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The Big Bang theory is a widely accepted scientific explanation of the universe's early development. According to this theory, the universe expanded from an extremely hot and dense early state and has continued expanding over billions of years.

The Qur’an contains verses about the creation of the heavens and the earth that many Muslim scholars and writers have associated with this theory.

Allah says in Sūrah al-Anbiyāʾ (21:30):

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا أَنَّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًا فَفَتَقْنَاهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ حَيٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ

“Do the disbelievers not realize that the heavens and earth were ˹once˺ one mass then We split them apart? And We created from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?”

The Arabic expressions ratqan (joined together) and fafataqnāhumā (We split them apart) describe a state of joining followed by separation. This has been understood by some contemporary scholars as being consistent with the Big Bang theory.

Another relevant verse is Sūrah al-Dhāriyāt (51:47):

وَالسَّمَاءَ بَنَيْنَاهَا بِأَيْدٍ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ

“We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺.”

This verse is also frequently discussed in connection with the scientifically established expansion of the universe.

Therefore, it is reasonable to observe similarities between the Qur’anic descriptions and modern cosmology, but we should not claim that the Qur’an explicitly presents the complete scientific Big Bang model. The Qur’an primarily directs human attention towards Allah's power, wisdom and creation.

Further Reading

Islamonweb has published articles discussing this subject in greater detail:

• Big Bang: A Quranic Perspective — Amina Bevi A.

• Quranic Cosmology: Challenging Aristotelian Views on the Universe — Unais Kashmir.

Allah knows best.