Atoms consist of a nucleus and electrons revolving around that nucleus.
The atom itself is extraordinarily minute, but its components are billions of times smaller than the atom.
The nucleus that makes up almost the whole of the atom, in other words the matter inside it, occupies just one 10 billionth of its volume.
The electrons that revolve around the nucleus are almost without any mass. They are so minute that they can only be seen as a dust cloud even under an electron microscope.
The other 99.999% of the atom is EMPTY SPACE.
The following examples will make it easier to comprehend the minute size of electrons and this vast void within the atom:
Protons are much larger than electrons. One proton is equivalent to 2000 electrons.
The difference between them is equivalent to that between a human being and a peanut.
If we regard a full stop on a piece of paper as the nucleus of the atom, the electron revolving around it is 50 meters away.
If we think of the nucleus as being the size of an apple, then the electron revolving around it would be 50 km away. That is equivalent to the distance between Liverpool and Manchester in the UK.
Therefore, a person standing where the apple is could not even see the electrons revolving as far away as Manchester.
The area within this huge distance represents the vast emptiness within the atom.
The following example can help us grasp this huge void: if one could eliminate all the empty space in the atoms making up one of the tallest buildings in the world, the matter remaining would be smaller than a packet of sugar. Yet the mass of that matter would remain the same and not even the most powerful winches could lift it.
The fact that the building block of matter largely consists of huge empty space is one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century. By showing us this astonishing structure of the atom, Almighty Allah reminds us that He can create whole worlds using no natural causes. This sublime knowledge and artistry belongs to Almighty Allah alone, the Lord of the worlds.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan:
He said, “[Allah] The Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between them if you knew for sure.” (Surat ash-Shu’ara, 24)
