What is the wisdom behind mentioning specific numbers in the Holy Qur’an, and are they to be taken literally or for emphasis, and what is the ruling on one who believes that they are for emphasis rather than precise determination?
Some scholars have discerned wisdom in the repetition of the number seven in Islamic law, stating that it might be a reminder of the One, the Self-Sufficient, the Unique (Al-Witr, Al-Samad, Al-Ahad), an honor bestowed upon the seven rituals of Hajj (circumambulation,
Sa'i, and throwing the pebbles), and a reminder of the Creator of existence, encouraging reflection on His well-known actions such as the creation of the seven heavens, the seven earths, and the seven days. Furthermore, the mentioned numbers are to be taken literally, not as a means of emphasizing multitude, as a word is to be understood in its literal sense unless there is a stronger indication otherwise.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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