The Earth is the Center of the Universe
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In the geography subject you are studying, it is mentioned that the Earth is the center of the universe and the Sun revolves around it. Is this in accordance with what is found in the Qur'an?
What is in the Qur'an is that the Earth is the center and the Sun revolves around it.The evidence is the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He: [al-Kahf:17] So Allah attributed the rising and the setting to the Sun, and attributed to it the alternation and the clipping,And Allah the Exalted said: [Ya-Sin:38] So the apparent meaning of the Qur'an is that the Sun is the one that revolves around the Earth, and it is obligatory for us to take this apparent meaning, because the One who speaks of this is the Creator, Mighty and Majestic, and He knows His creation better than anyone else. We cannot deny this and resort to the statement of the moderns that the Earth is the one that revolves, and by its revolution the difference between night and day occurs, unless we know with certain knowledge that this is the reality. In that case, we interpret the verses away from their apparent meaning to what agrees with this reality. As for their mere statement, we counter their statement with the statement of Allah, Mighty and Majestic, the Creator.And we say: The Earth is the center and the Sun revolves around it, and the Moon revolves around it, and the stars revolve around it. This is not what is found in the books of the later astronomers, who are known for the view that the Earth is the one that revolves and by its revolution the difference between night and day occurs. But this is not accepted unless we know it as we know the clothes on our bodies, because it is not possible to contradict the apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah for the speech of any human being. Even the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to Abu Dharr when the Sun had set: (Do you know where it goes?He said: Allah and His Messenger know best.He said: It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne, and it asks for permission. If it is given permission, it stays; otherwise, it returns from where it came.) This is explicit that the Sun is the one that sets and the one that goes. So why do we leave this? If it is the Day of Resurrection and a person is standing before Allah and his belief is contrary to this, what is his argument with Allah? The statement of so-and-so and so-and-so is not an argument.
So it is obligatory for us to take the apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in this matter, unless we know with certain knowledge, as we know the clothes on our bodies, that the Earth is the one that revolves and by its revolution the difference between night and day occurs. In that case, we accept it, and then we have the leeway to interpret the Book and the Sunnah to what agrees with the reality, because the Qur'an and the Sunnah do not contradict reality.
What is in the Qur'an is that the Earth is the center and the Sun revolves around it.The evidence is the statement of Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He:
you 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 الشِّمَالِAnd 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 الْعَلِيمِSo it is obligatory for us to take the apparent meaning of the Qur'an and the Sunnah in this matter, unless we know with certain knowledge, as we know the clothes on our bodies, that the Earth is the one that revolves and by its revolution the difference between night and day occurs. In that case, we accept it, and then we have the leeway to interpret the Book and the Sunnah to what agrees with the reality, because the Qur'an and the Sunnah do not contradict reality.