Islamic Views on the Shape of the Earth: Difference between revisions

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Islamic Views on the Shape of the Earth (view source)

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===Ibn Hazm (d. 1064)===
===Ibn Hazm (d. 1064)===
One of the three that ibn Taymiyyah cited, ibn Hazm, asserts that while there is sound evidence that the Earth is round, common people and some non-leading Muslim scholars may think otherwise. Still, he maintains, none of the leading scholars of Islam deny that the Earth is round.{{Citation Needed}}  
One of the three that ibn Taymiyyah cited, ibn Hazm (d. 1064) of Cordoba, asserts that while there is sound evidence that the Earth is round, common people and some non-leading Muslim scholars may think otherwise. Still, he maintains, none of the leading scholars of Islam deny that the Earth is round.{{Citation Needed}}  


This reveals that uneducated people (as were Muhammad and the sahabah) thought the Earth to be flat even in ibn Hazm's day. His statement provides no evidence that the earliest scholars actually said the Earth is round (just that leading scholars didn't say it was flat). It is apparent from their statements that Ibn Hazm and the other followers of Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal mentioned above believed in a round Earth for astronomical reasons, even if some of them attempted to find further backup from the Qur'an and sunnah.  
This can be taken as evidence that it was not uncommon for uneducated lay persons living in Muslim lands in the 11th century to still believe the Earth to be flat. It is likewise clear from the arguments marshalled by Ibn Hazm that, by his time, members of the scholarly class had, in addition to their round-Earth-friendly interpretations of scripture, solid astronomical reasoning on which to base their belief in the round Earth. The same can be said about the other followers of Imam Ahmad cited by Ibn Taymiyyah.  


Given that Ibn Taymiyyah cited these scholars, the narrations he used to support spherical heavens (when asked about the shape of both the heavens and Earth), were probably the best available. Stronger evidence might be expected if a consensus for a round Earth went back to Muhammad and the companions.
Given that Ibn Taymiyyah cited these scholars, the narrations he uses to argue for the spherical shape of the heavens (when asked about the shape of both the heavens and Earth), were most probably the best available. Stronger and clearer evidence might reasonably be expected if a consensus for the round shape of the Earth (in addition to that of the heavens) went back to Muhammad and the companions.


In Tafsir al-Jalalayn, which was written centuries later, has a different claim of consensus. For {{Quran|88|20}} we read the following:  
=== Jalal ad-Din al-Maḥalli (d. 1460) ===
In Tafsir al-Jalalayn, started by Jalal ad-Din al-Maḥalli (d. 1460) and completed by Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 1505), a different majority view is asserted. This relevant portion of the Tafsir is authored by al-Mahalli):


{{Quote|1=[http://main.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=88&tAyahNo=20&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Tafsir al-Jalalayn for Qur'an 88:20]|2=As for His words sutihat ‘laid out flat’ this on a literal reading suggests that the earth is flat which is the opinion of most of the scholars of the revealed Law and not a sphere as astronomers (ahl al-hay’a) have it even if this latter does not contradict any of the pillars of the Law.}}
{{Quote|1=[http://main.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=88&tAyahNo=20&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2 Tafsir al-Jalalayn for Qur'an 88:20]|2=As for His words sutihat ‘laid out flat’ this on a literal reading suggests that the earth is flat which is the opinion of most of the scholars of the revealed Law and not a sphere as astronomers (ahl al-hay’a) have it even if this latter does not contradict any of the pillars of the Law.}}


For details on this word, sutihat, in verse 88:20, see [[Flat Earth and the Quran#Qur.27an 88:20 - sutihat .28spread out flat.29|below]].
The word "sutihat" in {{Quran|88|20}} [[Flat Earth and the Quran#Qur.27an 88:20 - sutihat .28spread out flat.29|means "laid out flat"]].


Similarly, ibn Kathir says the heavens are a dome or roof or like the floors of a building over the Earth which is its foundation in his tafsir for verses [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Al-Baqara/The-Beginning-of-the-Creation 2:29], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Ar-Rad/Clarifying-Allahs-Perfect-Abi--- 13:2], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Al-Anbiya/In-everything-there-is-a-Sign---- 21:32], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Ya-Seen/Among-the-Signs-of-the-Might-a--- 36:38], and [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Fussilat/Some-Details-of-the-Creation-o--- 41:9-12].
=== Ibn Kathir (d. 1373) ===
Ibn Kathir says the heavens are a dome or roof or like the floors of a building over the Earth which is its foundation in his tafsir for verses [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Al-Baqara/The-Beginning-of-the-Creation 2:29], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Ar-Rad/Clarifying-Allahs-Perfect-Abi--- 13:2], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Al-Anbiya/In-everything-there-is-a-Sign---- 21:32], [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Ya-Seen/Among-the-Signs-of-the-Might-a--- 36:38], and [http://m.qtafsir.com/Surah-Fussilat/Some-Details-of-the-Creation-o--- 41:9-12].


Other examples of such scholars include Al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH / 1273 CE) and Al-Mawardi (d. 450 / 1058 CE) who both in their tafsirs use {{Quran|13|3}} as a reply to those who say the Earth is shaped like a ball.<ref>[https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=5&tSoraNo=13&tAyahNo=3&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 altafsir.com] - Tafsir al-Qurtubi for verse 13:3</ref><ref>[https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=12&tSoraNo=13&tAyahNo=3&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 altafsir.com] - Tafsir al-Mawardi for verse 13:3</ref>
=== Al-Qurtubi (d. 1273) ===
Al-Qurtubi (d. 671 AH / 1273 CE), another prominent exegete, maintains that the Earth is shaped like a ball in his commentary on {{Quran|13|3}}.<ref>[https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=5&tSoraNo=13&tAyahNo=3&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 altafsir.com] - Tafsir al-Qurtubi for verse 13:3</ref>


The website goes on to quote from a 20th century book of fatwas, which claims that the Earth is egg shaped and also makes an argument using verse 39:5, both of which are discussed in the article [https://wikiislam.net/wiki/Flat_Earth_and_the_Quran Flat Earth and the Quran].
=== Al Mawardi (d. 1058) ===
Al-Mawardi (d. 450 / 1058 CE), also in his commentary on {{Quran|13|3}}, maintains that the Earth is shaped like a ball.<ref>[https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=12&tSoraNo=13&tAyahNo=3&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 altafsir.com] - Tafsir al-Mawardi for verse 13:3</ref>


==Acquisition of Greek and Indian astronomical knowledge==
==Acquisition of Greek and Indian astronomical knowledge==
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