إشارات القرآن الخفية إلى إرهاصات الزلازل القوية

Abstract

QURAN’S HIDDEN REFERENCES TO THE PRECURSORS OF STRONG EARTHQUAKES

About four decades ago, seismic studies recorded a real breakthrough in seismic monitoring. The classical ways relied mainly on recording seismic waves just moments (or a few hours at most) before an earthquake. Indeed, a growing number of researchers have recorded by remote sensing devices (satellites and GPS), the presence in the ionosphere (the return layer) of several signs, preceding the occurrence of earthquakes and which can be invested in the prediction of this phenomenon.

                  What is striking, is that the Holy Quran made direct reference to some of these precursors, when it reported that a cloud had appeared in the sky on the day of the thrill (earthquake) which destroyed Madyane, the people of the Prophet Shoaib, peace be upon him. The Almighty says: “And they disbelieved him. So the punishment of the day of the shade took them. That was the punishment of a Great day” (Al-Shu`ara`/189), or when he mentioned the occurrence of stunning noise before the earthquake, as happened with Thamud the people of the Prophet of God Salih, peace be upon him, the Almighty says: "And in Thamud, they were told: "Enjoy yourselves until a while". But they insolently defied the command of their Lord, so the stunning noise (of an earthquake) seized them, while they were looking on."  (Al-Dhariyat / 43-44).

The Holy Quran also linked the return layer (the ionosphere), which recorded several changes before earthquakes, to the faults at which most earthquakes occur. The Almighty says: “By the sky that sends back, and (by) the earth that cracks open” (Al-Tariq 11-12).

It is to be noted, that Thamud, after they slaughtered the camel, their prophet Saleh, peace be upon him, told them that they would be tormented after three days, the Almighty says: "Then they hamstung her, so he said: "Enjoy yourselves in your homes for three days". That is a promise not to be denied." (Hood / 65) : That is, the promised torment had fallen upon Thamud, on the fifth day after the warning, as stated in interpretations' books. Numerous scientific studies interested on the changes that occur at the ionosphere over the earthquake regions, indicate that electrical, magnetic or thermal anomalies that are recordred, appear three to five days before the occurrence of main earthquakes.

The Qur'an's reference to these precursors (and others) should prompt to move forward in earthquake prediction; perhaps it will be possible to save tens or hundreds of thousands of lives, lost because of these disasters, in several regions of the world. It is not about challenging the fate and destiney of Allah. Rather, it is a protection against the Allah's destiny with a measure of Allah.