Surah az-Zumar (The Groups) 39 : 5

Explanatory Note

Clear evidence of God’s oneness is seen in the way the heavens and the earth are created, and in the law controlling the universe. Indeed, to merely look at the skies and the earth gives us a clear sense of the oneness of the will that has created all and controls all. It has now become clear that the entire world known to man is composed of atoms made of the same matter, consisting of rays that have the same nature. It is also known that all atoms and the bodies composed of such atoms, including the earth in which we live and all planets and stars, are in perpetual motion dictated by a consistent law that operates without fail in the tiny atom as well as in the huge star. Furthermore, it has now been clearly established that this perpetual motion is in accordance with another constant law that further stresses the unity of creation and the unity of control. Every day, man discovers something new testifying to the unity of design throughout the universe.

“He has created the heavens and the earth in accordance with the truth.” Likewise, He bestowed His book from on high to state the truth. It is the same truth in the universe and in this book, the Qur’ān. Both originate from the same source, and both are evidence of the oneness of their Maker, the Almighty, the Wise.

“He causes the night to flow into the day, and the day to flow into the night.” This is indeed an amazing statement that forces anyone who carefully looks at it to consider what has now been established of the earth’s nature and its circular shape. Throughout this commentary on the Qur’ān, I have been keen not to look at its verses and statements from the angle of any theory science advances, because such theories may be right or they may be wrong. They may be proven today to be true but something may be discovered tomorrow to render them false. By contrast, the Qur’ān is the word of truth, and it carries its own proof. It needs no supporting evidence from what human beings may or may not discover. Yet the statement included in this verse forces me to relate it to the fact that the earth is circular, because it describes a fact we all notice. As the earth rotates, the part of it facing the sun receives its light and this is daytime. However, this part is not stationary because the earth continues to rotate. As it does, the night begins to spread over the part that had had the day. This part is in a rounded shape, and the day spreads over it in a flowing movement, followed by the night also in a flowing movement.

After a while the day begins to flow again over the night from the other side, in never-ceasing motion: “He causes the night to flow into the day, and the day to flow into the night.” The statement draws the design, defines the position and specifies the nature of the earth and its movement. Its circular shape and rotation give this statement its most accurate interpretation.

“He has made the sun and the moon subservient [to His laws]: each running its course for a set term.” The sun and the moon run in their respective orbits. They are under God’s control. No one claims to set them in motion. By natural logic, they cannot run without someone setting them to do so, controlling them by a system that does not deviate by a hair’s breadth across countless centuries. Yet both the sun and the moon continue to run their courses ‘for a set term,’ which is known only to God.

“He is indeed the Almighty, the All-Forgiving.”  His might and power are coupled with His forgiveness of anyone who turns to Him. Thus, those who lie to Him, disbelieve in His oneness, attribute partners to Him or allege that He has a son are made aware that the way is open to them to return to the right way and to believe in the One who is Almighty, Much-Forgiving.

The Spherical Shape of the Earth

The Arabic word for “wrap” is “yukowir” The word is used to depict the act of wrapping a turban around someone’s head. This word was also used in the sense of overlapping of the night and day and vice versa. The reason for the day’s turning into night and the night’s turning into day is due to the spheroid form of the earth.

God also says, وَالْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَاهَا  “And after that He spread the earth.” [Qur’ān 79:30] The Arabic word “dahw” means to ‘spread’ or ‘spread out giving something  a round shape’, i.e. like that of the ostrich’s egg.  Many ancient cultures, including the Greek, Indian and Chinese, held the belief that the Earth is flat. The Europeans did not alter their view until the Middle ages.