The Quran foretold about Space Travel

📖Quran 15:14-17
And [even] if We opened to them a gate from the heaven and they continued therein to ascend, They would say, “Our eyes have only been dazzled. Rather, we are a people affected by magic. And We have placed within the heaven great stars and have beautified it for the observers, And We protected them from every evil spirit accursed.

• The passage from Surah Al-Hijr (15:14-17) describes disbelievers already being in space, and if Allah were to open a gate to the heavens, allowing them to ascend further, they would still deny reality. This implies that there is a barrier or portal beyond space that separates the earthly realm from the higher heavens, The phrase “if We opened to them a gate from the heaven” suggests the existence of a divine passageway, something beyond human comprehension, leading to another dimension beyond the observable universe. This aligns with Surah Al-Ma’arij (70:3-4), where Allah is described as the “Lord of the ways of ascent” (ذِي الْمَعَارِجِ)—a reference to heavenly portals used by angels to ascend through different realms. These Ma‘ārij (portals/stairways) serve as pathways beyond our physical world, supporting the idea that access to the higher heavens is governed by divine command, Despite being in space and witnessing celestial wonders, their denial persists, proving that their rejection is not due to a lack of signs but a refusal to accept the truth, Furthermore, the verse confirms that the heavens are protected from evil forces, reinforcing that access beyond this barrier or portal is under divine control. This supports the idea that what lies beyond space is not accessible through human means but only by Allah’s will, just as the Ma‘ārij portals are exclusively used by angels for their ascent.

Space Could Leave You Blind, And Scientists Say They’ve Finally Figured Out Why

A mysterious syndrome has been impairing astronauts’ vision on the International Space Station, causing untreatable nearsightedness that lingers for months even after they’ve returned to Earth. The problem is so bad that two-thirds of astronauts report having deteriorated eyesight after spending time in orbit. Now scientists say they finally have some answers – and it’s not looking good for our prospects of getting to Mars. “Nobody’s gone two years with exposure to this, and the concern is that we’d have loss of vision,” Dorit Donoviel from the US National Space Biomedical Research Institute told The Guardian. “That is catastrophic for an astronaut.” Earlier this year, NASA reported that something in space has been messing with its astronauts’ perfect eyesight, causing long-term impairment to their quality of vision. Astronaut Scott Kelly, whose exceptional vision was part of the reason he was selected to be America’s first astronaut to spend a full year in space, says he’s been forced to wear reading glasses since coming home. John Phillips, who spent time on the International Space Station (ISS) in 2005, brought his sudden bouts of blurry vision home with him, and during his post-flight physical, NASA confirmed that his vision had gone from 20/20 to 20/100 in just six months. NASA suspected that the condition – called visual impairment inter cranial pressure syndrome, or VIIP – was caused by the lack of gravity in space.

Reference: Science Alert, Space Could Leave You Blind, And Scientists Say They’ve Finally Figured Out Why, 2016

📖Quran 29:22
And you will not cause failure [to Allah ] upon the earth or in the Sky. And you have not other than Allah any protector or any helper.

• The verse in Surah Al-Ankabut (29:22) is a prediction, especially when we consider the advancements of modern humanity. Over 1,400 years ago, when the Quran was revealed, humans had no concept of space travel or the possibility of reaching the sky in the way we do today. The idea of humans being able to explore outer space was unimaginable. However, the verse states that no one will be able to escape the will of Allah “upon the earth or in the sky,” which now resonates with a modern understanding where humanity has ventured into space. This can be interpreted as a prediction that, despite our ability to reach the sky or beyond, we will never be outside of Allah’s control or power. Whether we are on Earth or exploring the heavens, we are still bound by His divine will.

📖Quran 55:33
O company of jinn and mankind, if you are able to pass beyond the regions of the heavens and the earth, then pass. You will not pass except by authority [from Allah ].

Islamic attitudes towards science

📖Quran 31:20
Do you not see that Allah has made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply bestowed upon you His favors, [both] apparent and unapparent? But of the people is he who disputes about Allah without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book [from Him].

• In Quran 31:20, when it mentions that Allah has made everything in the heavens and the earth subject to humans, it implies that humans have the potential to explore and understand the universe, including celestial bodies and cosmic phenomena, through scientific inquiry. This verse underscores the idea that humans have the capacity to gain knowledge about the universe, aligning with the pursuit of scientific discovery and understanding.

Additional Information

The Qur’an is not a science book, but its content provides signs about the universe and foretells knowledge that was unknown until the 19th or 20th century. The Qur’an often refers to disbelievers when mentioning knowledge, as they are the ones who would later bring clearer explanations of these signs to humanity, Many verses indicate scientific concepts, yet their full understanding only emerged through discoveries made by those who rejecte the scripture. This pattern shows that while disbelievers advanced science, they were unknowingly confirming what was already revealed in the Qur’an.