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Fatwa CenterThe term 'heaven' in the Quran
Question
assalamualaikum.. I have some question to ask: My quest: 1.The Quran mentions the sky/skies by as-sama’ & as-samawat. a)Could we safely assume that the word as-sama’ in the Quran refers to only as-sama’ad-dunya and the word as-samawat is used to describe the 7 skies. b) Or as the word as-sama’ is ism jinns it can be used either as singular or plural. c) If that is so is there any indication to know whether it is meant for singular or plural in a certain verse?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.
It is not possible to say that the term 'heaven' in the Quran refers to the first heaven only. Rather, the term heaven is mentioned in a singular form (in Arabic) but it refers to the absolute highness and this includes the seven heavens. Allaah Says (what means): {Truly, nothing is hidden from Allaah, in the earth or in the heavens.}[Quran 3:5]. Allaah further Says (what means): {And nothing is hidden from your Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom (or small ant) on the earth or in the heaven.}[Quran 10:61]. In another verse Allaah Says (what means): {Nothing on the earth or in the heaven is hidden from Allaah.}[Quran 14:38]. Another verse reads (what means): {He (Muhammad 
) said: "My Lord knows (every) word (spoken) in the heavens and on earth.}[Quran 21:4]. Also, Allaah Says (what means): {We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play.}[Quran 21:16]. Allaah further Says (what means): {And (remember) the Day when We shall roll up the heaven like a scroll rolled up for books.}[Quran 21:104]. Another verse reads (what means): {…and the heavens will be rolled up in His Right Hand.}[Quran 39:67].
Therefore, the term 'heaven' (which is used in Arabic in the singular form and which is interpreted into English by the interpreters of the Quran into the plural form-as in the above verses) does not refer to the first heaven only. Indeed, the origin of the Arabic term 'heaven' is used for anything that is high or is a canopy for a person, as stated by Ibn Al-Munthir 
. The term 'heaven' could be used without specification (singular or plural) and the context would by what indicates that it refers to the first heaven, like in the saying of Allaah (which means): {And we have sought to reach the heaven; but found it filled with stern guards and flaming fires.}[Quran 72:8].
Allaah Knows best.
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