Pulsar – A Great Miracle of Qur’an

The holy Qur’an is a complete book of miracles. The Superior wisdom in it  are evidence that it is the word from Allah (SWT). Of course Qur’an is not a book of science. However, many scientific facts that are expressed in brief and profound manner in verses have only been discovered with the technology of  20th century.  These facts could not have been known at that time when Qur”an  have been  revealed!!

Today I’m going to discuss about “Pulsar”. A great miracle of Qur’an.

First of all we need to know, “What is ‘Pulsar’ ?”

Well, Pulsars are among the strangest object  in the universe. A Pulsar is highly magnetized rotating Neutron star. “Pulsar” from “Pulse” and “ar” as “Quasar”. It’s a Neutron star or white dwarf that emits a beam of electromagnetic radiation. They were named Pulsar because of their rapidly pulsing nature.

Pulsar have very strong magnetic fields which funnel jets of particles out along the two magnetic poles. These accelerated particles  produce very powerful beams of light. One way to think of a Pulsar is like a light house.
We see Pulsars turn on and off as the beam sweeps over Earth.

Now, let’s see what Qur’an says.

وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
By the sky and the Knocker
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ
And what can make you know what is the Knocker is?
ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ
It is the piercing star –
[Surah Tariq, ayah: 1-3]

In this Surah the word “طارق” stems from the root “طرق” meaning “knocking or striking”.

In many translations of the Qur’an ,this word was taken as a name or as “the night comer”. The word may also mean “to pulsate” like beating heart.  From which the word “طارق” is derived. It’s clearly denoting an object that’s far away in space, a star called “Pulsar”. And in the 3rd verse of this surah you can see “the piercing star” or a bright star that clearly indicates to “pulsating Neutron star”!!

As you can see ,the Qur’an had already mentioned about “Pulsar” that was to be discovered. Indeed, the Pulsar was discovered in 1967!!
Since the concept of a pulsating Neutron star could not be imagined about 1400 years ago!! (سبحان الله)

Allah(SWT) indeed gives us a unique miracle that can be examined and experienced by not only people who lived at that time but  also for the hundreds of years to come.

It’s a clear indication that “Qur’an” is the word from Almighty Allah.