Scientists say that before the galaxies in the universe were formed, celestial matter was initially in the form of gaseous matter. In short, huge gaseous matter or clouds were present before the formation of the galaxies. To describe initial celestial matter, the word ‘smoke’ is more appropriate than gas. The following Qur’anic verse refers to this state of the universe by the word dukhaan which means smoke.

Again, this fact is a corollary to the ‘Big Bang’ and was not known to the Arabs before the time of prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him). What then, could have been the source of this knowledge?