The exegesis of verse 117 of Surah Al-Baqarah, centred on the phrase بَدِيعُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ (Originator of the heavens and the earth), opens a novel perspective towards a profound and scientific understanding of Quranic concepts. This interpretation, with a deep and academic outlook, examines the meanings of Sama and Samawat within the Holy Quran and underscores the necessity of scientific and practical exploration of these concepts.
The term Sama, linguistically meaning height and elevation, in the Quranic context does not refer to a singular meaning but rather to multiple and diverse instances, encompassing phenomena from atmospheric events to cosmic systems. This treatise, employing an interdisciplinary approach, endeavours to analyse these instances with scientific and epistemological rigour, thereby extracting sciences and practical applications from the Quranic verses.
The objective of this work is to present a systematic and comprehensive exegesis that serves as a guide and inspiration for researchers and educated audiences in the fields of Quranic sciences and Islamic knowledge. The structure of this treatise includes primary sections with specialised subtitles, each addressing an aspect of the concept of Sama and its research imperatives.
The examination of fundamental Quranic concepts such as Sama and Ard extends beyond theoretical and pulpit discussions, requiring scientific and practical investigation within research laboratories. This perspective emphasises the need to revisit traditional interpretive methodologies and advocates for the establishment of scientific infrastructures in religious domains to harness the latent capacities embedded within Quranic verses.
The Holy Quran, regarded as an inexhaustible treasure, holds the potential for extraction of sciences, truths, and practical applications which are attainable solely through systematic and precise research.
For deep and practical comprehension of Quranic verses, it is imperative that seminaries establish dedicated research laboratories. Such laboratories provide a platform for meticulous and scientific analysis of Quranic concepts and facilitate the extraction of knowledge and practical applications. The absence of such infrastructures constitutes one of the contemporary challenges in religious sciences, impeding the full realisation of Quranic potentials.
Many Quranic concepts, such as Samawat, require not mere theological discourse but practical and experimental research. Mere discourse and theoretical debates cannot, independently, lead to accurate comprehension of these concepts. This viewpoint stresses the necessity to transcend traditional theological approaches towards scientific and empirical methodologies.
Precise understanding of Quranic concepts necessitates the utilisation of scientific instruments and modern technologies. Moreover, collaboration with experts from various fields, including natural sciences and cosmology, can significantly contribute to deriving scientific and practical insights from the Quranic verses. This interdisciplinary approach unveils a novel avenue towards the comprehension of Quranic knowledge and facilitates the utilisation of the Quran as a comprehensive source for diverse sciences.
The term Sama in the Holy Quran is derived from the root S-M-W, meaning height and elevation. This lexical meaning provides a general framework for understanding the various applications of this term within the Quranic verses. Nevertheless, what distinguishes this term in the Quran is the diversity of its manifestations, encompassing atmospheric phenomena to cosmic systems.
Sama in the Quran possesses a unified meaning pointing to height and elevation, yet its manifestations are numerous and varied. Similar to the concept of human defined as a rational animal which encompasses distinct individuals such as Zaid, Umar, and Bakr, Sama also refers in various verses to different instances. This distinction between meaning and manifestation is pivotal for precise understanding of the applications of this term in the Quran.
Verse on Rain and Atmospheric Phenomena:
كَصَيِّبٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فِيهِ ظُلُمَاتٌ وَرَعْدٌ وَبَرْقٌ
Translation: Like rain from the sky in which there is darkness, thunder, and lightning.
This verse introduces Sama as a receptacle of rain (Sayyib), encompassing atmospheric phenomena such as darkness, thunder, and lightning. This manifestation pertains to the atmospheric region proximate to the earth and highlights the necessity of scientific study of meteorological phenomena.
Verse on the Construction of the Sky:
وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا
Translation: And We built the heaven.
This verse refers to Sama as the cosmic system and the structure of stars and celestial bodies, which differs from the meteorological manifestation of Sayyib. This distinction emphasises the broadness of the concept of Sama from atmospheric phenomena to cosmic systems.
Verse on the Sending Down of Water:
وَأَنْزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً
Translation: And We sent down water from the sky.
This verse presents Sama as the source of water (rainfall), associated with the water cycle in the atmospheric region. This manifestation stresses the role of Sama in meteorological phenomena and the necessity of scientific investigation thereof.
Verse on the Seven Heavens:
فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ
Translation: Then He completed them as seven heavens.
This verse introduces Samawat as multiple realms and cosmic systems beyond atmospheric phenomena. The number seven may signify a literal count or symbolise multiplicity, requiring linguistic and cosmological analysis.
Verse on Pollutants Sent Down Due to Transgressions:
وَأَنْزَلْنَا عَلَى الَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا رِجْسًا مِنَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَفْسُقُونَ
Translation: And We sent down upon those who wronged a punishment from the sky for what they used to commit.
This verse attributes the descent of impurity (Rijs) from the Sama to human wickedness, referring to the atmospheric region. This manifestation highlights the impact of human actions on meteorological phenomena and the need for scientific study of this relationship.
Verse on Turning Ones Face to the Sky:
فَقَلِّبْ وَجْهَكَ فِي السَّمَاءِ
Translation: So turn your face towards the sky.
This verse introduces Sama as the visible region above the observers head, differing from cosmic manifestations and referring to the immediate sky.
Verse on the Table Spread from Heaven:
قَالَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْيَمَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا أَنْزِلْ عَلَيْنَا مَائِدَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ
Translation: Jesus, son of Mary, said: O Allah, our Lord, send down to us a table spread from heaven.
This verse identifies Sama as the source of the heavenly table (food), indicating an atmospheric region and emphasising the association of Sama with blessings.
Verse on Stones from Heaven:
فَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حِجَارَةً مِنَ السَّمَاءِ
Translation: Then We rained upon them stones from heaven.
This verse refers to the descent of stones (Hijarah) from Sama as a punishment occurring in the atmospheric region, underscoring the diversity of meteorological phenomena.
Verse on the Birds of Ababil:
وَأَرْسَلَ عَلَيْهِمْ طَيْرًا أَبَابِيلَ * تَرْمِيهِمْ بِحِجَارَةٍ مِنْ سِجِّيلٍ
Translation: And He sent against them birds in flocks, striking them with stones of baked clay.
This verse portrays the descent of stones by the birds of Ababil as a punishment within the atmospheric domain, illustrating the complexity of meteorological phenomena.
Verse on Blessings from Heaven and Earth:
وَلَوْ أَنَّ أَهْلَ الْقُرَىٰ آمَنُوا وَاتَّقَوْا لَفَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ بَرَكَاتٍ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ
Translation: And if the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth.
This verse conditions the descent of blessings from heaven and earth on
