Quran.sh
The Expanding Universe
Verse in Question
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The Claim
Proponents of scientific miracles in the Quran argue that this verse refers to the expanding universe. They claim that the Arabic word “musi’un” in this verse means “expanding” and that this description aligns with modern cosmological theories about the universe’s expansion. This interpretation is used to suggest that the Quran contains advanced scientific knowledge about the cosmos.
How do we Prove a Scientific Miracle?| Criteria | Status | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Falsifiability | ✔ | the expansion of the universe can be observed and measured |
| Accuracy | ✔ | The universe is expanding, as observed by astronomers through the redshift of light from distant galaxies |
| Context | ✖ | historical interpretation does not claim this verse refers to the expanding universe and that instead it refers to the sky as a roof held up without pillars. The 'expansion' refers to the power of Allah holding a literal roof sky in place without pillars, 'expanding' the space between (Ibn Kathir). Mufti Muhammad Shafi also interprets 'expanding' as metaphorical |
| Timeliness | ✖ | many ancient cultures described the sky as vast or expansive |
| Specificity | ✖ | the verse is not specific and can be reinterpreted, as it was when science advanced and we discovered that the sky is not a roof |