LAYERS OF HEAVENS
3- He created the seven heavens in layers. You do not see any imperfection in the creation by Gracious. Turn your eyes again. Do you see any flow?
67-The Kingdom, 3
The statement in the Quran about seven heavens may be interpreted as seven different strata, seven different dimensions or seven different fields of attraction. A closer analysis of the atmosphere, which, to the naked eye may present uniformity, makes it clear that it is not actually so. The Arabic expression for “layers” is mutabik which has also the connotation of “agreeing”, “to be in harmony”.
The different layers of our atmosphere could not have been known at the time of the Prophet. This fact cannot have been established fortuitously. The Quran refers to different layers in the atmosphere in perfect accord with each other. One can also conjecture that such layers can exist in the space.
The creation in layers with no want of proportion is a phenomenon visible from the microcosm of atom to be macrocosm of the universe. Let us remember the layers and orbits of the electron around the nucleus of atom. The fact that the maximum number of orbits in the atom is seven is another significant thing.
Number seven has special connotation in the Quran. As a matter of fact, ‘seven’ in Arabic, also expresses a plurality; the expression ‘seven heavens’, may either mean the number seven as the actual number of heavens, or a plurality of heavens. This usage of “seven” in the Arabic has been commented throughout history by many exegetics. In the sura Loqmaan 21st verse, the expression “seven seas” is used and in the sura Repentance verse 80 states that: …Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, God will not forgive them”. So, it is said that both “seven” and “seventy” express a plurality. A similar usage of the number “seven” expressing a plurality may also be seen in ancient Greece and Rome.
LAYERS OF THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE OBJECTIVES THEY SERVE
We know now that atmosphere is made of layers that make life on earth possible. The absence of any one of these layers will be the end of life on earth. God, whose flawless art is conspicuous everywhere, displays once again His design by drawing attention – in the Quran – to atmospheric layers. Each of these layers performs dutifully its function contributing to the perfect performance of the whole. The fact that the lifeless atoms of the atmosphere are in the service of man as if a conscious entity is a consequence of God’s compassion.
The atmosphere is divided into layers of which the (1) troposphere is the lowest layer, closest to the surface of the earth. The troposphere, which is as low as 6 km, extends to a height of 12 km in tropical regions. Atmospheric phenomena take place within the portion of 3-4 km. 75% of atmospheric gases are in this layer. Above the troposphere is the (2) stratosphere extending about 50km up. The third one is (3) ozonosphere, the ozone layer in other words, which is the depository of ultraviolet rays having lethal effect on living beings Above lies the mesosphere (4), which in turn, is topped by the thermosphere (5) followed by the ionosphere (6), the upper stratosphere reaching to a height of 500 km from the earth. Radio waves are reflected from this layer rendering communication possible. Above 500 km lies the fringe region known as the exosphere (7) stretching up to 10 000 km where the earth’s atmosphere merges with the gases of interplanetary space. The proportion of gases in this layer is very low and divided into ions. We can thus divide the atmosphere into 7 layers. The number 7 may change of course, if researchers prefer examining these layers by different groupings. The figure 7 expresses then a plurality, without bringing any change in the miraculous significance of the verse. This double meaning of “seven layers” leaves thus no loopholes.
The separation into harmonious layers of the atmosphere was made in recent centuries. The level of scientific knowledge at the time of the descent of the Quran did not permit to make differentiation between layers. 12th verse of the 41st sura reads: “So he ordained them seven heavens in two days and revealed in every heaven its affair…” makes it clear that every layer served a different purpose thanks to which life on earth was possible.
Another interesting point is the mention of the word “seven heavens”, seven times (namely in the 2-29,17-44,23-86,41-12,65-12,67-3,71-15)Section 2 of the present book deals with many mathematical miracles in the Quran .
