Is the Earth flat according to Islam?
Is the Earth flat according to Islam?
Alot of Propaganda has been going around in the in the internet recently. This propaganda claims the earth is “flat” according to Islamic sources and scholars. This is based of misrepresentation of Quranic verses and misquotations from the statements of highly respected Islamic scholars.
The goal of this lie is to desperately some how prove that Islam teaches the earth is flat and that Islamic scholars believed that the earth is not spherical.
This not only a lie based of very weak arguments,misrepresentation and misquotation but also plain deception.
Here are the Points that will be used in refuting this:
- Does the Quran say the earth is flat?
- Does Tafsir Al Jalalyn affirm the Quran says the earth is flat?
- Al Razi’s explanation of the words “spread out”
- Ibn Kathirs explanation of the words “spread out”
- Shaykh ash-Shanqeeti’s explanation of the words “spread out”
- Shaykh Rafee‘ ad-Deen ibn Waliyullah ad-Dahlawi’s explanation of the words “spread out”
- Islamic scholars who agree the Earth is round according to Islam
- Conclusion
1# Does the Quran say the earth is flat?
This allegation is based off the following Quranic verses:
[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].
[1] Qur’an 2:22
And the earth We have spread out (like a carpet); set thereon mountains firm and immovable; and produced therein all kinds of things in due balance.
[2] Qur’an 15:19
He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky.” With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.
[3] Qur’an 20:53
And the earth- We have spread it out, and set thereon mountains standing firm, and produced therein every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs)-
[4] Qur’an 50:7
And theres a few more but this should be enough to know that the allegation is.
Firstly this does NOT mean the Quran says the earth is flat. The term “spread out” is not meant to be taken scientifically or in a literal form
Because the earth is indeed “spread out” like a carpet from only our perspective on earth.
The only way we can observe the earth as a sphere when we ascend upwards to space. However when we are on the earth we can observe it as being spread out not spherical when observed from space.
So the Quran is logically correct on this on. There is literally no scientific error in this verse.
Further more evidence which i will show later on will affirm this fact. But for now let us move on.
2# Does Tafsir Al Jalalyn affirm the Quran says the earth is flat?
This is a very weak argument to support the case that the Quran says the earth is “flat” .
The problem here is that this Tafsir of Jalalyn is a very late and vague commentary of the Quran, right after the discovery of the sun being larger, even al-jalalyn himself admit to the discovery of the astronauts, yet he disapproves it in his Tafsir which is very late.
At no point does Al-Jalalyn claim ijma of scholars. He merely pointed out that there are scholars who claimed a flat earth.
More to refute this entirely is that there are many scholars,which i will show later who all agreed according to orthodox Islam the earth is to believed be spherical.
Even major scholars like Ibn Taymiyyah and famous Saudi scholars like Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen and many others agreed on this.
However let us see the true meaning of the words “spread out” in earlier and more detailed and profound Tafsirs in the next point. Alongside major scholars who agreed the earth is round.
3# Al Razi’s explanation of the words “spread out”
Al Razi gives a perfect explanation on what the words “spread out” is meant to be understood as.
“If it is said: Do the words “And the earth We spread out” indicate that it is flat?
[5] Tafsir Al Kabir by Al Razi Volume 19 pg 131
We would respond: Yes, because the earth, even though it is round, is an enormous sphere, and each little part of this enormous sphere, when it is looked at, appears to be flat. As that is the case, this will dispel what they mentioned of confusion. The evidence for that is the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “And the mountains as pegs” [an-Naba’ 78:7]. He called them awtaad (pegs) even though these mountains may have large flat surfaces. And the same is true in this case.”
So here we see that Al-Razi clearly explicitly states the earth is round. Alongside that with that he agrees that when it is looked(the earth) at it appears to be flat.
Obviously when he says “when it is looked at” he is is talkiing about the earth when it is observed from the earth and not from space. Since in that time observation of the earth from space was impossible.
So this also affirms that when the Quran says “spread out” or “carpet” its talking about how it appears when we are on it .
4# Ibn Kathirs explanation of the words “spread out”
The verse (interpretation of the meaning) “And Allah has made for you the earth wide spread (an expanse)” [71:19] indicates that it is spread out and shaped so that people can feel settled in it and be able to live and prosper in it.
Which is a far more rational understanding.
As affirmed by Ibn Kathir:
“That is, it is prepared for people in such a way that they can live in it, and it is firm, stable and steady. ”
[6] Tafsir Ibn Kathir volume 8 pg 307
“That is, He spread it out, prepared it, made it stable and made it firm by means of the mountains. “
[7] Tafsir Ibn Kathir volume 8 pg 247
There is no contradiction between saying that it is round and saying that it was spread out, because in fact in its totality it is round, but to the one who stands on it and looks at it, it appears flat, as it appears to everyone.
5# Shaykh ash-Shanqeeti’s explanation of the words “spread out”
Shaykh ash-Shanqeeti answers a question in regards to the words “spread out” :
“If the scholars of Islam affirm that the earth is round, then what would they say about the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
[8] Adwa’ al-Bayaan volume 8 pg 428
“Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?
And at the heaven, how it is raised?
And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm?
And at the earth, how it is spread out?”
[al-Ghaashiyah 88:17-20].
Their response will be the same as their response concerning the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of black muddy (or hot) water” [al-Kahf 18:86] – that is, as it appears to be in the eye of the beholder, because the sun sets on one country, but remains up in the sky for another, until it rises from the east on the following morning. So the earth looks flat in every region or part of it, because of its immense size.
This does not contradict its real shape, because we may see a very high mountain, but if we climb it and reach its summit we may find a flat surface there, and find an entire nation living there, and some of the people there may not know anything about the rest of the world, and so on. ”
So this again affirm the previous explanation i gave.
6# Shaykh Rafee‘ ad-Deen ibn Waliyullah ad-Dahlawi’s explanation of the words “spread out”:
“Some may understand words such as “made the earth as a bed” [an-Naba’ 78:6], “He spread the earth” [an-Naazi‘aat 79:30] and “…how it is spread out…” [al-Ghaashiyah 88: 20] as meaning that it is flat, whereas the scholars affirm that it is round on the basis of sound evidence, so it is thought that there is a conflict. That may be refuted by the fact that the visible part of it (for a person standing on it) appears flat, because the larger a circle is, the more spread out it is, so we may say that it is flat on the basis of that part of it that is visible to us, and it is round in its totality, on the basis of rational thinking. ”
[9] Fath al-Bayaan volume 8 pg 208 (quoted from him by Siddeeq Hasan Khans Tafsir)
So this entirely affirm that the verse is indeed meant to be understood in the way we see observe the earth when we are on it.
#7 Islamic scholars who agree the Earth is round according to Islam
Ibn Hazm (994– 1064 AD)
” We are going to discuss some of the arguments against the idea that the earth is round. They said: There is sound evidence that the earth is round, but the common folk say otherwise. Our response – and Allah is the source of strength – is that none of the leading Muslim scholars who deserve to be called imams or leaders in knowledge (may Allah be pleased with them) denied that the earth is round, and there is no narration from them to deny that. Rather the evidence in the Qur’an and Sunnah stated that it is round. … and he quoted evidence to that effect.”
[10] al-Fasl fi’l-Milal wa’l-Ahwa’ wa’l-Nihal volume 2 pg 78
So we are we have one of the classical scholars and major scholars who explicitly and clearly state the earth according to Islam is round. This also refutes the myth that Islamic scholars believed the earth to be “flat”.
Ibn Taymiyyah (1263 – 1328 AD)
He said:
“Imam Abu’l-Husayn Ahmad ibn Ja‘far ibn al-Munaadi narrated from the prominent scholars who are well known for knowledge of reports and major works in religious sciences, from the second level of Ahmad’s companions, that there was no difference of opinion among the scholars that the sky is like a ball.
He said: Similarly they were unanimously agreed that the Earth, with all that is contains of land and sea is like a ball. He said: That is indicated by the fact that the sun, moon and stars do not rise and set over those who are in different parts of the earth at the same time; rather that occurs in the east before it occurs in the west.”
[9] Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah volume 25 pg 195
He even confirmed this when 2 men asked him a question regarding that.
“He was asked about two men who disputed about the nature of heaven and earth: were they both round bodies? One of them said that they were, but the other denied that and said there is no basis for that. What is the correct view?
The heavens are round, according to the Muslim scholars. More than one of the scholars and Muslim leaders narrated that the Muslims are unanimously agreed on that, such as Abu’l-Husayn Ahmad ibn Ja‘far ibn al-Munaadi, one of the leading figures among the second level of the companions of Imam Ahmad, who wrote approximately four hundred books. Consensus on this point was also narrated by Imam Abu Muhammad ibn Hazm and Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-Jawzi. The scholars narrated that with well-known chains of narration (isnaads) from the Sahaabah and Taabi‘een, and they quoted that from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger. They discussed that in detail with orally-transmitted evidence. There is also mathematical evidence to that effect, and I do not know of anyone among the well-known Muslim scholars who denied that, apart from a few of those who engaged in arguments who, when they debated with the astrologers denied it for the sake of argument and said: It may be square or hexagonal and so on. They did not deny that it could be round, but they said that the opposite of that was possible. I do not know of anyone who said that it is not round – with any certainty – apart from some ignorant people to whom no one pays any attention.”
[10] Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa volume 6 pg 586
Islam Q/A:
The scholars are unanimously agreed that the earth is round, but to human eyes it appears to be flat, because it is very big and its roundness or curvature cannot be seen at close distances. So the one who stands and looks sees it as flat, but when viewed as a whole, in reality it is round.
[11] https://islamqa.info/en/answers/211655/reconciling-between-the-view-that-the-earth-is-round-and-the-verse-and-allah-has-made-for-you-the-earth-wide-spread-an-expanse-nooh-7119
Islam Web:
This, of course, does not contradict the fact the Earth is round-shaped as agreed by the scholars
[12] https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/92448/meaning-of-quran-7930
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani:
However, this does not contradict the spherical shape of the earth since the immediate surface will generally appear flat.
[13] https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/does-verse-30-of-sura-al-naziat-refer-to-a-spherical-earth/
Mufti Waseem Khan
There is no clear indication in the verses of the Holy Quran or ahadith that identifies the Earth as being round, oval shape or flat. Obviously, the images taken through satellite pictures etc. reveal the way in which it looks to us from a far distance. Hence, this can be accepted.
[14] https://islamqa.org/hanafi/darululoomtt/52330
Shaykh Assim Al Hakeem:
The Quran talks to the layman as he sees it! Anyone would tell you that it looks flat as far as you can see! However the Quran also addresses the people of science with evidences that the world is a globe and that all planets are round.
[15] http://www.assimalhakeem.net/does-the-quran-say-the-earth-is-flat/
Shaykh Abdul Aziz Bin Baz
The Earth according to the people of knowledge is round. Ibn Hazim and a group of scholars mention that there is a consensus among the people of knowledge that it is round.
[16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfViEKP7Tlc
Shaykh Ibn Al Uthaymeen
“The earth is round, based on the evidence of the Qur’an, reality, and scientific views. The evidence of the Qur’an is the verse in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):“He created the heavens and earth for a true purpose; He wraps the night around [yukawwir] the day and the day around the night”[az-Zumar 39:5].The word yukawwir (translated here as “wraps around” means to make something round, like a turban. It is well-known that night and day follow one another on earth, which implies that the Earth is round, because if you wrap one thing around another thing, and the thing that it is wrapped around is the Earth, then Earth must be round. With regard to real-life evidence, this has been proven. If a man were to fly from Jeddah, for example, heading west, he would come back to Jeddah from the east, if he flew in a straight line. This is something concerning which no one differs. With regard to the words of the scholars, they stated that if a man died in the west at sunset, and another died in the west at sunset, and there was some distance between them, the one who died in the west at sunset would inherit from the one who died in the east at sunset, if he was one of his heirs. This indicates that the earth is round, because if the earth were flat, sunset in all regions would occur at the same time. Once this is established, no one can deny it. This is not contradicted by the verses in which Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “Do they not look at the camels, how they are created? And at the heaven, how it is raised? And at the mountains, how they are rooted and fixed firm?And at the earth, how it is spread out?” [al-Ghaashiyah 88:17-20] Because the Earth is huge and its curvature cannot be seen from a short distance, it appears to be spread out and one cannot see anything that would make one fear living on it, but this does not contradict the fact that it is round, because it is very big. However they say that it is not evenly round; rather it is indented or pushed in at the north and south poles. Hence they say that it is egg-shaped.”
[17] Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb
So not only does Shaykh Uthaymeen affirm the earth is round according to Islam but also gives a rational explanation what “spread out” really means.
8# Conclusion
Quran does not say the earth is flat literally. It says its flat only when we observe it while being on it.
Sources:
[1] Qur’an 2:22
[2] Qur’an 15:19
[3] Qur’an 20:53
[4] Qur’an 50:7
[5] Tafsir Al Kabir by Al Razi Volume 19 pg 131
[6] Tafsir Ibn Kathir volume 8 pg 307
[7] Tafsir Ibn Kathir volume 8 pg 247
[8] Adwa’ al-Bayaan volume 8 pg 428
[9] Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa of Ibn Taymiyyah volume 25 pg 195
[10] Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa volume 6 pg 586
[12] https://www.islamweb.net/en/fatwa/92448/meaning-of-quran-7930
[14] https://islamqa.org/hanafi/darululoomtt/52330
[15] http://www.assimalhakeem.net/does-the-quran-say-the-earth-is-flat/
[16] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfViEKP7Tlc
[17] Fataawa Noor ‘ala ad-Darb
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