User talk:Lehrasap

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

Apologetic Claim

Apologists present the following verse

وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُون

Muhammad Assad: AND IT IS We who have built the universe with [Our creative] power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it.

Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri: And We built the heavenly universe with great might. And surely, We are expanding (this universe) more and more

Quran 51:47

Zakir Naik writes regarding this verse:

The Arabic word mûsi‘ûn is correctly translated as ‘expanding it’, and it refers to the creation of the expanding vastness of the universe. Stephen Hawking, in his book, ‘A Brief History of Time’, says, “The discovery that the universe is expanding was one of the great intellectual revolutions of the 20th century.” The Qur’aan mentioned the expansion of the universe, before man even learnt to build a telescope!

The Quran and Modern Science by Zakir Naik

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.

Correct 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)

According to the critics:

وَإِنَّا (wa-innā) means "and indeed, We (Allah)"
And لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna) means "are the Expander".

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").

The earlier Quran Translators did the correct translation:

Yusuf Ali: With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: for it is We Who create the vastness of space.

Pickthal: We have built the heaven with might, and We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof).

Shakir: And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and most surely We are the makers of things ample.

Word by Word Translation: And the heaven We constructed it with strength, and indeed, We (are) surely (its) Expanders.

Quran 51:47

Wؒord "وسع": Literal Meaning vs Figurative Meaning

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

Look at the following verses:

وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا

Sahih Intl: My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge

Yusuf Ali: My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things

Quran 6:80

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"

وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا

Sahih Intl: and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.

Pickthall:and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.

Quran 65:12

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 whatsoever to expansion of the heaven. The term “lamūsi‘ūn” describes God not the heaven.

ٖThus few translator used this figurative translation:

Farook Malik: We have built the heavens with Our hands, for We have the power to do so.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi: And the heaven! We have built it with might, and verily We are powerful.

Maududi: And heaven – We made it with Our Own Power and We have the Power to do so.

Quran 51:47