Second Important Matter

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ السَّمٰوَاتُ السَّبْعُ وَاْلاَرْضُ وَمَنْ فِيهِنَّThe seven heavens, the earth, and all that is within them glorify Him. – The Quran 17: 44.

ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰۤى اِلَى السَّمَاۤءِ فَسَوّٰيهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمٰوَاتٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيمٌThen He turned toward the heaven and formed it into seven heavens. And He has knowledge of all things. — The Qur’an 2:29

Numerous verses, such as these noble verses, declare that the heavens are seven in number.

In the tafsīrThe interpretation and explanation of the Qur’an, including its meanings, verses, and teachings. Ishārāt al-Ijāz“Signs of Miraculousness”; an early Qur’anic commentary by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi, written in Arabic during the First World War, exploring the Qur’an’s miraculous eloquence and the relationships between its verses. (Signs of Miraculousness), we explained this matter extremely briefly and concisely at the front during the first year of the First World War, due to the need for brevity. It is therefore fitting here to give only a summary of that matter. It is as follows:

Ancient philosophy imagined the heavens to be nine in number by counting the ArshThe Throne, where Allah’s majesty is manifested in the most exalted manner. and the KursīA spiritual or physical reality attributed to Allah in the Qur’an, expressing His divine sovereignty and encompassing the heavens and the earth together with the seven heavens, and it described the heavens in a strange manner. The impressive expressions of the great philosophers of that ancient philosophy kept mankind under their influence for many centuries.

Many mufassirīnScholars who interpret and explain the Qur’an; experts in Qur’anic exegesis (tafsīr). even felt compelled to bring the outward meanings of the verses into conformity with their views. As a result, a veil was placed, to some extent, over the miraculousness of the Wise Qur’an.

Modern philosophy, on the other hand, in reaction to the baseless and exaggerated views of ancient philosophy, fell into the opposite extreme and virtually denied the existence of the heavens.

The former fell into excess (ifrātExcess or overindulgence.), while the latter fell into deficiency (tafrītDeficiency or neglect; falling short of the proper measure.); neither was able to display the truth fully.

But the sacred wisdom of the Wise Qur’an abandoned both this excess and this deficiency, chose the middle way, and says:

Sāni-i Dhul-JalālAllah, Who creates with perfect artistry and Whose greatness and majesty are boundless. created the seven heavens. The moving stars swim within them like fish in a sea, and glorify Him through their praise.

In a hadithA report of the sayings, actions, or approvals of Prophet Muhammed (pbuh). it is said:

اَلسَّمَاۤءُ مَوْجٌ مَكْفُوفٌThe sky is a sea whose waves are held in check

In other words: the heaven is a sea whose waves have been stilled.

Now we shall prove this Qur’anic truth in an extremely concise manner, from seven points of view, by means of seven principles.

The First Principle

According to science and wisdom, it is established that this boundless cosmic space is not an infinite emptiness, but is filled with a substance called “ether.”