Collection: Shape of The Universe

Modern Scientific Discovery:

The current understanding in cosmology suggests that the observable universe is roughly spherical in shape. Scientists describe the universe as an expanding sphere, with all galaxies moving outward from a central point, aligning with the Big Bang theory.

🔬 Key Scientific Facts:

• The observable universe is measured in terms of its diameter, which is a characteristic property of a sphere or circle.
• Space-time, as described in Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity, is often curved, suggesting a non-flat, spherical-like structure of the cosmos.
• This understanding was only confirmed through astrophysical studies and telescopic observations in recent centuries.

Qur’ānic Revelation:

يَـٰمَعْشَرَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ إِنِ ٱسْتَطَعْتُمْ أَن تَنفُذُوا۟ مِنْ أَقْطَارِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ فَٱنفُذُوا۟ ۚ لَا تَنفُذُونَ إِلَّا بِسُلْطَـٰنٍۢ

English Translation:

"O assembly of jinn and men! If you have power to pass beyond the regions of the Heavens and the Earth, then pass beyond [them]. But you shall never be able to pass them, except with extraordinary power."
📖 (Qur’ān 55:33)

Scientific Explanation:

The Qur’ān refers to the "regions" of the heavens and the Earth using the Arabic word أَقْطَارِ (Aktar), which means diameters.

Why is this significant?

• Diameter is a property of circles and spheres—implying that both the Earth and the heavens (observable universe) possess a spherical nature.
• The Qur’ān does not use words like "edges" or "corners" to describe the universe but instead uses diameters, which are only relevant to curved or spherical objects.
• This aligns with modern cosmology, which describes the observable universe as an expanding sphere with measurable diameters in all directions.

At the time of revelation, no one knew the true shape of the universe. Many ancient civilizations believed in a flat Earth or a dome-shaped sky, yet the Qur’ān describes the cosmos in a way that aligns with modern astrophysical understanding.

Conclusion:

The mention of "diameters" (أَقْطَارِ) in the Qur’ān is a precise scientific description of the spherical nature of the universe, which modern astrophysics has only recently confirmed. This verse is yet another remarkable example of divine knowledge in the Qur’ān, revealed long before science could verify it.