blackdoggy,
You have repeatedly questioned the translation of the word 'samawat'. The most common translation of the word samawat is 'heavens'. In arabic quite often words can have different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. For example even in the English language the word 'heavens' can refer to the sky (the heavens open and it rains) or astronomers sometimes use the same word word to refer to the cosmos. 'Samawat' is quite similar - quite often it is used to refer to the sky but it can also be used to refer to the cosmos. Indeed in his scientific miracles video (see point 10), even Hassan argues for it referring the cosmos in the following verse:
''We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars''
37:6
Indeed the Quran talks about the sun, moon and stars all being located in the samawat/heavens. It was common knowledge even at that time that the sun, moon and stars were all located in the cosmos and not the sky - indeed a few people have even argued that Muhammad was plagiarising the precorpernican model (an accustaion I showed to be false in my blog).
Therefore the use of cosmos for samawat is not very disputable. Of course in the days of the Prophet it was not known how vast the cosmos actually was, but this does not mean that the word samawat/heavens can not mean 'universe'.
Finally, verses that refer to lights and lamps etc. in the heavens being 'guards' for evils spririts and devils may well be metaphorical since they are referring to supernatural beings.
love, groovy light and all that Tailor stuff
Abu Yunus
Abu Yunus out of respect to you I will respond in more detail when I have read your entire blog along with comments. So far I read the first page and all the comments. I loved the debate between you and S?ren Svendsen. I can't say when I have time to read all of your blog, I am currently reading Mohammed's bio at this site
http://ali-dashti-23-years.tripod.com/. Along with books on the historicity of Jesus and Coyne's book "Why Evolution is True", a title that must make you cringe
There is a huge problem when interpreting the Quran. Arabic was not a very developed language before the Quran. And not a very wide-spread language either. Until the Quran came I don't think there was any scholary work done on the Arabic language itself. Grammer and syntax seem have been formed after it. That means there are a variety of ways to interpret words.
As far as I know sama means sky. Samawat mean heavens. Before I would agree and say heavens = Universe. Even though heavens is in plural. To translate it correctly, should it not be universes? Wal saaba sawamat wal arz. And the 7 universes and the earth.
This debate will be extremely frustrating because we will be micro-arguing for ages, around the subjectivity of an interpretation of a word. I honestly want to find the truth. I always have. And I find it frustrating that it is not really that clear, unless you take it on faith. But the Quran, along with Prophets and divine religions, does not make much sense with rationale.
Meanwhile I have to worry about burning in eternal hell, because a part of me disagrees that sawamat means Universe. It means heavens. It means skies. I don't see how any of this is related to the model of the Universe we have today. I can of course, on faith. I can make myself believe and make myself understand in the manner which makes the Quran true. I don't feel this is an honest approach though. And I find it disrespectful to interpret words in a manner which I disagree with because I am afraid. Especially when Allah describes himself as the Most Merciful.
I also asked whether you could recommend books on Evolution and you said you hadn't read any books on the subject and they are biased. You also said the same about books espousing Creationism. I ask you, what am I to do? I am not a scientist, it is far too late for me to start anew and enroll in University for a biology degree. How am I supposed to learn about the World? The Universe? Am I to take it on faith that creatures just sprang into existence? That man was made from earth? That the earth was formed along with all the oceans, the atmosphere, the physical laws, mountains, landscapes etc just like that? God created them, end of story. I find that explanation very unenlightening. And it was a mode of thought I accepted before, because I had no choice.
I ask you again, how am I to learn about the world? I ask you out of sincerity, I need to learn and know how we came about. Religious people will tell me to have faith in religion. Being raised muslim, I will be asked to believe in the Quran, and the Prophet. Being raised Shia, I will be asked to believe in the Imams, and modern-day scholars. All of my questions, the way I live my life, my entire existence need to conform to Islam. Everything from science, to how I live, to how I dress, to art and culture, to how I treat others, all of it needs to conform to one book, one man (and men) that lived 1400 years ago. And the interpretations of these men from men that live today. And I am asked to raise my children, in similar manner, and their children.
Topic: Stories of the Qur'an - Solomon