No, the Quran does not explicitly state that the Earth is flat. Verses that describe the Earth as “spread out” (madadnāhā in Surah Al-Hijr 15:19, mihād in Surah An-Naba’ 78:6) are sometimes misinterpreted as references to flatness. However, classical mufassirūn (exegetes) such as Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain these terms as metaphors describing the Earth’s livability, stability, and accessibility for humans, rather than its geometric shape. The Quran uses phenomenological language, describing appearances from human perspective, rather than making detailed scientific claims.
Islamic scholarship, both classical and modern, consistently rejects the flat Earth interpretation. Prominent scholars like Al-Biruni (11th century) and Ibn Hazm affirmed the Earth’s sphericity centuries before modern science confirmed it. Today, the overwhelming consensus among Muslim scholars is that the Quran is fully compatible with the understanding of a spherical Earth, with its language emphasizing divine wisdom in making Earth habitable rather than providing a literal cosmological model.
Does the Quran Explicitly State That the Earth Is Flat?
What Do Islamic Scholars Say About the Earth’s Shape?
Islamic scholars, both classical and modern, affirm that the Earth is spherical. Early Muslim scientists such as Al-Biruni (11th century) calculated the Earth’s circumference with remarkable accuracy, while Ibn Hazm (10th century) explicitly described the Earth as round. Their findings align with Quranic descriptions of celestial order, showing no contradiction between revelation and scientific observation.
In modern times, many rejected flat Earth claims as baseless and inconsistent with Islamic teachings. Classical tafsir works, such as Tafsir al-Qurtubi, clarify that Quranic expressions like “spread out” (sataḥa, mihād, madadnāhā) describe the Earth’s surface as livable and accessible, not flat in shape. Scholars emphasize that the Quran’s goal is guidance in faith and morality, not detailed cosmology, and its language is compatible with later scientific discoveries affirming Earth’s roundness.
Are There Quranic Verses Misinterpreted as Supporting a Flat Earth?
Some verses are misread due to poetic or contextual ambiguity. For example, Surah 18:86 mentions the sun setting in a “muddy spring,” which critics cite as flat Earth evidence. However, tafsirs explain this as a visual perspective, not a cosmological claim. Similarly, verses describing the Earth as a “carpet” (71:19) symbolize accessibility, not flatness.
These interpretations are consistent with the Quran’s use of figurative language. Surah 31:10 states God “spread out the Earth,” but scholars like Ibn Kathir clarify this denotes habitable terrain, not geometric shape. Parallel terms appear in other religious texts without implying flatness.
How Does Islamic Cosmology Compare to Modern Science?
Islamic cosmology traditionally incorporated spherical Earth models. Medieval scholars like Ibn Sina and Al-Razi referenced Greek astronomy, which Muslims advanced. The Quran’s silence on a specific shape allowed scholars to integrate empirical observations, as seen in Al-Idrisi’s 12th-century world maps.
Modern Islamic institutions align with scientific consensus. Organizations such as Sapience Institute and Dar al-Ifta Egypt publish refutations of flat Earth theories, citing Quranic verses (e.g., 39:5) that describe day-night cycles as evidence of a rotating, spherical Earth.
What Is the Historical Context of Flat Earth Claims in Islam?
A minority of pre-modern scholars entertained flat Earth ideas, influenced by limited astronomical tools or literalist readings. However, these views were marginal. The 9th-century Abbasid Caliphate’s House of Wisdom promoted spherical Earth studies, and polymaths like Al-Khwarizmi calculated the planet’s circumference.
Contemporary flat Earth movements lack scholarly backing. Malaysian fatwas (Bayan Linnas Series 166) and Saudi Arabia’s Islamic Fiqh Council classify flat Earth beliefs as pseudoscience, stressing that Islam encourages empirical inquiry.
How Do Quranic Descriptions of Earth’s Transformation Relate to Its Shape?
Verses about the Earth’s transformation (e.g., 14:48) discuss eschatology, not shape. Surah 21:30’s mention of “heaven and Earth joined together” refers to cosmic origins, not flatness. Tafsirs like Ma’arif al-Quran contextualize these as metaphysical, not topographical.
The Quran’s focus is on divine power, not geophysics. Descriptions of mountains as “pegs” (78:7) or Earth’s expansion are theological metaphors for stability and divine provision, not geological assertions.
What Role Do Cultural and Linguistic Factors Play in Misinterpretations?
Arabic’s poetic nature leads to varied readings. Terms like “faraash” (carpet) or “sutihat” (spread out) are idiomatic, not geometric. Classical lexicons, such as Lisan al-Arab, define these words contextually, with scholars like Al-Tabari noting their flexibility.
Modern translations sometimes amplify ambiguities. English renderings of “spread” lack Arabic’s layered connotations, fueling debates. Scholarly consensus, however, prioritizes interpretive tradition over literal word-for-word translations.
How Do Muslim-Majority Countries Educate About the Earth’s Shape?
National curricula in countries like Egypt and Indonesia teach a spherical Earth. Textbooks reference both Quranic verses and scientific data, reflecting the harmony principle in Islamic thought. Malaysia’s Ministry of Education mandates astronomy modules debunking flat Earth claims.
Public fatwas reinforce scientific education. The UAE’s Council of Fatwa issued rulings equating flat Earth denial with rejecting Quranic injunctions to observe nature (3:190-191).
Are There Any Sectarian Differences in Views on the Earth’s Shape?
No major sect promotes flat Earth theology. Sunni, Shia, and Ibadi scholars uniformly endorse a spherical Earth. Isolated fringe groups, like some Salafi literalists, have no institutional support.
Historical debates centered on celestial mechanics, not Earth’s shape. Disputes over geocentrism (e.g., Ibn al-Shatir’s models) were distinct from flat Earth claims, which lack scholarly roots.
What Is the Broader Impact of Flat Earth Claims on Muslim Communities?
Flat Earth theories are dismissed as distractions. Saudi cleric Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Tarifi warned they undermine Islam’s intellectual legacy. Turkey’s Diyanet publishes articles affirming round Earth compatibility with the Quran.
Educational initiatives counter misinformation. Iran’s Islamic Propagation Organization hosts seminars reconciling Quranic verses with astrophysics, citing verses like 21:33 on celestial orbits.
How Does the Quran’s Approach to Nature Compare to Other Religious Texts?
The Quran shares phenomenological language with the Bible and Vedas, describing nature in human-scale terms. Unlike rigidly geocentric medieval Christian texts, the Quran’s ambiguity allowed Muslim scholars to advance heliocentrism.
Its encouragement of observation (e.g., 88:17-20) fostered scientific inquiry. This contrasts with flat Earth literalism, which the Quran neither commands nor implies.
What Are the Key Takeaways for Understanding the Quran and Earth’s Shape?
The Quran does not teach a flat Earth. Its verses use symbolic language open to scholarly interpretation. Islamic tradition and modern science agree on a spherical Earth, with flat Earth claims representing misinterpretations or fringe views.
Authoritative Islamic bodies consistently reject flat Earth theories. The Quran’s descriptions of nature aim to inspire reflection, not dictate scientific models. Muslim scholars integrate empirical evidence with theological principles, affirming compatibility between faith and science.