The Second Principle

According to science, reason, and even observation, it is established that there exists a substance which fills space and serves as the medium for laws such as attraction and repulsion among the heavenly bodies, and as the carrier and transmitter of forces such as light, heat, and electricity.

The Third Principle

Although this substance preserves its nature as ether, it has been established experimentally that, like other forms of matter, it assumes different forms and states.

Just as vapour, water, and ice—which are respectively gaseous, liquid, and solid—are in essence one and the same substance, so too there is no rational obstacle, nor any ground for objection, to the existence of seven different layers or levels within this etheric substance.

The Fourth Principle

When one looks attentively at the heavenly bodies, it becomes clear that there is a difference among the layers of those exalted worlds. For example, the layer in which the great cloud-like ring known as Nahr as-Samā and Kahkashān, and called the Milky Way, is found certainly does not resemble the layer of the fixed stars.

It is as though the layer of the fixed stars has reached maturity and completion, like summer fruits that have attained their full ripeness; while the countless stars that appear in the Milky Way in nebular form are constantly appearing anew and reaching maturity.

It is also understood, through a sound intuition, that the layer of the fixed stars differs from the layer of the solar system. Thus, through observation and intuition, it is understood that the seven systems and the seven layers are each distinct from one another.

The Fifth Principle

Through intuition, observation, induction, and experiment, it is established that whenever a formation occurs within a substance and different things emerge from it, they necessarily appear in different layers and forms.

For example, when formation begins in a diamond mine, ash, coal, and diamond emerge from the same substance. Likewise, when fire forms, it divides into different layers such as flame, smoke, and glowing embers. And when hydrogen and oxygen are brought together, layers such as water, ice, and vapour arise from this combination.

From this it is understood that when formation occurs within a single substance, it necessarily divides into different layers. Since the power of the Creator initiated a process of formation within the etheric substance, He undoubtedly created from it the seven kinds of heavens, in accordance with the mystery of the verse:

فَسَوّٰيهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمٰوَاتٍAnd He formed them into seven heavens. — The Qur’an 2:29