Epigraph:

We will show them Our Signs in the universe and also among their own selves, until it becomes manifest to them that the Quran is the truth. (Al Quran 41:53)

He is the Mighty, the Forgiving; Who created the seven heavens, one above the other. You will not see any flaw in what the Lord of Mercy creates. Look again! Can you see any flaw? Look again! And again! Your sight will turn back to you, weak and defeated. (Al Quran 67:2-4)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

When we read the Quranic verses about the moon and the sun, their motion, their respective calendars, and the expanding universe, we applaud their accuracy, especially when we consider our modern understanding of our universe and solar system. But to truly know what a paradigm shift the Quran was from the contemporary understanding of cosmology, we have to know Aristotle.

His views were held as Gospel truth until Europe began to give up his shackles through experimentation, around the time of Copernicus (1473-1543) and Galileo Galilei, who was not only an astronomer but a polymath born in 1564 and died in 1642.

Aristotle, the eminent Greek philosopher of the 4th century BCE, profoundly influenced ancient and medieval cosmology with his geocentric model of the universe. Central to his cosmological framework was the concept of the firmament, which he envisioned as a series of concentric, crystalline spheres encasing the Earth. His views in cosmology held sway in Europe until the time of Copernicus in the fifteenth century:

The Structure of the Firmament

In Aristotle’s geocentric model, Earth occupied the universe’s central position, surrounded by a succession of transparent, concentric spheres. These celestial spheres were believed to carry the Moon, Sun, planets, and fixed stars, each embedded within its respective sphere. The outermost sphere, known as the firmament, contained the fixed stars and was responsible for their apparent daily rotation around the Earth. Wikipedia

Composition and Motion

Aristotle postulated that the celestial spheres were composed of a unique, immutable substance called aether, distinct from the four terrestrial elements of earth, water, air, and fire. Aether was considered perfect and incorruptible, suitable for the unchanging heavens. The natural motion of aether was uniform circular movement, which explained the perpetual and orderly revolutions of the celestial bodies. Wikipedia

Distinction Between Celestial and Terrestrial Realms

A fundamental aspect of Aristotle’s cosmology was the clear distinction between the celestial and terrestrial realms. The sublunary region, encompassing Earth and extending up to the Moon’s orbit, was characterized by change, decay, and the presence of the four classical elements. In contrast, the superlunary region, starting from the Moon’s sphere outward, was the domain of aether and was considered eternal and unalterable. This dichotomy underscored the perceived perfection of the heavens compared to the imperfection of the earthly realm.

Influence on Medieval Thought

Aristotle’s conception of the firmament and the celestial spheres became deeply embedded in medieval scholasticism. His works, particularly “On the Heavens,” were integrated into the educational curricula of medieval universities, shaping theological and philosophical discussions about the cosmos. The Aristotelian model was harmonized with Christian doctrine, reinforcing the idea of a divinely ordered universe with Earth and humanity at its center.

Challenges and Legacy

While Aristotle’s geocentric model dominated for centuries, it eventually faced challenges during the Renaissance. Observations by astronomers such as Copernicus, Galileo, and Kepler provided evidence for a heliocentric system and the dynamic nature of celestial bodies, leading to the gradual decline of the Aristotelian cosmological framework. Nonetheless, Aristotle’s ideas about the firmament significantly influenced the development of astronomical thought and the human understanding of the universe.

From Aristotle till Copernicus

Aristotle’s vision of the firmament as a series of concentric, aetherial spheres encapsulating the Earth offered a comprehensive explanation for the motions of celestial bodies and the structure of the cosmos. His distinction between the mutable terrestrial realm and the immutable heavens provided a foundation for centuries of astronomical and philosophical inquiry, leaving an indelible mark on the history of cosmology.

Before the revolutionary ideas of Nicolaus Copernicus in the 16th century, the prevailing cosmological model was geocentrism, which posited that Earth was the immobile center of the universe, with all celestial bodies—including the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars—revolving around it. This Earth-centered perspective was deeply rooted in ancient philosophy and astronomy, shaping humanity’s understanding of the cosmos for over a millennium, at least in Europe.

The geocentric model’s foundations can be traced back to ancient Greece, even before Aristotle:

• Pythagorean Influence: Philosophers from the Pythagorean school, active around the 5th century BCE, introduced the idea of a spherical Earth at the universe’s center. They believed that celestial bodies moved in perfect circles, reflecting the harmony and order of the cosmos.
• Aristotle’s Contributions: In the 4th century BCE, Aristotle elaborated on this model by proposing a series of concentric celestial spheres surrounding Earth. Each sphere was thought to carry a planet or star, and their combined rotations accounted for the observed motions of celestial bodies. Aristotle’s model also incorporated the concept of natural motion, suggesting that Earth’s central position was a result of its inherent heaviness, causing it to move toward the center of the universe. Encyclopedia

This background really dramatically embellishes my work and the work of other authors like Dr. Maurice Bucaille in the domain of the Quran and cosmology and metaphysics.

Additional reading:

The Mystery of Gravity and the Quranic Verses about It

Why Did Dr. Abdus Salam Recite Two Quranic Verses in His Nobel Banquet Speech?

How Electron and Positron Enhance My Belief in the Quran and God’s Providence?

Avicenna’s exposition of cosmological argument

Multiverse: Prime your study with theistic leaning

The Miracle of the Quran: It Speaks of Innumerable Stars and Innumerable Earths

The Quran and the Expanding Universe: Is This God Speaking or Muhammad?

A British Convert to Islam: ‘I found Qur’an mother of all philosophies’