Islamic Views on the Shape of the Earth: Difference between revisions

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In addition to all of the direct evidence we have provided, this is just one of the problems which indirectly indicate that the narrator/writer of the Qur'an believed in a flat earth model.
In addition to all of the direct evidence we have provided, this is just one of the problems which indirectly indicate that the narrator/writer of the Qur'an believed in a flat earth model.


===Qur'an 18:47 and 20:105-107- Without mountains Earth will be entirely open to view and a level plain===
===Qur'an 18:47 - Without mountains the Earth will be entirely apparent===


{{Quote|{{Quran|18|47}}| ويوم نسير الجبال وترى الارض بارزة وحشرناهم فلم نغادر منهم احدا
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|47}}| وَيَوْمَ نُسَيِّرُ ٱلْجِبَالَ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ بَارِزَةً وَحَشَرْنَٰهُمْ فَلَمْ نُغَادِرْ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا


Wayawma nusayyiru aljibala watara al-arda barizatan wahasharnahum falam nughadir minhum ahadan
Wayawma nusayyiru aljibala watara al-arda barizatan wahasharnahum falam nughadir minhum ahadan
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One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. }}
One Day We shall remove the mountains, and thou wilt see the earth as a level stretch, and We shall gather them, all together, nor shall We leave out any one of them. }}


بارز = Wholey, or entirely, apparent or manifest, Land that is open, apparent, or uncovered, upon which is no mountain or any other thing.
بَارِزَةً = baarizatan = Wholey, or entirely, apparent or manifest, Land that is open, apparent, or uncovered, upon which is no mountain or any other thing.


In verse 18:47 we are told that with the mountains removed the Earth will be entirely visible. In verses 20:105-107, different arabic words are used to say that when the mountains are destroyed the Earth will be a level plain without curve or crookedness.
===20:105-107 Without mountains the Earth will be a level plain===


{{Quote|{{Quran-range|20|105-107}}| وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْجِبَالِ فَقُلْ يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّى نَسْفًا فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا لَّا تَرَىٰ فِيهَا عِوَجًا وَلَآ أَمْتًا
{{Quote|{{Quran-range|20|105-107}}| وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلْجِبَالِ فَقُلْ يَنسِفُهَا رَبِّى نَسْفًا فَيَذَرُهَا قَاعًا صَفْصَفًا لَّا تَرَىٰ فِيهَا عِوَجًا وَلَآ أَمْتًا
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They will ask thee of the mountains (on that day). Say: My Lord will break them into scattered dust. And leave it as an empty plain, Wherein thou seest neither curve nor ruggedness.}}
They will ask thee of the mountains (on that day). Say: My Lord will break them into scattered dust. And leave it as an empty plain, Wherein thou seest neither curve nor ruggedness.}}


The word فَيَذَرُهَا Fayatharuha ('He will leave it') has the feminine 'ha' suffix, which almost certainly refers to the Earth, which is a feminine noun. Similarly فِيهَا feeha (literally 'in it', translated 'wherein') has the feminine 'it' suffix. There is no other singular feminine noun in these verses, so it must mean the Earth.
The word فَيَذَرُهَا Fayatharuha ('And he will leave it') has the feminine 'ha' suffix, meaning 'it'. It almost certainly refers to the Earth, which is not explicitly mentioned, and is a feminine noun. Similarly the word translated 'Wherein' is فِيهَا feeha (literally 'in it') and has the feminine 'it' suffix too. There are no other singular feminine nouns in these verses, so because we have some additional context to this verse thanks to 18:47, we should conclude that they refer to al-ard (the Earth).


The words qaAAan safsafan mean 'a level plain'.
قَاعًا  = qaAAan = an even place; plain, or level, land that produces nothing; plain, or soft, land, low, and free from mountains.
 
صَفْصَفًا = safsafan = a level, or an even, tract of land.
 
عِوَجًا = AAiwajan = crookedness, a curvity, bending, winding, contortion, wryness, distortion, or uneveness
 
أَمْتًا = amtan = curvity, crookedness, distortion, or uneveness; ruggedness and smoothness in different places; depression and elevation; small hills and hollows.
 
AAiwajan and amtan are inconclusive regarding their implications for the shape of the Earth as a whole, but qaAAan safsafan means a level, barren plain.


===Qur'an 55:17 - The two easts and two wests===
===Qur'an 55:17 - The two easts and two wests===
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