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Quranic Miracle: Universe is steadily expanding

This article analyses the claim that Quran told that universe is constantly expanding, and it is scientifically accurate, and thus it is is Quranic miracle.

Apologetic Claim

Apologists present the following verse:

Zakir Naik writes regarding this verse:

Criticism

Critics point out that:

• This translation of verse 51:47 is not correct.
• Only modern apologists started doing this translation, otherwise no earlier translator did this translation.
• And none of the Qur'an Mufassirin (i.e. Quran interpreters) of last fourteen centuries ever come to this conclusion from this verse.

Word by Word translation of verse 51:47

The dispute is only about the last two words of the verse 51:47 (i.e. وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ wa-innā lamūsiʿūna)

CorpusQuran website gives word by word grammar and translation of Quran. It writes^[1]:

• وَإِنَّا (wa-innā)

Translation: "and indeed, We (Allah)"

• لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna)

Translation: "(are) surely (its) Expanders".

Therefore, the correct translation of this verse should be:

(Quran 51:47) And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We (Allah) are [its] expander.

The term “lamūsi‘ūn” in this verse is a "NOUN"  and not a "Verb", and it describes "God" and not the "heaven" (i.e. the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding").

Thus the earlier Quran Translators translated it as under:

Wؒord "وسع": Literal Meaning vs Figurative Meaning

The root word of لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna) is و س ع . However in Quran, this word and it's derivatives have been used in the meanings of "Encompassing".

Look at the following verses:

Also see verses 7:89 and 20:98.

Also see verse 65:12, where directly the word of "احاط" (encompass) has been used instead of "wasi'a"

So, then verse 51.47 must be understood as follows: "And the heaven We built it with might and We lamūsi‘ūn (encompasses it)."

This verse confirms that the heaven is completely within and under God’s control. There is no reference to any expansion of the heaven. The term “lamūsi‘ūn” describes God not the heaven.

ٖThus few translator used this figurative translation:

Same Grammar has been used in the next verse 51:48 too

Critics also point out that exactly the same grammar has been used in the next verse 51:48.

In this verse, the word الْمَاهِدُونَ (spreader/smoother) has exactly the same grammar (Active Participle Form I) as the word لَمُوسِعُونَ (i.e. expander) in the previous verse. Therefore, according to the translation pattern of modern Islam apologists, then the translation of this verse should be:

(Quran 51:48) We have spread out the earth; and We are still steadily spreading/smoothing it.

Since this is against the modern science, and earth is not steadily spreading, thus here modern Islam apologists did the correct translation:

Therefore, this next verse 51:48 also proves that in the earlier verse 51:47, the term “lamūsi‘ūn” means "God is the Expander", and not "the Universe is Expanding".

Universe consists of "Space", while Quranic HEAVEN is a solid canopy which could not expand

Critics also point out that according to science, universe consists of space and galaxies are travelling away from each other in this space and thus it is considered as an expansion of the universe.

But according to the writer of Quran, :

The word translated as canopy is binaa or binaan ( بِنَاء ). This word means "building"^[2]. Here, the heavens are described as a multi-story building over the earth. There are seven layers or stories to this building called the heavens. The heavens are built on a foundation called "the earth". The tafsir of Ibn Kathir, among others, elaborates this^[3]:

And according to the tradition in Sahih Bukhari, prophets are residing upon these solid heavens along with their nations.

Thus, it is impossible for a solid canopy to expand.

References: