Revelations
DISCLAIMER
This thread is dedicated to (interesting) revelations in the Holy Quran that expand upon various ground realities of our external environment. Purpose is to share information exclusive of morality-related instructions.
Formation of solar system:-
Revelations:
Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
Surah Fussilat ; verse 11
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Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?
Surah Al-Anbiya ; verse 30
Scientific assessments and evidence:
Emphasis mine. Look at the "cloud" part - it had a smokey appearance and stupendous proportions about 4.6 billion years ago or earlier. Solar systems emerged from this "smoke-like entity."
Biological life emerged from water:-
Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?
Surah Al-Anbiya ; verse 30
Scientific assessments and evidence:
http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161026-the-secret-of-how-life-on-earth-began
https://www.livescience.com/52332-why-is-water-needed-for-life.html
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2014/09/half-earths-water-formed-sun-was-born
Mountains are embedded:-
And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided.
Surah Al-Anbiya ; verse 31
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And the mountains as stakes?
Surah An-Naba ; verse 7
Scientific assessments and evidence:
http://www.nature.com/ngeo/journal/v6/n2/full/ngeo1724.html
http://science.jrank.org/pages/3709/Isostasy-theory-isostasy.html
Emphasis mine. The embedding aspect of mountains was first realized during 18th century geological expeditions and the word "isostasy" was coined to describe this phenomenon.
Earth features atmospheric shielding that offers protection:-
Revelations:
And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.
Surah Al-Anbiya ; verse 32
Scientific assessments and evidence:
http://eschooltoday.com/ozone-depletion/where-is-the-ozone-layer.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/ozone-layer/
http://www.lenntech.com/library/ozone/history/ozone-history.htm
Emphasis mine. Existence of Earth's atmospheric shielding was first realized during the 18th century.
Celestial bodies are in motion:-
Revelations:
And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming.
Surah Al-Anbiya ; verse 33
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It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming.
Surah Ya-Sin ; verse 40
Scientific assessment and evidence:
http://byjus.com/physics/motion-of-celestial-objects-in-space/
http://astro.unl.edu/naap/pos/pos_background2.html
https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/OrbitsHistory/page2.php
Emphasis mine. Astronomers figured out movement of celestial bodies during 14th century starting with Nicolaus Copernicus.
Descent of Iron on Earth:-
Revelations:
We have already sent Our messengers with clear evidences and sent down with them the Scripture and the balance that the people may maintain [their affairs] in justice. And We sent down iron, wherein is great military might and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident those who support Him and His messengers unseen. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in Might.
Surah Al-Hadid ; verse 25
Scientific assessment and evidence:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/iron-egyptian-relics-came-from-space/
Emphasis mine. Earth's core contains Iron (as ingredient) but it is beyond our reach. Iron is also found on the surface of Earth but this is not a natural construct - comets brought it and dispersed it across the surface of Earth with passage of time.