Revised Understanding of Quranic Verse (51:47)
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The verse in Surah Adh-Dhariyat (51:47), which states: “And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander (لَمُوسِعُونَ)”, can be understood to refer to God's expansion of sustenance and blessings, rather than the physical expansion of the heavens. This interpretation aligns with other verses that emphasize the provision of sustenance from the sky, such as: “And He sends down for you from the sky provision (رزق)” (Surah Ghafir: 13). Thus, the meaning here is that God expands the provisions and blessings from the heavens.
In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:236), the word "الموسِع" means the one who has ample resources or wealth. Both instances reflect the idea of abundance and expansion of sustenance that God bestows upon His creation.
Additionally, the Quran uses the verb "مدد" (to extend or spread out) when referring to physical expansion, such as in the verse “And the earth—We have spread it out (مَدَدْنَاهَا)” (Surah Al-Hijr: 19). This indicates that if the Quran intended to speak about the physical expansion of the heavens, the verb “مدد” would have been more appropriate.
Therefore, based on this understanding, the verse in Surah Adh-Dhariyat refers to the expansion of sustenance, not the expansion of the universe.