Does “Sama’” in the Quran Mean Only Sky or Also the Heavens?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Is the translation of the following verse accurate:

“Indeed, We have constructed the heaven with might, and indeed, We are its expanders”

Some claim that earlier scholars did not translate it this way and that sama’ only means “sky” and not “heaven.” Is this assertion false? Can you provide proof that classical scholars also interpreted it this way and that the Arabic translation is linguistically valid?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

Sama’ (سَمَاء) in Arabic does not only mean “sky”; it can also mean “heaven” depending on the context.

“Sama’” in Context

As mentioned above, the term can refer to the physical sky—the atmosphere above us. For example, the Quran states:

“And the sky have We built with all-powerful force, and We are indeed expanding it out the vaster.” [Quran, 51:47]

Alternatively, it can denote the heaven(s), which can refer to the seven heavens mentioned in the Quran. An example is:

“Allah it is who created the seven-tiered heavens and created of the earth the like of them.” [Quran 65:12]

Highest Signs: Translating the Quran Beheld – Introduction

I would like you to listen to this profoundly informative talk by Shaykh Nuh Keller (Allah preserve him). In it, he delves into the philosophy of interpreting and translating the Quran, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding of its original Arabic text.

He draws parallels between traditional interpretive practices and contemporary approaches, arguing that many previous English translations have overlooked crucial nuances inherent in the Arabic language.

In the video, he outlines seven significant elements of meaning in the Quran that demand attention, advocating for a return to traditional methods of hermeneutics to grasp the text’s intent fully.

Please subscribe to the Seeker’s Complete Quran tafsir. Insha’Allah, you will find guidance, inspiration, and valuable knowledge by listening to it.

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersGuidance? You can choose from the Islamic Studies Curriculum or the Youth Islamic Studies Curriculum and progress through each course step by step.

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received a traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.