MISHKAT

MISHKAT

Comparative Re-reading of “Sab‘ Samāwāt” in Light of Qur’anic Exegesis and Recent Discoveries on the Atmospheric Layers of the Earth Case Study: Q 2:29, Q 41:12, and Q 65:12

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Zahra Ghasemnejad 1
Hadi Ensaf 2
1 Associate Professor, Qur’an and Tradition Sciences, Theology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran
2 MA student, Qur’an and Tradition Sciences, Theology, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (Corresponding author)
10.22034/mishkat.2026.552097.2676
Abstract
This study aims to re-examine the Qur’anic concept of “sab‘ samāwāt” (“seven heavens”), a notion that has consistently posed challenges when brought into dialogue with modern scientific findings. The need for such an inquiry arises from the diversity of exegetical opinions regarding Q 2:29, Q 41:12, and Q 65:12, which calls for a coherent approach that avoids both hasty harmonization and unwarranted oppositions to scientific knowledge. Employing an analytical-comparative method, the article first investigates the lexicographical and functional dimensions of samā’ and sab‘in the Qur’an and the exegetical tradition. Then turns to a comparative analysis in light of modern discoveries concerning the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The main findings suggest that sab‘ samāwāt can be meaningfully correlated with seven vital atmospheric layers (from the troposphere to the magnetosphere). This correlation pertains not only to the number of layers, but also to their protective functions, as reflected in the Qur’anic notion of “saqfan maḥfūẓan” (a protected ceiling). By emphasizing the meaning of sab‘ as denoting multiplicity and completeness, the study proposes an interpretive framework that remains flexible and resilient in the face of future scientific developments.
Keywords
scientific miracle of the Qur&‌‌rsquo
an, seven heavens, atmospheric layers, comparative exegesis, atmospheric science
Subjects
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