[Q 284] Scholarly Debate: Earth’s Stillness

Qestion

Salaam, what do the respected scholars say in regards to the theory of the earth rotating on its axis or being still (sakin)?

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب بعون الملك الوهاب اللهم هداية الحق والصواب

Answer

The esteemed scholars have deduced from certain verses of the Holy Qur’an that the earth is completely still (sakin), not moving, and firmly established in its place.

Imam Ahl-e-Sunnat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رحمه الله, has written a detailed book on this subject for details, see that.

And it is also noticeable that many scientists hold the same theory.

Almighty says:

 {إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمٰوٰاتِ وَالْاَرْضَ اَنْ تَزُوْلَا}

(Indeed, Allah upholds the heavens and the earth, that they do not tremble.)

[Al-Fatir:41]

 It is stated in Tafsir Kabir Misri:

وأعلم أن کون الارض فراشا مشروط بامور: الشرط الأول: کونها ساکنة: و ذالک لانها لو کانت متحرکة لکانت حرکتها اما بالاستقامة أو بالاستدارۃ، فان کانت بالاستقامة لما کانت فراشا لنا علی الاطلاق (الی ان قال) علمنا ان الارض غیر متحرکة لا بالاستدارۃ ولا بالاستقامۃ فهی ساکنة

“Know that the earth being a bed is conditional upon several matters: The first condition is that it must be still: and that is because if it were moving, its movement would either be straight or circular. If it were straight, it could not be a bed for us under any circumstances… We know that the earth is not moving, neither in a circular motion nor in a straight line, thus it is still.”

(Tafsir e Kabir , Volume 1, Page 341)

Answered by: Usman Madani (Askmufti Scholar)

Verified by: Mufti Sajid Attari 

Translated Answer

Date: 12th May 2024