EARTH

Regarding the shape of the earth, RK: translates an-Nazi`at 79:30 to be "egg-shapped' (dahhyah), while other translators translate it to "spreaded" (P:, SA:, YA:), "extended" (YA:), "expanded" (S:) out (see comparison of translations). Thus, there are some Muslims who claimed that the Qur'an accurately describes the shape of the earth:

> The Arabic "dahhaahaa" is derived from "Dahhyah" which means "egg." (footnote to 79:30, also 1, 2)

which implies that one end is rounder while the other end is sharper. This is actually greatly disagreed by many Muslims. Technically also, the earth is not really egg-shaped. It is a sphere that has a little depression at the poles. The earth has an equatorial radius that is slightly larger than the polar radius. On the other hand, the egg has an "equatorial" radius that is significantly smaller than the polar radius. To be technicall correct, the earth is an oblate spheriod, nothing close to being egg-shape. It's shape is closer to a ball (i.e. sphere) than an egg.

Also, others have pointed out that the verses al-Ghashiyah 88:20; an-Nazi`at 79:30; adh-Dhariyat 51:48; ash-Shams 91:6 seemed to imply that the earth was actually flat and expanding.

- changed into another earth, Ibrahim 14:48

- creation of, Âl 'Imran 3:190; an-Nazi`at 79:30

  - in six "days", al-A`raf 7:54; Yunus 10:3; Hud 11:7; al-Furqan 25:59; Qaf 50:38; al-Hadid 57:4

  - in two "days", Ha Mim Sajdah 41:9

    - the rest in the other four, Ha Mim Sajdah 41:10

- in earth are portents for faithful, adh-Dhariyat 51:20

- passage of day to night and night to day, al-Hajj 22:61; al-Hadid 57:6; Âl 'Imran 3:190; al-A`raf 7:54; Yunus 10:6; ar-Ra`d 13:3; Ibrahim 14:33; al-Furqan 25:62; az-Zumar 39:5; Ha Mim Sajdah 41:37; al-Jathiyah 45:5

- seven earths that Allah created, 65:12.
  see also this article.

Go Back to Main Index