The
Equilibriums that Make Life Possible
The things
we have mentioned so far are just a few of the
delicate equilibriums that are essential for life
on Earth. Examining the earth, we can make the
list of the "essential factors for life" a long
as we please. The American astronomer Hugh Ross
has made a list of his own:
Surface Gravity;
- If stronger: atmosphere would retain too much
ammonia and methane
- If weaker: planet's atmosphere would lose too
much water
Distance From
Parent Star;
- if farther: planet would be too cool for a stable
water cycle
- if closer: planet would be too warm for a stable
water cycle
Thickness
of crust;
- if thicker: too much oxygen would be transferred
from the atmosphere to the crust
- if thinner: volcanic and tectonic activity would
be too great
Rotation period;
-If longer: diurnal temperature differences would
be too great
-If shorter: atmospheric wind velocities would
be too great
Gravitational
interaction with moon;
- If greater: tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere,
and rotational period would be too severe
- If less: orbital obliquity changes would cause
climatic instabilities
Magnetic Field;
- If stronger: electromagnetic storms would be
too severe
- If weaker: inadequate protection from hard stellar
radiation
Albedo (Ratio
of Reflected light to total amount falling on
surface);
- If greater: runaway ice age would develop
- If less: runaway greenhouse effect would develop
Oxygen to
nitrogen ratio in the atmosphere;
- if larger: advanced life functions would
proceed too quickly
- if smaller: advanced life functions would proceed
too slowly
Carbon dioxide
and water vapour levels in atmosphere;
- if greater: runaway greenhouse effect would
develop
- if less: greenhouse effect would be insufficient
Ozone level
in Atmosphere;
- if greater: surface temperature would be too
low
- if less: surface temperatures would be too high;
there would be too much uv radiation at the surface
 Seismic
Activity;
- if greater: too many life-forms would be destroyed
- if less: nutrients on ocean floors (from river
runoff) would not be recycled to the continents
through tectonic uplift.1
These are just
some of the "design decisions" that had to be
made in order for life to exist and survive. But
even these are enough to show that the earth did
not come into being as a result of chance nor
was it formed as a result of a lucky chain of
events.
These and a myriad
other details reaffirm a plain and simple truth:
Allah and Allah alone created the universe, the
stars, planets, mountains, and seas perfectly,
giving life to human beings and other living things,
and placing His creations under the control of
mankind. Allah and Allah alone, the source of
mercy and might, is powerful enough to create
something from nothingness.
This perfect
creation of Allah is described in the Qur'an thus:
Are you
stronger in structure or is heaven? He built it.
He raised its vault high and made it level. He
darkened its night and brought forth its morning
light. After that He smoothed out the earth and
brought forth from it its water and its pastureland
and made the mountains firm for you and for your
livestock to enjoy. (Surat an-Nazi'at: 27-33)
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