Multiple Heavens in Different Religious Texts

By Naseer Ahmed, New Age Islam 24 September 2024 What is found in the Quran and validated by science will be found in other religious scriptures and traditions as well because: 41:43. Nothing is said to you (Muhammad) that was not said to the apostles before you. In my article, Using ChatGPT To Confirm the Meaning of “Seven Heavens”, I have discussed the topic of multiple Heavens in the Quran and their meaning and explained why they mean galaxies. We could not see more than one “heaven” until we discovered galaxies in the early 20th century. Therefore, the people had a problem understanding what the “seven heavens” meant and invented their meanings. Let us look at how they made sense of it. 1. Ancient Mesopotamian Religion • The Mesopotamians believed in a multi-layered heaven. The sky was divided into three or more levels, with the gods occupying different heavens. For example, the highest heaven was reserved for the chief god Anu, while lower heavens were assigned to lesser deities. 2. Jewish Tradition (Kabbalah and Rabbinic Literature) • The Talmud and other Jewish mystical writings speak of "seven heavens" or layers of the sky, each with different characteristics and purposes. Kabbalah elaborates on this concept, describing these heavens as spiritual realms that influence the material world. 3. Christian Tradition • The New Testament refers to multiple heavens. For instance, in 2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul speaks of being caught up to the "third heaven," indicating that the early Christian view of heaven was multi-layered. Christian theologians like Dante Alighieri in his Divine Comedy also spoke of multiple levels of heaven. 4. Hinduism • Ancient Hindu scriptures, such as the Vedas and Puranas, describe multiple heavens and spiritual realms (e.g., Svarga, Indra's paradise). These heavens are often tied to different layers of the cosmos, distinct realms for different gods and spiritual states. 5. Buddhism • In Buddhist cosmology, there are many heavens, often grouped into layers or realms. The Tibetan Book of the Dead mentions various heavens that souls can ascend to, depending on their karma and spiritual progress. The cosmological structure often includes both heavenly and earthly realms, as well as many celestial beings. 6. Zoroastrianism • Zoroastrian texts describe multiple layers of heaven and a structured universe. There are three layers of the material world and the spiritual world, and the highest is where Ahura Mazda, the supreme deity, resides. 7. Islam • Raqi'a: The first heaven is made of water and is home to Adam and Eve, and the angels of each star. • Araqlun: The second heaven is made of white pearls and is home to Yahya (John the Baptist) and Isa (Jesus). • Qaydum: The third heaven is made of iron, pearls, or other dazzling stones and is home to Joseph and the Angel of Death (Azrael). • Maʿuna: The fourth heaven is made of brass or white gold and is home to Idris (conventionally identified with Enoch) and the "Angel of Tears". • Di'a: The fifth heaven is made of silver and is home to Aaron. • Daqua: The sixth heaven is made of gold, garnets, or rubies and is home to Moses. • ʿAriba: The seventh heaven is made of divine light, which is incomprehensible to mortals, and is home to messengers, prophets, Imams, and martyrs. Unable to make physical sense of the multiple Heavens mentioned in the revelations, the people gave it a metaphysical, symbolic or spiritual meaning. The Quranic Description It may be noted that the Quranic mention of the “seven heavens” is entirely free of any metaphysical, symbolic or spiritual meaning. By its description, the Quran makes it amply clear that it is describing the “seven heavens” in the physical sense and not using it as a metaphor. (17:44) The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving! (23:86) Say: "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens, and the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme?" (67:3) He Who created the seven heavens one above another: No want of proportion wilt thou see in the Creation of (Allah) Most Gracious. So turn thy vision again: seest thou any flaw? (4) Again turn thy vision a second time: (thy) vision will come back to thee dull and discomfited, in a state worn out. Conclusion: This is another instance of the meaning of a Mutashabihat verse becoming clear when what we learn from science converges with what the Quran and the other scriptures say. The Quran and other religious scriptures are indeed a continuing miracle. The Quran is fortunately free of human accretions, and Allah has promised to protect it from corruption. Otherwise, the meanings our scholars invented for the seven heavens may have crept into the Quran. This also confirms that all scriptures are revelations by the same God. ----- A frequent contributor to NewAgeIslam.com, Naseer Ahmed is an Engineering graduate from IIT Kanpur and is an independent IT consultant after having served in both the Public and Private sector in responsible positions for over three decades. He has spent years studying Quran in-depth and made seminal contributions to its interpretation. 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