Revelation, Rationality, Knowledge & Truth — Page 341
THE QURAN AND EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَوَاتِ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ 65:13. Allah is He Who created seven heavens, and of the earth the like thereof. . . '. It needs to be explained here that the figure 'seven' can be treated as a specific term of the Quran in this verse and many other similar ones. As such it would mean that the universe comprises many units of heavens, each divided into groups of seven (a perfect number), each having at least one earth to it which will be supported by the entire system of that heaven (galaxy). Referring to that system in general, a more specific verse on the existence of extraterrestrial life runs life as follows: وَمِنْ أَيْتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَوتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَمَا بَتْ فِيْهِمَا مِنْ دَابَةٍ 42:30. And among His Signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and of whatever living creatures (da'bbah) He has spread forth in both. . . 2. Da'bbah covers all animals which creep or move along the surface of the earth. It does not apply to animals which fly or swim. It is certainly not applicable to any form of spiritual life. In Arabic a ghost will never be referred to as da'bbah, nor an angel for that matter. The second part of the same verse speaks not only of the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but it categorically declares that it does exist a claim which even the most modern scientific researchers have not been able to make so far with any measure of certainty. Yet, this is not all that this verse reveals. Wonder upon wonder is added when we read at the end of this verse, that He (Allah) will bring together the life 330