7 heavens

nadeem

Peace Arnold,

What classical dictionary are you referring to?

Nadeem

Mazhar

It may please be noted that Quran e Majeed has never said that the sky of the earth is adorned with stars.

In na_ zay yan nas sama_ ad dun ya_ bizinatinil kawa_kib
We have adorned the lower sky with Planets. {3706}

Root can never be translated as ?star? since Quran e Majeed has made a clear distinction between the celestial bodies. First time this word occurs in 676
Falamma_ janna 'alaihil lailu ra'a_ kaukaba_(n)

Here one thing has been made conspicuous ?darkness of the night? and he saw one . At night there are numerous stars visible to naked eye. Quran e Majeed came in 7th century but people have known the distinction between stars and planets from couple of centuries BC.The basic difference between both, as we know, is that stars emit light but planets don?t have own light, they reflect light. How both could have same meanings and termed as stars?

After sun and moon, planet Venus is the mist shining object. It is visible on sky three hours before sunrise and for three hours after sunset. After these three object planet Jupiter is the brightest object. It is three times brighter than the brightest star Sirius. Because of its prominence, the Romans had given it name Jupiter after the name of their bigger god, idol.

Al Qurtabi says
Al Jalalain says

Who was right?
The difference between Venus and Jupiter is that Venus after three hours disappears and is not visible till three hours before sunset. Jupiter, when it is visible from earth, does not disappear but remains visible. And Quran e Majeed tells that the planet which was seen by Ibrahim {Peace is upon him} had then disappeared {} from their sight. Thus it is clear that he had pointed towards Venus after quite some time of sunset but within three hours of the sunset.

Quran has drawn a vivid distinction between planets and stars. It says
Wa huwal lazi ja'ala lakumun nuju_ma litahtadu_ biha_ fi zulumatil barri wal bahr(i), qad fassalnal a_ya_ti liqaumiy ya'lamu_n(a).
Allah is one who has appointed for you stars so that you may guide/find direction yourselves with their help through the dark {unmarked} spaces of land and sea We have made distinct Our Ayat so that people may know/get informed. {697}
wa bin najmi hum yahtadu_n(a).
And with one star they get the direction/destination/guidance.{Ref 1616}

Quran has never said that people can get guidance/direction from Kwakib, Planets. And neither said that the sky of earth is adorned with Najoom, stars.

Distinction between them is also visible from their end.
Wa idzal kawa_kibun tatsarat
Wa idzal biha_ru fuj jirat {Ref 8202-03}

?un tatsarat? and ?fuj jirat? have the commonality of ?scatter?. Both reflect light and absorb light.

And the end of Stars is this
Wa idzan nuju_mun kadarat
When the stars fall losing their luster/light; {Ref 8102}

Fa iza nuju_mu tumisat
Wa izal jiba_lu nusifat
Then when the stars become scattered;
When the mountains are scattered (to the winds) as dust ;{ Ref 77 08, 10}

Faka_nat haba_ am mun bats sa_
{Mountains} Becoming dust/Gases scattered {Ref 5610}
And we know stars are massive shining sphere of hot gas {dust like}.

As regards Harun Yahya?s opinion
?The word "heavens", which appears in many verses in the Qur'an, is used to refer to the sky above the Earth, as well as the entire universe. Given this meaning of the word, it is seen that the Earth's sky, or the atmosphere, is made up of seven layers. (Layers of Atmosphere-Miracles of Quran-Harun Yahya)

It is not correct. It amounts to negating the vastness of words/concepts of Arabic Language and also negates what Quran calls about its Ayat ??.
We are not yet aware of the vastness of skies and will never be able to conceive/perceive it since it is expanding all the time. But Quran has given details of our solar system in an elaborate manner. When one sky has that vastness how can this word be used for seven layers of atmosphere?
Perhaps seven layers of atmosphere are mentioned here
Wa laqad halaqnal insa_na min sula_latim min tin
Sum ma jaalna_hu nutfaran fi qara_rim makin
Sum ma halaqnan nutfata alaqatan fahalaqnal alaqata mudgatan fahalaqnal mudgata iza_man fa kasaunal iza_ma lahma_ sum ma ansana_hu halqan a_har fataba_rakal la_hu ahsanul ha_liqin
Sum ma in nakum bada za_lika lamay yitu_n
Sum ma in nakum yaumal qiya_mati tubasu_n
Wa laqad halaqna_ fauqakum saba tara_iq wa ma_ kun na_ anil halqi ga_filin
And in the past We had made above you seven tracts; and We are never unmindful of (safety of our) Creation {2312-16}

Wa banaina_ fauqakum saban syida_da_
And (have We not) built over you the seven firmaments {Ref 7812}

And perhaps reason for these seven layers is told in the next verse
Wa ja'alna_ sira_jaw wah ha_ja_

Nature of sun is explained by the word wah ha_ja. This is dangerous. These seven layers protect from this feature of the sun.
May Allah guide us all.

unknownuser

Salaam bro Mazhar,

Thank you for this excellent understanding.