Risale-i Nur/Signs of Miraculousness/Sura al-Baqara/Regarding the Seven Heavens (s:255)

.case its creation and formation was before that of the heavens body {font-family:'Trebuchet MS',Arial,serif;font-size:12.0pt} case its creation and formation was before that of the heavens. And since its uses and benefits and its being “spread out” – that is, arranged and set in order – were completed after the arrangement and ordering of the heavens, the heavens were previous in this respect, although [the heavens and earth] were together at the beginning. Thus, the three verses look to the three points [solving the apparent contradictions]. A second answer: The Qur’an’s aim is not to teach the history of creation; it was revealed to teach knowledge of the Maker, and so contains different levels (maqāmāt). When describing the [divine] bounties, favours, and mercy and the clarity of the evidences, the earth comes first. But on the level of the proofs of [divine] grandeur, sublimity, and power, the heavens precede. “Then (thumma):” this may refer to ‘a being protracted’ or procrastination (tarākhī). This may be essential (dhātī), and may also pertain to degree (rutbī) [or to reflection (tafakkurī)]. Thus “and (lit. then) has applied His design (thumma astawā)” implies the unstated words “Then know and reflect on [how] He applied His design to the heavens ...” [That is, the creation of the heavens was first in time but in respect of reflection and thought it is in second place; and the creation of the earth was after that of the heavens but in regard to reflective thought it comes first.]1The Third Matter, regarding “seven (sab‘a).”Consider this: ancient philosophy asserted that the heavens were ninefold, and its proponents conceived of it in an extraordinary form. Their ideas dominated mankind for centuries. In fact, very many Qur’anic commentators were forced to bend the literal meanings of verses to [conform with] with their school. Modern science, however, asserts that the stars are suspended in space or in the void, as though it denies the existence of the heavens. That is to say, one went to one extreme and the other went to the other. As for the Shari‘a, it states that the Maker (May His glory be exalted) created seven heavens and placed the stars in them like fish swimming [in the sea]. The Hadith “The heavens are a wave held back”2 alludes to this. This school [of thought] may be verified on six levels:The First: It has been established by science and philosophy that endless space is filled with ether.

See, İşârâtü’l-İ’caz [Abdülmecid], 265.

Musnad, ii, 370; al-Tirmidhī, Sūra al-Ḥadīd, 1 (no: 3298). For further details see, Ishārāt al-I‘jāz [Iḥsān Qāsim], 226.

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