Dawn
Making up 21% of the air we breathe, oxygen is produced only during photosynthesis – a process used by plants to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water into sugar. The resulting sugar, glucose, becomes the nutritional fuel supplying plants with energy needed for growth.
Harun Yahya, in A Scientific Miracle of the Quran: The Dawn that Breathes, states, “While 30% of the oxygen in the atmosphere is produced by plants on land, the remaining 70% is produced by plants and unicellular organisms in the seas and oceans – which are capable of performing photosynthesis.”
Yahya points out that “itha tanaffasa”(“when it breathes”), in Surah Al-Takwir, “metaphorically means to breathe deeply or respire.” He notes, “The phrase emphasized in the verse is remarkable in the sense that morning is the time when oxygen production starts, as well as being the time when the oxygen is produced most. In addition, the importance of this fact is emphasized in the verse with the oath being made upon this fact.”
Only with solar energy can Earth’s plants perform photosynthesis, a respiration cycle of inhaling carbon dioxide and exhaling oxygen in the chemical production of glucose. Thus, the oxygen in Earth’s atmosphere could not be produced without the daily dawning of the sun.
Just as the daily dawning of the sun is critical for the process of photosynthesis, so too is the nightly approach of darkness. As the Qur’an reveals in the above verse, the two phenomena are paired in a joint relationship: As the darkness “closes in,” the absence of light halts the cycle of glucose production, and reverses the cycle of respiration. At nights, plants, just like humans and animals, inhale oxygen and exhale CO2.
The Complex Process of Photosynthesis
As discussed by the scientific research team at Istanbul Quran Research Association (IQRA), in Respiration and Photosynthesis, identification of the scientific process now known as photosynthesis is fairly recent. A research team led by American Chemical Engineer Melvin Calvin was awarded the 1961 Nobel Prize for Chemistry for work on photosynthesis.
“At the time of the descent of the Quran,” IQRA notes, “people knew nothing about photosynthesis or transformation of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, or again, about the role played by the sun’s rays in the realization of this process.”
When oxygen is released during photosynthesis, energy in the molecules of nutriments stored in the plant’s cells is chemically released. “So the act of respiration must not be considered exclusively as an exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, but as a more complex process that forms the basic energy source of plants and animals.”
Photosynthesis and the Carbon Cycle
Holli Riebeek, Education and Public Outreach Specialist of NASA Earth Observatory, writes in The Carbon Cycle, “Carbon is both the foundation of all life on Earth, and the source of the majority of energy consumed by human civilization.”
Carbon cycles through Earth’s atmosphere geologically and biologically. The geological, or Slow Carbon Cycle primarily involves carbon compounds expelled by volcanoes, eroding from land into the ocean, sinking to Earth’s mantle and once again expelled by volcanoes.
The biological, or Fast Carbon Cycle, primarily involves photosynthesis. Riebeek reports the two most significant components of the fast carbon cycle are respiration of land-based plants and microscopic organisms in the ocean, called phytoplankton.
Photosynthesis impacts the Fast Carbon Cycle so significantly that monthly CO2 fluctuations associated with plant-growing seasons are measurable. Riebeek reports, “In the Northern Hemisphere winter, when few land plants are growing and many are decaying, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations climb. During the spring, when plants begin growing again, concentrations drop.” She continues, “It is as if the Earth is breathing.”
Every Dawn Breathes New Life Into Earth’s Atmosphere
Providing an excellent fuel source for growing plants, the bonds of carbon molecules are highly-energized. However, without the catalyst provided by sunlight, and the resulting oxygen generation during photosynthesis, the chemical energy to sustain life can never be released.
In Miracles from Quran and the World of Plants, Dr.Nazmy Kaleel abu al Ata states, “Photosynthesis is the basic source of almost all energies on earth and food substances.” Dr. Nazmy, a Biology Specialist at Ain Shams University in Egypt, continues, “and if it hadn’t been for light this process wouldn’t exist and all means of life would vanish.”
Regarding Allah’s oath, “And by the dawn when it breathes,” Harun Yahya points out, “this single feature is enough to prove that the Earth and the whole universe is certainly not an idle place that accidentally came into being. The universe, the Earth we live in all the systems that sustains life on Earth, animals and men, are all created by the Almighty Allah, in all their intricate detail.”
Every morning brings a fresh, new start to the cycle of photosynthesis. Every dawn brings a new day, literally breathing new life into Earth’s atmosphere, a blessing from Allah for all of His creation. We may be reminded by this to recite the following du’a upon waking every morning:
Alhamdulillaahil-lathee ‘aafaanee fee jasadee,
wa radda ‘alayya roohee,
wa ‘athina lee bithikrihi.
“Praise is to Allah
Who gave strength to my body
and returned my soul to me
and permitted me to remember Him.”
(–The Prophet Muhammad, recorded by At-Tirmithi 5/473)
(This is an article I wrote for onislam.net, but their website disappeared, unfortunately, and it was never published. Insha’ Allah, I hope you found it interesting!)
;^)
Subhanallah!! Really a thought provoking & a humbling read.
So typical of us all, to always say “Scientifically that’s not true or this isn’t true”with an air of authority, how many of us tell the same equation with ,that much of an authority for an Islamic fact?
Thank you for this read sister!! Jazakallahu khayran!
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Barak Allah fiki dear Sis! Thank you so much! xoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤
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Thank you for sharing dear friend Aisha!
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Wonderful to see you, dear Della, thanks so much! xoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤
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Hi my wonderful friend Aisha!When I first saw the title of your superb post,I thought it was written in Greek.Photosynthesis,a compound word of Greek origin that shows the grandeur of our Big Mother.What a pity to see that a most interesting and scientific article had vanished.It was very kind of you to share it with us on the WP platform.I like the way you have connected it with the Greator.Hope you’re keeping well and that 2016 has pleasantly started walking on the paths of your life.Sending you my best NY wishes,love & blessings as always 🙂 ❤ ,Doda xxx
PS:I was away from WP during my holidays and I have started playing catch up gain 😦
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Ahhh, it was hiding in the spam box! I can’t imagine why WP did that – how stupid was that??? I hope you saw my reply below, my dearest Doda!
Thank you for such a beautiful comment, sweet friend! I have missed you, too. I appreciate your perspective on our big Mother Earth and on the Greek origins of so many words in the English vocabulary. So happy to see you in between holidays, dear Doda! love and hugs and blessings back to you too! xoxoxo ;^)
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I am so very happy my loveliest friend Aisha!I was really shocked to see it was missing,and I felt a bit embarrassed because I thought I was offensive … I am really relieved it was sorted out.
Here is my reply to your kind and explanatory response.Thank you ever so much xxxxx ; ^ ) *** :
“Hi sweet sweet sweet Aisha,I am totally delighted it’s sorted out,sadness has no place and will never have between us.But,you know,some times a little detail might be offensive to other cultures and religion beliefs.You very well know that I strongly believe in religious freedom and tolerance,I respect everbody and everything,that’s the way I was brought up.Much love back to you,my loveliest one”
All the very best to you ~ Enjoy a peaceful weekend xxx ❤ xxx ❤ xxx ❤ xxx
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lol, and here’s more hugs and love and big smiles!!! xoxoxo ;^)
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Amen! The whole cosmos has a divine rhythm and here on earth the dance of life! Lovely share Aisha and though I do not swear by any one book I see truth in your words of the connection of science/nature to the divine!
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Peace and blessing on you, Dear Cybele! Thanks so much for your beautiful view of the cosmos – your amazing photos reflect this beauty for me so perfectly! xoxoxo ;^)
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what you wrote has truth and such beauty to it. I could feel the awe that is a gift of God – and I am so happy you see that my images try to reflect that too. Much love to you.
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❤ ❤ ❤ love and hugs back! ;^)
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Hi sweet Aisha!I am so very sorry to see my comment missing.I don’t know what happened,but I suspect that there was something you didn’t like.You could have rearranged it,I could have perfectly understood,my lovely friend.I remember I had started my comment by saying that I’d thought it was an article written in Greek lol because of the word photosynthesis and so on and so on ….I also remember I had mention the word creator ….. Was it offensive ?I’m terribly sorry,you know how much I like your work ….
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oh, dearest Doda! I swear I never saw your comment at all!!! I would never delete anyone’s comment, but especially – especially – not yours!!! I will go hunt the spam box in case WP put it there by some stupid mistake, but all of my commenters are pre-approved, so this is very strange for me too. Please, parakalo para poly! never imagine I have anything but the highest respect and love for you, dear sweet friend, dear Doda! xoxoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤ ;^)
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Such a very interesting post dear Aisha.. so important to know.. I tell my granddaughter all the time the trees create what we breath.. and how its a two way process.. Your explanation and graphics beautifully done.. Mother Nature thanks you ..Long may we live in harmony and balance with our Earth Mother..
Blessings your way my lovely friend xxx
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Amen, Dear Sue! Thanks for the visit and your very sweet comment! xoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤ ;^)
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❤ ❤
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Hi dear Kathleen.. just dropping in to see how you are my friend.. its been a while since you last posted and was wondering if you are well.
Love and Blessings to you and yours my friend xxx Sue
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Mashallah Mashallah. Bless you forever. Jazakallah for such beautiful blog
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Barak Allah fiki, Dear Sis, Subhan’Allah, your blog is fantastic, masha’Allah! Thanks so much for your comment and Alhamdulillah I’m very happy to “meet” you!
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Dropping by again dear Kathleen Aisha.. Hope all is well with you my friend.. And sending love and Blessings to you and Yours..
Sue ❤ xxx
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Thanks so much dearest Sue! You are so sweet to remember me and drop by to see me! All is well, alhamdulillah – Thanks God – life’s thrown some pretty big curve balls at us and I’ve been too busy to spend time on my blog, but hopefully I’ll get back around to it again one of these days! Hope all is well with you, too – how’s your lovely garden doing this year?
love and peace and blessings to you and yours too, and lots of big smiles!
K. Aisha xoxoxoxo ❤ ❤ ❤
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Good to know all is well with you 🙂 Thank you, yes the garden is doing well and getting plenty of rain this week 🙂 xxx ❤
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Jazak Allah
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