Day: April 28, 2026

“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the Earth…” (Qur’an 24:35)
Scientific Signs of the Holy Qur’an
Quasars and the Gravitational Lens Effect

Quasars are extremely luminous and distant active galactic nuclei powered by supermassive black holes, appearing star-like while emitting enormous electromagnetic radiation, including radio waves (1,2). They are among the brightest known objects in the universe, with luminosities reaching up to ~10¹²–10¹⁴ times that of the Sun (3,4). Some quasars outshine entire galaxies such as the Milky Way by factors exceeding 100 (5). The Arabic word “noor” in the verse denotes light, radiance, and illumination, conceptually aligning with the extraordinary luminosity of quasars (6,7).

The phrase “like a brilliant star” (kawkabun durriyyun) reflects remarkable consistency with the stellar-like appearance of quasars, which early astronomers termed “quasi-stellar objects” due to their point-like optical signatures (8,9). The verse’s expression “its oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire” may metaphorically correspond to energy generation independent of combustion. In astrophysical terms, quasars radiate due to accretion processes and relativistic effects near black holes—not chemical burning (10,11). Nuclear fusion powers stars, but quasars derive energy primarily from gravitational accretion, where matter falling into a black hole releases immense energy (12,13).

The statement “light upon light” may be interpreted in connection with the gravitational lens effect, predicted by general relativity (14). According to Einstein’s theory, massive objects curve spacetime, bending light from background sources (15,16). This effect can produce multiple images of a single quasar, magnify brightness, and distort apparent positions (17,18). Observations confirm that gravitational lensing can create duplicate or multiple images of distant quasars (19).

The famous “Twin Quasar” (Q0957+561), discovered in 1979, was the first confirmed gravitational lens system, demonstrating two images of a single quasar caused by an intervening galaxy (20,21). This phenomenon aligns conceptually with the idea of layered or multiplied light (“light upon light”) (22).

The verse’s phrase “a niche within which is a lamp” can be metaphorically associated with the gravitational well or region surrounding a massive object such as a black hole, where energy emission is concentrated (23). Modern astrophysics identifies quasars as powered by supermassive black holes located at the centers of galaxies (24,25). Matter accreting into these black holes forms luminous accretion disks, producing intense radiation (26).

NASA and astrophysicists often compare gravitational lensing to optical lensing effects, such as light passing through glass, producing multiple images or distortions (27). As Timothy Ferris describes, light traveling from a quasar may be split into multiple paths due to warped spacetime, allowing observers to see more than one image of the same object (28).

The expression “neither of the east nor of the west” may reflect the isotropic and non-localized nature of cosmic light sources, especially in deep cosmological observations where directionality becomes relative (29,30). Quasars are distributed across the observable universe and are not confined to a directional frame from Earth’s perspective (31).

Quasars were first identified in 1963 through radio astronomy (32), long after the revelation of the Qur’an. Their nature as the luminous cores of galaxies powered by black holes represents one of the major discoveries of modern astrophysics (33,34). The compatibility between the symbolic language of the verse and contemporary cosmological concepts—light intensity, layered illumination, and lensing phenomena—has been noted in interpretive discussions (35,36).

From a scientific perspective, these parallels are interpretative rather than definitive; however, they demonstrate how classical metaphors can resonate with modern understandings of cosmic phenomena (37).

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How did a grandson of Genghis Khan stand against his own people… and become one of the reasons behind the decline of the Mongol legend?

One of history’s most remarkable ironies is that a man from the very heart of the Mongol imperial family — a descendant of Genghis Khan himself — became one of the indirect causes of Mongol defeat and the weakening of their power.

He was Berke Khan, one of the leaders of the Tatars and ruler of the Golden Horde, and a cousin of the famous Mongol commander Hulagu Khan, who invaded the Muslim world and caused the fall of Baghdad.

Born into a powerful Mongol dynasty, Berke Khan grew up immersed in warfare and conquest. However, he was different from many of his peers. He embraced Islam, and his conversion is often seen as a turning point in his life — changing his worldview completely.
When Hulagu committed massacres in Baghdad and killed hundreds of thousands of Muslims, bringing down the Abbasid Caliphate, Berke Khan did not remain silent. He became deeply angered and is reported to have said words expressing his resolve to seek justice for the Muslims.

This anger developed into direct conflict. Berke Khan entered into open war against his cousin Hulagu, marking one of the earliest internal civil wars within the Mongol Empire.

This conflict was not merely a family dispute — it had major strategic consequences. Hulagu was forced to withdraw part of his forces from the Levant to deal with the northern threat posed by Berke Khan, weakening his military presence in the region.

At this critical moment, Sultan Qutuz was preparing to confront the Mongols, which later led to the historic Battle of Ain Jalut, where the Mongols suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of the Mamluks.

Thus, Berke Khan is considered one of the indirect contributors to this historic Muslim victory, as his war against Hulagu helped divide Mongol forces and prevented them from concentrating their full strength in the Levant.
His struggle against the Mongols continued, and he inflicted further losses upon them, contributing to the erosion of their fearsome reputation that once dominated much of the known world.

This episode remains one of history’s most profound lessons: a man from the same bloodline and empire can turn against his own people when his beliefs and principles change.
Berke Khan was not merely a Mongol commander — he became a symbol of how faith can transform an individual… and even alter the course of history itself.