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 The earth is a living planet where many complex systems run perfectly
and continuously, without pause. When compared to other planets, it is evident
that in all its aspects the earth is specially designed for human life. Built
on delicate balances, life prevails in every spot of this planet, from the
atmosphere to the depths of the earth.
Exploring only a few of the millions of these delicate
balances would be sufficient to show that the world we live in is specially
designed for us.
One of the most important balances in our planet is
revealed in the atmosphere that surrounds us. The atmosphere of the earth
holds the most appropriate gasses in the most appropriate ratio needed for the
survival not only of human beings, but also of all the living beings on the
earth.
The 77% of nitrogen, 21% of oxygen and 1% of carbon
dioxide as well as other gasses readily available in the atmosphere represent
the ideal figures necessary for the survival of living beings. Oxygen, a gas
that is vital for living beings, helps to burn up food and convert it into
energy in our bodies.
If the oxygen quantity in the atmosphere were greater
than 21%, the cells in our body would soon start to suffer great damage. The
vegetation and hydrocarbon molecules needed for life would also be destroyed. If
this quantity were less, then this would cause difficulties in our respiration,
and the food we eat would not be converted into energy. Therefore, the 21% of
oxygen in the atmosphere is the most ideal quantity determined for life.
No less than oxygen, other gasses like nitrogen and
carbon dioxide are also arranged in the ideal quantity for the needs of living
beings and the continuity of life. The amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere
has the ideal ratio to balance the harmful and burning effects of oxygen. This
ratio represents the most appropriate value required for photosynthesis, which
is essential for life’s energy supply on the earth. Moreover, the amount of
carbon dioxide has the most appropriate value needed to maintain the stability
of the surface temperature of the earth and to prevent heat loss especially at
night time. This gas, comprising 1% of the atmosphere, covers the earth like a
quilt and prevents the loss of heat to space. If this amount were greater, the
temperature of the earth would increase excessively, causing climatic
instability and posing a serious threat to the living beings.
These proportions remain constant thanks to a perfect
system. The vegetation covering the earth converts carbon dioxide to oxygen,
producing 190 billion tons of oxygen every day. The proportion of other gasses
is always kept constant on the earth by the help of interconnected complex
systems. Life is thus sustained.
In addition to the establishment of the ideal gas
mixture required for life on earth, the mechanisms needed to preserve and
maintain this order are created alongside with it. Any break in the balance,
though instantaneous, or any change in the ratios even for a very short time
period, would mean the total destruction of life. Yet, this does not happen. The
formation of these gasses in the atmosphere just in the amount people need, and
the constant preservation of these ratios indicate a planned creation.
At the same time, the earth has the ideal size in terms
of magnitude to possess an atmosphere. If the mass of the earth were a little
less, then its gravitational force would be insufficient and the atmosphere
would be dispersed into space. If its mass were a little greater, then the
gravitational force would be too much and the earth would absorb all gasses in
the atmosphere. There is an incredibly high number of conditions required for
the formation of an atmosphere such as the one our world currently has and all
of these conditions should exist altogether to be able to talk of life.
The creation of these delicate proportions and balances
in the sky is mentioned in the Quran:
“He erected heaven and established the balance.” (Quran 55:7)
The majority of people spend their lives without being
aware of the delicate balances and subtle adjustments in the gas composition of
the atmosphere, the distance of the world from the sun or the movements of
planets. They are ignorant of the great significance of these balances and adjustments
to their own lives. However, even a minor deviation in any one of these
arrangements would create very severe problems regarding the existence and
survival of humankind.
There are many other balances established on earth for
the continuity of life:
For instance, if the surface gravity were stronger than
its current value, the atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane
gasses, which would mean the end of life. If it were weaker, the planet’s
atmosphere would lose too much water, and life on earth would be impossible.
The thickness of the earth’s crust constitutes another
one of the delicate balances in the earth. If the earth’s crust were thicker,
too much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust and this
would have severe effects on human life.
If the opposite were true, that is, if the earth’s crust
were thinner, volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great to permit life
on earth.
Another crucial balance for human life is the ozone
level in the atmosphere. If it were greater than its current value, the
surface temperatures would be too low. If it were less, surface temperatures
would be too high, and there would be too much ultraviolet radiation at the
surface.
In fact, the absence of even a single one of these
balances would herald the end to life on earth. However, God has created the
universe with infinite wisdom and power and designed the earth especially for
human life. Despite this fact, the majority of people lead their lives in
total ignorance of these events. In the Quran, God reminds people of His:
“(God) makes night merge into day and day merge into night,
and He has made the sun and moon subservient, each one running until a
specified time. That is God, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call
on besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck.” (Quran 35:13)
It is sufficient to look at millions of dead planets in
space in order to understand that the delicate balances required for life on
earth is not a result of random coincidences. The conditions essential for
life are too complicated to have been formed “on their own” and at random, and
these conditions are specially created for life alone.
These balances we have briefly described so far are only
a few of the millions of intricate, interrelated balances and orders
established so that people can live in peace and safety on the earth.
Examining only a part of the balances and harmony on the
earth is enough to comprehend the superior being of God and grasp the existence
of a planned creation in every detail of the universe. It is no doubt
impossible for a person or any other living being to build such an enormous
balance and order. Nor are the components of this order such as atoms,
elements, molecules, and gasses, capable of establishing an order based on such
intricate and extremely delicate calculations and measurements, and such fine
tunings. This is because activities like planning, ordering, arranging,
calculating, and proportioning can only be realized by beings that possess
wisdom, knowledge and power. The Exalted Being Who orders, plans and balances
the entire universe to be fit for life of human beings on a planet like earth
and Who sustains it with dramatically delicate measures and balances is God,
Who has Infinite Wisdom, Knowledge and Power.
In the Quran, it is stated that those people who are
able to realize these facts are the only “people with intelligence”:
“Indeed in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the
alternation of night and day, there are Signs for people with intelligence:
those who remember God, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect
on the creation of the heavens and the earth: [They say] ‘Our Lord, You have
not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the
punishment of the Fire.” (Quran 3:190-191)
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