وَبَنَينا فَوقَكُم سَبعًا شِدادًا

وَجَعَلنا سِراجًا وَهّاجًا

And build above you the seven mighty heavens?

And make [the sun] a radiant lamp?

EXEGESIS

Sirāj (lamp) refers to the sun, as in these verses: Blessed is He who appointed houses in the sky and set in it a lamp and a shining moon (25:61); And has made therein the moon for a light, and the sun for a lamp (71:16). Referring to the sun as a lamp is quite congruous with referring to the heavens as a building.^{‎[1]Bursawi, 10/296.}

Wahhāj means blazing. It is what emits heat and/or light. It is in an exaggerated from, meaning that the sun is a lamp that is burning hot, or glittering with light.^{‎[2]Ayn, under w-h-j; Raghib, under w-h-j; Lisan, under w-h-j; Bahrayn, under w-h-j; Tahqiq, under w-h-j.} Some have specified that this term involves both elements of heat and light.^{‎[3]Tabrisi, 10/639.} Others have emphasised only one.^{‎[4]Razi, 31/10, narrated light from Ibn Abbas, and heat from al-Khalīl.} This verse is the only usage of this root in the Quran.

EXPOSITION

God has created seven mighty heavens in layers (67:3, 71:15).

Here are a few possible aspects for the mightiness of the heavens: 1. They are built in the most perfect and robust way, without any frailty or defect: He created seven heavens in layers. You do not see any discordance in the creation of the All-Beneficent. Look again! Do you see any flaw? (67:3). 2. They are protected against the eavesdropping and penetration of devils to the higher planes: We made the sky a preserved roof (21:32; also see 15:16-17, 37:6-7, 41:12, 67:5). 3. The heavens are firmly raised, meaning that they are created in their appropriate positions (13:2, 31:10). 4. The heavens are kept in place from falling on the earth (22:65, 35:41). 5. They also protect the earth from physical and non-physical calamities. Despite the magnificence and mightiness of His creation, God is not wearied by their preservation (2:255).

Today we can appreciate the significance of the sun a lot more than when these verses were revealed, for science tells us that the sun is the main source of all energies on earth. There is also a clear connection between this verse and the following verses that talk about the formation and precipitation of clouds.^{‎[5]Furqan, 30/29.}

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Some exegetes have argued: the verse is talking to all of the people living on the earth; it tells them that the heavens are above you; thus it involves a subtle reference to the sphericity of the earth.^{‎[6]Furqan, 30/28.} This, however, is not a sound argument, because even if the earth were flat it could be said: And [We] build above you the seven mighty heavens.

It should be noted that besides the apparent meaning of these verses – which concern the physical world – they can also have more spiritual interpretations, as inner layers of meaning. For example, a spiritual radiant lamp would be Prophet Muhammad (s), as the Quran says: O Prophet! Indeed We have sent you as a witness, as a bearer of good news and as a warner, and as a summoner to Allah by His permission, and as a radiant lamp (33:45-46). Likewise, water could refer to knowledge or guidance that descends from the sky of revelation, and that which gives life and growth to dormant souls and dead hearts.

[1] Bursawi, 10/296.
[2] Ayn, under w-h-j; Raghib, under w-h-j; Lisan, under w-h-j; Bahrayn, under w-h-j; Tahqiq, under w-h-j.
[3] Tabrisi, 10/639.
[4] Razi, 31/10, narrated light from Ibn Abbas, and heat from al-Khalīl.
[5] Furqan, 30/29.
[6] Furqan, 30/28.