What is the "smoke" mentioned in the verse: "Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke," and is it water vapor as scholars interpret it, and is that consistent with modern science?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
The interpretation of "smoke" (Dukhan) in Allah's statement: {Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke} as water vapor is a correct interpretation, as mentioned by Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Kathir, and Al-Sa'di. This does not contradict sound science, for vapor is called smoke if it is mixed with something else. And it is mentioned in Lisan al-Arab that every smoke that rises from hot water is vapor.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/175792
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 175792
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy