What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [And We built the sky with might, and We are expanding it]? Does the sky expand now?
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The questioner : Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is the meaning of His saying, the Exalted:[Adh-Dhariyat 51:47] Does the sky expand now, or not, as is found in some curricula?
The Shaykh : Yes, Allah Mighty and Majestic informs about Himself that He built the sky with hands—meaning: with strength—just as He said, the Exalted:[An-Naba 78:12] meaning: strong, meaning: We are expanding it. This is because when you compare the sky to the earth, you find a great distance in width between them. The sky is like a dome over the earth, encompassing it from every side, and between it and the earth are distances that none knows but Allah Mighty and Majestic. This is the meaning of His saying: .
As for saying: in the future, and that it expands with every passing time, this is something we do not know. Rather, the apparent meaning of the wording is that Allah has expanded it now. As for whether it expands as time passes, Allah knows best.
The questioner : Is it found now in some curricula that it expands now?
The Shaykh : No, one cannot be certain of this. The verse does not indicate this.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : What is the meaning of His saying, the Exalted:
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.
وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَThe Shaykh : Yes, Allah Mighty and Majestic informs about Himself that He built the sky with hands—meaning: with strength—just as He said, the Exalted:
And constructed above you seven strong [heavens]
وَبَنَيْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعاً شِدَاداًAnd We are indeed expanding it
وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَAnd We are indeed expanding it
وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَAs for saying:
We are expanding it
لَمُوسِعُونَThe questioner : Is it found now in some curricula that it expands now?
The Shaykh : No, one cannot be certain of this. The verse does not indicate this.