Iyās ibn Mu‘āwiya said:

“The sky is like a dome over the earth.”

The celestial sphere is known to be rounded in this way. However, the word “dome” necessarily implies roundness from above, but does not necessarily imply roundness on all sides unless this is established by separate evidence. The word falak (celestial sphere), by contrast, denotes roundness without qualification, as in His words, Most High:

“It is He who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon; each floats in an orbit.”

And His words, Most High:

“It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day; each floats in an orbit.”

This implies that they are in a sphere that is round without qualification, as Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said: “In a circle like a spindle’s whorl.” As for the word “dome,” it neither affirms nor denies this meaning. Rather, it indicates roundness from above, like a dome set upon the earth.

Some have said that the celestial spheres are distinct from the heavens. Others, however, have refuted this view on the grounds that Allah Most High says:

“Have you not seen how Allah created seven heavens, one above another,”

“and placed the moon among them as a light and made the sun a lamp?”

He thus states that He placed the moon within them, while also stating that it is within the celestial sphere. This is not the place to discuss this matter at length, examine it thoroughly, or explain that what has been correctly established by calculation does not contradict what revelation has brought, and that sound knowledge derived from revelation does not contradict sound rational conclusions. We have discussed this and similar matters at length elsewhere. For this is needed