Exploring the Qur’anic Chronology of Creation reveals a profound perspective on how our universe transformed from a single point into the complex world we live in today. While modern science focuses on the "how," the Qur’an describes creation in meaningful stages that highlight the purpose behind the heavens and the earth. This layered journey moves from the initial act of creation to the detailed shaping of the stars, planets, and life, finally culminating in the appearance of human beings. In this article, we break down these stages to show how the Qur’an presents a beautifully coherent and purposeful vision of the universe. 1. Chronology of Creation Allah Almighty says in Surah Fussilat: 9. قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ 10. وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَىٰ لِلسَّائِلِينَ 11. ثُمَ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
1. Introduction
Pakistan is home to a variety of natural and man-made lakes spread across its diverse geography — from the snow-fed basins of Gilgit-Baltistan to the arid plains of Sindh. Lakes in Pakistan serve ecological, hydrological, economic, and recreational purposes.
Origin: Formed in 2010 due to a landslide on the Hunza River
Length: ~21 km
Significance: Major tourist attraction, disrupted the Karakoram Highway
2. Rush Lake
Altitude: 4,694 meters (One of the highest alpine lakes in the world)
Location: Near Nagar Valley
Access: Via Hopar Glacier
3. Sheosar Lake
Location: Deosai National Park
Altitude: 4,142 meters
Type: Alpine lake with rich biodiversity
4. Borith Lake
Location: Upper Hunza
Type: Saline lake
Significance: Migratory bird stopover (ducks and cranes)
B. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
1. Lake Saif-ul-Malook
Location: Naran, Kaghan Valley
Altitude: 3,224 meters
Famous for: Myths, natural beauty, trout fish
2. Lulusar Lake
Location: On Naran-Babusar road
Feeds: Kunhar River
3. Mahodand Lake
Location: Ushu Valley, Swat
Surroundings: Dense pine forests and meadows
4. Dudipatsar Lake
Location: Lulusar-Dudipatsar National Park
Known as: “Queen of Lakes” due to emerald green water
C. Punjab
1. Rawal Lake
Location: Islamabad
Type: Artificial reservoir
Purpose: Water supply for Rawalpindi & Islamabad
Recreation: Boating, fishing
2. Kallar Kahar Lake
Location: Salt Range (Chakwal)
Type: Natural lake
Famous for: Peacocks and tourist attractions
3. Uchhali Lake
Location: Soon Valley, Khushab
Type: Saltwater lake
Importance: Ramsar Wetland Site; home to migratory birds
D. Sindh
1. Lake Manchar
Location: Dadu District
Largest freshwater lake in Pakistan
Fed by: Indus River and hill torrents
Issues: Pollution and reduction in fish stock due to saline drainage water
2. Keenjhar Lake (Kalri Lake)
Location: Thatta
Type: Freshwater lake
Supplies: Drinking water to Karachi
Tourism: Boating, picnicking
3. Haleji Lake
Location: Thatta
Type: Artificial lake, enlarged from a natural depression
Importance: Bird sanctuary and Ramsar site
E. Balochistan
1. Hanna Lake
Location: Near Quetta
Type: Tectonic/artificial
Features: Surrounded by hills, tourist picnic spot
2. Zhob River Lakes
Series of small lakes and wetlands
Important for waterfowl and arid biodiversity
3. Band Khushdil Khan
Artificial reservoir for Quetta
Dry in some seasons due to low rainfall
4. Ecological and Economic Importance
Biodiversity Hotspots: Many lakes support migratory birds, fish, and aquatic plants.
Water Storage: Reservoir lakes like Rawal, Hub, and Keenjhar are essential for urban water supply.
Tourism and Economy: Lakes in Swat, Hunza, Kaghan, and Balochistan attract tourists, supporting local economies.
Agriculture and Irrigation: Lakes formed near dams help regulate water flow and storage.
5. Challenges Facing Lakes in Pakistan
Pollution: Industrial and agricultural runoff pollutes lakes like Manchar and Keenjhar.
Siltation: Glacial melt lakes and reservoirs are vulnerable to silt accumulation.
Climate Change: Glacial retreat threatens high-altitude lakes; some are expanding rapidly (GLOFs).
Over-extraction and Drainage: Excessive water use lowers lake levels.
Invasive Species: Affecting biodiversity in some freshwater lakes.
6. Conclusion
Lakes in Pakistan are vital for ecological balance, water storage, livelihoods, and tourism. Protection through environmental regulation, eco-tourism management, and water conservation strategies is crucial for sustaining these natural resources.
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Here's a table featuring facts about the top twenty tallest waterfalls in the world, including their height, location, and notable details: Here’s a table featuring facts about the top twenty tallest waterfalls in the world, including their height, location, and notable details: Rank Waterfall Name Height (meters) Height (feet) Location Notable Fact 1 Angel Falls 979 3,212 Venezuela Tallest uninterrupted waterfall in the world 2 Tugela Falls 948 3,110 South Africa Tallest waterfall in Africa 3 Tres Hermanas Falls 914 3,000 Peru Tallest waterfall in Peru 4 Olo’upena Falls 900 2,953 United States (Hawaii) Tallest waterfall in the United States 5 Yumbilla Falls 896 2,940 Peru Fifth tallest waterfall in the world 6 Vinnufossen 860 2,821 Norway Tallest waterfall in Europe 7 Balaifossen 850 2,788 Norway Second tallest waterfall in Europe 8 Pu’uka’oku Falls 840 2,756 United States (Hawaii) Second tallest waterfall in the Unite...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Here's a table featuring facts about the top twenty highest mountain peaks in the world, including their height, location, and other notable details: Here’s a table featuring facts about the top twenty highest mountain peaks in the world, including their height, location, and other notable details: Rank Mountain Peak Height (meters) Height (feet) Location Notable Fact 1 Mount Everest 8,848 29,029 Nepal/China border Highest mountain peak in the world 2 K2 (Mount Godwin-Austen) 8,611 28,251 Pakistan/China border Second highest peak, notoriously difficult to climb 3 Kangchenjunga 8,586 28,169 Nepal/India border Third highest peak, means “Five Treasures of Snows” 4 Lhotse 8,516 27,940 Nepal/China border Fourth highest peak, adjacent to Mount Everest 5 Makalu 8,485 27,838 Nepal/China border Fifth highest peak, known for its pyramid shape 6 Cho Oyu 8,188 26,864 Nepal/China border Sixth highest peak, considered one of the easi...
Exploring the Qur’anic Chronology of Creation reveals a profound perspective on how our universe transformed from a single point into the complex world we live in today. While modern science focuses on the "how," the Qur’an describes creation in meaningful stages that highlight the purpose behind the heavens and the earth. This layered journey moves from the initial act of creation to the detailed shaping of the stars, planets, and life, finally culminating in the appearance of human beings. In this article, we break down these stages to show how the Qur’an presents a beautifully coherent and purposeful vision of the universe. 1. Chronology of Creation Allah Almighty says in Surah Fussilat: 9. قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَرْضَ فِي يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ 10. وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ مِنْ فَوْقِهَا وَبَارَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَا أَقْوَاتَهَا فِي أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَىٰ لِلسَّائِلِينَ 11. ثُمَ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. In the Name of Allah—the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Let us learn how to perform Salah. OBLIGATION OF SALAH: Offering Salah (prayers) five times a day (24 hours), is an Obligatory Service, imposed on every adult, sane Muslim, male, female, or effeminate, except the women who are suffering menstrual bleeding or post-partum bleeding. This is agreed upon among all the Muslim scholars. Allah Almighty says: أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمۡسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِۖ إِنَّ قُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ كَانَ مَشۡہُودً۬ا “ Establish prayers at the going down of the sun until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur’an at dawn is ever witnessed.” [17:78] Talha bin ‘Ubaidullah ( رضی اللہ عنہ ) reported that a man from Najd with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Messenger ( ﷺ ) and we heard his loud voice but could not understand what he was saying, till he came ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Abstract A Pashtun (also spelled Pakhtun ) can be defined from ethnic , linguistic , and cultural perspectives: Ethnically: Pashtuns are an Indo-Iranian ethnic group indigenous to the region historically known as Afghanistan and the adjoining areas of western Pakistan (especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, northern Balochistan, and parts of Punjab). They are regarded as the native inhabitants of southeastern Afghanistan , particularly around Paktia, Paktika, and Ghazni , from where they expanded eastward and southward. Linguistically: They speak Pashto , an Eastern Iranian language of the Indo-European family. Pashto has several dialects, broadly classified into southern (Kandahari) and northern (Yousafzai) groups. Culturally: Pashtun identity is deeply rooted in Pashtunwali , an ancient code of honour and c...
A Reflection on Surah al-Falaq and Islamic Cosmology Introduction The Qur'an begins Surah al-Falaq with a profound declaration: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of Al-Falaq." (Qur'an 113:1) Traditionally, Al-Falaq is understood as the dawn or daybreak. Yet the Arabic word possesses a deeper and more fundamental meaning. Derived from the root fa-la-qa , it signifies splitting, cleaving, bursting forth, and emergence. It describes the moment when something concealed breaks through its enclosure and becomes manifest. The sequence of the Surah is noteworthy: قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ "Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of Al-Falaq, from the evil of what He has created." If al-Falaq referred only to the daily dawn, there is a certain jump in scale: Verse 1 would refer to a daily natural phenomenon. Verse 2 would immediately move to the entirety of creation. However, if Al-Falaq is understood as the p...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Early Life and Education Imam Muhammad bin Jarir al-Tabari was born in 224 AH (839 CE) in Amol, a city in the province of Tabaristan (modern-day northern Iran). His full name was Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn Jarir ibn Yazid ibn Kathir al-Tabari . He was raised in a scholarly family and displayed an exceptional aptitude for learning from a young age. By the age of seven, he had memorized the Qur’an, and by the age of eight, he began studying hadith and jurisprudence. Recognizing his potential, his father encouraged him to pursue advanced Islamic studies, which led al-Tabari to travel to major centers of knowledge across the Islamic world. Academic Journeys and Teachers Al-Tabari embarked on extensive travels to gain knowledge, studying under some of the most renowned scholars of his time. He traveled to: Rayy (modern-day Iran) – where he studied under scholars such as Muhammad ibn Humayd al-Razi. Basra and Kufa (Iraq) ...
In the Name of Allah---the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Introduction The extreme latitudes of the Earth present one of the most challenging questions in contemporary Islamic jurisprudence. In regions near the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, normal astronomical signs that determine prayer and fasting times may partially or completely disappear. During the phenomenon known as the Midnight Sun, the sun remains above the horizon for weeks or months. During the Polar Night, it may not rise at all. Islamic acts of worship are traditionally linked to observable solar phenomena. Fajr begins with true dawn, Dhuhr with the sun's decline from the meridian, Maghrib with sunset, and Isha with the disappearance of twilight. When these signs cease to exist or become indistinguishable, Muslims face an important legal question: how are the obligations of prayer and fasting to be fulfilled? Remarkably, classical Islamic jurists addressed this issue centuries before Muslims permanently settle...
