A human being is like an atom in the Universe yet he is a universe of atoms and has a plenty to think. Here is one food for thought. Allah, the Generous, rewards his servants in multiples of 70 and this is ascertained in verse 261 of chapter 2 of the glorious Quran. The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed which grows seven spikes, in each spike is a hundred grains. In the book of Matthew (18, 21-22) Peter, wishing to appear especially forgiving and benevolent, asked Jesus if forgiveness was to be offered seven times. Jesus said we are to forgive others “seventy times seven” in response to Peter’s question. At other places, God says that He loves his creation 70 times more than the mothers do and the love of mother is such that she may divide it among 10 children, yet each child will still have all her love. Similarly, a martyr in the way of his Lord may intercede for seventy of his close relatives on the day of resurrection.
Though His infinite mercy must enable Him beyond 70 but stressing this number seems to throw a hint elsewhere. Remarkably, the isothermal efficiencies of genetic control systems and also the visual pigments are near 70%. The information and coding theory limits the theoretical efficiency for bistate molecular machines at 70. In another study, power amplifiers have been shown to possibly achieve a power-added efficiency of 70% with associated gain of 8 decibel and output power. Power plants based on solar system have risen to efficiency of 70%. The distribution transformers are energized for 24 hours to deliver light loads for major portion of the day causing an iron loss. Hence these are designed for minimum iron loss and copper loss depending on load current. So the distribution transformer efficiency is fixed at less than full load efficiency, usually around 50 to 75% of full load efficiency. Most electric motors are designed to run at 50% to 100% of rated load but maximum efficiency is usually near 75% of the rated load. The effective value of a varying voltage or current is also 70% of its peak value. A patented breakthrough in March 2016 by researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is a study that could improve the efficiency of photovoltaic cells by nearly 70 percent. This breakthrough could be a key for overcoming current technological limitations to harness solar power to meet the world’s energy consumption demands. Similarly, a computational analysis was conducted recently to optimize the design of a solid oxide fuel cell – gas turbine hybrid power generator, focusing on the impact that fuel utilization within the fuel cell has on system efficiency and installed costs. This is the first ever design-study considering the effect of fuel utilization on performance, as well as on the optimum power split. This hybrid system attained high electric generation efficiencies around 70% over a wide range of operating conditions. In this chain of arguments speaking for efficiency of different processes and instruments, it is pertinent to mention about Carnot’s heat engine. In thermodynamics, it is well known that no real heat engine can do as well as the Carnot engine. It is a theoretical thermodynamic cycle proposed by Nicolas Léonard Sadi Carnot in 1824 and has ideally 100% efficiency; however an actual efficiency of about 0.7 of this maximum is usually the best that can be accomplished. The signs of Allah are clearly manifested in this world except to those who don’t want to think. A person who thinks and concludes rightly becomes a true servant of his Lord by way of enlightenment, and those who don’t, obviously go astray. Therefore, a person bestowed with the power of thinking is indeed granted an immense good.
The spirit of the Quran is essentially anti-classical. It urges its readers to develop thinking as a form of worship. The easiest thing for the human mind is to wander but unfortunately this has been turned off by the sea of self-help books. It is indeed horrible to overlook the connection between thoughts and transformation. Most of us have a strong desire to do well in life and to stretch our potential to its limits. Some also want to reflect the image of the Creator. In this context, one should note that the path towards a lasting legacy, be it here or in the hereafter starts between the two ears, in the mind.
Dr. Qudsia Gani is Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Cluster University Srinagar