The Sky
The Heavens: The Sacred Epistemic Meaning
The Higher Realms and Fields of Divine Knowledge
In the Qur’anic vision, the term “the heavens” (as-samāwāt) is not limited to an astronomical concept or the physical extension of space. Rather, it refers to exalted unseen realms that embrace revelation and inspiration, and serve as the source of sacred knowledge that descends by God’s command.
They are not empty voids, but precise luminous systems inhabited by angels, from which the truths of existence emanate—protected from futility and preserved from distortion.
The Heavens as the Source of Divine Knowledge
God Almighty says:
“[It is] a revelation from the Wise, the Praiseworthy.” (Fussilat 41:42)
“And indeed, it is the revelation of the Lord of the Worlds. The Trustworthy Spirit has brought it down upon your heart, [O Muhammad]—that you may be of the warners.” (Ash-Shu‘ara 26:192–194)
Here, revelation (tanzīl) is not merely a spatial transfer but an epistemic emanation from the unseen world (the heavens) to the witnessed world (the earth). Thus, the heaven is not just a physical location but a symbolic exalted station, from which truths descend, and from which revelation, destiny, sustenance, and all matters of knowledge and spirit originate.
Angels: The Mediators of Revelation and Bearers of Knowledge
In the Qur’an, angels are not silent beings outside the scene of existence; rather, they are the active agents in the system of revelation and knowledge. They carry messages, bring down commands, and manage destinies. In their complete obedience, they do not precede God in speech:
“Honored servants, they do not precede Him in speech, and they act by His command.” (Al-Anbiya 21:26–27)
They are God’s soldiers in the order of creation, entrusted with the secrets of the unseen, and what knowledge they carry is only accessed through purification and sanctity.
The Heavens: A Symbol of Preserved Knowledge
The Qur’an describes the divine book as:
“In a concealed book—none touch it except the purified.” (Al-Waqi‘ah 56:78–79)
This indicates that true knowledge is preserved in a sacred domain, accessible only to those who purify themselves and their hearts. In this context, the heavens represent the infallibility of revelation, the exalted source, and the purity of its meanings—a mirror of absolute divine truth.
Heaven and Earth: The Duality of Knowledge and Embodiment
The relationship between heaven and earth in the Qur’an transcends physical space to express a complementarity between the world of knowledge and the world of experience:
- Heaven: represents the unseen, absolute knowledge, and the divine source.
- Earth: represents human experience, the field of action, and the responsibility of stewardship.
God says:
“It is Allah who has created seven heavens and of the earth, the like of them.” (At-Talaq 65:12)
Within this balance lies the secret of creation, where meanings descend from the heavens to be embodied on earth.
Concepts
In this context, knowledge cannot be separated from matter, just as the heavens cannot be separated from the earth. Knowledge without matter remains an illusion with no impact, and matter without knowledge remains hollow, without value. It is the union of knowledge and matter that produces truth, and this union happens only by the will of the Most Merciful.
In light of this understanding, the heavens acquire a sanctity that transcends physical location, becoming a place of meaning, a reference for understanding, and a source of truth. They are not merely the counterpart of the earth, but its partner in the act of creation, insofar as God has linked them and established a precise balance between them.