Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

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:

There are estimated to be three hundred billion stars in our galaxy (called in the west `The Milky Way`). Outside our galaxy in the rest of the universe, there are estimated to be another three hundred billion galaxies, each of them containing perhaps three hundred billion stars.

In my opinion, therefore, the chances are good that intelligent life also exists in other parts of the universe. One day, therefore, it is very possible that a message will reach Earth from intelligent life on another planet. What will be the reaction to this discovery, even if we cannot understand the message, by Islam, by its leaders, and by its people ?

Bill N Dunn

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Aliens other life

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Beloved brother in Islam, we must realize that the Glorious Quran, although it contains many an information about the sciences of medicine, astronomy, geology, psychology, etc., it was not revealed to teach mankind the knowledge of these sciences which one may discover through research and experience, but it was revealed as a Book of Guidance.

The Glorious Quran does not go against any confirmed scientific fact (like the earth revolves around its axis, or the movement in their orbits of the heavenly bodies, or the details of the unborn child in a mothers womb, etc.), for indeed the Quran was sent by none other than the One Who Created Science and gave it its Nature.

The existence of extra-terrestrial beings or ‘aliens’ is a theory, not a scientific fact! Allah Alone knows if such things as ‘aliens’ exist in outer space, and the Quran and Sunnah are silent about this topic. The Quran and the Sunnah neither confirm the existence of aliens in outer space, nor does it deny it; thus the only way to know for sure is if and when science confirms or denies its existence as a fact, not as a theory.

The reason the Quran and the Sunnah are silent of this or any other issue is not because the Lord Most Wise (and I seek refuge in Allah from even saying this!) forgot, but because the information was not essential or needed for the guidance of mankind to the Straight Path. If the information was essential for the guidance of mankind, then without an iota of a doubt, it would have been related by Allah and His Messenger (saws) to mankind.

Regardless of whether there are other forms of life existing in outer space or not, the one thing we must be absolutely sure of is: if such life did exist, then that life would be, without an iota of a doubt, a creation of, and governed by the laws of, the One and Only Creator of all things in existence: Allah Subhanah….Who Alone is the Creator and Sustainer of everything, and we reiterate, absolutely everything in existence!

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 34 Surah Saba verse 1:

1 Praise be to Allah to Whom belong all things in the heavens and on earth: to Him be Praise in the Hereafter: and He is Full of Wisdom acquainted with all things.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 30 Surah Rome verse 26:

26 To Him (Allah) belongs every being that is in the heavens and on earth: all are devoutly obedient to Him.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 10 Surah Yunus verse 3:

3 Verily your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and is firmly established on the Throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah, your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not then celebrate His praises?

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