
BLACK HOLES
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
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 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)
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