And the heaven shall be opened, and it will become as gates
Question :
What is the meaning of this verse:
"And the heaven shall be opened, and it will become as gates"
Answer:
This precious verse points to events on the Day of Judgement: the gates of the heaven will be open from all directions; there will be many gates, from which the angels will descend; Allâh Almighty says:
"And (remember) the Day when the heaven shall be rent asunder with clouds, and angels will be sent down, with a grand descending. The sovereignty on that Day will be the true (sovereignty), belonging to the Most Beneficent (Allah), and it will be the hard Day for disbelievers.
And this verse points out to this opening. It has been recited in two ways:
The first one:
"And the heaven shall be opened, and it will become as gates".
And the Second one:
"And the heaven has been opened, and it will become as gates".
The Second one is more impressive as it implies exaggeration and abundance.
Source:
Ibn 'Uthaimin
Fatawa Islamiyah, Vol. 7 Pages 120-121