Surah Mulk Verse 3 — Ayat 3

Arabic Text

ٱلَّذِی خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَ ٰتࣲ طِبَاقࣰاۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِی خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتࣲۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورࣲ

Transliteration

Allazee khalaqa sab'a samaawaatin tibaaqam maa taraa fee khalqir rahmaani min tafaawutin farji'il basara hal taraa min futoor

English Translation

[And] 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?

English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)

Word-by-Word

• ٱلَّذِى alladhī The One Who
• خَلَقَ khalaqa created
• سَبْعَ sabʿa seven
• سَمَـٰوَٰتٍۢ samāwātin heavens
• طِبَاقًۭا ۖ ṭibāqan one above another
• مَّا mā Not
• تَرَىٰ tarā you see
• فِى fī in
• خَلْقِ khalqi (the) creation
• ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ l-raḥmāni (of) the Most Gracious
• مِن min any
• تَفَـٰوُتٍۢ ۖ tafāwutin fault
• فَٱرْجِعِ fa-ir'jiʿi So return
• ٱلْبَصَرَ l-baṣara the vision
• هَلْ hal can
• تَرَىٰ tarā you see
• مِن min any
• فُطُورٍۢ fuṭūrin flaw

Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).

Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 3)

The argument turns to the visible cosmos: seven samawat in layered order without tafawut—cracks or mismatch—in the creation of al-Rahman. Classical exegetes invite empirical looking: farji' al-basar, return your gaze to the sky, as an act of worshipful investigation, not idle staring.

Meccan denial often rested on treating heavens as chaotic or unattended. The Quran frames them as stacked tibaqan with deliberate design. Scholars note that repeated command to look ties human curiosity to theological conclusion: inconsistency would imply a creator limited or competing; none is seen.

This pair of verses (3–4) forms a rhetorical unit: first challenge to find futur (breaks), then promise that vision will return khasi'an wa hasiran—humbled and weary—if one tries repeatedly to spot flaw.

Key Arabic Words

• خَلَقَ created This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• تَرَىٰ you see This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
• طِبَاقࣰاۖ Word in this ayah Taken from the Uthmani wording of this ayah on this page.
• ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ Word in this ayah Taken from the Uthmani wording of this ayah on this page.

Classical Tafsir (Verified Summary)

Reflection on Creation

Modern telescopes reveal nebulae and orbital mechanics; the ayah does not require rejecting those findings. It asks whether attentive looking reveals disorder or sustained order. That question remains philosophical and spiritual even when equations describe gravity. Study ayah 3 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “[And] 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?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of seven heavens without flaw in the Merciful's creation. Read ayah 2 and ayah 4 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 3 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “[And] 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?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of seven heavens without flaw in the Merciful's creation. Read ayah 2 and ayah 4 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans.

Family & Bedtime Practice

Step outside briefly if safe; count stars or notice the moon. Wonder aloud who keeps them moving, then read the ayah. Children remember linked outdoor moments longer than abstract talk. Match ayah 3 to one blessing from today that fits the theme (seven heavens without flaw in the Mercif…).

For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.

Short Tafsir Note

Seven heavens stacked without flaw demonstrate divine precision. Scholars invite repeated reflection — look again and you will find no rifts in creation.

Read full multi-scholar tafsir →

Key Lessons

• Creation bears witness to the Creator
• Scientific observation can strengthen iman
• Repeat reflection deepens certainty

Listen to This Verse

Mishary Rashid Alafasy