Space in the Quran

Some proponents of Islamic scientific miracles argue that the Quran makes implicit references to black holes, particularly through verses describing celestial bodies that are "hidden," "run their courses," and "sweep" or "clear away" everything in their path (Surah At-Takwir 81:15-16), or by "swearing by the positions of stars" (Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:75-76). 

These interpretations suggest the following connections:

"Retreating/Hidden Stars" (Al-Khunnas): Interpreted by some to mean stars that become invisible or hidden (black holes), which "run" (orbit) and "sweep" (act as a vacuum or gravitational sink).

"Positions of Stars" (Mawaqi' al-Nujum): Some scholars suggest this refers to the end-stage of stars or gravitational sites, such as black holes.

"Extinguished Stars": References to stars losing their light (Surah At-Takwir 81:2 and 77:8) are interpreted by some as describing the final state of a star collapsing into a black hole. 

It is important to note that these interpretations are part of a modern field of study, sometimes called "I'jaz 'Ilmi" (scientific miracles in the Quran), and are not traditionally recognized, scholarly interpretations. Skeptics, such as noted in Quora, argue that this involves applying modern scientific findings retrospectively to vague, poetic verses. 

Mention Of Black Holes In The Quran

What Is A Black Hole

At the end of their life stars transform into a different form depending on the mass of the star. So for you, the primary thing to understand at least seven celestial objects white dwarfs, red giants, black holes, neutrino stars, Pulsars, nova, and supernova is that they all are transformed form of a star at the end of its life. The lifespan that God designed for the living beings had also been allocated for the stars. I already told you in part 16 that every day almost 275-400 million stars die and nearly 400 million new stars are born only in our observable universe.

Stars that have a lot of mass may end their lives as black holes or neutron stars. A Blackhole is thus a star’s transformation at the end of its life. The simplest definition of a black hole is an object that is so dense and tightly packed with matter that not even light can escape its surface. 

Black holes are the only objects in the universe that can also trap light. They get formed when a massive star collapses in on itself, becoming so dense that it bend and distort the fabric of space and time. Billions of billions of earth can go into a black hole and convert to nothingness. A black hole is such a strange thing in this universe that even time stops there inside a black hole. Black holes eat everything around its gravitational pull and suck the matter from nearby stars.

Space Time Curved

The black hole in our galactic center is thought to have a mass of 4 millions suns and diameter of 17 million Km. Such black holes are like hubs around which many galaxies including our milky way rotates. So actually all stars and galaxies are rotating around giant black holes. O humankind these are actually knots your Lord has put there in the fabric of space and cosmos which keep it tight and balance against the expansion of the universe.

Quran Miracle: Black Holes Mentioned In Surah Waqiah

Now look that almost 1400 years ago this is what the Quran told us in Surah Waqiah verse 75-76.

٧٥ فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَوَاقِعِ النُّجُوم

٧٦ وَإِنَّهُ لَقَسَمٌ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ عَظِيم

Then I swear by the setting place of the stars,

And indeed, it is a mighty oath – if you could know. Surah Waqiah 56:75-76

Now this verse of Quran clearly indicating towards something strange and unusual as it is accompanied by verse 76 with the words and a swear by God that Indeed it is a Mighty Oath if we humans could know. 

Now with modern science, our understanding of cosmology tells us that there are indeed such things as the setting place of stars which are such a massive and giant gravitational entities that can put their effects on entire galaxies and distort the fabric of cosmos, the fabric of spacetime. So this word setting place of Star is actually where the stars fall at the end of their life, that is place or position of their transformation. Different Quranic translations used different meanings of this word “بِمَوَاقِعِ” some used it as “The place where the stars fall” (Please see below section where the detail meanings of this word are given) and believe me even this meaning also points towards something as mighty as a black hole. As already mentioned above that a black hole has such a strong gravity that it sucks matter from its surroundings… all the matter… the planets, the stars around it. Thus becoming a place where the stars fall.

The universe was created approximately 13.8 billion years ago through the Big Bang, an rapid expansion of a hot, dense singularity. It did not explode into space but rather expanded, stretching space itself and cooling over time. Gravity subsequently caused gas and dust to form stars and galaxies. 

Key Aspects of Universe Formation:

Initial State: The universe started as an extremely small, hot, and dense point.

Expansion & Cooling: As the universe expanded, it cooled down, allowing subatomic particles to form.

Formation of Matter: Within minutes, protons and neutrons combined to form atomic nuclei.

First Stars: After about 400,000 years, electrons combined with nuclei to form hydrogen atoms, which gravity later pulled together to create the first stars.

Ongoing Expansion: The universe continues to expand and stretch to this day. 

Scientific Perspective

The Big Bang theory is the leading explanation, based on general relativity and observations like the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). While the Big Bang describes the evolution from a hot, dense state, some theories explore the possibility that it was part of a, or emerged from, a larger cosmic cycle. 

Alternative/Perspective Views

Scientific Alternative: Some researchers, such as those at the University of Portsmouth, suggest the universe may have emerged from the interior of a black hole in a larger parent universe.

Religious/Philosophical View: Many traditions, including in the Bible, describe the universe as created by God, with Hebrews 11 stating it was formed at God's command. 

The universe operates through a complex, often paradoxical, mix of ordered "cosmos" and unpredictable "chaos." 

While gravity creates stable structures like galaxies and planets, chaotic systems (like the three-body problem, black holes, and nebula formation) ensure the cosmos remains dynamic, complex, and unpredictable. 

This interplay shows that order is often born from chaotic beginnings. 

Key Aspects of Cosmos and Chaos in Space

Cosmos (Order): Represents the structured, predictable, and harmonious aspects of the universe, such as orbital mechanics, the lifecycle of stars, and the formation of galaxies.

Chaos (Disorder/Complexity): Refers to systems that are highly sensitive to initial conditions, making long-term prediction impossible, such as turbulent gas clouds, colliding galaxies, and the unpredictable, non-repeating motions within multi-body gravitational systems.

The Three-Body Problem: A classic example where three celestial bodies interacting through gravity create chaotic, un-solvable orbits, showcasing how fundamental physics can lead to disorder.

Interdependence: Chaos often drives the evolution of the cosmos. For example, chaotic turbulent regions are often where new stars are born, merging order and disorder.

Space Exploration Challenges: Human endeavors in space also introduce chaos, such as the accumulation of orbital debris, which presents a chaotic, dangerous environment for functional satellites. 

Scientific Perspective on Chaos

According to researchers like Henri Poincaré, the universe is filled with complex, nonlinear systems that cannot be explained by simple, deterministic, Newtonian, or linear, models. Chaos theory has become essential for understanding these unpredictable, non-repeating phenomena.