What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “And you see the mountains, thinking them stationary, while they pass by like the clouds. The work of Allah, who perfected everything”? And is this verse cited as evidence for the validity of the claim that the earth rotates?
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The questioner : What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Naml 27:88] And is this verse cited as evidence for the validity of the claim that the earth rotates?
The Shaykh : Before answering this question, I would like to comment on the previous answer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is that if what was mentioned is not established by evidence—meaning what the questioner stated about this woman appointing him to obtain land to be held in trust for her—if this is not established by evidence, then the heirs must be believed regarding the claim of this agent. If they do not believe him, then nothing is established.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the woman’s question regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:[An-Naml 27:88] This verse is about the Day of Resurrection, because Allah mentioned it after mentioning the blowing of the Trumpet, saying: [An-Naml 27:87-89] So this verse is about the Day of Resurrection, as evidenced by what comes before it and what comes after it, and it is not about this world. And His saying: means stationary, not moving, but they pass by like the clouds because they will become scattered dust that flies about.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for citing it as evidence for the validity of the earth’s rotation, that is not the case. This evidence is incorrect for the reason we mentioned, which is that it is about the Day of Resurrection.
And the issue of the earth’s rotation and its non-rotation, delving into it is, in reality, among the superfluous matters of knowledge, because it is not a matter that it is obligatory for the servants to know, nor does the validity of their faith depend on it. If it were so, its explanation would have been clear in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, with no obscurity in it. Since the matter is as it is, it is not befitting for a person to burden himself with delving into it. But the whole issue is what is mentioned regarding the claim that the earth rotates, that the sun is stationary, and that the difference between night and day is due to the earth’s rotation around the sun. This claim is false, and its falsity is evident from the apparent meaning of the Qur'an. The apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah indicates that what revolves around the earth, or revolves over the earth, is the sun. For Allah says in the Noble Qur'an:[Ya-Sin 36:38].
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So He said: Thus He attributed the flowing to it. And He the Exalted said: [Al-Kahf 18:17] Here are four actions, all of which Allah attributed to the sun: [Al-Kahf 18:17] [Al-Kahf 18:17] What necessitates diverting these four actions attributed to the sun from their apparent meaning, and saying: if it rises in the eye of the beholder, and it moves in the eye of the beholder, and if it sets in the eye of the beholder, and it covers them in the eye of the beholder? What obligates us to distort the verse from its apparent meaning to this meaning, other than theories or estimates that may not even reach the level of a theory, being mere illusions? And Allah the Exalted says: [Al-Kahf 18:51] And man has not been given of knowledge except a little. And if he is ignorant of the reality of his soul that is between his two sides, as Allah the Exalted said: [Al-Isra 17:85] How can he attempt to know this universe, which is greater than his creation, as Allah the Exalted said: [Ghafir 40:57].
So we say: The theory that the difference between night and day is due to the earth’s rotation around the sun is false, because it contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an, in which the Creator, Glorified and Exalted is He, spoke. He is more knowledgeable about His creation and more knowledgeable about what He created. How can we distort the speech of our Lord from its apparent meaning for the sake of mere theories in which even the theorists differ? The claim that the earth is stationary and the sun revolves around it has remained prevalent until these late ages.
Then we say: Allah the Exalted mentioned that He rolls the night over the day and rolls the day over the night. The meaning of rolling is revolving. If that is so, where do night and day come from except from the sun? If night and day do not come except from the sun, this indicates that what wraps around the earth is the sun, because that is how it is by the rolling. Then it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), when the sun had set: He said: Allah and His Messenger know best. He said: to the end of the hadith. And this is evidence that it is the one that moves toward the earth, due to his saying: And in the aforementioned hadith, he said: And this is evidence that it is the one that revolves around the earth. This is a matter that it is obligatory for the believer to believe in, acting upon the apparent meaning of the speech of his Lord, who is All-Knowing of everything, without looking at these corrupt theories, which time will turn over and bury, as it buried other worn-out theories.
This is what we believe in this issue. As for the issue of the earth’s rotation, as we said first, it should be avoided because it is among the superfluous matters of knowledge. If it were among the matters that it is obligatory for the believer to believe in, whether affirming or denying it, Allah the Exalted would have explained it clearly. But the whole danger is that we say: the earth rotates, the sun is stationary, and the difference between night and day is due to the difference in the earth’s rotation. This is the great danger, because it contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. We are believers in Allah and His Messenger, and we know that Allah the Exalted speaks with knowledge, and it is not possible for the apparent meaning of His speech to be contrary to the truth. And we know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also speaks with knowledge, and we know that he is the most sincere of creation and the most eloquent of creation, and it is not possible for him to come to his Ummah with speech whose apparent meaning is contrary to what he intends (peace and blessings be upon him). It is upon us in these great matters to believe in the apparent meaning of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), except if there comes from the certain sensory matters, known with certain knowledge, what contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an. In that case, our understanding that this is the apparent meaning of the Qur'an would be incorrect, and we can say: the Qur'an intends such and such, which agrees with the specific, tangible reality in which no one disputes. This is because certain indications cannot contradict each other; that is, it is not possible for two certain proofs to ever contradict each other, because if they contradicted each other, one could be abrogated by the other. And if one could be abrogated by the other, they would not be certain.
And the important thing is that it is obligatory for us in this issue to believe that the sun revolves around the earth, and that the difference between night and day is not due to the earth’s rotation, but due to the sun’s rotation around the earth.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and give you reward.
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things
وترى الجبال تحسبها جامدة وهي تمر مر السحاب صنع الله الذي أتقن كل شيءThe Shaykh : Before answering this question, I would like to comment on the previous answer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is that if what was mentioned is not established by evidence—meaning what the questioner stated about this woman appointing him to obtain land to be held in trust for her—if this is not established by evidence, then the heirs must be believed regarding the claim of this agent. If they do not believe him, then nothing is established.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for the woman’s question regarding the saying of Allah the Exalted:
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do.
وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ(87) And [warn of] the Day the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be terrified except whom Allah wills. And all will come to Him humbled. (88) And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do. (89) Whoever comes [at Judgement] with a good deed will have better than it, and they, from the terror of that Day, will be safe.
وَيَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِي الصُّورِ فَفَزِعَ مَنْ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَنْ فِي الأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَكُلٌّ أَتَوْهُ دَاخِرِينَ * وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ * مَنْ جَاءَ بِالْحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا وَهُمْ مِنْ فَزَعٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ ءامِنُونَYou think it is solid
تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةًThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : As for citing it as evidence for the validity of the earth’s rotation, that is not the case. This evidence is incorrect for the reason we mentioned, which is that it is about the Day of Resurrection.
And the issue of the earth’s rotation and its non-rotation, delving into it is, in reality, among the superfluous matters of knowledge, because it is not a matter that it is obligatory for the servants to know, nor does the validity of their faith depend on it. If it were so, its explanation would have been clear in the Qur'an and the Sunnah, with no obscurity in it. Since the matter is as it is, it is not befitting for a person to burden himself with delving into it. But the whole issue is what is mentioned regarding the claim that the earth rotates, that the sun is stationary, and that the difference between night and day is due to the earth’s rotation around the sun. This claim is false, and its falsity is evident from the apparent meaning of the Qur'an. The apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah indicates that what revolves around the earth, or revolves over the earth, is the sun. For Allah says in the Noble Qur'an:
And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِThe questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : So He said:
runs
تَجْرِيyou would see the sun when it rose, inclining away from their cave on the right, and when it set, passing away from them on the left
وَتَرَى الشَّمْسَ إِذَا طَلَعَتْ تَزَاوَرُ عَنْ كَهْفِهِمْ ذَاتَ الْيَمِينِ وَإِذَا غَرَبَتْ تَقْرِضُهُمْ ذَاتَ الشِّمَالِwhen it rose, inclining away
إذا طلعت تزاورwhen it set, passing away from them
إذا غربت تقرضهمI did not make them witness to the creation of the heavens and the earth or to the creation of themselves
مَا أَشْهَدْتُهُمْ خَلْقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَلا خَلْقَ أَنفُسِهِمْAnd they ask you, [O Muhammad], about the soul. Say, "The soul is of the affair of my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little."
وَيَسْأَلُونَكَ عَنِ الرُّوحِ قُلِ الرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّي وَمَا أُوتِيتُمْ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًاThe creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.
لَخَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَلَكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لا يَعْلَمُونَSo we say: The theory that the difference between night and day is due to the earth’s rotation around the sun is false, because it contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an, in which the Creator, Glorified and Exalted is He, spoke. He is more knowledgeable about His creation and more knowledgeable about what He created. How can we distort the speech of our Lord from its apparent meaning for the sake of mere theories in which even the theorists differ? The claim that the earth is stationary and the sun revolves around it has remained prevalent until these late ages.
Then we say: Allah the Exalted mentioned that He rolls the night over the day and rolls the day over the night. The meaning of rolling is revolving. If that is so, where do night and day come from except from the sun? If night and day do not come except from the sun, this indicates that what wraps around the earth is the sun, because that is how it is by the rolling. Then it is established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said to Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him), when the sun had set:
Do you know where it goes?
أتدري أين تذهب؟It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne
فإنها تذهب فتسجد تحت العرشDo you know where it goes?
أتدري أين تذهبIf permission is granted to it, otherwise it is said: Return from where you came, so it emerges from its setting place
فإن أذِن لها، وإلا قيل: ارجعي من حيث جئتِ، فتخرج من مغربهاThis is what we believe in this issue. As for the issue of the earth’s rotation, as we said first, it should be avoided because it is among the superfluous matters of knowledge. If it were among the matters that it is obligatory for the believer to believe in, whether affirming or denying it, Allah the Exalted would have explained it clearly. But the whole danger is that we say: the earth rotates, the sun is stationary, and the difference between night and day is due to the difference in the earth’s rotation. This is the great danger, because it contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. We are believers in Allah and His Messenger, and we know that Allah the Exalted speaks with knowledge, and it is not possible for the apparent meaning of His speech to be contrary to the truth. And we know that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) also speaks with knowledge, and we know that he is the most sincere of creation and the most eloquent of creation, and it is not possible for him to come to his Ummah with speech whose apparent meaning is contrary to what he intends (peace and blessings be upon him). It is upon us in these great matters to believe in the apparent meaning of the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), except if there comes from the certain sensory matters, known with certain knowledge, what contradicts the apparent meaning of the Qur'an. In that case, our understanding that this is the apparent meaning of the Qur'an would be incorrect, and we can say: the Qur'an intends such and such, which agrees with the specific, tangible reality in which no one disputes. This is because certain indications cannot contradict each other; that is, it is not possible for two certain proofs to ever contradict each other, because if they contradicted each other, one could be abrogated by the other. And if one could be abrogated by the other, they would not be certain.
And the important thing is that it is obligatory for us in this issue to believe that the sun revolves around the earth, and that the difference between night and day is not due to the earth’s rotation, but due to the sun’s rotation around the earth.
The questioner : May Allah reward you and give you reward.