In the Quran, Allah (SWT) has not revealed any verse that explicitly states the shape of the Earth, nor did the Prophet (SAW) give a direct description of it. Scholars derived certain conclusions based on the level of knowledge available in their own era. For example, at one point people believed that the Earth was flat because that was the knowledge of the time. They saw the verse in which Allah says, “He is the One who made the earth a bed spread out beneath your feet,” and interpreted it as an indication that the Earth is flat. But that’s all it is, an interpretation, not an explicit statement about the shape of the Earth.
This verse is not definitive (muhkam) in this regard; it can accommodate more than one valid interpretation. From our perspective, the Earth appears flat. Indeed, when we look at the ground, we see it spread out before us. The verse could be referring to what we see with our eyes, not the actual shape of the Earth. Other verses may also allow valid interpretations indicating that the Earth is round. In another verse, Allah says:
خَلَقَ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضَ بِالْحَقّۚ يُكَوِّرُ الَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى الَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَۜ كُلٌّ يَجْر۪ي لِاَجَلٍ مُسَمًّىۜ اَلَا هُوَ الْعَز۪يزُ الْغَفَّارُ
“He created the heavens and the earth for a purpose. He wraps the night around the day, and wraps the day around the night.” [39:5]
The Arabs use the word kura for a ball, and kura refers to a round sphere. Nevertheless, these verses do not contain categorical statements about the Earth’s shape. Their purpose is to describe how Allah created the universe and the balance within it.
Therefore, scholars have made deductions based on the level of scientific knowledge reached in their time, concluding either that the Earth is flat or that it is round. But these conclusions are not definitive; they are merely opinions. The Quran does not contain an explicit statement declaring, “The shape of the Earth is such-and-such.”
As a result, some people whose hearts are diseased have gone beyond limits by treating the shape of the Earth as if it were a fundamental matter of the religion and declaring as disbelievers those who say that the Earth is round. While millions of people who call themselves Muslims have become worshippers of the taghut and stand on the brink of eternal Hellfire, they are preoccupied with this non-issue. For some, the shape of the Earth has become an obsession day and night, and there are even those who recklessly make takfir of anyone who disagrees with them.
Whether someone says the Earth is flat, round, square, cubic, a hexagon, or anything else, that is their own affair; such a person is not declared a disbeliever for it. The shape of the Earth is not a matter of importance in the Quran. My advice is not to waste your time on such pointless debates. You will not be asked in the grave or in the Hereafter, “What was the shape of the Earth?” This will be the only post about this issue and that’s about as much time this topic deserves. And Allah knows best.
