Does the Quran say the universe is expanding?

The short answer

Surah adh-Dhariyat says: "And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander." The Arabic *musi'un* can mean "making vast" or "expanding". Commentators have explained it as Allah making the sky vast or widening its regions, and also as Allah expanding provision. The wording is consistent with an expanding universe, but the verse's main point is Allah's power.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6

Explanation

The key verse is 51:47: "And the heaven We constructed with strength (bi-aydin), and indeed, We are [its] expander (la-musi'un)" 1. The word musi' comes from wus' (width, vastness) and means one who makes something wide, or one who possesses great capacity.

How did the scholars of tafsir understand it?

  • Ibn Kathir explains it as: We made the heaven vast and raised its roof high without pillars 2.
  • Al-Mukhtasar says: "I am expanding its edges", and also expanding provision for My servants 3.
  • As-Sa'di likewise says Allah expands its regions and expands provision for His servants 4.

So a meaning of widening the heaven is found in the tafsir literature, alongside the meanings of vastness and abundant provision. It is fair to say the wording fits the modern observation that the universe is expanding. The classical scholars did not know of that discovery, so they did not read the verse as a statement about cosmology. It is not fair to claim they described modern cosmology, or that this verse alone "proves" a scientific theory. (The site's Science Showcase examines such claims separately and carefully.)

Notice the context: the next verses say Allah spread out the earth, "and excellent is the preparer", and created all things in pairs "perhaps you will remember" 5. The purpose is remembrance.

The same Lord who widens the heaven will one day fold it "like the folding of a [written] sheet" and repeat creation as He began it 6. Whether the heaven is being expanded or folded, it is entirely in His hand.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Quran Adh-Dhaariyat · 51:47

    Allah built the heaven with strength and is its expander (musi'un).

    وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدࣲ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ ۝٤٧

    And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander

  2. 2
    Tafsir Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 51:47

    With Hands We constructed the heaven. Verily, We are able to expand the vastness of space thereof (47)And We have made the earth a Firash; how excellent spreader (thereof) are We (48)And of everything We have created pairs, that you may remember (49)So, flee to Allah. Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him (50)And set not up any other god along with Allah. Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him (51) Proofs of Allah's Oneness abound in the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth Allah reminds us of the creating of the higher and lower worlds, وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا (We constructed the heaven.) meaning, 'We made it as a high roof, protected from falling,' بِأَيْدٍ (with Hands), meaning, with strength, according to 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ath-Thawri and several others, وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ (Verily, We are able to extend the vastness of space thereof.) means, 'We made it vast and We brought its roof higher without pillars to support it, and thus it is hanging independently.' وَالْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَاهَا (And We have made the earth a Firash), meaning, 'We have made it a resting place for the created,' فَنِعْمَ الْمَاهِدُونَ (how excellent a spreader (thereof) are We!), meaning, 'We spread it for its inhabitants,' وَمِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَا زَوْجَيْنِ (And of everything We have created pairs,) meaning, all the created are in pairs, the heaven and earth, night and day, sun and moon, land and sea, light and darkness, faith and disbelief, death and life, misery and happiness, Paradise and Fire, in addition to the animals and plants. The statement of Allah the Exalted, لَعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ (that you may remember.) and know that the Creator, Allah, is One without partners, فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ (So, flee to Allah.) meaning, seek shelter with Him and trust in Him in all of your affairs, إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ - وَلَا تَجْعَلُوا مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَٰهًا آخَرَ ۖ (Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him. And set not up any other god along with Allah.) do not associate any partners with Him, إِنِّي لَكُمْ مِنْهُ نَذِيرٌ مُبِينٌ (Verily, I am a plain warner to you from Him.)

  3. 3
    Tafsir Al-Mukhtasar fi Tafsir al-Quran · 51:47

    And the sky I made and perfected its making with strength, and I am expanding its edges and expanding for My servants by increasing provision.

  4. 4
    Tafsir Tafsir as-Sa'di · 51:47

    يقول تعالى مبينًا لقدرته العظيمة: {وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا} أي: خلقناها وأتقناها، وجعلناها سقفًا للأرض وما عليها. {بِأَيْدٍ} أي: بقوة وقدرة عظيمة {وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ} لأرجائها وأنحائها، وإنا لموسعون [أيضا] على عبادنا، بالرزق الذي ما ترك الله دابة في مهامه القفار، ولجج البحار، وأقطار العالم العلوي والسفلي، إلا وأوصل إليها من الرزق، ما يكفيها، وساق إليها من الإحسان ما يغنيها. فسبحان من عم بجوده جميع المخلوقات، وتبارك الذي وسعت رحمته جميع البريات.

  5. 5
    Quran Adh-Dhaariyat · 51:48–49

    The earth spread out, and all things created in pairs, so that you may remember.

    وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَرَشۡنَٰهَا فَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡمَٰهِدُونَ ۝٤٨ وَمِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَا زَوۡجَيۡنِ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَذَكَّرُونَ ۝٤٩

    48 And the earth We have spread out, and excellent is the preparer 49 And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember

  6. 6
    Quran Al-Anbiyaa · 21:104

    Allah will fold the heaven like a written scroll and repeat creation.

    يَوۡمَ نَطۡوِي ٱلسَّمَآءَ كَطَيِّ ٱلسِّجِلِّ لِلۡكُتُبِۚ كَمَا بَدَأۡنَآ أَوَّلَ خَلۡقࣲ نُّعِيدُهُۥۚ وَعۡدًا عَلَيۡنَآۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ ۝١٠٤

    The Day when We will fold the heaven like the folding of a [written] sheet for the records. As We began the first creation, We will repeat it. [That is] a promise binding upon Us. Indeed, We will do it

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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