  
The Peerless Planet: Earth
 Think for
a moment about what is necessary for a man to survive. Water,
the sun, oxygen, the atmosphere, plants and animals… All kinds
of details, all kinds of conditions you can or can't think
of at that moment are naturally available on the Earth. In
addition, when we investigate further, we can see that all
these vital needs have a web of interrelated details, and
that all these details exist in their full splendor on Earth.
Everything on Earth, its living things, plants, the sky, and
the seas, all these have been created in the best and most
complete way in order to suit the existence and survival of
humanity.
Along with the Earth, there are also other planets in our
solar system. However, among these planets, the only planet
that is suitable for life is Earth. The distance of the Earth
from the sun, the rotational speed of the Earth on its axis,
the inclination of its axis to its orbit, the structure of
the Earth's surface and many other independent factors much
like these enable our planet to enjoy a warm temperature which
is appropriate for life and to diffuse this warmth all over
the Earth in a homogeneous way. The composition of the Earth's
atmosphere and the size of the Earth are also just as they
should be. The light coming to us from the sun, the water
we drink, and the foods we enjoy are extremely suitable for
our lives.
In short, any sort of close look at the planet we live on
will show us that the Earth was designed especially for man.
For us to see that the conditions on Earth were specially
designed, it will be enough to take a rough look at conditions
on other planets. Take Mars, for example. The atmosphere of
Mars is a toxic mixture containing a heavy dose of carbon
dioxide. There is no water on the surface of the planet. Huge
craters caused by the impact of massive meteors are obvious
in the picture on the right. As for the weather, monster storms
and sandstorms which last for months on end are quite common.
The temperature averages -53o C (-64o
F).
Considering these features as a whole, Mars, which among our
neighboring planets shares the most in common with the Earth,
is clearly a dead planet where life is not possible. This
comparison palpably demonstrates that the features which make
the Earth a livable place are truly tremendous blessings.
The One Who has created the entire universe, formed perfectly
its stars, planets, mountains and seas, is Allah. Throughout
our lives, we should be thankful for His creations and blessings,
and take Him as a friend and protector. Allah, Who is the
owner of all these things, is the One Who is worthy of all
praise. Allah informs us of this fact in the Qur'an:
Is He Who creates like him who does
not create? So will you not pay heed? If you tried to number
Allah's blessings, you could never count them. Allah is
Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat an-Nahl: 17-18)
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