Energy cannot be created nor destroyed; however, it can changefrom one form to another by Saira Zulfiqar

Why does nothing in this world actually vanish? Many mystical traditions, especially Sufi, believe everything reverts to its original essence, not nothing. The form disappears, but the soul, meaning, or energy returns into another. Even after a moment has passed, its mark remains, in memory, substance, and time. A single word can change someone’s perception, and the cycle of change continues. Motion, sound, and light all simply alter their form. Energy simply transforms; it cannot be created or destroyed. The rhythm of the world is sustained by this continuous process, which reminds us that everything that ends in one way always begins anew in another.

The concept that supports the Law of Conservation of Energy has ancient origins. As early as 550 BCE, philosophers such as Thales of Miletus believed everything was made of one eternal essence, which he identified as water. Later, Empedocles proposed that everything was constituted of four constant elements: earth, air, water, and fire, which only reorganise but never disappear.
Similarly, Epicurus argued that the universe was made up of small, indestructible particles (atoms) and that the overall amount of matter in the universe remained constant.

In the early modern period, scientific thinkers began to develop clearer versions of this theory. Simon Stevin demonstrated in 1605 that perpetual motion, or continuous movement with no waste of energy, was impossible. Then Galileo (1639) established that energy can transfer between potential and kinetic forms, as when a pendulum swings, but the total remains constant.
Later, in 1669, Christiaan Huygens built on this by investigating collisions and motion, demonstrating that momentum and kinetic energy are conserved. Over time, these discoveries evolved into what is now known as the Law of Conservation of Energy, which states that energy cannot be created nor destroyed but changed from one form to another.

Émilie du Châtelet (1706-1749) contributed significantly to our understanding of energy in the 18th century. Building on Gottfried Leibniz’s ideas, she distinguished between energy and momentum and tested this with experiments. By dropping metal balls into soft clay, she discovered that the clay’s deformation was proportional to the square of the ball’s velocity, rather than the velocity itself. This demonstrated that kinetic energy (Ek = ½mv²) is related to the square of speed and that energy can change form but remain constant in quantity.

Du Châtelet determined that energy must always have the same dimensions, regardless of its type, kinetic, potential, or thermal. Her study established the basis for understanding energy as a measured and conserved quantity. Later, scientists and engineers such as John Smeaton, Peter Ewart, and Marc Seguin expanded on her discoveries, recognising that momentum alone cannot describe physical processes.

By the late 18th century, tests by Antoine Lavoisier, Pierre-Simon Laplace, and Count Rumford demonstrated that mechanical motion generates heat, giving rise to the notion that heat is another type of energy. This discovery combined motion, work, and heat under a single universal law. The concept of vis viva (“living force”) gradually evolved into what we now call energy, a term first coined by Thomas Young in 1807. In layman’s terms, du Châtelet’s study served to demonstrate that energy never vanishes; rather, it evolves from one form to another, thus reinforcing the foundation of the Law of Conservation of Energy

According to science, energy is one of the most constant and strong forces in the cosmos, ever-present and constantly changing form. When the cosmos was incredibly hot and full of energy, such as immediately after the Big Bang or around black holes, matter and energy may turn into one another, a phenomenon known as mass-energy equivalence. This process demonstrates how intricately linked matter and energy are.

The stationary-action concept reinforces this view by explaining how things move in nature. Using this idea, scientist Emmy Noether established in her famous theorem that energy is always conserved since physical rules remain constant across time. This is why a perpetual motion machine, one that runs indefinitely without an energy source, is impossible. However, in Einstein’s general relativity, energy conservation may appear questionable on a cosmic scale since space itself can expand or shift. In contrast, quantum physics indicates that energy is conserved on average, even if scientists continue to debate whether minor, one-time breaches may occur. Overall, energy never disappears; it simply changes form, preserving the universe’s balance.

The law of matter and energy conservation simply claims that by treating the cosmos as a closed system, the total amount of matter and energy in the world is fixed. It cannot be increased or decreased. One kind of matter or energy may change into another, but the net amount remains constant. This simple scientific theory can give spiritual seekers a wealth of understanding and inspiration.

Given the universe’s fixed and limited supply of matter and energy, it is impossible to have any genuine ‘interest’. The total amount of matter in the world does not increase. However, trade is permissible because it involves a transaction from one party to another. As a result, at a more subtle and deep level, this verse may be directing our attention to what is feasible and impossible to attain in this world.

According to the Quran,
“Allah has allowed trade and banned usury.”
(Surah Baqarah, Verse 275)

The law of conservation states that nothing is lost or gained. All that transpires in the realm of matter is displacement, exchange, and alteration, not creation or annihilation. This insight can assist in balancing one’s joys and sorrows equally. If you do gain something, remember that it came from somewhere. Every addition to your life requires an equivalent subtraction from somewhere else. And if you do lose something, don’t worry; it’s not lost forever. It cannot be lost. There is no actual gain or loss in this world. We can overcome both our misery and our hubris by remembering this in everyday life.

The Quran says,
“When something good befalls them, they say, ‘This is from Allah,’ but when something
evil befalls them, they say, ‘This is from you.’ Say, O Prophet, “Both have been destined by
Allah.”
(Surah Nissa, Verse 78)

Nasir Al-Din al-Tusi, a Muslim scientist from the 13th century, presented an early version of the Divine Law of Mass Conservation. He stated that “a body of matter cannot disappear completely.” Lomonosov and Lavoisier stated 500 years ago that matter changes form, composition, colour, and other qualities, resulting in a new complex or elementary matter.

This is consistent with Buddhism’s ’emptiness’ principle, which holds that nothing has a definite substance or identity. Instead, all of the forms we see are disposable and constantly changing. Nothing has an independent essence; nonetheless, everything is interdependent. The law of conservation can also provide a credible explanation for reincarnation, with important implications for practice.

A Chinese person’s body today may have formerly belonged to a Tibetan. Similarly, Arabs and Jews are not two opposing forces from distinct backgrounds, but rather two splits on the same blanket. The Chandogya Upanishad states, ‘That thou art’ (tat tvam
asi). Each of us is an extension, stretch, and continuation of the other, as well as the same reality.

“What’s all the shouting, conflict and wrath?
Ain’t we travel-mates on the same path
Who’ve the same provision, train and bath?”
(Rūmī, Dīvān-i Kabīr, Ghazal 783)

1400 years ago, the Quran mentioned that the sun loaned something to humans, which sceptics contend is incorrect because we do not borrow from the sun and then repay it. However, contemporary science supports the idea that the energy we obtain from the sun must be lost eventually, which is consistent with the law of conservation of energy.

The law of conservation of energy states that energy acquired from the sun is eventually wasted in the form of heat, as seen when one travels into the shade. In the Quran, the sun is represented as lending something to humanity that must be repaid later, emphasising the concept of no additions or subtractions, only a return of what was given.

“And you would have seen the sun rise, inclining away from their cave to the right, then
set, descending away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space. That is one of
Allah’s signs. Whoever Allah leads is truly guided. However, anybody He sends astray will never
find a helpful mentor.”
(Surah Kahaf, Verse 17)

In Arabic, “Kard” (refers to sever, to give a loan, whereas “Takriduhum” literally mean to cut, while its metaphorical meaning is to denote providing a loan. In this sense, the sun is lending something, which is consistent with the concept of energy borrowed from the sun and then returned. The Quranic account of the sun lending something that must be repaid without interest is consistent with the energy conservation theory, which states that energy obtained from the sun is eventually lost in the shade, validating the idea that energy is neither generated nor
destroyed, but rather transformed. This idea of energy conservation aligns with present scientific principles.

Allah created the universe with a stable balance of electrical charge. To maintain complete equilibrium, a positive charge must be balanced by a negative charge. Rubbing a plastic ruler with fabric results in a negative charge for the ruler and an equal positive charge for the cloth. This daily example has huge cosmic importance. Without this Divine Law that maintains electrical balance, galaxies would carry an excess charge. Electromagnetic forces are stronger than gravitationalforces; hence, any electrical imbalance would destroy the cosmos and eliminate life.

“Don’t you see that the lightning comes and goes in an eye blink?”
[Sahih Muslim, Volume 1, Book 1, Hadith 380]

This hadith describes lightning as a tremendous electrical discharge between clouds and the earth. Normally, air acts as a barrier to electrical flow. When charge separation exceeds a certain threshold, nature restores balance. Allah creates a conductive conduit in the air, resulting in a dazzling flash known as lightning. This stunning exhibition showcases the Divine Law of Charge Conservation in action.

According to the hadith, lightning has two phases: a downward strike towards earth and an upward return to the cloud. The entire process happens in milliseconds, faster than human sight can detect. Only current high-speed cameras with thousands of frames per second can reveal what the Prophet (SAW) described 14 centuries ago. Advanced technology enables accurate knowledge of prophetic insight, confirming its heavenly source.

Whether manifested as light, sound, heat, or motion, energy continues to exist even after its outward form is gone. For example, when you walk, the force of each stride transmits kinetic energy to the earth. Even when a fire burns, the chemical energy of fuel is converted into heat and light. In every situation, the energy survives, changes, spreads but is never destroyed.

Sound waves are vibrations produced by a speaker’s voice that move across the atmosphere. As these waves go outward, they collide with things, mix with air molecules, and somewhat alter the velocity and temperature of the surrounding area. They produce a vibration of molecules, which is observed by the Earth. The sound gradually fades away from human hearing, but it never really goes away; instead, it spreads, gets weaker, and changes. Once energy is created, it persists in some form, according to scientists.

“On that Day, the earth will recount everything,
Having been inspired by your Lord ‘to do so’.”
(Surah Az Zalzalah, Verse 4,5)

The Earth that contained and concealed human deeds will, by divine will, bear witness.
This implies that every event, no matter how minor or forgotten, leaves an imprint in creation,
which God can invoke when the time comes.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) stated that the Messenger of Allah (peace
and blessings be upon him) recited the verse: “That Day it (the earth) will report its news.”
Then he asked, “Do you know what its news will be?”

The Companions stated, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”

The Prophet (peace be upon him) stated, ‘Its news is that it will testify against every man
and woman for what they did on the surface. It will state, ‘He (or she) did such-and-such on this
day and that day.’
The Prophet then continued, “That is its news.”

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Book of the Description of the Day of Resurrection, Softening
of the Hearts, and Piety, Hadith No. 2429)

Just as physics shows that energy is kept in the natural world, revelation demonstrates that deeds are preserved in the moral world. The Qur’an and science both disclose that the universe has a memory, and that memory is controlled by divine will. This means that every word spoken in wrath or kindness, every hidden act of love or harm, exists outside our perception. On the Day of Judgement, when Allah empowers the Earth to speak, it will be a display of justice, transforming recorded data into divine witness. The spiritual and physical merge here: the eternal continuation of energy corresponds to the soul’s eternal accountability.

According to some stories, the Solomon Islands of the Pacific practise a specific type of curse magic. If a tree needs to be taken down but is too large to do so, the Islanders work together to bring it down by shouting and yelling at it. This negative energy apparently affects the tree’s life energy, and after around 30 days of being cursed, the tree dies and falls to the ground!

Many people question unusual statements, such as how can a tree can fall simply by
cursing? However, when viewed through the lenses of science and spiritual awareness, this theory
contains tremendous layers of reality.

According to famous biologist Dr. Bruce Lipton, author of The Biology of Belief, such events are not “miracles” but rather manifestations of the mind’s boundless potential, particularly the subconscious mind. He explains that the mind works at three levels: conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. The subconscious mind is incredibly strong, millions of times more so than the conscious mind, and has a significant impact on our behaviours, emotions, and even physical reality.

Our subconscious mind operates on the beliefs, emotions, and thoughts we repeatedly feed it, just like a computer does with installed programs. Negative patterns behave like viruses, whilst positive thoughts function as reprogramming tools. Dr Lipton contends that when Solomon Islanders curse trees, they transmit significant negative energy and purpose towards them. These vibrations, whether verbal, emotional, or mental, change the tree’s chemical structure over time.

The tree absorbs the energy until its natural equilibrium deteriorates, resulting in degeneration or
collapse. This, he relates to quantum physics, which shows that every thought and word carries
measurable energy that interacts with its surroundings.

The Mythbusters conducted an experiment in which separate soundtracks of loving praise
and vicious insults played on repeat in two separate greenhouses generated no change in plant
quality.

“Some plant lovers believe that simply providing seedlings with sunlight, water, and fertile
soil is insufficient. To truly make their roots sing, these backyard botanists believe they can sweet
talk their gardens into growing better. To see if good words might indeed produce fertile results,
the sceptical MythBusters purchased 60 pea plants and divided them into three greenhouse groups.
Then they recorded two soundtracks, one of warm praise and one of nasty insults, and played them
on loop in two different greenhouses. A third greenhouse served as an experimental control. To
give the myth a fighting chance of survival, the researchers tracked the plants’ growth for 60 days.
The MythBusters then chose the winning greenhouse by comparing plant masses from the three
groups. To their astonishment, the silent greenhouse performed poorly, producing less biomass and
smaller pea pods than the other two. Although there was no difference in plant quality between the
nice and the average greenhouses, the soundtracks appeared to have a favourable effect in both.”

The Mythbusters conducted an experiment in which separate soundtracks of loving praise
and vicious insults played on repeat in two separate greenhouses generated no change in plant
quality.
“Some plant lovers believe that simply providing seedlings with sunlight, water, and fertile
soil is insufficient. To truly make their roots sing, these backyard botanists believe they can sweet
talk their gardens into growing better. To see if good words might indeed produce fertile results,
the sceptical MythBusters purchased 60 pea plants and divided them into three greenhouse groups.
Then they recorded two soundtracks, one of warm praise and one of nasty insults, and played them
on loop in two different greenhouses. A third greenhouse served as an experimental control. To
give the myth a fighting chance of survival, the researchers tracked the plants’ growth for 60 days.
The MythBusters then chose the winning greenhouse by comparing plant masses from the three
groups. To their astonishment, the silent greenhouse performed poorly, producing less biomass and
smaller pea pods than the other two. Although there was no difference in plant quality between the
nice and the average greenhouses, the soundtracks appeared to have a favourable effect in both.”

Every word said, thought emitted, and emotion felt generates energy that does not vanish; it simply changes form. When one curses, praises, or prays, the vibrations persist, impacting matter in subtle but significant ways. This is not superstition; rather, it reflects how the universe conserves all forms of energy. Thus, words and thoughts are energy activities that have an impact on all of existence.
Similarly, when we speak harshly to someone or repeatedly criticise a child, the energy is not lost. It infiltrates their psyche, altering their confidence and self-esteem. Negative words diminish an individual’s inner vibration, whilst positive words raise and rejuvenate their vitality.
In this sense, cognition and speech are acts of energy transfer.
More than two thousand years ago, Mahatma Buddha stated a similar truth:
“We are what we think.”
Our ideas form energy patterns that shape who we are and our world. To nourish life, whether it be a tree, a child, or one’s own mind, we must consciously direct our energy. Encouragement, gratitude, and kindness are more than just emotions; they are positive energies that remodel our subconscious and resonate in the physical world.

To sum up all, energy is one of the most constant and strong forces in the cosmos. This simple scientific theory can give spiritual seekers a wealth of understanding and inspiration. Energy, whether manifested as light, sound, heat, or motion, continues to exist even after its outward form is gone. . The Qur’an and science both disclose that the universe has a memory, and that memory is controlled by divine will. Finally, science and revelation agree on one thing: every deed, thought, and word remains. The universe stores what we give into it, whether through
molecular vibration, energy fields, or the divine record. As a result, we must select our thoughts and words carefully, because they echo throughout creation, affecting not just our reality but also the testimony that the Earth will one day bear about us.