Extraterrestrial Life in Quran
Extraterrestrial life, often referred to as alien life, is the concept of life existing beyond Earth. There are certain references in the Qur’an suggest the possibility of extraterrestrial life. These references, while open to interpretation, have sparked discussions about the existence of beings beyond our planet within religious contexts. It’s important to note that interpretations of religious texts can vary, and perspectives on this topic may differ among scholars and believers.
📖Quran 17:70
And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.
The verse continues with the phrase “gathering them when He wills.” This indicates that Allah has the power to bring together all His creations – including humans and other beings, according to His divine will.
This gathering can occur in two possible ways:
- In this worldly life: It is possible that humans might encounter or interact with other creations (such as jinn or other unseen beings) during their lifetime. The Quran mentions instances where such meetings happen, showing that the “gathering” is not limited to the afterlife.
- On the Day of Judgment (Hereafter): Most scholars agree that the ultimate, comprehensive gathering of all beings, humans, jinn, angels, and other creations, will take place on the Day of Judgment, when everyone will stand before Allah.
Therefore, the phrase “gathering them when He wills” refers both to Allah’s power to unite His creations in this world when He chooses, and more definitively to the final gathering on the Day of Judgment.
📖Quran 42:29
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and earth and what He has dispersed throughout them of creatures. And He, for gathering them when He wills, is competent.
This verse similarly confirms that Allah can gather all creatures dispersed throughout the heavens and earth. The term “when He wills” emphasizes that such gathering is entirely under Allah’s control, potentially happening at various times and realms, including this life or the Hereafter.
📖Quran 55:29
Whoever is within the heavens and earth asks Him; every day He is bringing about a matter.
This verse shows that everything in the heavens and earth is under Allah’s control. The phrase “every day He is bringing about a matter” means Allah’s creative power and management of the universe are continuous and ongoing. However, this “every day” is not like human days or time. Instead, it can be understood as a perfectly designed, automatic system—like a database or machine programmed to run continuously without pause, Allah, the Creator, has designed the universe so that creation, change, and development happen automatically according to His will and divine plan. It is not that God is literally creating new things every human day in real time, but rather the system He created functions continuously and flawlessly, bringing about events, new creations, and changes as intended.
For example, Allah says He moves the sun and moon:
📖Quran 21:33
And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; each in an orbit swimming.
While we understand scientifically that the sun and moon follow precise orbits, an automatic, predictable system, it is ultimately Allah who designed and sustains this system. The sun and moon move by Allah’s command, following paths He set in motion. This shows how the universe operates like a perfectly designed mechanism, continuously running by Allah’s will, This ongoing creation also includes the way humans gain new knowledge and change the world. The advancements in science, technology, and human understanding all come through this divine system, the knowledge and resources humans discover and use are part of Allah’s continuous creative plan unfolding in time. Every new invention, discovery, or change is a manifestation of “bringing about a matter” under Allah’s will.
📖Quran 35:1
“He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.”
This confirms Allah’s authority to create or bring things into existence whenever He desires, without interruption, The idea that creation happens continuously and perfectly by divine design fits the Quranic description of Allah’s eternal, flawless governance of the universe. It helps us understand that the “every day” in the Quran does not mean literal 24-hour days like humans measure, but an ongoing, divine process beyond human limitations.
Summary and Conclusion:
- The Quran clearly indicates the existence of multiple creations and creatures beyond humans — what some might interpret as external or alien life.
- Allah has full authority to gather humans and these other creatures together, whether in this life or the Hereafter. The Quran does not limit their meeting to only one realm.
- Allah continuously creates and renews existence through a perfect, divinely designed system that works continuously and automatically.
- Human knowledge and advancements are part of this unfolding creation, showing that the universe is dynamic and ever-changing by Allah’s will.
- The Quran neither denies nor explicitly confirms the existence of external life outside Earth, but it leaves open the possibility and indicates that such creations exist.
- The verses strongly suggest that if Allah wills, interaction between humans and other creatures could happen in this life or after death.
This provides a balanced, open interpretation that respects the Quranic message while acknowledging the possibility of external life and interaction beyond human understanding.
Are Jinn in the Qur’an Really UFOs?
UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) are simply unknown aerial phenomena. But in popular culture, they’re often associated with aliens or extraterrestrial life. This has led many to ask whether some UFO sightings could be connected to jinn, a creation the Qur’an confirms as real but unseen.
Who Are the Jinn?
Jinn are mentioned numerous times in the Qur’an as a creation distinct from humans and angels:
📖Quran 55:15
And He created the jinn from a smokeless flame of fire.
📖Quran 7:27
Indeed, he (Satan) and his tribe see you from where you do not see them.
They are unseen to human eyes, have free will, and exist in a parallel realm. According to many authentic hadiths and Islamic scholars, jinn can also change forms, sometimes appearing as humans, animals (like snakes), or other figures. Jinn are capable of changing their forms and shapes, including appearing as humans, animals like snakes, or other figures. This transformative ability is referenced in numerous narrations throughout Islamic tradition, highlighting their mysterious and adaptable nature, his shape-shifting ability can sometimes make their presence seem alien or unexplainable to human understanding, especially when they manifest in unexpected ways.
Quranic Verses Indicating Jinn Movement Across Realms
📖Quran 72:8
And we (the jinn) sought to reach the heaven, but found it filled with strong guards and burning flames.
📖Quran 72:9
And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him.
📖Quran 72:12
And we have become certain that we will never cause failure to Allah upon the earth, nor can we escape Him by flight.
These verses indicate that:
- Jinn attempted to ascend to the heavens (which shows advanced mobility or flying ability).
- They were blocked by burning flames.
- Some scholars believe this implies they used supernatural speed or unknown technologies to travel or spy, possibly creating UFO-like experiences for humans.
in Quran 72:12 the arabic word “هَرَبًا is translated as flight, but, it does not necessarily imply flying like a bird or in a spacecraft. Rather, it refers to an attempt to escape quickly by any means, possibly even by using something beyond our current understanding or technology, In Islamic teachings, it is mentioned that the jinn used to ascend to the heavens to eavesdrop on divine matters. Some of this information was then passed down to fortune-tellers and magicians, mixed with lies, half truth and half falsehood. This practice is referenced in Hadith, and it was common before the revelation of the Qur’an, However, after Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was sent as a messenger and the Qur’an was revealed, this practice came to an end. The heavens were guarded, preventing the jinn from stealing information, It’s also important to understand that not all jinn are evil. Like humans, they are a creation of Allah with free will. Among them are believers who obey Allah, and others who follow the path of Shayṭān. Some jinn are righteous, while others work against divine guidance, just like people.
Additional Information
It’s important to understand that when we speak of “external life” or “creatures beyond Earth,” this does not necessarily mean beings like the sci-fi aliens portrayed in movies or popular culture. Their exact nature, appearance, or form remains unknown and beyond human comprehension. The Quran acknowledges the existence of many creations beyond human knowledge, which could include various life forms in the vast universe. The term simply points to the possibility of life beyond our planet, created and sustained by Allah’s will, without specifying how they look or behave.