Epigraph

Allah is He, Who created seven heavens and of the earth a similar number. The divine command comes down in their midst that you may know that Allah has power over all things in His knowledge. (Al Quran 65:12)

And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and whatever living creatures He has spread in both of them and He has the power to gather them together, when He will so please. (Al Quran 42:29)

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

If we start with the assumption that the Quran is the literal word of the All-Knowing God then it begins to whisper new meanings to us. If the All-Knowing God talks about seven heavens and a similar number of earths, then what does it mean? What was Allah telling the seventh-century Arabs about the seven earths? They had no interest in how many earths may or may not be there. The last verse of Surah Al-Talaq, mentioned above as an epigraph, talking about seven earths, was for our times. It was to reveal to us that the Quran is the word of one who knows every secret of the heavens and the earth, because He is the Creator of our universe.

In Arabic, the number seven frequently symbolizes abundance or a large, unspecified number. For example, believers perform seven rounds around the Kaaba during Hajj, and the Quran mentions the “seven heavens” several times to denote the vastness of divine creation. Surah Al-Mulk (67:2-4) describes these heavens as being in perfect harmony and free of flaws:

He is the Mighty, the Forgiving; Who created the seven heavens, in harmony. You will not see any flaw in what the Lord of Mercy creates. Look again! Can you see any flaws? Look again! And again! Your sight will turn back to you, weak and defeated.

The “seven earths” are referenced only once (Quran 65:12), possibly indicating numerous earth-like entities in the universe. The Quran’s subtle mention avoids overwhelming its initial audience, allowing contemporary readers to appreciate the broader implications with modern scientific insights.

Other verses that talk about seven heavens are 2:29, 17:44, 23:17, 23:86, 41:12, 65:12, 71:15 and 78:12.

Over the past few decades, cosmology has significantly evolved, largely due to advancements in observational tools like the Hubble Space Telescope and, more recently, the James Webb Space Telescope. Initial estimates in the 1990s suggested the universe contained around 100-200 billion galaxies. However, later studies, including those led by Christopher Conselice in 2016, suggested this figure could reach two trillion galaxies when accounting for faint and distant objects.

The quest to determine how many Earth-like planets exist in our Milky Way galaxy has been a focal point of astronomical research, especially with advancements in exoplanet detection technologies. Estimates vary due to differing methodologies and definitions of “Earth-like,” but recent studies provide compelling insights.

A 2020 study by NASA suggests that our galaxy holds at least an estimated 300 million potentially habitable planets, based on conservative interpretations. nasa.gov

Further research from the University of British Columbia indicates there may be as many as six billion Earth-like planets in the Milky Way. sciencedaily.com

These findings are supported by earlier studies, such as a 2013 analysis by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, which estimated that there are at least 17 billion Earth-sized planets in the Milky Way. en.wikipedia.org

It’s important to note that these estimates are based on data from missions like Kepler and various detection methods, including transit observations and radial velocity measurements. As detection techniques improve and more data becomes available, our understanding of the prevalence of Earth-like planets will continue to evolve.

In summary, while precise numbers remain uncertain, current research suggests that the Milky Way is home to hundreds of millions, if not billions, of Earth-like planets, many of which may reside within their stars’ habitable zones, offering conditions potentially suitable for life.

Every new scientific discovery expands the meaning of the Quran; after all, it is the word of the All-Knowing. Any newly discovered secret, even if not mentioned in the Quran directly, is certainly part of Divine consciousness and, as such, could be reflected by implication in His speech.