What do you say about the rotation of the earth?

The questioner : The questioner says: What is your opinion on the issue of the rotation of the earth?

The Shaykh : In truth, we do not doubt that the rotation of the earth is a scientific fact that admits no debate. At the same time, we believe that it is not the function of the Shari'ah in general, or the Qur'an in particular, to discuss astronomy and the details of astronomy. Rather, this falls under the general meaning of the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), which Muslim narrated in his Sahih from the hadith of Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) regarding the pollination of date palms, when he said to them: These are matters that the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) is not expected to discuss. If he speaks of them in his hadith, or our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) in His Book, it is only for a purpose, a sign, a miracle, or something similar. Therefore, we can say that there is nothing in the Book or the Sunnah that contradicts this well-known scientific fact today, which states that the earth is spherical and that it rotates by the power of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in this vast space. Indeed, a Muslim can find what suggests, if not explicitly states, that the earth is like the sun and the moon in that they are all in this void, as He (Mighty and Majestic) said: Especially if we consider that before this divine generalization with the word "all," it refers to the three celestial bodies, starting with the earth, saying: Then He said: The word "all" in the first verse includes the earth, then the sun, then the moon. Then He (the Exalted) said: This is apparent from the context of these verses, which are undoubtedly verses describing the magnificent dominion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). I say this knowing that the scholars of tafsir referred the name "all" to the nearest mentioned, which is the sun and the moon. But there is nothing to prevent us from expanding the meaning of "all" to include the earth, which was mentioned before the sun and before the moon. I say this; if it is correct, then it is excellent, and if it is not correct, then the least that can be said is that there is nothing in the Qur'an, as I mentioned earlier, nor in the Sunnah that denies this scientific fact. As for what is said or cited as evidence from verses, such as Allah (the Exalted) making the mountains , and the earth , and similar verses, they in fact do not stand to refute this cosmic scientific fact. Rather, some of them may actually be an argument against those who cite them. The making of the mountains by Allah (Mighty and Majestic) as pegs, like pegs, is a clear text indicating that this does not prevent their movement at all. Rather, it prevents the earth from moving in a disruptive way such that those dwelling on it cannot enjoy what is in it, or even life on it. This is because we know that anchors, in relation to ships, do not prevent their movement at all, but they prevent them from drifting in the midst of the sea, where waves strike them from right and left, and their fate is sinking. Similarly, the pegs usually driven for horses, for example, and other animals, do not prevent them from moving within a limited range, if that is what the animal whose peg was driven intended, if that is the correct expression. We see in Syria, in some gardens where certain herbs are grown as food for horses and cows and other animals, which is called "fussah" in our land of the Levant, and perhaps called "clover" in your land...

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : This is the green grass that is sold in the city.

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Isn't it clover?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Yes, this is planted, and when it grows, a farmer comes and drives a peg for his horse or cow. You will find that this cow eats the amount of this clover that its owner wants. It moves, but it does not move as it pleases. It does not move in chaos as if its reins were released, but it moves in an orderly manner. Therefore, you will find that it has formed a circle...

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : The fussah or clover that it ate, the land has become almost bare of vegetables, while the surrounding area still has standing vegetables. So the comparison by the Lord of the Worlds (Blessed and Exalted is He) of the mountains to the earth, like anchors to a ship, and pegs to animals, this also, in relation to the earth, does not deny an organized movement of the earth by the power of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). Therefore, I said that these verses, or at least some of them, are closer to indicating that the earth moves, at the very least, and that it is not fixed and rigid as many people imagine. In summary, there is absolutely nothing in the Shari'ah that denies the sphericity of the earth. Then, the sphericity of the earth has become today a tangible scientific fact, touchable by hand. A person is accused of having a defect in his intellect, or at least in his knowledge, if he denies this fact. Because today you can pick up the phone and call a sincere friend of yours and ask him, "Is it day or night with you now?" He will say to you, "It is night with us," while the adhan is being called for us, for example, for the Maghrib prayer, and the adhan is being called for them for the Fajr prayer, or the sun has risen. This cannot be conceived of except as science says, through experience, that this results from the earth rotating around the sun in a complete circle, resulting in night and day. And more precise than that is the occurrence of the four seasons due to the earth's distance from and proximity to the sun. This has its details in astronomy and geography, which is not our concern here. But the point is that these clear things cannot happen unless the earth is first spherical. And if its sphericity is accepted, it cannot be said to be fixed, because humans inhabit this earth on all its sides, as is said today, in the North Pole and the South Pole. If it were spherical and fixed, how would those who are at the bottom, in the South Pole for example, or at its edges, remain fixed? But because it rotates by the wondrous power of Allah, in a rotation that does not disturb the life of the settlers and inhabitants on it, this is a matter of ultimate miraculousness, indicating the greatness of the power of Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He). And I want to remind you of something that brings this distant thing, which does not enter the minds of some people, closer. I was a worker in my uncle's shop, who was a barber. A customer would come, for example, and ask for coffee, a cup of coffee. The coffee maker or the coffee maker's worker, the coffee worker or the coffee maker, would come with a tray or platter. Do you say platter?

The questioner : Yes.

The Shaykh : Like these trays, slightly larger, but these have a holder, because we can picture it like this. Here he puts his finger here and walks. First, he plays and amuses himself, doing it like this. And the cup on the small plate, as is customary, does not move from its place. This is very, very small, to help a person understand how the earth rotates and the people on it are not disturbed. And people are people, as He (the Exalted) said: If this cup, which is placed on the platter and moved by a human, an ignorant, coarse human with limited power and understanding, and yet our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) gave him some intellect and some power such that he rotates this platter with the cup on it, and the cup is on the small plate, and not a drop spills from it—we used to see this when we were young—what do we say about Allah (Mighty and Majestic)?
"And nothing is valid in the minds if the day needs proof"
For Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is capable of all things. So the issue only requires some knowledge and correct understanding, along with complete faith, of course, in the greatness of the power of Allah, which no human can imagine. This is my opinion on this question.

The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.

The Shaykh : And may Allah protect you.