Quranic Cosmogony: The Perspectives of Contemporary Muslim Commentators

Abstract

The origin of the cosmos is one of the most intriguing queries facing mankind. The Qur’an presents substantial information pertaining to this matter. In this paper, a Qur’anic cosmogony, comprising physical as well as metaphysical aspects, is presented based on a number of prominent contemporary Qur’anic translations and commentaries. It is revealed that commentaries on Qur’anic cosmogonical verses vary significantly. The paper then presents the qualitative and quantitative features of Qur’anic cosmogony, and deduces some general features and principles pertaining to cosmogony. It also suggests an integrated multidimensional approach in order to articulate cosmological notions from the Qur’an.