Al-Mu’minūn 23:17

The issue

Commentators interpret the word Tar'ek ("Roads, Tracts or Paths'') as "Heavens". Such interpretation is supported as follows:

Heavens is Tra'ek in the sense of "layers of clothing"

Heavens is Tra'ek in the sense of "trajectories of taking off, flying and landing of angels."

One suggested interpretation is that heavens' are used in the sense of "orbits of planets." Also, "the source of rain, the residence of angels, where the prophet and divine revelation is coming from."

Additionally, the term "Tra'ek" carries a different meaning in another part of the Qur'an: "There are among us some that are righteous, and some the contrary: we follow divergent paths (Tra'ek)." Commentators interpret Tra'ek here as "ways". Arabic dictionaries list other meanings for the word. Some of these include:

"Tra'ek" of time: Meaning changes of fate

"Tra'ek" of community: Meaning the noble people in that community.

We have to ask: why did the word "Tra'ek" is particularly interpreted in this context as "Heavens"? What is eloquent about that interpretation?

Even among those commentators who support the interpretation of the heavens, we can detect various conflicting opinions. The problem at hand seems to be accounted for by the development of the writing. When looking at the word with no dots, it will be "……" it is also possible that the word was written as "Tawa'bk" (meaning floors or layers) replacing the 'ra' with 'wa' sound. With that possibility, confusion occurred in reading the second consonant changing the word into "Tar'ek". Samarkand Manuscript supports this theory where we read "طراىق" as "طواىق" Exchanging the "ra" with "wa". If this hypothesis proves to be valid, that means the original verse read: "And We have made, above you, seven floors; and We are never unmindful of (our) Creation."