The Lower Heavens

What is meant by the lower heavens that are mentioned in the holy Koran?

If we contemplate the galaxies of the universe, we will realize that such galaxies consist of billions of stars and such stars adorn the sky and heavens. It could be said, therefore, that all the stars and galaxies that we see around us are within the boundaries of the lower heavens because Allah, the Exalted, says in the holy Koran (meaning), “So He completed them as seven firmaments in two days, and He assigned to each heaven its duty and command. And We adorned the lower heaven with lights, and (provided it) with a guard. Such is the decree of (Him) the Exalted in Might, Full of Knowledge.” (Sura Fussilat, ayah 12).

Lights in the above ayah means stars and we know that stars are outside the solar group and that the closest star to us in planet earth is 4.3 light years away, i.e. all the stars we see adorn the first or lower heavens. As for the other heavens, only Allah, the Omniscient, knows their boundaries.

BY ABDULDAEM AL-KAHEEL