How Big is God?

Exploring the Cosmic Greatness of God

The Creator of all that exists cannot be confined to human dimensions. Allah’s magnificence transcends physical scales and limitations, as described in the divine revelations of the Quran. Quran clearly rejects God image similar to human form as well as all the labels that comes from it like tiredness.  From the vast cosmos to the intricate details of life, His creation speaks of love, intelligence, power, planning and magnitude beyond human comprehension.

Let us delve into what the last divine book tells us about the greatness of Allah.
Here is two perspectives on some related ayahs from His creations to God, a glimpse of "The Great"..

Quranic Verses on the Greatness of Allah

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا
“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We exploded/separated them…”
– Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse illustrates that the universe began as a unified entity before being exploded to separation by Allah’s command—a testament to His uncomparable power.

Astrophysicist:

Modern cosmology’s notion of an initial singularity expanding into the vast cosmos parallels this divine act described here, hint of big bang, a creation process on an unimaginable scale.

الْخَالِقُ الْأَوَّلُ الَّذِي بَدَأَ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ ۖ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ
“The Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.”
– Surah Al-Baqarah (2:117)
Islamic Scholar:

This ayah reminds us the power of God’s command which brings forth creation effortlessly. His power is not constrained by physical limitations.

Astrophysicist:

The instantaneous nature of divine creation can be metaphorically compared to the concept of cosmic inflation—a rapid expansion that set the framework for the universe we observe today. Many processes may seem to us very long in time domain but in the universe's time scale they are instantaneous.

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods of time (stage), and then established Himself above the multiverse’s outer arc (*); He throws the veil of night over the day, which it pursues incessantly; and (He created) the sun and the moon and the stars, made subservient by His command; surely His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds/systems.”
– Quran Al-A'raf (7:54)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse emphasizes that Allah is the Creator of all that exists. His creation in “six periods” signifies an ordered process, and His establishment above the creation (the multiverse) affirms His transcendence.

Astrophysicist:

The concept of a multiverse and the dynamic interplay of day and night resonate with modern ideas in cosmology, where multiple cosmic epochs and intricate celestial mechanics define the universe. This ayah gives us a hint about physical greatness of God, God encompasses outermost universe (biggest one). Unfortunately we have a few ideas about the diameter of our universe but we can only speculate for other universes. So we can only say bigger than anything we know, and since we don't know any limiting info about greatness  of God we can imagine an infinite being who encompasses the biggest universe.

وَمَا قَدَرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِۦ وَٱلْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًۭا قَبْضَتُهُۥ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ وَٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتُ مَطْوِيَّـٰتٌۢ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ ٦٧
And no true understanding of God have they [who worship aught beside Him], inasmuch as the whole of the earth will be as a [mere] handful to Him on Resurrection Day, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: limitless is He in His glory, and sublimely exalted above anything to which they may ascribe a share in His divinity!
– Quran Zumer (the troops) (39:67)
Islamic Scholar:

Those associating partners (shirk) with God  (like Jesus, Buddha) fail to grasp His true greatness (Qadr). The Earth as a "handful" illustrates His absolute, effortless control on Judgment Day. Rolling up the heavens (universes) signifies His ultimate power over the entire multiverse. These descriptions use metaphors of power, affirming His transcendence, not literal features. It powerfully asserts Allah's perfection (SubhanAllah) and supreme exaltation above all Shirk, affirming His Oneness (Tawhid).

Astrophysicist:

The verse uses metaphors of scale, contrasting cosmic vastness with an infinitely greater power. Imagery suggests complete dominion over spacetime and the fundamental laws governing reality. "Rolling up heavens" poetically echoes scientific concepts of cosmic transformation or ending. It describes a Being operating beyond the physical constraints known to science. This highlights the potential limits of human empirical understanding when contemplating ultimate reality or a Creator.

هُوَ الَّذِي يُدَبِّرُكُمْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَمَا مِن شَفِيعٍ إِلَّا مِن بَعْدِ إِذْنِهِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ فَاعْبُدُوهُ ۚ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
“He governs all that exists, from multiverse to the earth; and in the end all shall ascend unto Him [for judgment] on a Day the length whereof will be [like] a thousand years of your reckoning.”
– Quran Al-Sajdah (32:5)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse underscores Allah’s comprehensive governance over all realms. Allah meticulously governs (Yudabbir) every affair, from the highest heavens/cosmos down to the Earth. His comprehensive command and the results of actions ultimately ascend (ya'ruju) back to Him. This culmination happens on Judgment Day, signifying return for accountability. The "day" lasting 1000 human years highlights the immense scale and different reality of divine time. It shows His complete sovereignty over creation's beginning, ongoing management, and final reckoning.

Astrophysicist:

The dramatic difference in time scales echoes scientific concepts such as time dilation based on relativity, prompting us to consider how cosmic time might vastly differ from our everyday experience. The verse depicts universal governance, mirroring the consistent operation of physical laws across cosmic scales. Its scope ("multiverse to earth") acknowledges the vast, structured nature of the universe. The "ascent" might be  a hint of cosmic cycles or information flow. The vast difference in time ("1000 years") strongly resonates with relativistic time dilation, where time perception varies dramatically between reference frames. It underscores the relativity of time and the potential difference between human temporal experience and a cosmic or external frame.

هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يَعْلَمُ مَا يَلِجُ فِي الْأَرْضِ وَمَا يَخْرُجُ مِنْهَا وَمَا يَنزِلُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَمَا يَعْرُجُ فِيهَا ۖ وَهُوَ مَعَكُمْ أَيْنَ مَا كُنتُمْ
“He is the One Who has created the heavens and earth in six stages, and is established on the Throne of His Almightiness of Supreme Control. He knows all that enters the earth and all that comes out of it, and all that descends from the sky, and all that ascends therein. And He is with you wherever you may be. God is Seer of what you do.”
– Quran Al-Hadeed (57:4)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse highlights the meticulous order in Allah’s creation alongside His omnipresence. It reassures believers that, despite His exalted station, His knowledge and presence permeate all aspects of existence. His establishment (Istawa) on the Throne ('Arsh) denotes absolute authority and control over creation, transcending it. Allah's knowledge is perfect and all-encompassing, covering every hidden and apparent process. His being "with you" (Ma'iyyah) means primarily His knowledge and awareness, not physical presence. Being the "Seer" (Baseer) emphasizes His constant observation and implies accountability for actions.

Astrophysicist:

The verse mirrors our understanding of the interconnectedness of cosmic systems, where fundamental forces govern both the micro and macro scales in a harmonious structure. The "six stages" loosely parallel scientific understanding of the universe evolving through distinct cosmic epochs. "Established on the Throne" metaphorically evokes a fundamental governing principle underlying the universe's structure and laws.

وَمَا تَكُونُ ف۪ي شَأْنٍ وَمَا تَتْلُوا مِنْهُ مِنْ قُرْاٰنٍ وَلَا تَعْمَلُونَ مِنْ عَمَلٍ اِلَّا كُنَّا عَلَيْكُمْ شُهُودًا اِذْ تُف۪يضُونَ ف۪يهِۜ وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَنْ رَبِّكَ مِنْ مِثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِي الْاَرْضِ وَلَا فِي السَّمَٓاءِ وَلَٓا اَصْغَرَ مِنْ ذٰلِكَ وَلَٓا اَكْبَرَ اِلَّا ف۪يكِتَابٍ مُب۪ينٍ
There is no activity you may be engaged in ˹O Prophet˺ or portion of the Quran you may be reciting, nor any deed you ˹all˺ may be doing except that We are a Witness over you while doing it. Not ˹even˺ an atom’s weight is hidden from your Lord on earth or in heaven; nor anything smaller or larger than that, but is ˹written˺ in a perfect Record.
– Quran Yunus (Jonah) (10:61)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse highlights the meticulous order in Allah’s creation alongside His omnipresence. It reassures us that, despite His exalted station, His knowledge and presence permeate all aspects of existence. We are always in God's sight and whatever we, anyone or anything does are recorded.

Astrophysicist:

This ayah implies another dimension that we are not aware. We can not detect it. Also it claims that 'The Creator' of this system is observing everything on atomic level and even recording on the lowest subatomic level that exists. When we observe phenomens on atomic level we create quantum effects that affect the observed system meanwhile it seems that 'The Creator' can do it without interfering quantum fields.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ وَنَعْلَمُ مَا تُوَسْوِسُ بِهِ نَفْسُهُ ۖ وَنَحْنُ أَقْرَبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ حَبْلِ الْوَرِيدِ
“We created the human, and we know what he whispers to himself. We are closer to him than his jugular vein.”
– Quran Qaf (50:16)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse beautifully illustrates Allah’s intimate awareness of every individual. No thought or secret is hidden from His all-encompassing knowledge. While being physically farthest to human, He is also the closest.   

Astrophysicist:

This verse evokes the idea of interconnected systems—much like the subtle, far-reaching connections observed in neural networks and cosmic phenomena.  

وَمَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَالِبٌ عَلَىٰ أَمْرِهِ
“For, unto God belongs all that is in multiverse and all that is on earth; and, indeed, God encompasses everything.”
– Quran Al-Nisa (4:126)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse is a clear declaration of Allah’s absolute dominion. It reminds us that nothing escapes His all-encompassing power and knowledge.

Astrophysicist:

In scientific terms, the idea of an all-encompassing force resonates with theories that describe a universal field governing all matter and energy.     

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ ۖ يَنزِلُ الْأَمْرَ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“God is Who has created many universes and many earths as well. His command descends between them, that you may know that God is capable of all things, and that God has encompassed all things with His knowledge.”
– Quran Al-Talaq (65:12)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse further emphasizes the limitless scope of Allah’s creation power. The reference to multiple universes and earths reaffirms that His authority extends beyond the visible.

Astrophysicist:

The imagery here parallels modern multiverse theories, suggesting a structured yet unfathomably vast creation where divine command weaves through every layer.

وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ وَمَا مَسَّنَا مِن لُّغُوبٍۢ ٣٨
“Indeed, We created the heavens and the earth and everything in between in six periods of time (stage), and We were not ˹even˺ touched with fatigue. ”
– Quran The Letter "Qaf" (50:38)
Islamic Scholar:

This verse openly refutes Bible's Genesis 2:2 which states: "And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done." God doesn't get tired and is beyond any creature's physical or biological limitations. Eventhough Quran says in other chapters believers should believe Bible but also says humans changed some part of it to gain worldly benefits. Plus this surah (chapter) is a special lettered surah. It means it start with letters that have special mission. In Quran chapters which begins with those letters has an interesting property, for example in this one if you count the occurance of "Qaf" letter in it, the sum will be a multiple 19, in this case it is 57 (19x3).

Astrophysicist:

This verse is consistent with other verses and emphasize the existance of a "Creator" without physical restrains.