Meaning of a well-guarded canopy Metioned in Quran

Sky A Well-guarded Canopy REPLY

This is what the author of wikislam.net says:

"This seems to relate to the verses about devils chased by lamps (meteors) in the lowest heaven (see above). Somewhat ironically, the things supposedly doing the guarding (meteors) can actually pose a threat to living things on Earth.

Asteroids and meteorites have penetrated the atmosphere and hit the earth throughout the course of history. This includes the massive meteorite that hit near the Yucatán Peninsula 65 million years which killed off numerous species including most dinosaurs. There is no guardian, whatsoever, that prevents these types of events from happening.

And We mad the heavens as a canopy well guarded yet ye do turn away from the signs which these things (point to)   Qur'an 21:32 "

REPLY

"We made Sky a stable and strong roof,yet ye do turn away from the signs which these things (point to)."

 First of all let us make it clear that the word Sama is  used in the above quoted verse which is singular thus it does not refers to the seven skies mentioned at seven places in Quran such as 2:29,41:11-12 etc.The word Sama is used by several meanings in Holy Quran. Some examples are as follow : 

1. Some times the word Sama in Holy Quran refers to the place just high above the Earth surface as in Chapter no.14 verse 24:

"Have you not considered how Allah presents an example,making a good word like a good tree,whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky."

2.Sometimes this word refers to the place high above from the surface of Earth where skies are present as in Chapter no.50 verse no. 9:

"And we send down  from the sky  the blessed rain."

3. At seven places in Holy Quran the plural of this word is used to mention seven skies (which we have discussed in a previous post on this blog) such as Chapter no.2 verse no. 29:

"He it is who created for you all that is in the Earth, and He directed Himself to the Heaven,and so He made them complete seven Heavens and He knows all things."

(As discussed in Tafseer e Namoona vol.1 page 149-150)

As the word Sama is used singular in the verse quoted by author of wikiislam.net so it means that it does not refer to seven heavens and thus it describes some other type of canopy above the Earth. Moreover this verse contains the word SAQAF meaning roof which is not compatible with lamps in the lowest heaven that is thought by the author of wikiislam.net because roof is protection for those who reside under it.How can meteors and asteroids compatible with it? we do not reside under a roof of meteors or asteroids.

From the modern knowledge of nature we come to know about an other roof under which we reside it is the roof of gases around the Earth also known as atmospheric layers which are:

1. Troposphere

2. Stratosphere

3. Ozone

4. Mesosphere 

5. Thermosphere

6. Ionosphere

7. Exosphere

Among them 1,2,4,5,7 are considered major layers.These layers protect Earth from several things.It is evident from scientific writings.The functions of these layers are:

1. All weathers occur in troposphere. Thus if this layer have not been present than life could not be      possible thus it protects life by providing weathers.Moreover most of Oxygen occurs in this region which is responsible for the life f Aerobic organisms.
2. Stratosphere provides clear weather for jets to fly thus protects several passengers.
3. Ozone layer absorbs UltraVoilet Radiations and thus protects life from hazardous radiations of         sun.Moreover it provides "Green House Effect" which is responsible for maintaining comfortable temperature on Earth.
4. Mesosphere burns up million of meteors striking the Earth and thus protects Earth from these meteors. The answer to the objection of the author of wikiislam.net about historical records of meteors fallen on the Earth is that Allah can do everything. If He made the sky a protected ceiling then He can also fall stones from the sky as described in the Quran Chapter no.8 verse.32 onward. etc. It does not mean that there is no protection.
5. Satellites occur in thermosphere.
6. Ionosphere makes the radio-communication possible.
7. Exosphere absorbs harmful radiations from the sun protecting layers underneath.

Above discussion makes clear the meaning of sky in the quoted verse and also discusses their protection.Honestly speaking,it is the miracle of Quran that it describes sky as a protected covering.

A Point To Note;

There we quote several translations of this verse:

Sahih International: And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.

Pickthall: And we have made the sky a roof withheld (from them). Yet they turn away from its portents.

Yusuf Ali: And We have made the heavens as a canopy well guarded: yet do they turn away from the Signs which these things (point to)!

Shakir: And We have made the heaven a guarded canopy and (yet) they turn aside from its signs.

Muhammad Sarwar: We made the sky above them as a well-guarded ceiling, but they have neglected the evidence (of Our existence) therein.

Mohsin Khan: And We have made the heaven a roof, safe and well guarded. Yet they turn away from its signs (i.e. sun, moon, winds, clouds, etc.).

Arberry: and We set up the heaven as a roof well-protected; yet still from Our signs they are turning away.

All except Yusuf Ali translated singular.But the author of wikislam.net quoted Yusuf Ali.It shows his only problem to prove Quran wrong by hook or by crook.

(If anyone have any Question then please comment.)