May be man's present age of scientific knowledge and wisdom...

May be man's present age of scientific knowledge and wisdom has raised the curtain from only one of it, still it is quite possible that in future, as a result of gaining more knowledge, on the back of present perceptible world six great worlds are discovered. Favoring this view we present the following verse as proof. “ We have adorned the nearest heaven with an adornment, the stars, ”[^2] With this verse it is known that, all the stars are in the first heaven.

(It should be remembered that in Arabic the word 'Duniya' means 'lower' and near.) However, it seems necessary to mention that verses and traditions in which the number of heavens are said to be seven are not a corroboration of the theory of Ptolemaic astronomy in which he has presented the heavens as the layers of peels of onion like shape of heavenly spheres. (Because according to Ptolemaic theory the number of heavenly spheres and heavens are nine).

As long as seven earths are concerned (the mention of which is there in the Holy Qur’an is an indication and in some traditions, is given with specific mention). About them thoughts similar to the aforesaid are expressed. For example, that the number seven is in the sense of many or that by seven earths it is meant seven planets. (Mercury, Venus, Saturn, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and moon).

That is the same number in solar system, which we can see (no doubt, in solar system, there are other bodies and moon is also there but they cannot be seen with our naked eyes). And based on this explanation, by seven heavens is meant to be the same atmosphere, which exists on each of those seven heavenly bodies. In other words, these seven bodies are counted as earth; the atmosphere surrounding them is their heaven.

It should be remembered that in Arabic dictionary 'Samaa' is means all such things, which are placed towards the upper portion. This was the summary of those different interpretations, which our scholars and writers of exegeses have presented about seven heavens and earths. Especially the last Tafseer, which seems to be more acceptable compared to all others and the narrations of those exegeses is in need of further explanation. [^1]: Surah Luqman 31:27 [^2]: Surah Saffaat 37:6 Previous…