Chapter 1: The Question of Existence

Throughout history, humanity has grappled with the question, "How did we come to exist?" From ancient Dreamtime tales to the biblical Genesis, every culture has crafted its own narrative of creation. Philosophers and theologians have long reflected on these existential inquiries. However, as scientific advancements have surged, many traditional stories have been overshadowed, leading to a decline in religious adherence, particularly in the West. This raises a profound question: could science actually affirm the existence of God?

The journey of modern astrophysics took a pivotal turn in 1926 when astronomer Vesto Melvin Slipher first noted the redshift of light from distant galaxies. By 1929, Edwin Hubble discovered a correlation: the farther away a galaxy was, the more its light shifted to red. This phenomenon, known as 'redshift,' serves as an indicator of the speed at which galaxies are receding from us. Hubble's findings confirmed the previously posited mathematical models of luminaries like Einstein and Friedmann, illustrating that the universe is expanding outward.

Consider a polka-dotted balloon being inflated for a celebration: as the balloon expands, the dots move further apart. Conversely, if you deflate the balloon, the dots converge back to their original proximity. Scientists apply a similar principle to the cosmos, theorizing that if they reverse the expansion mathematically, they can trace the universe back to a singularity of "infinite density." This moment, often referred to as the "Big Bang," marks the inception of space and time.

At the universe's origin, everything was unified in this state of "infinite density." One might ponder, "What constitutes infinite density?" The deeper inquiry, however, is about the nature of infinity itself. Notably, 11th-century scholar al-Ghazali argued that if the universe were finite, it would imply a Creator.

Infinity can be conceptualized in two ways: 'actual' and 'potential.' The 'potential' infinite represents an endless continuum, as demonstrated by mathematician Georg Cantor in the late 1800s. Yet, while this concept holds in theoretical mathematics, translating it to reality poses insurmountable challenges. This leads us to the 'actual' infinite, a specific number akin to integers like one or ten. Even this notion, upon scrutiny, appears unattainable in reality, leading to the conclusion that the infinite, in essence, does not exist. Everything around us is finite.

So, if infinity is a non-existent concept, what does "infinite density" signify at the universe's dawn? Reflecting on a mathematical proof where 0.999 recurring equals 1, we find that "infinite density" equates to "nothing." Thus, the universe emerged from nothingness.

While some physicists accept this notion, others seek to circumvent the implications of a creator by proposing alternative theories. However, many of these theories, such as the "oscillating universe," have been debunked, particularly due to evidence of background radiation confirming a singular Big Bang event. The quest for alternate explanations for the Big Bang continues.

In summary, over the past two centuries, science has not only established that the universe had a beginning (and an end) but has also illustrated that it originated from a state of nothingness. For those lacking faith, numerous questions remain unanswered. Scientific exploration has its limits, and some inquiries will persist beyond our understanding.

For believers in the Islamic faith, the Big Bang theory and the concept of time's finitude affirm the existence of a Creator. This scientific perspective resonates with a truth conveyed in the Qur'an over 1400 years ago:

"Do the disbelievers not realise that the heavens and earth were once one mass then We split them apart?" — Qur’an 21:30, translated by Dr Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran.

The creation and expansion of the universe, encapsulated in the Big Bang, point to one ultimate cause: God.

The first video, "A Journey To The Beginning Of Time," explores the origins of the universe and the intersection of time and creation.

The second video, "Karel Zeman: Journey to the Beginning of Time - TRAILER," showcases the digitally restored film that delves into the concepts of time and existence.