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Quran's describes mountains as 'pegs' that have been 'cast down' into the Earth's surface in order to 'stabilize' it.
==Did Quran tell that universe is steadily expanding?==


In recent times, many Islam apologists have argued that this conception is both scientifically sound and and instance of [[Scientific Miracles in the Quran|miraculous scientific foreknowledge]] on the part of the Quran which, they argue, could not have arrived at the conception it holds without divine insight. Individuals key to the popularization of this idea include the [[Apologists|apologists]] like [[Zakir Naik]], Professor Zaghloul Raghib El Naggar (a geologist specializing in biostratification), and the Saudi-financed surgeon [[Bucailleism|Dr. Maurice Bucaille]].
This article analyses the claim that Quran told that universe has been constantly expanding, and it is [[Islam and Science|scientifically]] accurate, and thus it is is Quranic miracle.


While critics claim that:
==Apologetic Claim==
Apologists present the following verse
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُون


* It was an old concept that mountains are pegs who stabilise the earth. This concept was based upon the apparent shape of the mountain.
'''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''.
* The writer of Qur'an only restated this old concept in Quran, thus it could be in no way a miracle of Qur'an.
* And the writer of Qur'an made other scientific mistakes while describing the creation of mountains in Qur'an and Hadith.  


== Qur'anic verses for mountains being pegs and stabilising the earth ==
'''Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri:''' And We built the heavenly universe with great might. ''And surely, We are expanding (this universe) more and more''.
{{Quote|{{Quran|78|6-7}}|أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ الْأَرْضَ مِهَادًا وَالْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًا


'''The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab:''' We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, ''and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺''.


'''Yusuf Ali:''' Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, '''And the mountains as pegs'''? }}{{Quote|{{Qtt|21|31}}| وجعلنا في الأرض رواسي أن تميد بهم
'''Safi Kaskas:''' We built the universe with power, ''and We are steadily expanding it''.}}
[[Zakir Naik]] writes regarding this verse:
{{Quote|[http://web.archive.org/save/https://sunnahonline.com/ilm/quran/qms.pdf The Quran and Modern Science by Zakir Naik]|The Arabic word mûsi‘ûn (in verse 51:47) 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!}}


==Criticism==
Critics point out that:


'''Bewley:''' We placed firmly embedded mountains on the Earth so it would not move under them... }}Also see verses [https://quranx.com/15.19 15:19] and [https://quranx.com/16.15 16:15].  
*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.


== The idea of Mountains being Pegs had already existed before Muhammad ==
===Correct translation of verse 51:47===
Mountains appear to be pegs upon huge huge earth. Therefore, this idea of mountains being pegs even existed among the Arabs before Muhammad. For example, Ka’ab was one of the ancestor of Muhammad. This Ka’ab also declared mountains to be pegs long before Muhammad.
The dispute is only about the last two words of the verse 51:47 (i.e. وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ wa-innā lamūsiʿūna''')'''


[http://web.archive.org/web/20170921141119/http://islamport.com/d/3/tkh/1/78/1963.html History of Ya’qubi]:<blockquote>فأما كعب بن لؤي، فكان أعظم ولد أبيه قدرا، وأعظمهم شرفا، وكان أول من سمي يوم الجمعة بالجمعة، وكانت العرب تسميه عروبة، فجمعهم فيه، وكان يخطب عليهم، فيقول: اسمعوا، وتعلموا، وافهموا، واعلموا أن الليل ساج، والنهار ضاح، والأرض مهاد، والسماء عماد، '''والجبال أوتاد'''، والنجوم أعلام،
CorpusQuran website gives word by word grammar and translation of Quran. It writes<ref>[https://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=51&verse=47 Quran Corpus, verse 51:47]</ref>:
</br>
Ka'ab Bin Lowy was a man of great honour among his ancestors and progeny. He was the first person who gave the name of Friday to the day of Friday. Arabs used to call him 'Aroba. He gathered them and advised them to hear, learn and understand,  and to know that night is deserted and silent, while day is full of sunlight, and earth is a cradle while sky is a support, '''and mountains are pegs''', and stars are signs, ...</blockquote>The writer of Qur'an only restated this old concept in Quran, thus it could be in no way a miracle of Qur'an.


== Two scientific mistakes in Quran regarding the creation of mountains ==
*وَإِنَّا (wa-innā) Translation: "and indeed, We (Allah)"
Critics point out that writer of Quran made two scientific mistakes regarding the creation of mountains.  
*لَمُوسِعُونَ (lamūsiʿūna)  Translation: "(are) surely (its) Expanders".


'''First Mistake''': Allah claim that it put mountains "from above" on the earth. <blockquote> وجعل فيها رواسي '''من''' '''فوقها'''
Therefore, the correct translation of this verse should be:


([https://quranx.com/41.10 Quran 41:10]) And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface. (Sahih International)
<blockquote>(Quran 51:47) ''And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, '''We (Allah) are [its] expander'''.''</blockquote>


([https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=41&verse=9 Quran 41:10]) And He placed in it stabilisers (i.e. mountains) from above. (Mohsin Khan)</blockquote>'''Second Mistake''': Allah had already made the mountains on the day of Sunday at time of the creation of the earth and the skies<blockquote>Sahih Muslim:
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").


Abu Haraira reported that Allah's Messenger took hold of my hands and said:
The earlier Quran Translators did the correct translation:


Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday '''and He created the mountains on Sunday''' and He created the trees on Monday and He created the things entailing labour on Tuesday and created light on Wednesday and lie caused the animals to spread on Thursday and created Adam (peace be upon him) after 'Asr on Friday;the last creation at the last hour of the hours of Friday, i. e. between afternoon and night.</blockquote>According to the modern science, mountains are not put as anchors from above, but they are formed when two tectonic plates collide with each other (i.e. when earthquake takes place), then crust of one plate goes upwards and forms a mountain, while the crust of other plate goes downwards.  
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|'''Yusuf Ali:''' With power and skill did We construct the Firmament: '''''for it is We Who create the vastness of space'''''.


And then this process of colliding of tectonic plates (i.e. earthquakes) carries on for millions of years, and with each collision mountains keep on rising little by little.  
'''Pickthal:''' We have built the heaven with might, and '''''We it is Who make the vast extent (thereof)'''''.


And then comes a time when these tectonic plates are divided into smaller plates, and these mountains are destroyed and disappear gradually.
'''Shakir:''' And the heaven, We raised it high with power, '''''and most surely We are the makers of things ample'''''.


For example, there existed no Mount Everest 250 million years ago. But then two tectonic plates collided with each other, and a small Mount Everest came into being due to that. Then it kept on gaining height with each collision of the tectonic plates. Today it is the highest mountain. It will keep on gaining even more height, but then a time will come, when it will disappear completely.  
'''Word by Word Translation:''' And the heaven We constructed it with strength, '''''and indeed, We (are) surely (its) Expanders'''''.}}


Therefore, Islam is making these scientific mistakes:
===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"'''.


* Mountains had not been created on Sunday at the time of creation of the earth and the skies.
Look at the following verses:
* But earth initially consisted of gases only. It took billions of years to come into solid form.
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/6.80 Quran 6:80]|وَسِعَ رَبِّى كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًا
* And even after earth came into solid state, still it took billions of years more in the formation of mountains.  
* And older mountains disappear with time, and new mountains start forming.  
* The writer of Quran had no idea about these real scientific facts.


Not only Hadith, but Quran itself claims that Allah had already created the mountains during the creation of the earth and skies. <blockquote>(Quran 41:9-11) Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days ...? " And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction ... Then He directed Himself to the heaven (i.e. skies) while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come, willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly." And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps and as protection.</blockquote>All these verses of Quran are telling 100% false things about the creation of the earth and the skies:
'''Sahih Intl:''' My Lord encompasses all things in knowledge


* Neither mountains were put on the earth at time of the creation.
'''Yusuf Ali:''' My Lord comprehendeth in His knowledge all things}}
* Nor the sustenance of the creatures was put on the earth after the creation of the earth, but all that was put at the time of the creation of the earth.
Also see verses [https://quranx.com/7.89 7:89] and [https://quranx.com/20.98 20:98].
* Nor skies were created after the creation of the earth.  
* Actually there exist no sky/heaven, but Muslims at their own distort the meaning of skies and claim it means "universe" here. While the writer of Quran didn't meant universe, but he meant a solid dome like sky/heaven in literal sense.  
* And even if we take this distorted meaning of universe, still it stays as a Quranic mistake while universe had already been created 9 billion years before the creation of the world, and billions and trillions of stars have already been formed before the creation of the earth.  


<br />
Also see verse 65:12, where directly the word of "'''احاط'''" (encompass) has been used instead of "wasi'a"
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/65.12 Quran 65:12]|وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًۢا


== Other types of mountains, who have no root in the earth ==
'''Sahih Intl:''' and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.
First type of mountains are formed due to the collision of two tectonic plates. But there are other type of mountains too, which are formed when Lava comes out from inside the earth. When this lava cools down, it forms high and big mountains (link).  


These lava mountains have absolutely no roots inside the earth, which could be considered as pegs.  
'''Pickthall:'''and that Allah surroundeth all things in knowledge.}}
<br />
So, then verse 51.47 must be understood as follows: '''"And the heaven We built it with might and We lamūsi‘ūn (encompasses it)."'''


== Questions: ==
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'''.


* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad tell that mountains are formed when two tectonic plates collide with each other?
ٖThus few translator used this figurative translation:
* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad tell that mountains are small at the beginning, then they keep on rising due to earthquakes?
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/47/default.htm Quran 51:47]|'''Farook Malik:''' We have built the heavens with Our hands, ''for We have the power to do so''.
* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad tell that a time comes when mountains start to  disappear?
* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad told that initially there was only one Continent, and later they were divided into 7 continents due to the split and the movement of the tectonic plates?
* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad tell that there is lava inside the earth.  
* Did the writer of Quran/Muhammad tell that earthquakes come due to the collision of the tectonic plates. No, contrary to that writer of Quran/Muhammad claimed that Allah sends earthquake to punish those who disobey him.  


The writer of Quran/Muhammad didn't answer any of these questions, but instead claimed one thing (i.e. mountains are pegs), which had already been believed by the people of the time of ignorance. But Muslims claim it to be undeniable miracle of Quran
'''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''.}}
 
===Next verse 51:48 also exposes this wrong translation===
Critics also point out that exactly the same grammar has been used in the next verse 51:48.
{{Quote|[http://quranx.com/51.48 Quran 51:48]|'''Yousuf Ali:''' And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: ''How excellently We do spread out!''}}
 
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:<blockquote>(Quran 51:48) We have spread out the earth; '''and We are still steadily spreading/smoothing it'''. </blockquote>
Since this is against the modern science, and earth is not steadily spreading, thus here modern Islam apologists did the correct translation:
{{Quote|[https://www.islamawakened.com/quran/51/48/ Quran 51:48]|'''Asad:''' And the earth have We spread out wide - and how well have We ordered it
 
'''The Clear Quran:''' As for the earth, We spread it out. How superbly did We smooth it out!
 
'''Safi Kaskas:''' And the earth We spread it out, How well We smoothed it out.}}
 
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, : {{Quote|{{Quran|2|22}}| الذي جعل لكم الارض فراشا والسماء بناء وانزل من السماء ماء فاخرج به من الثمرات رزقا لكم فلا تجعلوا لله اندادا وانتم تعلمون </br>Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth). }}The word translated as canopy is binaa or binaan ( بِنَاء ). This word means "building"<ref>بِنَاء binaa - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume1/00000298.pdf Lane's Lexicon] page 261</ref>. 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<ref>[https://tafsir.app/2/22 Tafsirs 2:22]</ref>:{{quote |[http://tafsir.com/default.asp?sid&#61;2&tid&#61;1494 Tafsir Ibn Kathir]| These Ayat indicate that Allah started creation by creating earth, then He made heaven into seven heavens. This is how building usually starts, with the lower floors first and then the top floors}}And according to Ahadith, prophets are residing upon these solid heavens along with their nations.
 
Thus, it is impossible for a solid canopy to expand.
 
==References:==
{{reflist}}<br />

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Did Quran tell that universe is steadily expanding?

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.

The Clear Quran, Dr. Mustafa Khattab: We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺.

Safi Kaskas: We built the universe with power, and We are steadily expanding it.

Zakir Naik writes regarding this verse:

The Arabic word mûsi‘ûn (in verse 51:47) 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!

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)

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").

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.

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

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.

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‘ūndescribes 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.

Next verse 51:48 also exposes this wrong translation

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

Yousuf Ali: And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: How excellently We do spread out!

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:

Asad: And the earth have We spread out wide - and how well have We ordered it

The Clear Quran: As for the earth, We spread it out. How superbly did We smooth it out!

Safi Kaskas: And the earth We spread it out, How well We smoothed it out.

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, :

الذي جعل لكم الارض فراشا والسماء بناء وانزل من السماء ماء فاخرج به من الثمرات رزقا لكم فلا تجعلوا لله اندادا وانتم تعلمون
Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

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]:

These Ayat indicate that Allah started creation by creating earth, then He made heaven into seven heavens. This is how building usually starts, with the lower floors first and then the top floors

And according to Ahadith, prophets are residing upon these solid heavens along with their nations.

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

References: