Introduction
Deep in the ocean, thousands of meters below the surface, there are waves upon waves, hidden underwater and layers of darkness so deep that a person cannot even see their own hand. These realities were uncovered by oceanographers only in recent times. Yet, remarkably, more than 1400 years ago, in just one verse, the Quran captures this deep-sea reality with striking accuracy long before humans had any means to explore it.
This article explores Quran 24:40, showing how the verseโs imagery mirrors what modern science has discovered.
One Verse that proves the Quran is the Word of God
Out of more than 6000 verses in the Quran, we will discuss the miracles from just one verse which contains information that a man who lived 1400 years ago could not have known.
Verse number 40 from Chapter 24 of the Quran says:
Darkness in a deep sea, covered by waves upon wavesโฆ darkness upon darkness! If one stretches out their hand, they can hardly see it.
Quran Chapter 24 Verse 40
Four Miraculous Information
This verse contains information that a human being who lived 1400 years ago could not have known. Letโs see what they are.
- There are waves in the deep sea.
- There are waves covering other waves in deep sea
- There are layers of darkness in the deep sea
- It is so dark that one cannot see their own hands
Is this information correct?
Letโs check if the four points in this verse are correct.
Waves in the deep sea
We all see waves on the sea surface. The question is: does the deep sea have waves? The answer is Yes!
Letโs look at a video from NASA. In this video, we can see the demo of how internal waves are formed in the deep sea. They also mention that the internal waves in deep sea can be as high as 600 feet.
So the first point on waves in the deep sea is proved to be correct.
Waves covering other waves in the deep sea
We will look at a video from the reputed MIT, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In this video, they demonstrate how we can observe waves covering other waves in the deep sea.
You can also refer to the website of an Oceanographic institution that speaks about the mysterious phenomenon of the โWaves within the Wavesโ.
It is now clear that the second point of Waves covering other waves in the deep sea is also correct.
Layers of darkness in the deep sea
Letโs look at this picture. This picture shows the different zones under the sea. The first zone we see is the Epipelagic zone, which is found at a depth of 200 metres. It is called the Sunlight zone as sunlight reaches this point.
The next zone is the mesopelagic zone or the twilight zone which is found at a depth of 1000 metres.
If you go down below 1000 metres or 1 km, we find the Bathypelagic zone or the midnight zone. It is called the midnight zone as it is very dark like midnight as the sunlight does not reach here. This is the first layer of darkness.
If you go down further, we see the Abyssopelagic zone also called the Abyss. This is the second layer of darkness.
If you still go down further, we see the Hadal zone or the trenches. This is the third layer of darkness.
Midnight zone is the First layer of darkness, the abyss is the second layer of darkness and the trenches form the third layer of darkness. Just as the Quran describes with remarkable accuracy, the ocean truly contains multiple layers of darkness.
It is so dark that one cannot see their own hands
Oceanographic research centre Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute talks about a phenomenon called โBioluminescenceโ.
A dive into the deep sea is like a trip to outer space. The descent into darkness reveals twinkling lights. Sunlight cannot penetrate to these depths. Instead, this light show comes from the animals that live here. Scientists call it bioluminescenceโwhen living organisms create their own light using a chemical reaction.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute
The BBC video above captures the darkness in the deep sea. All you can see is complete darkness. Now you see lights flickering in this darkness which are lights emitted by fish in the deep sea. Will you be able to see your own hands in this darkness? The answer is no. So the fourth point mentioned in the verse is also correct.
When were these things discovered?
1934 – Deep sea expedition in Bathysphere
In 1934, humans made a deep sea expedition in a vessel called the Bathysphere. They were able to reach a depth of 922 metres which was less than a km. They could not even cross the Twilight zone.
1954 – Deep sea expedition in FNRS III
In 1954, humans reached a depth of 4050 metres under the sea in a vessel called FNRS3. So only in 1954 humans discovered the first layer of darkness under the sea called the Midnight Zone.
1972 – satellite ERTS 1 discovers internal waves
Only in 1972, a satellite named ERTS1 discovered waves under the ocean.
NASA citation says:
A series of images taken over the New York Bight, commencing with the 16 July 1972 overpass and continuing on into autumn of 1973, has shown the internal waves to be present when summer solar heating stratifies the water sufficiently well to support such oscillations.
Could anyone 1400 years ago have known this?
The human beings who lived before 1934 had absolutely no idea about the phenomenon of waves in the deep sea or about layers of darkness in the deep sea.
Itโs just one verse, yet it contains four accurate details that humanity did not discover until after 1934. So the real question is: how could Prophet Muhammad, who lived 1400 years ago in the desert, have known this?
Was this information known to anyone in the Prophetโs time, or even before him?
If someone claims that Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) may have taken this information from another source, whether from a person living during his time or someone before him, then evidence must be provided. It must be shown who, before the Quran, mentioned all four details found in this verse, namely:
- There are waves in the deep sea.
- There are waves covering other waves in deep sea
- There are layers of darkness in the deep sea
- It is so dark that one cannot see their own hands
Conclusion
If no evidence can show that Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) obtained this information from any source, whether from someone in his time or from earlier generations, then we are left with only one logical conclusion: this knowledge could have come only from God, the All-Knowing.
This single verse alone is sufficient proof that the Quran is truly the word of God.
God says in the Quran:
We will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this is the truth. Is it not enough that your Loving Master is a Witness over all things?
Chapter 41 Verse 53
