The 20th century saw a great many new discoveries regarding celestial phenomena in the universe. One of these entities, which has only recently been encountered, is the Black Hole. These are formed when a star which has consumed all its fuel collapses in on itself, eventually turning into a black hole with infinite density and zero volume and an immensely powerful magnetic field. We are unable to see black holes even with the most powerful telescope, because their gravitational pull is so strong that light is unable to escape from them. However, such a collapsed star can be perceived by means of the effect it has on the surrounding area. In Surat al-Waqi’a, Allah draws attention to this matter in this way, by swearing upon the position of stars:

And I swear by the stars’ positions-and that is a mighty oath if you only knew. (Qur’an, 56:75-76)

The term “black hole” was first employed in 1969 by the American physicist John Wheeler. Previously, we imagined that we were able to see all the stars. However, it later emerged that there were stars in space whose light we were unable to perceive. Because, the light of these collapsed stars disappears. Light cannot escape from a black hole because it is such a high concentration of mass in a small space. The enormous gravitation captures even the fastest particles, i.e. the photons. For example, the final stage of a typical star, three times the mass of the Sun, ends after its burning out and its implosion as a black hole of only 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) in diameter! Black holes are “black,” i.e. veiled from direct observation. They nevertheless reveal themselves indirectly, by the tremendous suction which their gravitational force exerts on other heavenly bodies. As well as depictions of the Day of Judgement, the verse below may also be pointing to this scientific discovery about black holes:

When the stars are extinguished. (Qur’an, 77:8)

Moreover, stars of great mass also cause warps to be perceived in space. Black holes, however, do not just cause warps in space but also tear holes in it. That is why these collapsed stars are known as black holes. This fact may be referred to in the verse about stars, and this is another important item of information demonstrating that the Qur’an is the word of Allah:

[I swear] by Heaven and the Tariq! And what will convey to you what the Tariq is? The Star Piercing [the darkness]! (Qur’an, 86:1-3)

PULSARS: PULSATING STARS

[I swear] by Heaven and the Tariq! And what will convey to you what the Tariq is? The Star Piercing [the darkness]! (Qur’an, 86:1-3)

The word “Tariq,” name of the Sura 86, comes from the root “tarq,” whose basic meaning is that of striking hard enough to produce a sound, or hitting. Bearing in mind the word’s possible meaning as “beating,” “striking hard,” our attention may be being drawn in this sura to an important scientific fact. Before analysing this information, let us look at the other words employed in the verse to describe these stars. The term “al-taariqi” in the above verse means a star that pierces the night, that pierces the darkness, born at night, piercing and moving on, beating, striking, or sharp star. Furthermore, the term “wa” draws attention to the things being sworn on-the heaven and the Tariq.

Through research carried out by Jocelyn Bell Burnell, at Cambridge University in 1967, a regular radio signal was identified. Until that time, however, it was not known that that there was a heavenly body that could be the source of regular pulse or beating rather like that of the heart. In 1967, however, astronomers stated that, as matter grows denser in the core as it revolves around its own axis, the star’s magnetic field also grows stronger, and thus gives rise to a magnetic field at its poles 1 trillion times stronger than that of Earth. They realised that a body revolving so fast and with such a powerful magnetic field emits rays consisting of very powerful radio waves in a conic form at every revolution. Shortly afterwards, it was also realised that the source of these signals is the rapid revolution of neutron stars. These newly discovered neutron stars are known as “pulsars.” These stars, which turn into pulsars through supernova explosions, are of the greatest mass, and are the brightest and fastest moving bodies in the universe. Some pulsars revolve 600 times a second. 1

The word “pulsar” comes from the verb to pulse. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, the word means to pulsate, to beat. Encarta Dictionary defines it as to beat rhythmically, to move or throb with a strong regular rhythm. Again, according to the Encarta Dictionary, the word “pulsate,” which comes from the same root, means to expand and contract with a strong regular beat.

Following that discovery, it was realised that the phenomenon described in the Qur’an as “tariq,” beating, bore a great similarity to the neutron stars known as pulsars.

Neutron stars form as the nuclei of super giant stars collapse. The highly compressed and dense matter, in the form of a rapidly revolving sphere, entraps and squeezes most of the star’s weight and magnetic field. The powerful magnetic field created by these rapidly revolving neutron stars has been shown to cause the emission of powerful radio waves observable on Earth.

In the third verse of Surat at-Tariq the term “al-najmu al-thaaqibu,” meaning piercing, moving on, or opening holes, indicates that Tariq is a bright star that pierces a hole in the darkness and moves on. The concept of the term “adraaka” in the expression “And what will convey to you what the Tariq is?” refers to comprehension. Pulsars, formed through the compression of stars several times the size of the Sun, are among those celestial bodies that are hard to comprehend. The question in the verse emphasizes how hard it is to comprehend this beating star. (Allah knows best.)

As discussed, the stars described as Tariq in the Qur’an bear a close similarity to the pulsars described in the 20th century, and may reveal to us another scientific miracle of the Qur’an.

THE STAR SIRIUS

When certain concepts mentioned in the Qur’an are studied in the light of 21st century scientific discoveries we find ourselves imparted with yet more miracles of the Qur’an. One of these is the star Sirius, mentioned in Surat an-Najm 49:

… it is He Who is the Lord of Sirius. (Qur’an, 53: 49)

The fact that the Arabic word “shi’raa,” the equivalent of the star Sirius, appears only in Surat an-Najm, meaning only “star,” 49 is particularly striking. Because, considering the irregularity in the movement of Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky, as their starting point, scientists discovered that it was actually a double star. Sirius is actually a set of two stars, known as Sirius A and Sirius B. The larger of these is Sirius A, which is also the closer to the Earth and the brightest star that can be seen with the naked eye. Sirius B, however, cannot be seen without a telescope.

The Sirius double stars orbit in ellipses about one another. The orbital period of Sirius A & B about their common centre of gravity is 49.9 years. This scientific data is today accepted with one accord by the departments of astronomy at Harvard, Ottawa and Leicester Universities.2 This information is reported as follows in various sources:

Sirius, the brightest star, is actually a twin star… Its orbit lasts 49.9 years.3

As is known, the stars Sirius-A and Sirius-B orbit each other in a double bow every 49.9 years.4

The point requiring attention here is the double, bow-shaped orbit of the two stars around one another.

However, this scientific fact, the accuracy of which was only realised in the late 20th century, was miraculously indicated in the Qur’an 1,400 years ago. When verses 49 and 9 of Surat an-Najm are read together, this miracle becomes apparent:

It is He Who is the Lord of Sirius. (Qur’an, 53: 49)

He was two bow-lengths away or even closer. (Qur’an, 53:9)

The description in Surat an-Najm 9 may also describe how these two stars approach one another in their orbits. (Allah knows best.) This scientific fact, that nobody could have known at the time of the revelation of the Qur’an, once again proves that the Qur’an is the word of Almighty Allah.

THE STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE STARS

We built seven firm layers above you. We installed a blazing lamp. (Qur’an, 78:12-13)

As we know, the only source of light in the Solar System is the Sun. With advances in technology, astronomers discovered that the Moon was not a source of light but that it merely reflects the light reaching it from the Sun. The expression “lamp” in the above verse is a translation of the Arabic word “siraaj,” which most perfectly describes the Sun, the source of light and heat.

In the Qur’an Allah employs different words when referring to such celestial bodies as the Moon, the Sun and the stars. This is how the differences between the structures of the Sun and Moon are expressed in the Qur’an:

Don’t you see how He created seven heavens in layers, and placed the Moon as a light in them and made the sun a blazing lamp? (Qur’an, 71:15-16)

In the above verse, the word “light” is used for the Moon (“noor” in Arabic) and the word “lamp” for the Sun (“siraaj” in Arabic.) The word used for the Moon refers to a light-reflecting, bright, motionless body. The word used for the Sun refers to a celestial body which is always burning, a constant source of heat and light.

On the other hand, the word “star” comes from the Arabic root “najama,” meaning “appearing, emerging, visible.” As in the verse below, stars are also referred to by the word “thaaqib,” which is used for that which shines and pierces the darkness with light: self-consuming and burning:

It is the star that pierces through darkness! (Qur’an, 86:3)

We now know that the Moon does not emit its own light but reflects that reaching it from the Sun. We also know that the Sun and stars do emit their own light. These facts were revealed in the Qur’an in an age when mankind simply did not have the means to make scientific discoveries of their own accord. It was an age when peoples’ knowledge of celestial bodies was severely restricted, to say the least. This further emphasises the miraculous nature of the book of Islam.

ORBITS AND THE ROTATING UNIVERSE

One of the most important reasons for the great equilibrium in the universe is the fact that celestial bodies follow specific paths. Stars, planets and satellites all rotate around their own axes and also rotate together with the system of which they are a part. The universe functions within a finely-tuned order, just like the wheels in a factory.

There are more than 100 billion galaxies in the visible universe and each small galaxy contains approximately a billion stars. Furthermore, each big galaxy contains more than a trillion.5 Many of these stars have planets and many of those planets have satellites. All these celestial bodies follow the most finely calculated paths and orbits. For millions of years, each one has been moving in its own path in flawless harmony with all the others. In addition to these, there are also a great many comets moving along in their own pre-determined paths.

In addition, the paths in the universe are not restricted to a few celestial bodies. The Solar System and even other galaxies also exhibit considerable motion around other centres. Every year, Earth, and the Solar System with it, move some 500 million km (310 million miles) from where they were the previous year. It has been calculated that even the slightest deviation from celestial bodies’ paths could have drastic consequences which might spell the end of the entire system. For example, the consequences of the Earth’s deviating from its course by a mere 3 mm have been described in one source as follows:

While rotating around the sun, the earth follows such an orbit that, every 18 miles, it only deviates 2.8 millimetres from a direct course. The orbit followed by the earth never changes, because even a deviation of 3 millimetres would cause catastrophic disasters: If the deviation were 2.5 mm instead of 2.8 mm, then the orbit would be very large, and all of us would freeze. If the deviation were 3.1 mm, we would be scorched to death.6

Another characteristic of heavenly bodies is that they also rotate around their own axes. The verse which reads “[I swear] by Heaven with its cyclical systems,” (Qur’an, 86:11) indicates this truth. Naturally, at the time when the Qur’an was revealed, people had no telescopes with which to study bodies millions of kilometres away in space, advanced observation technology or our modern knowledge of physics and astronomy. It was therefore impossible to establish that space had “its oscillating orbits,” (Qur’an, 51:7) as described in the verse. The Qur’an however, revealed at that time, provided clear information concerning that fact. This is proof that this book is indeed Allah’s word.

THE SUN’S TRAJECTORY

It is stressed in the Qur’an that the Sun and Moon follow specific trajectories:

It is He Who created night and day and the Sun and Moon, each one swimming in a sphere. (Qur’an, 21:33)

The word “swim” in the above verse is expressed in Arabic by the word “sabaha” and is used to describe the movement of the Sun in space. The word means that the Sun does not move randomly through space but that it rotates around its axis and follows a course as it does so. The fact that the Sun is not fixed in position but rather follows a specific trajectory is also stated in another verse:

And the Sun runs to its resting place. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. (Qur’an, 36:38)

These facts set out in the Qur’an were only discovered by means of astronomical advances in our own time. According to astronomers’ calculations, the Sun moves along a path known as the Solar Apex in the path of the star Vega at an incredible speed of 720,000 kmph (447,000 mph). In rough terms, this shows that the Sun traverses some 17.28 million km (10.74 million miles) a day. As well as the Sun itself, all the planets and satellites within its gravitational field also travel the same distance.

THE MOON’S ORBIT

And We have decreed set phases for the Moon, until it ends up looking like an old date branch. It is not for the Sun to overtake the Moon nor for the night to outstrip the day; each one is swimming in a sphere. (Qur’an, 36:39-40)

The Moon does not follow a regular orbit like the satellites of other planets. As it orbits the Earth, it sometimes moves behind it and sometimes in front. As it also moves with the Earth around the Sun, it actually follows a constant pattern resembling the letter “S” in space. This route, traced by the Moon in space, is described in the Qur’an as resembling an old date branch and does indeed resemble the twisted form of the date tree branch. Indeed, the word “urjoon” employed in the Qur’an refers to a thin and twisted date branch and is used to describe that part left after the fruit has been picked. The way that this branch is described as “old” is also most appropriate since old date branches are thinner and more twisted.

There is no doubt that it was impossible for anyone to have any knowledge about the orbit of the Moon 1,400 years ago. The way that this pattern, identified by modern technology and accumulated knowledge, was revealed in the Book is yet another scientific miracle of the Qur’an.

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1- “First Double Pulsar Found,” January 9, 2004; www.atnf.csiro.au/news/press/double_pulsar/

2- Leicester edu dept of Physics & astronomy; www.star.le.ac.uk/astrosoc/whatsup/stars.html; University of Ottowa; www.site.uottawa.ca:4321/astronomy/index.html#Sirius; Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/~hrs/ay45/Fall2002/ChapterIVPart2.pdf

3- “Exposes Astronomiques, La troisième loi de KEPLER;” http://www.astrosurf.com/eratosthene/HTML/exposetheoastro.htm

4- http://www.dharma.com.tr/dkm/article.php?sid=87

5- World Book Encyclopedia, 2003; contributor: Kenneth Brecher, Ph.D., Professor of Astronomy and Physics, Boston University.

6- Bilim ve Teknik (Science and Technology Journal), July 1983.

Sun damage is a form of extrinsic aging, which is early aging that is caused by the surrounding. Extrinsic aging is collective, means that effects exacerbate with repeating, unprotected contact to the sun. Skin is a complex entity consisting of cells and tissues that form the outer surface of the body. It can suffer from environmental insults, including temperature, humidity and solar energy. Changes in the skin are perceived as aging. This phenomenon is not simply a result of chronological aging but a reflection of the consequences of excessive ultraviolet exposure from the sun’s rays.

Sun damage occurs both indoor and out and at any time of the day, regardless if it is sunny or cloudy. During spring even casual exposure can cause UV damage. Melanin transforms UV-photons quickly into harmless amount of heat generating free radicals and is therefore an excellent photoprotectant against direct and indirect DNA damages.

Although the sun is necessary for life, sun damage to skin is caused by the invisible and intense ultraviolet radiation of sun exposure. Some of those harmful effects are visible right away like suntan and sunburn but others appear and worsen overtime such as liver spots and wrinkles. With repeated intense sun exposure the skin damage can even progress into cancer.

Sun damage prevention

1) Protect yourself against sun damage: protect yourself against daily sun damage by applying sun protection prior to every time you are going to e in direct or indirect contact with the sun. Sun protection ought to be applied to the face, ears, lips and neck. Do not forget to protect your scalp if you have bald spots or your hair is thinning. For extended and intentional exposure when you are working, exercising or relaxing outdoors, sun protection should be reapplied every 2 to 3 hours.

2) Fully cover your body: In order to minimize sun exposure, you should search for shade on every possible occasion. Firmly woven, loose fitting, full-length clothing and wide brimmed hat can offer additional protection. To help avoid damage to your eyes, sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV rays should be worn.

3) Try to avoid sun between 11am to 4pm: UV rays are strongest between 11am to 4pm. Try to avoid the sun during these hours.

4) Oppose the temptation: Refuse to give in to the desire to tan outdoors in natural light or indoors under artificial UV light. UV rays enter the inner layer of the skin. In reply, the body produces additional melanin. That causes the skin obviously to be darker. A tan is proof that UV has damaged some of the skin’s cell. It has been verified that a tan is not healthy or safe.

5) Get expert advice: to help ensure the potential of a healthy, beautiful skin, you should schedule regular appointments with your dermatologist. Your dermatologist can offer education and information about skin care and explain the numerous sun damage prevention and all treatment options that are available to you.

Sun damage treatment

1) Retinol: Retinol is pure vitamin A. vitamin A is a part of forming and maintaining healthy skin. Retinol encourages the production and elimination of skin cells and stimulates the renewal of keratinocytes, which is the cell that Keratin. The effect of retinol includes softer skin and reduced appearance of fine lines.

2) Alpha Hydroxin Acids (AHAs): AHAs removes dead cell from the upper layer of the skin. This increases creation of new skin cells and control moisture levels. That results in a smoother, more healthy skin tone. AHAs are resulting from natural sources, such as fruit, milk and sugar cane.

3) Hydroquinone: Hydroquinone are tropical treatments, that are applied directly to the skin, which inhibit melanin production, the material that color the skin.

4) Chemical Peeling: A chemical solution which is applied to the face in order to remove the outer layer of your skin. As skin regenerates, it is noticeable smoother, softer and less wrinkled.

Skin care peeling is usually done to improve sum damage skin and reduce roughness, remove dead skin from the skin surface that allow fresh skin to grow faster, remove very fine lines, etc.

VLCC healthcare is one of the leading organizations for skin care. They provide all the necessary treatment for most of the skin problems.

Sun burns are skin damages. They damage the outer layer of the skin which can lead to serious complications later on. So, avoid getting sun burns.
Apply sun block to protect your skin from the harmful effects of UVA and UVB. Use a block with a SPF or Sun Protection Factor of at least 15, but preferably greater. Put the lotion on about 20 to 30 minutes before going outside so that the skin can absorb it properly. After swimming and toweling off or excessive sweating, reapply the sunscreen. Choose the right sun block for your skin. A person who perspires a lot because of sports related activities should apply a sun block formulated for these activities only whereas the swimmers can use water resistant sun block.
10:00AM to 3:00PM is the period of the day when the sun is hottest. So, avoid going out in the sun in this period.
If your skin is very sensitive get a hypoallergenic sun block for yourself.
Wear clothes that cover your body properly while spending a great deal of time outdoor. Protect your eyes by wearing dark sunglasses. Wear a hat to protect your face from sun burns.
Don’t forget your lips. Your lips have skin on them which can get sun burnt or becomes chapped. Both ways it will look ugly. So, use a lip moisturizer with sun protection factor for your lips.
Chances of getting a sun tan get magnified in water. So, spend as little time as possible in water. Use a sun block each time you dive into the water.
Extra precaution has to be taken by people with fair skin, moles, and freckles or with history of sun tanning badly. Children under sixteen years of age with family history of skin cancer should avoid sun exposure.

Some precatory words for those who enjoy sun tanning and like the sun tanned look.

The sun’s ultraviolet rays are the most threatening component of a natural sun tan. So, if you start your skin tanning routine during summer then limit your exposure to sun to 15 minutes initially. Increase the time limit as your skin starts getting adjusted to the heat gradually. Do not stay outside for more than two hours at a time.
Get a sun protection lotion with SPF less than 15 but more than 7. It will provide required minimum protection to your skin. Moisturize your skin with after sun lotion.
Those with fair skin are more prone to sun burn than the dark skinned. So, they should avoid sun exposure during the peak hours.
Remember to wear sunglasses while tanning to protect your eyes from the scorching rays of noon sun.
Scrub your body with a loofah pad and get rid of the dead skin before applying the tanning lotion. Test it on a small area of your body for adverse reactions before applying the tanning lotion all over your body. Apply the lotion with slow and deliberate strokes to the back of your knees, elbows, ankles and tan lines. Wipe away extra lotion to get an even bronzed look. Wash hands or gloves thoroughly with soap and water after applying sun tanning lotion and wait at least 15 minutes before getting your skin wet.