Seventh Matter

 

 

In order to confuse minds and cast doubt on the authenticity of the Qur’an some people, only taking into consideration the literal meaning, have put forward some objections to the following:

He (Dhu’l-Qarnayn) saw it setting in a spring of hot and black, muddy water (18:86).

And the earth, We have spread it out like a couch (51:48).

And the earth, how it has been spread out (88:20).

And after that He has spread out the earth in egg-shape (79:30).

In fact, there is no need to answer such objections. Illustrious interpreters of the Qur’an have brought to light the gems contained in such expressions. Without leaving any need for further explanation, they have taught us what we should know.

Those who lived in earlier times wept and caused me also to weep.

Alas! Are there any who will relent because of my weeping?

 

It is futile to attempt to teach what is already known, especially if the thing that is known is observable. It must therefore contain some peculiar and remarkable points so that it may not be futile to teach or state it. So, if it had been said: see how the earth was made a couch for living beings despite its spherical shape and how it has been protected against the rising of the seas; how, despite its supposed stability, the sun runs its course to serve us in procuring our livelihood; how the sun, which is millions of miles away from us, sets in “a spring of hot and black, muddy water,” then the verses mentioned would have had no points worthy of attention. The points (that some so-called modernists make a target of criticism) are in fact aspects of eloquence.

 

Said Nursi