What should we understand from the following verse: Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars (ar-Ra’d, 13/2)?

- What should we understand from this verse: “Allah is He who raised the heavens without any pillars” (ar-Ra’d, 13/2)?
- The raising of the sky mentioned in the verse is claimed to be a mistake by some; will you also you explain the expression “vault of heaven” mentioned in another verse?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The meaning of the verse in question is as follows:

“Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; is firmly established on the throne (of authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs, explaining the signs in detail, that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.” (ar-Ra’d, 13/2)

It is possible to understand “the raising of the heavens” mentioned in the verse as follows:

a) The Quran addresses people. Although there is no up-down in real sense in the universe, the sky is up in people’s minds and views.

While addressing people, the Quran uses expressions in a way that does not offend their feelings and thoughts.

The “placement of the heavens above” in this verse is an example of tit.

b) The universe was once a single dough. One ladle of this cosmic soup was placed as the heavens and one ladle as the earth.

It is very accurate to say that “the heavens are positioned above” according to the concept of six directions in people’s minds.

c) The main purpose of the expression in question is to explain that the heavens are suspended in the air without pillars (without visible material pillars).

Although it is necessary to see the miracle of the Quran from its statement fifteen centuries ago that the heavens were suspended in the air without pillars and with the infinite power of Allah, it cannot be the work of common sense to hesitate about it.

D) The word “samawat”, meaning “heavens/skies”, refers to space, in which stars, solar systems and galaxies travel in their own orbits. Almighty Allah ­points to a law of nature in the verse and informs us that He raises and directs these objects in the sky without a pillar that we can see.

Allah has connected these large masses to a system moving in space, placed centrifugal force and gravitational force in these masses to keep them away from each other and prevent them from colliding with one another, thus preventing them from either infinitely drifting away from one another or falling onto one another by striking a balance.

As a matter of fact, Allah Almighty states the following:

 “He withholds the sky from failing on the earth except by His leave.” (al-Hajj, 22/65)

Thus, He points to the divine order among those heavenly bodies.

It is stated in the verse that Allah makes the sun and the moon obey His command, that He created them for the service of His servants, and that each one of them will run until a specified time, that is, until the Day of Judgment.­

Those bodies are not stationary, but connected to a system in motion. ­The moon will move around the earth, the earth around the sun, and the sun together with its satellites as a system in its own orbit for a certain period of time.

This expression indicates that the world, even the created realm, is finite. In addition, the verse shows that the formation and changes in the universe as a whole and the laws related to them, called “laws of nature”, do not originate from the essence of nature, but are ­the works of Allah’s infinite knowledge, will, power and wisdom. The phrase “Allah regulates all affairs” in the verse clearly states it.

They are all signs showing Allah’s power. Allah explains them so that people can know His power and ­firmly believe that Allah, who has created and ruled the universe, can resurrect people after they die, gather them in His presence and call them to account for their deeds in the world.

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