The sermons of Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (peace be upon him), particularly those compiled in Nahj al-Balaghah, offer profound insight into the nature of the universe. With the rise of modern science, we now find surprising alignment between his statements and contemporary discoveries in physics, geology, and biology. What follows is an exploration of how several of his sermons reflect scientific principles uncovered centuries later.
Mountain Roots and the Principle of Isostasy
In Sermon 209, Imam Ali says:
“He (God) also created high hills, rocks of stones and lofty mountains. He put those (mountains) in their positions and made them remain stationary. Their peaks rose into air while their roots remained in water.”
This reference to mountains having roots aligns closely with the theory of Isostasy, formally introduced in the 19th century. According to geophysics, mountains have deep roots that extend into the mantle to balance their massive weight. These roots, invisible to the eye, are essential to the equilibrium of the Earth’s crust. Modern studies show that these roots can be up to 5.6 times deeper than the height of the mountain range itself. Imam Ali’s statement, long before the advent of geological sciences, accurately reflects this hidden structure beneath the Earth’s surface.
The Role of Foam in Earth’s Formation and the Origin of Life
In Sermon 90, Imam Ali describes the state of the Earth as it was placed upon the oceans:
“He submerged the earth in the mighty and powerful waves of the full seas… the great waves collided with each other… producing foam.”
This imagery of foam on the ocean surface corresponds with what scientists now refer to as the Bubble Hypothesis—a modern theory suggesting that life may have originated in microscopic bubbles formed in early Earth’s oceans. According to research by geophysicist Louis Lerman (1993), these bubbles could have concentrated organic molecules, allowing them to undergo complex chemical reactions, ultimately leading to the formation of life.
Leading biologists, including Dr. Sherwood Chang (NASA) and Dr. Harold Morowitz (George Mason University), regard this theory as plausible and grounded in physical laws. Imam Ali’s reference to foam, in the context of Earth’s early formation, is not only poetic but uncannily relevant to one of today’s leading origin-of-life theories.
A Bubbling Universe and the Early Cosmos
Recent publications (2021–2023) in cosmology propose that the universe underwent a phase transition after the Big Bang, forming energy-filled bubbles that collided and released radiation. This model helps resolve the long-standing Hubble tension—a discrepancy in how we measure the universe’s expansion rate.
According to physicists Martin S. Sloth and Florian Niedermann, the early universe resembled boiling water, with bubbles forming, expanding, and crashing into one another, much like Imam Ali’s description of turbulent waves and cosmic instability in the early stages of existence. Their theory, known as the Bubbling Universe Model, implies that such collisions could explain many cosmological phenomena, including the formation of galaxies and dark energy distribution.
The Local Bubble and Stellar Formation
In a 2022 study by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, researchers confirmed that our solar system lies within a 1,000-light-year-wide bubble created by a chain of supernovae that began 14 million years ago. The surface of this bubble is where all young stars near Earth have formed. The sun now sits near the center of this Local Bubble, surrounded by hot plasma and cosmic debris.
This finding adds another layer of connection to Imam Ali’s vision. He spoke of creation arising through waves, layered movement, and cosmic forces—all terms that modern astrophysics now uses to describe star formation within massive galactic bubbles.
Water and Pre-Earth Chemistry
A 2022 paper published in Nature Astronomy reports that Earth’s water predates the planet itself, suggesting that water vapor existed before the Earth’s final formation stages. This aligns with classical Islamic descriptions of the Earth being placed upon pre-existing waters, again mentioned in Imam Ali’s sermons.
Such consistency between scriptural imagery and scientific discovery invites deeper contemplation about the harmony between faith and reason.
Conclusion
The sermons of Imam Ali (peace be upon him) were never intended as scientific manuals. Yet, their content reflects a level of insight into the cosmos, life, and matter that resonates powerfully with today’s most advanced scientific theories.
We must recognize that our current understanding of the universe is still incomplete. However, what has been confirmed—from the roots of mountains and the dynamics of water, to the bubble-based models of life and the cosmos—only strengthens the relevance of these early teachings.
Whether we explore the Earth’s crust, the ocean’s surface, or the furthest galaxies, the wisdom of Imam Ali continues to echo through time, inviting both believers and seekers to marvel at the union of divine knowledge and natural order.