And when He informed them that they said without reflection, He rebuked them for that, indicating the correctness of what they denied and the invalidity of their denial by His saying, causing them to rush to falsehood: "Do they not look" meaning: with the eye of sight and insight "to the heaven" meaning: that which surrounds them and the earth on which they are. And when this term is applied to everything that is above, such as roofs and clouds and others, even though it is apparent in the roof of the celestial body, He confirmed it by His saying: "above them". For others are only above some of them, not above all. And when its matter is astonishing, it is worthy of being asked about its nature, which He indicated with the interrogative tool, saying: "How have We built it" meaning: We have brought it into existence with the glory and might that We possess, constructed like a tent, except that it is without pillars. "And We have adorned it" meaning: with what is in it of the small and large stars, both moving and stationary. "And what" meaning: while it is that "it has" and He affirmed the negation with His saying: "no openings" meaning: gaps, doors, and cracks. Rather, it is smooth, with tightly connected parts. If this adornment is from beneath it, then that which has caused this perfection that they witness with its benefits and the covering that does not falter over time, is from the power whereby nothing can incapacitate Him. And if the adornment is from above it, then likewise, and if some of it is from above and some of it is from below, the matter is great. And this indicates that the heaven is a hollow sphere, domed like an egg; for the negation of openings in it in this confirmed manner indicates that clearly. And He singled out the heaven and did not make it plural; because its construction, as mentioned, even if it is one, indicates the completeness of power. For a hollow construction cannot be completed by its builder without having openings. If that were to falter, the point of connection would be apparent to those who see it with what is in it of gaps, cracks, and deficiencies, and it would not be possible to exit from it. If it were inside, he could not preserve its outside, and if it were outside, he could not preserve its inside. And this universe is preserved from its outside and inside. Thus, it is known that its Maker is exalted above being described by what minds encompass, whether it is within knowledge or outside it, or connected to it or separated from it, or in need of a deity in the creation or in need of a supporter or helper in preservation. And He gathered the term for openings to indicate the intention of the kind with the heaven after what was indicated by the singularity of its term. So the gathering with the intention of the kind indicates distribution, with the understanding that if the builder needed in this vast creation with distant corners a single opening, he would need many openings.

For this great body is not sufficient with only one opening for one who needs movement. So, the words of the All-Knowing, the All-Aware were revealed regarding such meanings. It should not be assumed that a craft changed it only for the sake of the separation; for that would only be from one in need, and Allah is exalted above that. It is permissible - and it is better - that the openings refer to the capacity for growth, so that they are like the earth, through which waters flow, and the roots of trees and plants extend and emerge from it. And it may be intended by them the gaps, as His saying, exalted is He: "You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency; so return your gaze, do you see any fissure?" [Al-Mulk: 3], meaning gaps, differences, and corruption, and this does not negate the doors and ascents. And Allah knows best.