The Heavens And The Earth

Question :

I found that in many verses of the Qur'an, the plural is used for the sky or the heavens while the singular is used for the earth; is the singular used even though the plural is meant? And what is the Tafsir of the following verse:
"I (Allah) made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth and not (even) their own creations."

Answer:

The questioner is correct in that many times in the Qur'an, the heavens are mentioned in the plural and the earth in the singular. But sometimes the sky or heaven is also mentioned in the singular. Allâh Almighty said:
"Truly, nothing is hidden from Allah, in the earth or in the heaven."

and He said:
"He knows what is in the heaven and on the earth."

As for the earth, it is always mentioned in the singular. However, sometimes a verse in the Qur'an will imply the plural for "earth":
"It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven)."

The comparison in this verse is not in description or quality, but merely in numbers, which is explained by a saying of the Prophet ﷺ:
"Whoever wrongfully takes land, so much as the span of the hand, a collar will be placed on him on the Day of Judgement of seven earths."

So the meaning is that Allah Almighty did not make any one from creation bear witness to the creation of the heavens and of the earth and of their own selves, so they know nothing, can create nothing, and have no right to worship anyone but Allah Almighty:
"Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief."

Allâh Almighty created all things such as the heavens and the earth and human beings and because no creature was a partner with Allah Almighty in creating everything, and because they did not even witness creation, how then can they associate partners with Allah Almighty in worship!