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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