Ok i will if your interested.
The Quran says in Surah Adh-Dhariyat Verse 47:
وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ
Waalssamaa banaynaha bi-aydin wa-inna lamoosiAAoona
والسماء (wal-samāa) means - And the heaven
Source:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=%2851:47:1%29بنيناها (banaynāhā) means - We constructed/built it
Source:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=%2851:47:2%29بايد (bi-aydin) means – Literally with hands. However correct translation is with strength/power.
Source:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=%2851:47:3%29وانا (wa-innā) means - and indeed, We
Source:
http://corpus.quran.com/wordmorphology.jsp?location=%2851:47:4%29So far the verse in question would translate to as the following:
And the heaven We constructed/built it with strength/power and indeed, We lamūsi’ūna
لموسعون (lamūsi’ūna) What does it mean?لموسعون (lamūsi’ūna) contains the emphatic prefix lām. The prefixed particle lām is usually translated as "surely" or "indeed" and is used to add emphasis. So the word in question really is موسعون (mūsi’ūna).
Now the “ūna” or “oona” in the Arabic language represents a plural. The plural aspect is to denote the majesty and power of god. So the plurality is not in question. What is in question is the word موسع (mūsi)
موسع (mūsi). So what does this mean? Well موسع (mūsi) is one who is engaged in the act of أوسع (Awsa'). So what does أوسع(Awsa') mean?
The classical dictionary Lisan Al-Arab (13th century) says the following:
In the explanation of the word it is interesting to note that the author actually quotes the verse in question in his explanation. In the section highlighted the author states that the form 2 verb (Red Line) has the same meaning as the verb used in the verse (Blue Line)- to expand something.
In short the author states that the verb وسع (to expand something) has the same meaning as the verb أوسع.
According to Al-Mawrid Arabic-English Dictionary p.1223 وسع means expand.
This can be simply verified by using Google translator:
(7th Meaning)
So from Lisan Al-Arab we have come to learn that the verb أوسع (Awsa') means to expand. And موسع (mūsi) is the one who is engaged in أوسع (Awsa') – The Expander. The one who engages in expanding.
موسع (mūsi) is an active participle rather than a verb. So what does this mean? The active participle indicates either a state or one who engages in an act continuously. Now a verb is an action that has a beginning and an end. Whereas an active participle is an act that is done continuously.
So it is clear from classical Arabic that موسع (mūsi) can be translated two ways:
1. Expander- One who causes continual expansion.
2. Expanding.
Does Tafsir and Opinions of Classical Scholars support this understanding?Tafsir Al-Zamakhshari (Died in the 11 Century A.D)
In the commentary of this verse the Scholar gives the following three meanings for the wordموسعون (mūsi’ūna):
The Encomposer of the Heavens (Physical and Knowledge)
The Provider (from the Heavens)
The Expander
Tafsir Muqatel ibn Solaiman (767 A.D)
means: we are able to expand it as we want.
تفسير مقاتل بن سليمان/ مقاتل بن سليمان (ت 150 هـ
{ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ } [آية: 47] يعني نحن قادرون على أن نوسعها كما نريد
Tafsir Al Tabarani (970 A.D)
means :we expand the heaven in every direction.
تفسير التفسير الكبير / للإمام الطبراني (ت 360 ـ)
{ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ }؛ في السَّماء على الأرضِ في كلِّ جهاتٍ
Tafsir Bahr Alolum (985 A.D)
means: we are able to expand it as we will.
(فسير بحر العلوم/ السمرقندي
{ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ } يعني نحن قادرون على أن نوسعها كما نريد
Tafsir Alnukat Waloyon (1058 A.D)
means : we are able to make the heaven expanding more that it is already expanded.
تفسير النكت والعيون/ الماوردي (ت 450 ه)الثاني: لموسعون السماء، قاله ابن زيد.الثالث: لقادرون على الاتساع بأكثر من اتساع السماء.
Tafsir Al-Baidawi (Died 1286)
وَٱلسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَـٰهَا بِأَيْدٍ, بقوة. { وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ } لقادرون من الوسع بمعنى الطاقة والموسع القادر على الإنفاق. أو { لَمُوسِعُونَ } السماء أو ما بينها وبين الأرض أو الرزق
The translation of the part highlighted in blue reads,
"{lamūsi’ūna } means (expanding) the heavens or what is between it and the earth or the (expanding of) sustenance."
Tafsir alfayruz abadi (1414 A.D)
means : we are expanding it as we will.
{ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ } لها ما نشاء
تفسير القرآن/ الفيروز آبادي (ت817
Tafsir Alqasemy (1913 A.D)
means: we are able to expand it, more than it is already expanded.
تفسير محاسن التأويل / محمد جمال الدين القاسمي (ت 1332هـ
{ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ } أي: لقادرون على الإيساع، كما أوسعنا بناءها
And many more.
Part of the miraculous nature of the Quran is that uses word(s) that have more than one meaning and all these meanings are intended. So in conclusion after looking at classical commentaries three meanings are given for the word موسعون (mūsi’ūna):
1. To encompass the heavens (Physically, Knowledge, Authority). This means that god encompasses it with his power and that he knows everything through his knowledge and has authority over it.
2. To provide for his creation. One who provides for his creation from the heavens. So physically, like the rain that comes down from the heavens. Or spiritually.
3. To physically expand. Meaning to continuously expand something or to make something vaster.
Now as explained earlier these acts are represented by a noun (active participle) and not a verb. So these acts are encompassing, providing sustenance and expanding are not conformed to a particular time. They are on going. As a noun (active participle) indicates:
A perpetual state
Or
One who engages in act continually.
After looking at classical commentaries and classical Arabic dictionaries the word موسعون(mūsi’ūna) can be translated into English two ways:
ExpanderThis would translate the verse as following:
And the heaven We built it with strength and indeed, We are [its] expander.
This means that god is the one who is expanding the universe continually. This is the clear and literal meaning of the Arabic and is highly supported by classical Tafsirs. It is how Quranic Arabic Corpus have translated the word لموسعون (lamūsi’ūna):
- (are) surely (its) Expanders.
[Source]
It is further supported by the following translations of the Qur’an:
And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander. [Saheeh International]
And the sky was built by Us with might; and indeed We are the expanders. [Muhammad Taqi Usmani]
We have built the sky with might, and indeed it is We who are its expanders. [Ali Quli Qara'i]
And the heaven, We raised it high with power, and it is We that expand the vastness of space (or We are the expanders of it). [Hamid S. Aziz]
ExpandingThis would translate the verse as following:
And the heaven We built it with strength and indeed, We are expanding it.
The translation of expanding comes from the fact that the word is an active participle meaning one is continually doing the action. Is this case continually expanding. This translation is clearly supported by the Arabic and supported by classical Tafsirs.
Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips - who studied at the Islamic University of Madeenah University and King Saud University and studied B.A. Islamic Studies ,M.A. Aqeedah, & PhD Islamic Theology - in his book Usool At-Tafseer, page 71, talks about موسعون (mūsi’ūna) and how it means expanding and is an active participle.
“The heaven I created by might, and, verily, I am expanding it.
The Arabic word moos’ioon is an active participle. It indicates an ongoing action that is occurring at the present time and will continue into the future. It was not until the invention of the spectrograph and the development of a huge (100 in. diameter) reflecting telecope that Edward Hubble was able to discover other galaxies in 1926 and to document in 1927 the red shift of their spectra that indicates they are moving away from ours…”
[Source]
Abul Ala Maududi in Tafhim al-Qur'an (The Meaning of the Quran) writes the following in the footnotes of Surah 51:47:
“The word must' (pl. musi'un) may mean the one who possesses power and means, and also the one who can extend and expand something. According to the first meaning, the verse would mean: "We have built this heaven by Our own might and not with somebody else's help, and its erection was in no way beyond Us. Then how can you ever conceive that We shall not be able to recreate it ?" According to the second meaning, it would mean: "This huge universe that We have created, is not a finished work, but We are expanding it continuously, and new and ever new manifestations of Our creation are appearing in it every moment. How do you then think that such a marvelous Creator would not be able to repeat His creation.”
It is further supported by the following translations of the Qur’an:
AND IT IS We who have built the universe with [Our creative] power; and, verily, it is We who are steadily expanding it. [Muhammad Asad]
And the heaven with its regions, spheres and realms of space did We skillfully, powerfully and authoritatively construct and We are expanding the universe. [Al-Muntakhab]
And We constructed the universe using matter, and We will expand it. [Progressive Muslims]
And the heaven, We have constructed it mightily, and it is surely We Who have vast power, and keep expanding it. [Ali Ünal]
And it is We Who have built the Universe, and behold, We are steadily expanding it. [Shabbir Ahmed]
With Our power and prowess, We brought into being the universe. And indeed, We expand it (steadily)! [Dr. Munir Munshey]
And We built the heavenly universe with great might. And surely, We are expanding (this universe) more and more. [Dr. Mohammad Tahir-ul-Qadri]
And the heaven: We constructed it with (Our Own) hands; and surely We are indeed those Who make expansion and create vastness. [Dr. Kamal Omar]
We constructed the universe with power, and We are expanding it. [Talal A. Itani]
I (God) have created the universe myself and will continue to expand it [confirmation of the expansion theory of the universe after the Big Bang.] [Bijan Moeinian]
We constructed the sky with our hands, and we will continue to expand it. [Rashad Khalifa]
f you are still unsure about the meaning of موسعون (mūsi’ūna) and would like further information I recommend watching the following video which provides a summary of all the points I have mentioned :
Part 1:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=XRd3loZFsxMPart 2:
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_Y-U6YeceH0SummaryIn summary the Arabic word موسعون (mūsi’ūna) after exploring Classical Dictionaries and Classical Commentary's means “The Expander” or “Expanding”. It is an active participle which means that the action is continuous meaning the expansion is continuous.
And the heaven We constructed/built it with strength/power and indeed, We are surely expanding it. [Quran 51:47]
Topic: Quran- Verse 51:47 Expanding Universe & Expanding Interpretations/Translations