In Surah Al-Anbiya (The Prophets, 21:32), the Quran declares: "And We made the sky a protected ceiling. And yet, from its signs, they are turning away."
The Arabic term saqfan mahfudhan (سقفا محفوظا) literally means "a protected ceiling" or "a preserved roof." The Quran describes the sky as a roof that protects the Earth.
The historical context
In the 7th century, the sky was perceived as a simple vault above the Earth. No one knew that the Earth's atmosphere acted as a protective shield against cosmic radiation and meteorites.
The scientific confirmation
Modern science has revealed that the Earth's atmosphere acts as a true protective roof:
- Protection against radiation: The Earth's atmosphere, particularly the ozone layer, filters harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. Without this protection, life on Earth would be impossible.
- Protection against meteorites: The vast majority of meteorites that enter the Earth's atmosphere burn up before reaching the ground, due to friction with the air. The atmosphere acts as a shield that protects the Earth's surface.
- Protection against solar particles: The Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere protect the Earth from charged particles of the solar wind, which could otherwise destroy life.
- Temperature regulation: The atmosphere acts as a blanket that retains heat (natural greenhouse effect) and maintains an average temperature of about 15°C, conducive to life.
- Protection against cosmic radiation: The atmosphere absorbs a large part of cosmic radiation coming from space.
The Quranic verse thus describes the sky as a "protected ceiling," a description that corresponds exactly to the protective role of the Earth's atmosphere.