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As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalam-Aleikum:

I am a big fan of your forum.  You are knowledgeable and your responses/lessons are scholarly with a hint of sincerity written all oer it.  That's why I am asking this question to you. My query is of different flavor which requires an extensive research of the text of Quran.  In the past I have seen this research come out from your site, and hence the query.  I would like to know what Quran has to
say about the origins of gold? See I have found the Book a very rich source on scientific matters.  It is like an onion and could be peeled on and on for various subjects.  I have recently come across an article in the Sky&Telescope July 2001, in which the origins of gold has been discussed.  It is extremely interesting.  See as per the Astrophysicists of our times a star is a forgery of most of the elements residing on the Periodic Table.  All the elements starting from Helium to Iron are created in the life cycle of huge stars.  However they stop there, the star cannot go on further after the creation of Iron and then it explodes(supernova), spewing off most of it's inner and outer shells to the interstellar space, ending up as a neutron star(also known as Pulsar) or a black hole, i.e. if it is heavy enough to do so.  The sprayed shells which are element rich might be seeded into a nearby nebula, which then starts churning to create a star, and hopefully a solar system with a bunch of planets of varying sizes orbiting around the central star.  This is the dynamics of star formation in a nut-shell if you would.

Hence our solar system is thought of to be created as a result of a nearby supernova in a time long long ago, from an event happened far far away!  This explains the element richness of the planet Earth.  It is blessed with all kinds of treasures created in the heart of a star, long dead.  It has a core of Aluminum, the most abundant element of the planet.  Then richly loaded with Iron and other kinds of metals and non metals.  However the question remains that if the star explodes after the creation of Iron then where does the other heavy elements like gold, Uranium, Plutonium, Platinum have come from??  And our earth is so richly shelved with their ores..amazing isn't it?  Well this is where this article says that gold is getting created when 2 Neutron stars collide with other at very high speeds!!
What does Koran has to say about the origins of gold and such other elements..I have a feeling that there is some wisdom to it which is

hidden in the revelations, can we look it up?

JAK

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Answer:

What does the Quran have to say about the origin of Gold?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and who-ever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: I would like to know what Quran has to say about the origins of gold? What does Koran has to say about the origins of gold and such other elements. I have a feeling that there is some wisdom to it which is hidden in the revelations, can we look it up?
The truth is brother, the Glorious Quran is silent about the matter of the origin of gold. Although gold is briefly mentioned several times in the Quran, its context is more as an ornament and a measure of economics, than towards its origin.

An example of how Allah mentions gold and silver in the Holy Quran is related in Chapter 9 Surah Taubah verses 34-35: O believers, indeed most of the scholars and the monks of the people of the Book devour the wealth of others by evil means, and debar them from the Way of Allah. Give them the good news of a painful torment; who hoard up gold and silver and do not expend these in the Way of Allah. The Day shall surely come when the same gold and silver shall be heated in the fire of Hell, and therewith their foreheads, their bodies, and their backs shall be branded. (And it will be said): “Here is that treasure you had hoarded up for yourselves; now taste the evil of your hoarded treasure!”

The thing to remember here is that the Holy Quran is not a book of science, which explains in detail about the origin of every element, etc. Although Allah mentions many scientific facts in the Holy Quran, which only lately the modern world scientists have discovered, they are mainly in the context of His Signs as the sole Creator of this Universe.

For those who believe that science is the only barometer of Truth are surprised and shocked about the scientific facts that are described in the Holy Quran almost 1400 years ago! But for those who believe in Allah as the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe, and hold the words of Allah as the barometer and criterion between Truth and falsehood, accept and believe the Truth, that the Quran is the very words of the One Who Created everything that exists.

The people who only believe the Quran when scientific facts confirm their findings, while the believers hold the verses of the Quran as Supreme and are not at all surprised that this Glorious Book never goes against any established scientific fact, simply because the Creator has revealed this Book Himself.

The Quran was not revealed to teach man science, medicine, astronomy, etc., although it mentions these sciences as evidence and signs of the One Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan