Scientific theories about Quran

Introduction

The main purpose of Quran is to guide people and other topics discussed are related to this main purpose. Quran is not a scientific, historical and literary book and each topic has a role in the path of guiding human and it has been used in Quran. Hence, we should not search the features of a scientific and literary book in Quran.
There are a lot of scientific matters in Quran, whether experimental sciences or humanities, and in some cases, they prove that Quran is a miracle. But some opponents have criticized Quran comparing the scientific matters of Quran with uncertain and unproved matters in science. In this lesson, we will analyze doubts related to the scientific theories of Quran.

The scientific theories of darkness era in Quran:

Some persons have expressed about the scientific theories of Quran and its effect getting from the culture of darkness era:
If the committee of Ptolemaic or the medicine of Jalinusi is reflected in Quran, we should not deny them and if we abolish the progress of science, the committee of Ptolemaic or the medicine of Jalinusi are abolished, it should not be concluded that the rules of Quran have been abolished because Quran has retrieved the culture of darkness era and in all cases, Quran considers transient and permanent realities and in other parts, the matter of seven skies in this area.
In the story of the wrangle of Hazrat Ibrahim with Namrud, Hazrat Ibrahim said to Namrud '' My God has the sun shine from the east; if you are able, has the sun shine from the west'' ( Baghareh Surah/ verse 285). In this statement, the moving of the sun and the stagnation of the earth have been considered.

The answer of the doubts of scientific theories in Quran:

Apart from general answers expressed in the previous session, some notifications should be expressed:
First: in some verses, Quran has referred to astronomical, medical and sanitary matters and the more the experimental sciences of human progress; the more the scientific miracles of Quran are proved. In this cases, there are a lot of examples about being in pairs (Zariat Surah/ verse 49), the movement of the sun (Yaasin Surah/ verse 38) and the movement of the mountains and the earth (Naml Surah/ verse 88).
Of course, we should pay attention that we do not impose scientific theories on Quran and should take care of appropriate interpretative norms.
Second: Quran invites human toward science and knowledge and it does not include any matters against scientific certain matters. Basically, Quran disagrees with inappropriate scientific matters before the Islam.
For example, Ptolemy was born in 150 A.D. and the committee of Ptolemaic had distributed their thoughts in the era of the Bethat of the prophet (610 A.D), but Quran has disagreed with the certain accepted matters of the committee about the stag nation of the earth and has talked about the movement of the mountains.
Third: some interpreters may have made mistakes and had considered the verses of Quran related to the committee of Ptolemaic or the medicine of Jalinusi. But this does not mean that Quran has such ideas and has said according to their unscientific beliefs and has accepted the mistake of the tribe, but this has been the misunderstanding of some interpreters.
Moreover, Hazrat Ibrahin talked according to the beliefs of people (Namrud and his people around him) in his wrangle with Namrud. According to their false point of views, they thought that the sun moved from the east toward the west. Hence, Hazrat Ibrahim states '' if you can, reverse this movement. (Baghare Surah/ verse 258). According to the principles of a good argumentation, it is not problematic that a person expresses talks according to the foundations of the opposite side and abolishes his or her ideas.
In other words, Quran narrates this wrangle from Hazrat Ibrahim and Hazrat Ibrahim cannot express and accept the verbal and scientific necessities of this example and wrangle. When all of scientists and physicians talk about some persons with mental problems (lunatic persons), they apply the word '' a mad person'' whereas an ogre is an imaginary creature. On the other hand, Quran talks about the movement of the mountains and the earth. (Naml Surah/ verse 88).
Hence, it turns out that the stagnation of the earth is not intended by Quran and this is in contrast with the claim of the mentioned writer.
Fourth: Paying attention to the following points are necessary about seven skies:
The matter of seven skies is considered as one of challenging matters between cosmology and holy books that have been discussed since many years ago and the scientists and the interpreters of holy books have expressed their opinions about it.
Some consider it in contrast with the committee of Ptolemy and as the sign of scientific miracle of Quran and some contemporary interpreters consider it in contrast with science and in line with the committee of Ptolemy. In this part, we will deal with analyzing the ideas of sides.

Introduction:

God mentions matters about seven skies clearly in seven cases and ironically in two cases. In a case, Quran mentions matters about seven lands. We will refer to some of these verses.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَماوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ( Talagh Surah/ verse 12)
Quran talks about seven skies in Baghareh Surah/ verse 29, Asraa Surah/ verse 44, Momenun Surah/ verse 86 and Foslet Surah/ verse 12, Malek Surah/ verse 3 and Nuh Surah/ verse 15. Quran talks about seven skies in Momenun Surah/ verse 17 apparently, but it has not been expressed clearly
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَائِقَ
This matter is remembered ironically in Am Surah/ verse 123
وَبَنيْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعاً شِدَاداً
Quran talks about seven lands in Talagh Surah/ verse 12 apparently, but it has not been expressed clearly
وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ

Backgrounds and points of views:

Quran narrates seven skies from the remarks of Hazrat Nuh (Nuh Surah/ verse 15). Allame Tabatabaei concludes from the verse that polytheists believed in seven skies and Hazrat Nuh considered them as reasons through this matter. Hence, it turns out that the topic of seven skies was discussed before the Islam and before the emerge of religions such as Jewish and Christian Religions.
Our holy book expresses some matters about the sky over and over again; sometimes, material sky and sometimes, spiritual sky that out of this world and holiness and happiness will be there and it will be a special place for God. Moreover, Hazrat Christ or the son of human will descend there.
inexperienced persons believe that seven skies exist, three of them are Christian
material and four of them are spiritual and angels and holy persons reside there.
After Quran mentioned some matters about seven skies, the Greece theories of cosmology entered the world of the Islam and the Muslims got familiar with the committee of Ptolemaos in the era of the caliphate of Abasi and this problem appeared, the number of the skies is nine in the committee of Ptolemaos and the number of mentioned skies in Quran is seven.
Hence, the Muslim scientists tried to explain and to adapt the scientific findings of their time with the verses of Quran. In this case, they presented several solutions.
1. Buali Sina( 370-428 Gh): According to Haghe Surah/ verse 17, the throne in Quran is the ninth sky or the highest heaven of the committee of Ptolemaos and he considers eight skies as eight angels that carry throne. He tried to conclude from the remarks of God and the committee of Ptolemaos.
2. Khaje Tusi (597-672 Gh): he was a well-known spokesman and gastronomist and tried to decrease the number of skies from nine to seven, but his ideas were not supported by scientists.
3. Allame Majlesi( 1111Gh): This Shiite well-known Mohadeth wrote about Baghare Surah/ verse 9
ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى‏ إِلَى السَّماءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ
The number of seven skies is not in contrast with the number of nine skies that have been proved in the science of astronomy because the eighth sky and the ninth sky are interpreted as sky and throne.
4. Haj Mola Hadi Sabzevari: he considers in his book '' the explanation of his collection'' written in 1261 Gh considers the eighth sky as a sky and the ninth sky as a throne and considers its reason as the combination of the religion and wisdom.
Notification: Buali Sina, Allame Majlesi and Mola Hadi Sabzevari have not presented convincing reasons; hence, their remarks are not acceptable, but lexical and expression meanings of the sky and the throne are not in line with the eighth sky and the ninth sky.
5. Yadollah Niyazmand Shirazi:
6. Fakhr Razi: In the opinion of Razi, seven skies are same seven heavenly spheres (moons, mercury, evening star, sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn) and adapted it with the committee of Ptolemaos.
7. Sheikh Ghasemi: He says in the book '' the interpretation of the beard of Al-Tavil'' that seven skies in Quran are same seven planets that some of them are higher than others.
The sky means throne and it refers to the domination and the prudence of God. Lexically, throne means a roofed house and it also means the crown of government because it is high. In Quran and narrations, this word means the centre of the orders of the world whose the string of the affairs results in it. Interpreters consider its meaning as '' the representative of the government'' and the government of God.
Notification: Fakhr Razi and Sheikh Ghasemi did not know that one day Uranus, Neptune (1846 ( A.D), Proton ( 1930 A.D) and small planets between Jupiter and Mars would add to the number of the planets of the solar system.
Basically, as we will express, sky does not mean (planets and stars) in lexical and expression aspects the spheres of the sky in order to seven skies over the seven planets of the solar system. The atmosphere and the position of stars in Quran (Forqan Surah/ verse 61; Ibrahim Surah/ verse 24; Ghaf Surah/ verse 9), but it does not mean stars.
Hence, the remarks of Niyazmand Shirazi, Fakhr Razi and Shiekh Ghasemi have no reasons and they are considered as a kind of imposition on Quran.
8. Abd Al-Ghader Maghrebi: the reason of the mentioning seven skies in Quran is that addresses could not see more than seven planets and think about. Number seven was common among people; therefore, Quran sufficed to this number.
Notification: this matter has no reasons and is in contrast with sense because Arabic and non-Arabic persons see a lot of stars at night and they can think about them, but in some cases, Quran mentions some matters that are beyond the mind of human. Pay attention to this verse
إِن تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ لاَتُحْصُوهَا( Ibrahim Surah/ verse 34; Nahl Surah/ verse 18)
If his purpose is that number seven represents high number, it is a sensible possibility that should be analyzed.
9. Some of scientists: they consider seven skies as planets that orbit around the sun.
Notification: this matter is in contrast with expression and lexical meanings as we will express.
For example, the writer of the book '' the secret of seven skies'' writes
'' When I searched and studied about this case, I concluded that the purpose from seven skies is seven separate layers of atmosphere that has covered the earth and it starts from the vicinity of the earth and continues until thousands kilometers''.
These seven layers showed include from the vicinity of the earth: the layers of homusfor, Yunosfor, the layer n of molecule, the layer O of atom, the layer He of atom, the layer H of atom and vacuum layer. Altogether they are seven layers and it should be mentioned that they are separate layers.
Then he reminds that the material suggestion of seven skies does not avert their spiritual idea because material discipline can emerge materials and the world of materials.
Then presenting shapes, he presents detailed information about the thickness and content of these layers.
Notification: sometimes, the sky means the atmosphere of the earth (Ghaaf Surah/ verse 7). Hence, this possibility can be designed and later we will talk about it.
11. Allame Shahrestani: it has been expressed in Quran and Hadith that we have created seven earths and seven skies. These seven earths include: Mercury, Venus, earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus.
Seven skies are same atmospheric atmosphere that cover these seven planets.
Notification: Allame Shahrestani was asked why he did not consider Neptune and proton. He answered that these two planets were not seen with normal eyes. Therefore, they have not been expressed in Quran and Hadith.
The main fault of the remark of Allame Shahrestani is that the word '' Arz'' is applied for six considered planets in lexical and expression meanings.
12. Some experts and interpreters: all of these planets, systems, stars and even galaxies are the first sky of Quran and six other skies are beyond the point of view human. Such a possibility is accepted by the authors of the book '' exemplary interpretation''.
This remark is only a planned possibility and we will deal with it.
13. Muhammad Baqer Behbudi: he concluded in the book '' seven skies'' that Quran focused only on solar system not other systems about seven skies because the destiny of the earth is related to the destiny of the solar system. Moreover, in the solar system, seven skies are same seven planets that are flying over the earth and over the head of human not those under planets that are considered as the earth and do not move above our head.
These seven skies include: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Proton and other small planets of Asteroid (the key of the secret of seven skies). Then he presented detailed explanations about each planet of the sky.
He does not explain why he ignored mercury and Venus Notification:
and did not consider the moon that moves above our head. He does not say why the destiny of the earth is not related to solar system regarding the movement of the sun, system, comet and …
14. Allame Tabatabaei:
It can be understood from his remarks about these verses (Sejde Surah/ verse 5, Foslet Surah/ verse 12, Momenun Surah/ verse 17, Nuh Surah/ verse 15 ), that he presents another meaning about the word of the sky in Quran. He considers the sky a religious matter (the rank of closeness, presence, the way of the manners of the order, the prudence of the world and the coming and going of angels) and the orders of God are performed through it.

Notification:

The word of the sky is accepted as the meaning of the rank of closeness and presence (spiritual sky) in all of the verses of Quran because it is talked about the descending of rain from the sky in some verses (the atmosphere of the earth and the place of clouds) such as the following verse
«وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ السَّماءِ مَاءً مُبَارَكاً»( Ghaaf Surah/ verse 9)
The remark of Allame is appropriate in some cases and can change the discussion in those cases; we will discuss about them.
Notification: as it was already discussed, Jewish and Christian people accepted spiritual sky.
15. Some of other writers: It can be understood from Baghare Surha/ verse 29 and Nuh Surah/ verses 15 and 16 that the purpose of seven skies is the skies of the earth that the sun and the moon shine. The atmosphere of the earth whose thickness and thinness is divided into seven parts and or seven starts of the solar system that the sun makes them warm and luminous like a lamp.
Another possibility is that the reason of the division of the skies to seven is clear for God and it is unknown for human.
16. Dr. Muhammad Jalal Al-Din Al-Fandi: he classifies the seven skies of Quran in this way:
The first sky: solar system;
The second sky: the galaxy of the Milky Way;
The third sky: A collection of galaxies called '' Al-Majmue Al-Mahalie'';
The fourth sky: it is the sky '' Anaghid Al-Daraje Al-Avali'' that is far from us about 20 until 50 million light years;
The fifth sky: it is the sky '' Anaghid Al-Daraje Al-Avali'' that is far from us about 100 until 150 million light years;
The sixth sky: it is the sky '' Anaghid Al-Daraje Al-Avali'' that is far from us about 2until 3 billion light years;
The seventh sky: we know about its radio waves (Maa Al-Quran Fi Al-Kut 189-193).
Notification: his remark has no reasons. In other words, the word '' sky '' is not applied for a specific galaxy in expression and lexical meanings and its application in Quran is not proved in this way.
17. Tantavi: he believes that number seven is not real in the verses of seven skies and it is possible that there are a lot of skies. In his opinion, the root of determining number seven is the thoughts of Greek people that have been inherited from the scientists of Skandarie. They believed in nine skies; seven skies include moon, Mercury, Venus, sun, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn that orbit around the earth, the eighth sky is the place of fixed ones and the ninth sky is the start of movement. These thoughts have been left to us through Farabi and Buali and help to adapt seven skies, Quran and the throne of the sky. Scientists have found about six hundred small planets between Mars and Jupiter with new sciences; the greatest one among them is and its diameter is 500 mills.
Hence, although God stated that there were seven skies, it would be no problem that there were more skies and the number of skies was not important and this number seven was not the reason of the limitation of the number of skies.
Notification: some contemporary writers have strongly criticized Tantavi and these remarks are in contrast with the appearance of the verses of Quran that determines number seven.
18. Dr. Muhammad Sadeqi: he believes that the number of skies is seven and introduces the sky as body not void space and according to the belief of Dr. Sadeqi, all of the planets of the solar system are from the first sky and it covers other skies and we do not know what they include and all of them created due to the division of the elementary gas of the world.
19. Some experts: they have claimed with the design of the matter of seven skies of Quran that this is considered as a kind of the scientific miracle according to the new discoveries of the sciences of cosmology in galaxies
Notification: we will talk about these two points of view.
To clarify the purpose of Quran from seven skies and earths, we will answer several basic questions and will analyze the ideas of the interpreters of Quran.
What is intended from the sky?
The word '' sky'' and its derivations have been used in Quran three hundred and ten times and they have complete conception and different meanings and kinds are presented from them. Hence, lexically science and Quran are used with different purposes and meanings.
a. Lexically, the word '' Sama'' comes from the root of Samu as the meaning of height and its principle is from Sariani and Hebrew and it means higher and superior (above). The sky of everything is the above of that thing. Even some lexicologists claim that the above of anything is sky and the down of everything is earth.
b. The new science of physique: the sky is defined in the science of physique in this way:
'' It is a declined event and a domed place that provides the ground of seeing planets and stars''.
c. Sky in Quran: the word of the sky has used as singular and plural nouns have been used over three hundred times, but in all cases, a meaning and a kind are not intended. Generally, sky has been used in spiritual and material conceptions in Quran. Some of them include:
1. The sky as the meaning of above (up way):
This is in line with the lexical meaning of the sky. The following verse is mentioned as an example;
أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّماءِ( Ibrahim Surah/ verse 24)
Some of contemporary interpreters have mentioned this meaning and some of other experts believe that this meaning has been used in Quran figuratively because the word '' above'' cannot be added; therefore, the word of seven skies cannot have such a meaning.
2. The sky as the meaning of the atmosphere around the earth, the place that there are clouds and air:
وَنَزَّلْنَا مِنَ السَّماءِ مَاءً مُبَارَكاً( Ghaaf Suarh/ verse 9)
3. The sky as the meaning of the place of planets and stars:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي السَّماءِ بُرُوجاً وَجَعَلَ فِيها سِرَاجاً وَقَمَراً مُنِيراً( Forqan Surah/ verse 61)
4. The sky as the meaning of the rank of closeness and the rank of presence that are considered as a place for deciding about the affairs of the world:
Some interpreters such as Allame Tabatabaei have related '' sky'' to this meaning in different cases.
يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ السَّماءِ إِلَى الْأَرْضِ( Sejde Surah/ verse 5)
5. The sky as the meaning of a superb and real creature:
Some thoughtful persons believe that the sky is used as the meaning of material sky. It is also used as the meaning of the rank of existence and superb creature that is same spiritual and supernatural world and the whole world is descended higher than that rank.
وَفِي السَّماءِ رِزْقُكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ( Zariat Surah/ verse 22)
Conclusion:
The word '' sky '' is not used at the same meaning in science and Quran, but it is applied in different meanings and kinds. In other words, it is a common word although it is possible to apply some of these meanings and kinds in a common conception. For example, we can consider the fourth meaning and the fifth meaning of Quran that we narrated from Allame Tabatabaei (may God's mercy be upon him) and Mesbah Yazdi as the meaning of the spiritual sky.
What is intended from seven?
The word '' seven'' is applied in two ways in Arabic Language:
a. The word '' seven'' is used as a specific number in math;
b. The word '' seven'' is used as the symbol of abundance because the word '' seven'' is sometimes used in Arabic Language and its ironical meaning, the high and abundant number, is intended.
It is clear that '' seven seas'' represents abundance in this verse and if hundreds seas are joined together, it will not be enough to write words about God.
Some interpreters have mentioned the second possibility in verses related to seven skies and others have confirmed the first possibility, but both possibilities are far from mind.
If we accept the first possibility, the purpose of the number in Talagh Surah/ verse 12 will be that there are seven real skies and if we accept the second possibility, the purpose of the verse will be that there are a lot of skies.
What is the purpose of Quran from the word '' seven skies''?
According to expressed matters and meanings and kinds for the words'' sky and seven'', we can conclude that there are there are several possibilities about the word '' seven skies'':
1. If seven is considered as a real number, these possibilities will be considered:
a. Seven skies with full of stars and planets the same as seven globes of the earth;
This matter is accepted scientifically because some scientists believe that there are millions suns and planets the same as the earth in the galaxies of the world. They do not consider impossible the existence of worlds the same as this sky full of stars because the scientists of the astronomy science and cosmological physique have been able with their telescopes to see millions stars and planets, but they say that there are unknown and dark spaces that are beyond the horizon of our view.
Hence, there is the possibility of six similar words and six other skies that have not been discovered. This matter is in line with the appearance of some verses of Quran.
b. Seven ranks of closeness and presence and the spiritual superb creature
2. The word '' seven'' means abundance:
It means that God has created a lot of skies globes, planets and …
Notification: here there are other possibilities that some persons have referred to, but because they are very weak and are not related to the appearance of the verse, we have not referred to them.
Conclusion:
According to what was said, the meaning of the word '' seven skies'' does not adapt with the idea of Ptoelmaos and in some cases, it is in contrast with it. Hence, the idea of the effect getting of Quran from it is not accepted.