After reminding the gifts of life and pointing at resurrection and Dooms Day, other extensive and various bounties of HIS, is brought into minds saying:

      ``It is He who created for you all that is in the earth.'' This verse explains the wonderful destiny of MAN, who is created to be Allah's VICEGERENT on earth - a position that is higher than that of the angels,

because all that is created on the earth and also in the skies are said in the BOOK, to have been created for the MAN! The incredibly extensive depths of space above and around man which is only a small part of God's plan: ``HE proceeded then to the sky, and fashioned them into seven firmaments''

      The Arabic word ESTVÄ (TRANSLATED: HE PROCEEDED) means to have dominance and sovereignty over something.

THE SEVEN SKIES

      As for the question that what is meant here by the NUMBER(7)? We think that the exact SEVEN in number is intended, and it can be proved from other verses. The undermentioned verse clearly indicates that all the planets, stars, asteroids, or whatever might be, are all stationed within the realm and bonds of the first sky; as follows:

      ``HE then formed the sky into seven firmaments (SKIES) in two days (PERIODS), and to each sky He assigned its duty, AND WE ADORNED THE LOWER SKY WITH BRILLIANT STARS AND SECURITY, that is the ordering of the All-mighty, the All-knowing.''

QURÄN - S 41: 12

      Therefore the lowest of the seven skies is that which we can see overhead, which contains all the stars planets, suns, moons, and all the heavenly bodies that one can see with his eyes or can't see.

      The upper six skies are now unknown to us, and we know not much about them. Perhaps in future, science and knowledge, may come to discover what do they have, and on what a nature they stand, revealing some of their secrets.