The statement that the earth revolves around the sun and other such speech is taught in our school; should we deny it?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. Regarding the astronomers' statement that the earth revolves around itself and the sun revolves around the earth, this statement is taught, perhaps, in all parts of the world. So, for example, is it obligatory for the teacher, while teaching this, to deny it?
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. As for whether the earth revolves or does not revolve? This matter is based on conjecture that it does not revolve, but we may give it the stronger position that it does revolve, because Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nahl 16:15], and the negation of the specific indicates the existence of the general, because His saying: means out of fear that it might shake, so if it did not have movement, He would not have needed to say that it might shake you.
But the thing that we still need to deny is saying that the difference between night and day is due to the movement of the earth. This is not acceptable to us, because the apparent meaning of the Book and the Sunnah is that its cause is the movement of the sun, and this is also indicated by the visible, tangible observation of the eye.
The questioner : The astronomers say that the sun is the cause of its rotation leading to the occurrence of the four seasons, but as for night and day, that the earth revolves around itself. So the question, O Shaykh, is about the teacher who teaches this subject, meaning...
The Shaykh : It must be said that this is their opinion, but the apparent meaning of the Qur'an is contrary to that. The sun is what folds over the earth like this, as Allah Mighty and Majestic said:[Az-Zumar 39:5], and the folding is the wrapping of the turban, as is well known.
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. As for whether the earth revolves or does not revolve? This matter is based on conjecture that it does not revolve, but we may give it the stronger position that it does revolve, because Allah the Exalted said:
And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift with you
وألقى في الأرض رواسي أن تميد بكمthat it might shake
أن تميدBut the thing that we still need to deny is saying that the difference between night and day is due to the movement of the earth. This is not acceptable to us, because the apparent meaning of the Book and the Sunnah is that its cause is the movement of the sun, and this is also indicated by the visible, tangible observation of the eye.
The questioner : The astronomers say that the sun is the cause of its rotation leading to the occurrence of the four seasons, but as for night and day, that the earth revolves around itself. So the question, O Shaykh, is about the teacher who teaches this subject, meaning...
The Shaykh : It must be said that this is their opinion, but the apparent meaning of the Qur'an is contrary to that. The sun is what folds over the earth like this, as Allah Mighty and Majestic said: