The Ruling on the Claim that the Earth Rotates

Question:
A disbeliever. And the question, O honorable Shaykh, is whether studying false theories that contradict the Islamic Shari'ah, such as the rotation of the earth, is from those who have sold their religion, or is it a study of false theories that contradict the Islamic Shari'ah? Is studying the rotation of the earth from those who have sold their religion, especially since we have heard Your Eminence’s response to those who said so, and also a response to Shaykh Mahmud al-Tuwajiri and al-Yahya? Is your response the correct one, and the words of those who said it rotates are false, or is it the opposite? I ask for clarification in detail. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
This hadith is authentic. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Hasten to deeds" , [one who] sells his religion for a small portion of this world. This happens often, and it has happened. A person is given a small amount of money and he associates partners with Allah, or he insults his religion, or he mocks his religion, and so on. We ask Allah for safety.
As for the earth, it is a theoretical matter. A person says the earth rotates based on his independent reasoning, and he is not one who has sold his religion for a portion of this world. He may deny it based on his independent reasoning, and he is not one who has sold his religion for a portion of this world. But it is a theory that has its evidence and its doubts. The truth is that it is fixed and stationary. This is the truth. The earth is fixed and stationary. This is the truth. Some of the theorists, those who deal with mathematics and those who study the celestial bodies, called the astronomical body, some of them held that it rotates daily and annually. This statement is dangerous. If its proponent says that it rotates while the sun is fixed and the moon is fixed, that becomes disbelief in Allah. Because it is a lie against Allah. For Allah says , and He says and . So whoever says that the sun is stationary and fixed, or that the moon is fixed and the earth is the one that rotates, has lied against Allah and His Messenger. That becomes disbelief. We ask Allah for safety. As for the one who says it rotates in a specific way, and the sun continues its course, and the moon moves, and everything moves in its own state, the matter in this is easy. This is easier. The result is that the statement about the rotation of the earth requires a distinction. It is wrong in any case, but there is a distinction. The truth is that it is fixed and stationary. This is the truth. And whoever says it rotates, there is a distinction in that. If he says it rotates while the sun is moving and the moon is moving, the matter is easy. It is an error, and he is wrong, but the matter is easy. But if he says it rotates and that the sun is fixed and the moon is fixed, this becomes disbelief. Because it is a lie against Allah who says and He says, Exalted is He, in . So whoever says that the sun does not move, or says it does not move, has lied against Allah and His Messenger. Whether he says the earth rotates or does not say the earth rotates, he is a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety.

The presenter:
May Allah reward you,