Expanding

Surah Az-Zariyyah verse 47: “And the heavens, We have created with Our own hands, and We are expanding them.” The root word used in this verse in Arabic is (نهن لموسعون), which means “We are expanding” or “We are expanding.” In the light of modern science, this verse carries a profound significance today, especially in the context of the expanding universe.

The idea that the universe is constantly expanding was first clearly expressed in the early 20th century. In 1929, the famous astronomer Edwin Hubble discovered that all galaxies were moving away from our perspective, and the more distant the galaxy, the faster it was moving. This observation led him to conclude that the universe was expanding—not a static or rigid universe, but a dynamic and expanding universe.

This discovery was the cornerstone of modern cosmology. The Big Bang theory was based on it. Today, scientists know that after the Big Bang, the universe was in a very hot and dense state and has been expanding ever since, cooling down. In fact, this expansion has not stopped yet; rather, recent data show that this expansion is increasing and is being accelerated by a kind of force called dark energy.

Here, the verse in the Quran agrees with an incredible scientific truth. 1400 years ago, when people imagined the sky as a ceiling filled with visible stars, the Quran says, “I created the sky and I am expanding it.” The Quran is clearly stating two things here: one. The sky or universe had a beginning, and two. It does not stop—it is moving, growing, expanding. It is not a fixed structure.

Another important point here is the wording of the Quran. Allah says, “I created with My own hands” (via the word bi-aydin). The word “hand” is used here in a metaphorical sense, implying power or strength. That is, this universe was not created by a random or mechanical process; it is the will and plan of a wise and powerful being.

In the language of modern physics, the expansion of the universe is not just the movement of galaxies away, but the very fabric of time and space itself is expanding. This is a very subtle but profound truth to understand. When we say that a galaxy is moving away from us by a billion light years, it means that the “space” between the two galaxies is itself expanding. This fact is so novel and complex that even scientists were hesitant to accept it until the middle of the 20th century. Many famous physicists, such as Einstein, initially supported a static universe model. Later, after Hubble’s observations and later stronger evidence, he himself admitted that the universe is expanding and that his previous idea was wrong.

The Quranic verse is in harmony with this reality as if it were written in the language of a modern cosmologist. Yet this verse came at a time when people believed only in speculative ideas about the world outside the earth. How is this possible? An ignorant and illiterate prophet, who had not studied astronomy, who had not even touched a telescope—how could he utter a truth that science, after hundreds of years, could only discover through observation and calculation?

This question makes not only a Muslim but also a seeker of truth stop in thought. If the Quran had been written by a mere human being, there would be no reason for it to contain such a far-sighted scientific truth. Rather, it proves once again that the source of the Quran is not a human brain—it is divine, it is the statement of an omniscient being.

However, the significance of this verse is not limited to cosmological observations alone. It also conveys a spiritual message. Just as the universe is constantly expanding, so too can man's consciousness, understanding, and faith expand if he pays attention to the truth. A spiritual expansion, an expansion of knowledge, and even an expansion of the responsibilities of mankind—all are implicit in the indirect message of this verse.

This verse opens a new window to us about the scientific depth of the Quran. It not only inspires wonder, but also awakens faith. It is a mixed feeling—unknown wonder, depth of thought, and the warm light of faith. And so, if after discussing this verse, we become silent for a while, feel that spaciousness within our hearts, then perhaps we will be able to touch the depth of this verse.