“And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, then caused it to settle in the earth; and surely We are able to take it away.” (18)

“And We have certainly created above you seven layered heavens”: that is, seven heavens. They are called layered heavens because they are superimposed upon one another—that is, some of them are above others. One says, “I layered the sandal,” when one places part of it over another. It is also said that they are called paths because they are the pathways of the angels.

“And We have never been unaware of creation”: that is, We have protected them from the sky falling upon them and destroying them, as Allah Most High says: “He holds the sky back from falling upon the earth, except by His permission.” (al-Hajj 22:65)

It is also said: We did not leave them neglected, without commands and prohibitions.

And it is said: “And We have never been unaware of creation” means that We built above them a heaven in which We caused the sun, the moon, and the stars to appear.

“And We sent down water from the sky in due measure”: a measure known to Allah. Muqatil said: “In an amount sufficient for their livelihood.” “Then caused it to settle in the earth”: referring to what remains in ponds and marshes, from which people benefit in the summer when the rain ceases. It is also said: We caused it to settle in the earth, then brought forth springs from it; thus, all the water of the earth comes from the sky. “And surely We are able to take it away”: so that you perish from thirst, your livestock perish, and your lands are laid waste. 31/

It is related that: “Allah sent down four rivers from Paradise: Sayhan, Jayhan, the Tigris, and the Euphrates.” (1)

Muqatil ibn Hayyan narrated from Ikrimah, from Ibn Abbas, from the Prophet, that he said: “Allah sent down from Paradise five rivers: Jayhun, Sayhun, the Tigris, the Euphrates, and the Nile. Allah sent them down from a single spring among the springs of Paradise, from the lowest level of its levels, upon Gabriel’s wings. Allah entrusted them to the mountains, caused them to flow through the earth, and placed benefits for people in them. This is the meaning of His saying: ‘And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, then caused it to settle in the earth.’ When Gog and Magog are about to emerge, Allah will send Gabriel, and he will raise from the earth the Quran, all knowledge, the Black Stone from the corner of the House, the Station of Abraham, the Ark of Moses with what it contains, and these five rivers. He will raise all of that to the sky. This is the meaning of His saying: ‘And surely We are able to take it away.’ When these things are raised from the earth, its people will have lost the good of both religion and worldly life.” (2)

Imam al-Hasan ibn Yusuf also narrated this hadith from Uthman ibn Said, through an ijazah (authorization), from Said ibn Sabiq al-Iskandarani, from Muslimah ibn Ali, from Muqatil ibn Hayyan. (3)