Between the Earth and the Sky: Viewing from Islamic Perspective
The term earth had been mentioned in al-Quran for many times, in which all of them indicates that surface of includes all visible things on the surface such as land and soil, mountains, plants, trees, forests and others. Earth also defined as place which can provide the best place for human to lives on, which they can cultivate on plants and crops, create buildings and anything within limit (Neurdeng, 2010).
And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers: and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the night as a veil o'er the Day. Behold, verily in ...view middle of the document...
(Surah Al-Mukminun 23:18)
The verse above shows that soil keep water for the sustainability of living thing especially plants. Plants have roots that penetrate the soil, in which these roots function to collect water for their growth and development. Allah also reminds human to be faithful to Him.
Water covers up almost 75% of earth and provides most of the necessity for living things. Important of water as mentioned include:
1. Sources of foods and drinks
2. Energy generation
3. Place to search for rezqi
4. Transportation way
5. Cleaning purposes
It is He Who has made the sea subject, that ye may eat thereof flesh that is fresh and tender, and that ye may extract therefrom ornaments to wear; and thou sees the ships therein that plough the waves, that ye may seek (thus) of the bounty of Allah and that ye may be grateful.
(Surah Al-Nahl 16:14)
This verse clearly tells human about the richness and wealth of the sea. From the sea, there is wide diversity of edible sea creatures for foods. The pearl from the oyster is used by the human nowadays to make ornaments. The sea also provide jobs for fishermen, tourism agency and diver.
Wind also serve as important elements on earth. Their functions include:
1. Pollination activity
2. Bring rain to dry areas
3. Clean the air
It is Allah Who sends forth the Winds, so that they raise up the Clouds, and We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth therewith after its death: even so (will be) the Resurrection!
(Surah Fatir 35:9)
The verse above tells a story about how the wind brings rain to the dry land and revives them. The existence of the wind will move the clouds with water vapor to the dry land, and the rain falls reviving the land with water.
Sky can be defined as everything above the earth, including the atmosphere which is the thin layers that cover the earth. In al-Quran, sky is mentioned in four formats:
No. | Type | Term | Total |
1 | Mufrad Ma`rifah | السماء | 109 |
2 | Jamak Ma`rifah | السمىات | 182 |
3 | Mufrad Nakirah | سماء | 2 |
4 | Jamak Nakirah | سمىات | 5 |
Total | 298 |
(Mikdar, 2011)
Atmosphere is the layers that cover the earth and jut out to sky. The atmosphere is the important layers in which they control the physical environment, soil formation, plants, animals and human, and also ensure all the geomorphic process occur just fine. Besides, atmosphere also the one that control the climate phenomenon and weather, which indirectly decides on clothes fashions, eating habit, farming activities and tourism industry (Mikdar, 2011).
According to Mikdar (2011), there are 9 functions of atmosphere highlighted in al-Quran that he concluded which are:
1. The place where the rain form.
2. Properties and composition of oxygen.
3. The function of sky that gives back (mengembalikan).
4. Each of the layers with their own functions and jobs.
5. The place where lightning and thunder occur before the rain...
