Are There Fourteen Layers of the Heavens and the Earth Combined? – A Detailed Legal Review
Question:
Do the heavens and the earth really have fourteen layers in total? The Holy Quran explicitly mentions only seven heavens, but there is no direct mention of seven layers of the earth. Then why is it claimed that the earth also has seven layers, and that together the heavens and the earth make up fourteen layers?
Answer:
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
In the Light of the Holy Quran
Allah the Exalted said:
﴿اللَّـهُ الَّذى خَلَقَ سَبعَ سَماواتٍ وَمِنَ الأَرضِ مِثلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الأَمرُ بَينَهُنَّ لِتَعلَموا أَنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلىٰ كُلِّ شَىءٍ قَديرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّـهَ قَد أَحاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىءٍ عِلمًا ﴿١٢﴾
Translation:
Allah is the One who created seven heavens and of the earth the like of them. The command descends among them so that you may know that Allah is over all things competent and that Allah has encompassed all things in knowledge.
This verse clearly states that the earth also has seven levels or layers, like the heavens.
In the Light of the Tafsir of Ibn Abbas
In the commentary on this Quranic statement, Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“ائ سبع ارضین”
Support from the Blessed Hadiths
The seven layers of the earth are also clearly mentioned in numerous hadiths:
1. The hadith on the warning against oppression:
“من ظلم قيد شبر من الأر ض طوقه سبع أرضين”
In another narration in Bukhari there is further clarification:
“خسف به إلى سبع أرضين”
2. The relationship of the heavens and the earth to the Kursi:
“ما السموات السبع وما فيهن وما بينهن، والأرضون السبعون وما فيهن وما بينهن في الكرسي إلا كحلقة ملقاة بأرض فلاة”
3. Mention in supplication:
“اللهم رب السموات السبع وما أظللن ورب الأرضين السبع وما أقللن”
All these hadiths make clear that the earth also has seven layers, just as the heavens have seven levels.
Clarification on the Nature of the Layers of the Earth
It is worth considering that knowledge of the reality of these seven layers of the earth, their condition, and the presence of any creation within them belongs to Allah the Exalted alone.
Statement of al-Khafaji:
“الذي نعتقد أن الأرض سبع، ولها سكان من خلقه يعلمهم الله تعالى”
Allama Siddiq Hasan Khan Qanuji (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
“This is the most moderate and cautious view. It is sufficient that we believe in seven heavens and seven earths, as occurs in the Holy Quran and the blessed hadiths. It is not appropriate to get entangled in the reality behind them, because this is a special knowledge of Allah which no one can encompass. Allah the Exalted has not made us responsible for debating such matters or reflecting upon them.”
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
