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Significance of number seven.

As scholars have described relevance between number 19 and the Holy Qur’an, the number seven has also special significance not only in Islam but also in other religions and in other aspects of life.

Almighty Allah says in surah At-Tala’q verse 12; “Allah is He who created seven heavens and the earths also their like”. (Translation – Syed Abul A’la Maududi)

In surah Al-Mulk verse 3 Allah says; “(It is Allah) Who created seven heavens one above the other”.

“And indeed We have already brought you seven of the oft-repeated (Al-Mathani ) and the magnificent Qur’an.” (Al Hijr: 87)

The Prophet said: “The Qur’an was revealed in seven letters (dialects).”


It is authentically established in Hadith as well that there are seven earths, for Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Sa‘id ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Anyone who seizes a handspan of land unjustly, Allah will encircle him by it on the Day of Resurrection down seven earths.” The same Hadith is also narrated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim) from Aisha (may Allah be pleased with him) as Marfu.
Relevance of number seven to Islam:
Seven heavens
Seven earths
Seven doorways to paradise
Seven days of a week
Seven ambulations- to move around Ka’aba for ‘tawaaf’
Seven times to go back and forth between ‘Safa’ and ‘Marwah’ for ‘saaee’.
Seven pebbles to be used each time for stoning to ‘Jumaraat’
Seven ‘takbeerat’ of Eid prayers
Seven oft-repeated verses of surah - the ‘Al-Fateha’
Seven letters (dialects) in which the Qur’an is revealed
Seven ‘manazil’* (segments) of Qur’an
Seven days minimum requirement, for one time complete recitation of Holy Qur’an
Seven stages for the completion of man’s creation
Seven shares in a cow/camel sacrificed at Eid ul Azha
Seventh day for ‘Aqeeqa’
Seventh heaven, above of which is the throne of Almighty Allah
Seven types of marriage among first relations**, that are prohibited
Seven groups in which inheritance is to be divided
Seven bones on which prostration is to be done
Seven windy days: Allaah sent the wind against the people of ‘Aad for seven days.
Seven years: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked Allaah to help him by sending upon his people seven (years) like the seven years of Yoosuf.
Seven ears: The number of ears of grain seen by the companion of Yoosuf (in the dream) was seven, the number of years for which they were cultivated was seven, and (the reward for charity) is multiplied seven hundred fold or more.
Seven skins: When he was sick, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) ordered that water from seven skins be poured on him.
Seven years old: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Instruct your children to pray when they are seven.”
Seven traditional authentic books of ‘ahadeeth’. (Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmizi, Malik’s Mauta, Masnad Ahmad, Al-Nisaee, Ibn Maaja, out of these are ‘Al-Saha Satta’ )

Ibn al-Qayyim commented: “Undoubtedly this number has some special qualities that are not shared by other numbers. … Allaah knows best about His wisdom, laws and decree in singling out this number”.

Based on this, the correct view is to refrain from indulging in discussion of the reason why this number is singled out for mention, except on the basis of clear, sound evidence.

Interesting Facts about the Number Seven in Science:

Seven colors of the rainbow
Seven basic musical notes, namely, 'do', 're', 'me', 'fa', 'so', 'la' and 'te'. In Indian music they are ‘sa’, ‘re’, ‘ga’, ‘ma’, ‘pa’, ‘dha’ and ‘ni’.
A ladybug commonly has seven spots
Most of the mammals' necks have seven bones.
The number of rows in the periodic table is seven.
The neutral pH value that lies between acidity and alkalinity is seven.
There are seven logic gates namely, NOT, NOR, XNOR, XOR, AND, NAND and OR
Digital devices use a seven-segment display.

Some facts about number 7 in history & geography:

Seven wonders of the world.
Seven continents in the world. (NorthAmerica, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica)
Seven oceans (According to modern classification: North Pacific, South Pacific, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, Southern {Antartic ocean})

The number seven has also its significance in other religions of the world and other aspects of life that are not mentioned here.



*
i- From Surah Al-Fateha to Surah An-Nisaa
ii- From Surah Al-Maida to Surah At-Tauba
iii- From Surah Younus to Surah Al-Nahal
iv- From Surah Bani Israil to Surah Al-Furqan
v- From Surah Al-Sho’ara to Surah Yaseen
vi- From Surah Al-Saffat to Surah Al-Hujraat
vii- From Surah Quaaf to Surah An-Naas

** First relations:
i- Mother (including grand paternal or maternal mothers)
ii- Daughter
iii- Sisters
iv- Paternal aunts
v- Maternal aunts
vi- Paternal nieces and their daughters
vii- Maternal nieces and their daughters

Other relations and women:
i- Foster mothers
ii- Foster sisters
iii- Mother of your wife
iv- Sisters of your wife
v- Step daughters
vi- Wife (or widow) of the son
vii- All those women who have their husbands live.

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