Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Al-Mulk 67:3

Surah Al-Mulk 67:3

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ﱘ ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ ﱞ ﱟ ﱠ ﱡ ﱢ ﱣ ﱤ ﱥ ﱦ ﱧ ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ

[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?

الذي خلق سبع سماوات طباقا

Who has created the seven heavens one above the other; meaning stacked one on top of the other. Are they connected to each other, meaning that they are in elevated ascension, - some of them being stacked above others, - or separated with space between them There are two views concerning this, and the most correct opinion seems to be the latter as is proven in the Hadith of Isra' (the Prophet's Night Journey) and other narrations. Concerning Allah's statement,

ما ترى في خلق الرحمن من تفاوت

you can see no fault in the creation of the Most Gracious. means, it (the creation) is done in a flawless manner, and these are connected with each other so as to forms a straight level, having no disunion, conflict, inconsistency, deficiency, flaw or defect. This is the reason that Allah says,

فارجع البصر هل ترى من فطور

Then look again. Can you see any rifts. meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or rifts in it? Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said, "it means cracks". As-Suddi said that,

هل ترى من فطور

(Can you see any rifts) means any tears. Qatadah said,

هل ترى من فطور

(Can you see any rifts) means, `do you see any defects O Son of Adam (mankind)' In reference to Allah's statement,

Tafsir of Al-Mulk 67:3

Tafsir Ibn Kathir