In Surah Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty, 67:3-4), the Quran declares: "[He] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? Then return your vision twice again. Your vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued."
The Arabic term futur (فطور) means "fissure," "flaw," or "imperfection." The verse invites the observer to scrutinize the sky in search of any imperfection, and affirms that none will be found.
The historical context
In the 7th century, the vision of the cosmos was that of a limited and imperfect universe, where celestial phenomena (eclipses, comets, meteors) were often interpreted as signs of disorder or divine anger. The Quranic affirmation of a perfect sky, without flaw, was an invitation to scientific observation.
The scientific confirmation
Modern cosmology has revealed a universe of remarkable harmony and precision:
- The physical constants: The fundamental constants of the universe (gravitational constant, electron charge, Planck constant, etc.) are adjusted with extraordinary precision. If any one of them varied even slightly, the universe as we know it would not exist. This phenomenon is called the "anthropic principle."
- The cosmic microwave background: Precise measurements of the cosmic microwave background (fossil radiation of the Big Bang) show temperature fluctuations of the order of 1/100,000, revealing a universe of remarkable homogeneity and isotropy.
- Universal physical laws: The same physical laws apply everywhere in the observable universe, from the smallest particles to the largest cosmic structures.
Physicist Paul Davies has emphasized that the universe seems "tuned" with extraordinary precision to allow the existence of life. This "fine-tuning" of the universe is one of the great mysteries of modern cosmology.
The invitation to observation
Verse 67:4 invites us to "return the vision twice again," an exhortation to repeated and methodical observation. This approach corresponds to the modern scientific method: observe, verify, and re-verify before concluding.
Professor of cosmology at the University of Cambridge, Martin Rees, has written that the universe presents "six numbers" (fundamental constants) whose values seem finely tuned to allow the emergence of life and consciousness.