الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا، ومن سيئات أعمالنا ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، وأشهد أن سيدنا محمداً عبده ورسوله ، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين

We will continue in this talk by studying the names of Allah as part of our answer to the fourth question in the series of the topic entitled:” Your Life in Light of Eternity”, as a reminder, this topic addresses the following four questions:

1. What is the purpose of our lives on earth?
2. What is the nature of this life on earth?
3. What is our role on earth to fulfil the purpose of our lives on it?
4. What are the traits and qualities that we must possess to fulfill our role and achieve our purpose on earth?

We already addressed the first three questions, and we started the answer to the fourth question which is adopting in our character elements of the Names/Attributes of Allah.  We already discussed 11 names and today, we will discuss Allah’s name Al-Khaliq, Insha’Allah.

12  Al-Khaliq (الخالق) – The Creator

Allah’s names Al-Khaliq (الخالق) came in combination with the names Al-Bari’ (البارئ) and Al-Musawwir (المصور) in verse 24 of Surat Al-Hashr.  These three names came only once in the Quran as direct and definite names in this verse.  However, they came in different forms in other verses in the Quran.  In Surat Al-Hashr, Allah says:  

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ )٢٤(

“He is Allah, the Creator, the Producer, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (Al-Hashr 59:24)

These three names Al-Khaliq (الخالق), Al-Bari’ (البارئ) and Al-Musawwir (المصور) overlap in their meaning, and they are considered close synonymous to each other.  In this case, one need to consider the rule of close synonymous in the Arabic language.  If a close synonym comes as individual in a verse, the synonym will represent the other close synonymous.  But, if the close synonymous are listed in the same verse, the difference among them needs to be considered.  As example, Allah says

إِنَّمَا ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتُ لِلۡفُقَرَآءِ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱلۡعَـٰمِلِينَ عَلَيۡہَ……

“The Charity are to be given to the poor, the needy, those who collects it  …” (AL-Tawba 9:60)

While the poor and the needy are close synonymous, i,e., the poor is needy and the needy is poor, since they came in the same verse, a difference between them must be highlighted. Therefore, the poor would be the extreme needy and the needy would be the slightly poor.  As example, a poor will be the one whose income is 5 but his needs is 10, and the needy is the one whose income is 90 but his needs is 100. But if the poor came separately in a verse by itself, the verse would apply to the needy also and vice versa.  As example, Allah says:

إِن تُبۡدُواْ ٱلصَّدَقَـٰتِ فَنِعِمَّا هِىَ‌ۖ وَإِن تُخۡفُوهَا وَتُؤۡتُوهَا ٱلۡفُقَرَآءَ فَهُوَ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّڪُمۡ‌ۚ

“If you openly give the charity, it is good, and if you keep it secret and give it to the poor, it is better for you.” (Al-Baqara 2:271)

In this case the verse only listed the Poor (ٱلۡفُقَرَآءَ) and thus the term also means the needy (ٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ).   

يَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ مَاذَا يُنفِقُونَ‌ۖ قُلۡ مَآ أَنفَقۡتُم مِّنۡ خَيۡرٍ۬ فَلِلۡوَٲلِدَيۡنِ وَٱلۡأَقۡرَبِينَ وَٱلۡيَتَـٰمَىٰ وَٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ وَٱبۡنِ ٱلسَّبِيلِ‌ۗ

“They ask you what they should spend (in charity). Say: Whatever good you spend is for the parents, the relatives, the orphans, the needy and wayfarers.” (Al-Baqara 2:215) 

In this case the verse only listed the Needy (ٱلۡمَسَـٰكِينِ), thus the term also means the poor (ٱلۡفُقَرَآءَ).

Since Allah’s three names Al-Khaliq (الخالق), Al-Bari’ (البارئ) and Al-Musawwir (المصور) came in the same verse, the attributes associated with each one need to be highlighted, keeping in mind that each one of them would include the attributes of the others if it came separately in a verse.

To define the subtle difference among the names regarding the creation, we note that Allah says:

وَلَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَـٰڪُمۡ ثُمَّ صَوَّرۡنَـٰكُمۡ ثُمَّ قُلۡنَا لِلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةِ ٱسۡجُدُواْ لِأَدَمَ (١١)

“We have created you then gave you a shape, then We said to the angels: Prostrate yourselves before Adam. ” (Al-Araf 7:11)

The verse suggests that the creation (Khalq) is a step that precedes the step of making the final shape (Tasweer) which is derived from Allah’s name, Al-Musawwir. 

Also, Allah says:

مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَلَا فِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ إِلَّا فِى ڪِتَـٰبٍ۬ مِّن قَبۡلِ أَن نَّبۡرَأَهَآ‌ۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ (٢٢)

“No disaster befalls the earth or yourselves, but it is in a Book before we bring it into being – Indeed that is easy for Allah” (Al-Hadid 57:22) 

This verse suggests that a plan already exists before the event is materialized into existence, the word used for bringing the event into existence is ( نَّبۡرَأَهَآ‌ۚ) which is derived from Allah’s name Al-Bari. 

While we recognize that one cannot give a perfect example regarding Allah’s attributes that are associated with His names, because nothing is like Him, giving a practical example from our life may make the idea clear regarding the difference between these three names.  This approach is acceptable because Allah used in the Quran examples to allow us to understand certain issues of belief.  Allah provided the following example from human experiences to help us understand that having partners with Allah is illogical.  Allah said:

ضَرَبَ لَكُمْ مَثَلًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ هَلْ لَكُمْ مِنْ مَا مَلَكَتْ أَيْمَانُكُمْ مِنْ شُرَكَاءَ فِي مَا رَزَقْنَاكُمْ فَأَنْتُمْ فِيهِ سَوَاءٌ تَخَافُونَهُمْ كَخِيفَتِكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ كَذَلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ

“He gives you an example from yourselves: Do you have partners among those whom you own (slaves) to share as equals in the wealth that We have bestowed on you? Do you fear them as you fear each other? This is to explain the Signs to people who understand. “(Al-Room 30:28)

In our practice, everything that comes to existence needs first to be planned, second to be constructed according to the plan, and thirdly to be perfected into the shape that is intended by the planner.

For example, to build a building, the following steps are taken. 

1. Employ an architect to create design plans.
2. Hire a construction company to construct the building according to the plans.
3. Involve an interior designer to decorate and give the finishing touches to give the building its uniqueness.

Each of these steps required the participation of many professionals to achieve the proper construction of the building.  All those professionals relay on precedent and thus they benefit from past knowledge such as designs, construction methods, materials performance data, design codes, analysis methods, etc.

For the entire universe, Allah is the creator of the basic materials, the planner, the designer, the constructor, and the decorator.  When Allah created something, the attributes of His names Al-Khaliq i(the planner/the designer/the architect), Al-Bari’ (the Producer/the Constructor), and Al-Musawwir  (the Decorator)  are all in action.

Muslims are instructed to study Allah’s revealed words in the Quran, and the Quran directs Muslims to explore Allah’s observed revelation in universe and in themselves. This is intended for Muslims to see all the elements of creations in action from the creation of the basic materials to the setting a plan to the design rules to the construction to the beautification process.   By serious study of Allah’s creations, one can truly know Allah. But the absence of this serious study, Allah remains in the mind as an abstract idea that can be easily shaken by doubts and the insinuation of Satan.

Knowing Allah through studying His creation is important because Allah cannot be seen as He said:

لَّا تُدۡرِڪُهُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرُ وَهُوَ يُدۡرِكُ ٱلۡأَبۡصَـٰرَ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱللَّطِيفُ ٱلۡخَبِيرُ (١٠٣)

No vision can comprehend Him, but He comprehends all visions. He is the Subtle, the All-Aware”. (Al-An’am 6:103)

However, we can see and know Allah by studying the universe He created.  This should not be a difficult because this is no different from us recognizing the talent and the capabilities of many people whom we never saw by what they have created and produced. 

Therefore, you find many verses in the Quran that focus on Allah’s creations and there perfections.   Allah says:

خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ بِغَيۡرِ عَمَدٍ۬ تَرَوۡنَہَا‌ۖ وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٲسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمۡ وَبَثَّ فِيہَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ۬‌ۚ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيہَا مِن ڪُلِّ زَوۡجٍ۬ كَرِيمٍ (١٠) هَـٰذَا خَلۡقُ ٱللَّهِ فَأَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقَ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن دُونِهِۦ‌ۚ بَلِ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ۬ مُّبِينٍ۬ (١١)

“He has created the skies without pillars that you can see, and placed into the earth mountains, so that it does quake with you; and He spread over it all kinds of creatures.  And We send down water from the sky and We cause (plants) of every goodly kind to grow in it. (10) This is the Creation of Allah. Now show me what is created by those others besides Him.  Rather, the transgressors are in clear misguidance”. (Luqman 31:10-11)

Islam does not classify knowledge as religious sciences and secular sciences.  Some may classify biology, chemistry, physics, earth science, astronomy, material science, oceanography, Meteorology, history, etc as secular sciences.  They are not.  Certainly, they are divine sciences and thus they have religious importance.  Explicitly, Allah praises those who study these natural sciences.  He describes them as people who have intellect and possess real knowledge of Allah.   Allah says:

إِنَّ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱخۡتِلَـٰفِ ٱلَّيۡلِ وَٱلنَّہَارِ لَأَيَـٰتٍ۬ لِّأُوْلِى ٱلۡأَلۡبَـٰبِ (١٩٠) ٱلَّذِينَ يَذۡكُرُونَ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمً۬ا وَقُعُودً۬ا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِهِمۡ وَيَتَفَڪَّرُونَ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقۡتَ هَـٰذَا بَـٰطِلاً۬ سُبۡحَـٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ [آل عمران:190-191]،

“Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and in the alteration of the night and the day are signs for people of understanding, (190) Who remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord!  You have not created all of this in vain. Glory be to You, save us from the punishment of Fire.”  (Al-Emran 3:190-191)

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً۬ فَأَخۡرَجۡنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٲتٍ۬ مُّخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَٲنُہَاۚ وَمِنَ ٱلۡجِبَالِ جُدَدُۢ بِيضٌ۬ وَحُمۡرٌ۬ مُّخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٲنُہَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ۬ (٢٧) وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلۡأَنۡعَـٰمِ مُخۡتَلِفٌ أَلۡوَٲنُهُ ۥ كَذَٲلِكَۗ إِنَّمَا يَخۡشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ ٱلۡعُلَمَـٰٓؤُاْۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ (٢٨)

Do you not see that Allah sends down water (rain) from the sky, and We produce therewith fruits of varying colors, and among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colors and (others) very black?  (27) And among the people, the beasts, and the cattle are of those having different colors as well. Only those who are scientists (experts), among His slaves, fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Mighty, Forgiving. (Fater 35:27-28) 

Note: In this verse observing the tashkeel of the names (ٱللَّهَ) and (ٱلۡعُلَمَـٰٓؤُاْۗ) is very critical to recognize who is the subject and who is the object in the verse. In the Arabic grammar, the object often comes before the subject in the verb-based sentence.  The tashkeel of the last letter in the object in fatha and the tashkeel of the last letter of the subject is Dumma.  In this verse the object is Allah and thus its last letter must be read with fatha (ٱللَّهَ) and the scientists are the subject, and their last letter must have Dumma (ٱلۡعُلَمَـٰٓؤُاْۗ). Thus the verse says: “The scientists fear Allah”, if one reverses the tashkeel , he will be making major mistake because he will be saying : Allah fears the scientist.  

Allah encourages Muslim to investigate the universe and to investigate their own creation. 

وَفِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ ءَايَـٰتٌ۬ لِّلۡمُوقِنِينَ (٢٠) وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمۡ‌ۚ أَفَلَا تُبۡصِرُونَ (٢١)

“And in the earth, there are signs for those whose belief is certain. (20) And in yourselves. Can you then not see?” (Al-Dhariyat 51:20-21)

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ ڪَيۡفَ يُبۡدِئُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۥۤ‌ۚ إِنَّ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ۬ (١٩) قُلۡ سِيرُواْ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَٱنظُرُواْ ڪَيۡفَ بَدَأَ ٱلۡخَلۡقَ‌ۚ ثُمَّ ٱللَّهُ يُنشِئُ ٱلنَّشۡأَةَ ٱلۡأَخِرَةَ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (٢٠)

“Did they not see how Allah originated the creation, then He will reproduce it? Surely, this is easy for Allah. (19) Say: Travel in the land and see how He originated creation, then Allah will create the subsequent creation. Surely, Allah is Able to do everything.” (Al-Ankabout 29:19-20)

ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ طِبَاقً۬ا‌ۖ مَّا تَرَىٰ فِى خَلۡقِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ مِن تَفَـٰوُتٍ۬‌ۖ فَٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ هَلۡ تَرَىٰ مِن فُطُورٍ۬ (٣) ثُمَّ ٱرۡجِعِ ٱلۡبَصَرَ كَرَّتَيۡنِ يَنقَلِبۡ إِلَيۡكَ ٱلۡبَصَرُ خَاسِئً۬ا وَهُوَ حَسِيرٌ۬ (٤)

“He is Who has created the seven heavens one above the other, you can see nothing out of proportion in the creation of the Rahman (the encompassing all the glorious names). Then look again: “Can you see any rifts?” (3) Then look again and yet again, your sight will return to you abased and in a state of weariness.” (Al-Mulk 67:3-4) 

Elements to Adopt in our Character

Allah’s name, Al-Khaliq must remind us of His greatness as compared to our lowly nature, meek power, and limited knowledge.  There are five ways that we can realize the divine attribute, Al-Khaliq, in our life:

1. Be committed to study Allah’s creations to know Allah. This should lead to achieving leadership in all scientific disciplines and finding new discoveries.  Scientists and engineers have learned from fish how to make submarines, from birds how to make planes, and from migrating birds and fish how to develop navigation systems.  Many advances in the medical field are based on studying the human body, its construction, and its immune and nervous systems. But there remain many discoveries awaiting.
2. Knowing that Allah perfected all creations, look at yourself and everything around you and ensure that you don’t participate in any activity that can lead to distorting Allah’s perfect creation.
3. Acknowledge Allah’s creation and express your gratitude for the way he created you. He created you unique and beautiful and blessed you with the servitude of other creations.  You can demonstrate your recognition of Allah as the Creator by saying what the Prophet (PBUH) taught us to say before we sleep:

 كان صلى الله عليه وسلم ربما يقول: «اللهم أنت خلقت نفسي وأنت توفاها لك مماتها ومحياها إن أحييتها فاحفظها وإن أمتها فاغفر لها، اللهم إني أسألك العافية» (صحيح مسلم)

“O Allah, verily You have created my soul and You shall take its life, to You belongs its life and death. If You should keep my soul alive then protect it, and if You should take its life then forgive it. O Allah, I ask You to grant me good health.”

4. By knowing Allah as the ultimate and perfect Creator, and that “There is nothing like Him” (لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَيْءٌ} [الشورى:11]،) , one would resist Satan’s temptation to drag the person into questioning who created Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنِ أَبُو هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ يَأْتِي الشَّيْطَانُ أَحَدَكُمْ فَيَقُولُ مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا مَنْ خَلَقَ كَذَا حَتَّى يَقُولَ مَنْ خَلَقَ رَبَّكَ فَإِذَا بَلَغَهُ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ، وَلْيَنْتَهِ ‏”‏‏.‏ (صحيح البخاري)

“Satan comes to one of you and says, “Who created you?” You say that Allah created me and continue with this line of questions until he says, “Who created Allah?” The Prophet (PBUH) said: “If you reach this point, then you should seek refuge with Allah and give up such thoughts”. (Bukhari)

In the next talk, we will Insha’Allah discuss Allah’s name Al-Bari’ (البارئ) and possibly Al-Musawwir (المصور)

هُوَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلۡخَـٰلِقُ ٱلۡبَارِئُ ٱلۡمُصَوِّرُ‌ۖ لَهُ ٱلۡأَسۡمَآءُ ٱلۡحُسۡنَىٰ‌ۚ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ۥ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٲتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ‌ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡحَكِيمُ

“He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner. His are the most beautiful names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him, and He is the Mighty, the Wise. (Al-Hashr 59:24)

DUA

EXTRA

The Quran gives an interesting insight to refute those who claim that this universe was created by chance and thus there is no creator.   In several verses in the Quran, Allah emphasizes the reversal process of creating mankind and the universe.  By emphasizing the reversibility of the creation, Allah confirms the observed order in the universe and in human reproduction. Engineers call such reversible process an isentropic process, i.e., constant entropy.  Entropy is a key parameter in the most fundamental law of nature which is the second law of thermodynamics.  The law introduces the new state variable called entropy. Entropy has a variety of physical interpretations, including the statistical disorder of the system.  This law states that the level of disorder increases for non-reversable system, but it remains the same for reversible system. 

One of the most important implications of the second law is that it indicates that time naturally flows in a way that increases disorder.  If the universe started as random chance, the level of disorder would be increasing by time, but this is not the observable reality.  This clearly suggests that the universe is created according to specific laws to ensure its order and this can only be achieved if there is a creator.

The point of reversable process of the creation is clearly stated in the Quran in over 15 verses.  The following are examples, Allah says:

وَٱللَّهُ أَنۢبَتَكُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ نَبَاتً۬ا (١٧) ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمۡ فِيہَا وَيُخۡرِجُڪُمۡ إِخۡرَاجً۬ا (١٨)

“And Allah has caused you to grow out of the earth. (17) Then He will send you back into it and will bring you forth once again.” (Nuh 71:18)

إِنَّ بَطۡشَ رَبِّكَ لَشَدِيدٌ (١٢) إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ يُبۡدِئُ وَيُعِيدُ (١٣)

“The punishment of your Lord is severe (12) Surely, He originates the creation, and then repeats it (after death)”. (Al-Buroog 85:12-13)

وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً۬ وَنَسِىَ خَلۡقَهُ ۥ‌ۖ قَالَ مَن يُحۡىِ ٱلۡعِظَـٰمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ۬ (٧٨) قُلۡ يُحۡيِيہَا ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ۬‌ۖ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلۡقٍ عَلِيم

And he (man) sets up a parable about Us and forgets his own creation. He says: “Who will give life to these bones after they are decayed?” (78) Say: “They will be revived by the One Who created them for the first time! And He is fully aware of every creation!” (Yaseen 36:78-79)

The amazing part about the perfection of Allah’s plan for creation is that the universe is not stationary, but it continues to expand as Allah says:

وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَـٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٍ۬ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ (٤٧)

“We have built the sky with might, and indeed We are expanding it. (Al-Dhariat 51:47)

Note:  The Arabic word “Sama’a” (سماء) is translated as sky of heaven but is refers to anything outside the earth which is the external universe.

While this verse was revealed over 1400 years ago, only recently scientists accepted the fact that the universe is expanding.  Paul Steinhardt who is the Albert Einstein Professor in Science and Director of the Princeton Center for Theoretical Science at Princeton University developed the inflationary model of the universe.  The Question may be: in where does the universe expand?

In addition, the Quran infers that Allah did not only create our universe, but He has also created other universes, Allah says: 

ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ سَبۡعَ سَمَـٰوَٲتٍ۬ وَمِنَ ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مِثۡلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡأَمۡرُ بَيۡنَہُنَّ لِتَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عِلۡمَۢا (١٢

“Allah is He Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven earths). His Command descends between them, that you know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends all things in (His) Knowledge. (Al-Talaq 65:12)

It is reported by Abu Hatem (أبي حاتم) , Al-Hakim (الحاكم) and Al-Bayhaqi (البيهقي) that Ibn Abbas (ابن عباس) said in explaining this verse:  

 رواه ابن أبي حاتم في تفسيره والحاكم في مستدركه، وصححه  ثم رواه البيهقي ، عن أبي الضحى، عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أنه قال: الله الذي خلق سبع سماوات ومن الأرض مثلهن. قال: سبع أرضين في كل أرض نبي كنبيكم، وآدم كآدم، ونوح كنوح، وإبراهيم كإبراهيم، وعيسى كعيسى. )قال الحاكم هذا حديث صحيح الإسناد ووافقه الذهبي في التلخيص فقال : صحيح, قال البيهقى : إسناده صحيح (

“Allah is He who created seven earths, in every earth there is a prophet like your prophet, an Adam like your Adam, a Nuh like your Nuh, an Ibrahim like your Ibrahim and an ‘Isa like your ‘Isa”.

This verse as well many others emphasize Allah’s key demands that Muslim should study the universe to appreciate Allah’s power and knowledge as the ending of this  verse states (لِتَعۡلَمُوٓاْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَدۡ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَىۡءٍ عِلۡمَۢا) “that you know that Allah has power over all things, and that Allah comprehends all things in (His) Knowledge”.  

While this verse was revealed more than 1400 years ago, many scientists have now accepted the concept of the existence of multiple universes that exist as bubbles.   Can the answer to the Question “in where our universe expands”, be it expands in the space between the different universes, Allah knows best, but the answer is waiting for someone to provide the mathematical model. Allah’s creation of other universes does not only conform Allah’s infinite power but is also refutes assigning divinity to any human being because there are several of the same person who exist.  But it appears that we may not be able to confirm the existence of people like us in other universes until the skin over every universe is removed and this appears to be part of Allah’s plan at the end of time, as He said:

وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتۡ (١١) وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتۡ (١٢) وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُزۡلِفَتۡ (١٣) عَلِمَتۡ نَفۡسٌ۬ مَّآ أَحۡضَرَتۡ (١٤)

“And when the sky is stripped off, (11) And when Hell is set ablaze, (12) And when the paradise is brought close, (13) (Then) everyone will know what he/she has put forward.” (Al-Takwir 81:11-14)

Verse 11 suggests that the time will come when the skin of bubble around each universe will stripped off.   May be at that time every one of us will meet his/her septuplets. This raises a question; how Allah will judge us. as individuals or as group of seven.   There are verses in the Quran that may suggest that Allah will judge based on the best performance of any of our septuplets, Allah knows best.