Looking Beyond Earth to Understand What Happens on Earth
Climate change and natural disasters are shaped by many complex factors. Human activities, the atmosphere, oceans and processes within the Earth all play important roles. But could events beyond our planet also have an influence?
A Universiti Malaya research project led by Dr. Mohd Hafiz bin Mohd Saadon is exploring this question by bringing together three sources of knowledge: Islamic classical texts, modern scientific research and expert opinion.
The research was inspired by a proposal from the Premier of Sarawak in 2021, which highlighted the potential of astronomical observations to help understand and anticipate natural phenomena. The Government of Sarawak, through the Mufti Department of Sarawak, subsequently supported the study through a research grant.
What Is the Problem?
Astronomical phenomena such as the Moon, planets, the Sun and stars have long attracted human attention. They also appear in Islamic intellectual traditions, where observations of the heavens were historically important to ilmu falak and the study of natural phenomena.
However, it is important to distinguish historical references from modern scientific evidence.
The research therefore asks: Do astronomical phenomena influence climate change and natural disasters, and how significant are these effects compared with factors originating within the Earth system and human activity?
What Did the Researchers Find?
The study examined the issue from three perspectives.
First, the researchers analysed relevant Islamic texts to identify references to astronomical influences. These references were found to exist, although they were generally implicit rather than direct scientific explanations.
Second, the team carried out a systematic review of scientific literature using databases including Web of Science and ScienceDirect. The review found that scientific studies do report relationships between certain astronomical phenomena and Earth-system processes.
However, the findings also provide an important message: the effects of astronomical factors are generally smaller and less significant than internal Earth-system processes and human influences.
Third, experts from fields including meteorology, climate science and Islamic astronomy were brought together for a Focus Group Discussion. The expert assessment recorded 100% agreement on the relevance of astronomical influences and the need for further interdisciplinary investigation, exceeding the study's predefined 75% threshold.
Why Does This Matter?
The research does not suggest that astronomical factors are the main cause of climate change or natural disasters. Instead, it shows that they may form one small part of a much larger and more complicated system.
This matters because understanding the role and relative importance of different factors can help researchers develop a more complete picture of natural phenomena.
The project also demonstrates how knowledge from different traditions can be brought together. By examining Islamic classical texts alongside contemporary scientific literature, the research connects Malaysia's Islamic intellectual heritage with modern scientific inquiry.
From Research to Wider Collaboration
The project has involved experts and institutions from different fields. A Focus Group Discussion was conducted with participants from the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and the JAKIM Astronomy Panel.
The findings were subsequently presented at the inauguration of the Bintulu Astronomy Centre in Sarawak on 12 August 2025 and showcased through a research poster at the International Transdisciplinary Research Conference (INTRAC) 2025 at Universiti Malaya.
The technical research report has been completed, while three planned books are currently being submitted to publishers.
Where Is the Research Going Next?
The research is now being extended through a postgraduate research project focusing on a selected group of classical Islamic texts.
As part of this continuation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are being explored as an analytical aid to examine texts more systematically and identify themes, patterns and references related to astronomy, climate and natural disasters.
The longer-term goal is to encourage stronger collaboration between Islamic studies, astronomy, meteorology and environmental sciences, while providing a foundation for future empirical research using long-term local datasets.
Ultimately, this project encourages us to look both towards the skies and back to Earth, not to replace established scientific understanding, but to explore unanswered questions, connect different forms of knowledge and deepen our understanding of the natural world.
SDGs Addressed:
 | SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities: Provides a foundation for future research that may support better disaster-risk understanding and planning. |
 | SDG 13 – Climate Action: Supports better understanding of factors linked to climate and encourages further evidence-based climate research. |
 | SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals: Brings together Islamic studies, astronomy, meteorology, climate science and disaster management. |
Researcher Featured:
Dr. Mohd Hafiz bin Mohd Saadon
Senior Lecturer
Falak Laboratory,
Department of Fiqh-Usul and Applied Sciences,
Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya
Get to know the researcher:
Dr. Mohd Hafiz bin Mohd Saadon is an astrophysicist and astronomer at the Academy of Islamic Studies, Universiti Malaya. His expertise spans astrophysics, astronomical spectroscopy, galactic and stellar evolution, and Islamic astronomy, with a particular interest in connecting scientific knowledge with Islamic intellectual heritage. He has led research examining astronomical influences on climate change and natural disasters, while also actively contributing to astronomy education and public outreach.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Email: mhmsum.edu.my
Office num: +60379676011
Web of Science ID: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/B-9090-2010
Google Scholar ID: https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sLwF4XkAAAAJ
ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5859-2796
Author:
Mageswary Manickam
Research Assistant, Research Outreach and Visibility Centre (OVIS), JPP, UM
Copyeditor:
Siti Farhana Bajunid Shakeeb Arsalaan Bajunid
Assistant Registrar, Research Outreach and Visibility Centre (OVIS), JPP, UM
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