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==Expansion of the Earth from Beneath the Ka'ba==
==Expansion of the Earth from Beneath the Ka'ba==
Some interpreters, relying on verse 96 of Sura Al Imran, where the [[Ka'ba]] is described as the first house established on earth, argue that the expansion of the earth has originated from beneath the Ka'ba. They interpret the verse as a reference to Dahw al-Ard (the spreading of the earth).<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 797; Abū Ḥayyān Andulusī,''Al-Baḥr al-muḥīṭ fī al-tafsīr'', vol. 4, p. 583.</ref>
Certain interpretations, referencing Quranic verse 96 of Sura Al Imran (3) which describes the [[Ka'ba]] as the first house built on Earth, propose that the earth's expansion originated beneath the Ka'ba. These scholars equate this notion with the concept of "Dahw al-Ard."
In some narrations, it is also mentioned that God created the Ka'ba 2000 years before the spreading of the earth.<ref> Kulaynī, ''Al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 190; Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 241; Ṣadūq, ''Al-Amālī'', p. 715.</ref>
 
According to numerous narrations, the spreading of the earth (dahw al-Ard) has originated from [[Mecca]] and beneath the house of the Ka'ba.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''Al-Durr al-manthūr fī tafsīr al-maʾthūr'', vol. 8, p. 412; Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa'', vol. 10, p. 449-451; Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 54, p. 64; Kulaynī, ''Al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 189; Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 241.</ref>
 
Some interpreters, relying on verse 96 of Sura Al Imran, where the [[Ka'ba]] is described as the first house established on earth, argue that the expansion of the earth has originated from beneath the Ka'ba. They interpret the verse as a reference to Dahw al-Ard.<ref>Ṭabrisī, ''Majmaʿ al-bayān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 2, p. 797; Abū Ḥayyān Andulusī,''Al-Baḥr al-muḥīṭ fī al-tafsīr'', vol. 4, p. 583.</ref>
Some narrations posit that the Ka'ba's creation predates the earth's expansion by 2000 years.<ref> Kulaynī, ''Al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 190; Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 241; Ṣadūq, ''Al-Amālī'', p. 715.</ref> A prevailing perspective suggests that the "Dahw al-Ard," or the earth's expansion, originated from Mecca, specifically beneath the Ka'ba.<ref>Suyūṭī, ''Al-Durr al-manthūr fī tafsīr al-maʾthūr'', vol. 8, p. 412; Ḥurr al-ʿĀmilī, ''Wasāʾil al-Shīʿa'', vol. 10, p. 449-451; Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 54, p. 64; Kulaynī, ''Al-Kāfī'', vol. 4, p. 189; Ṣadūq, ''Man lā yaḥḍuruh al-faqīh'', vol. 2, p. 241.</ref>
 
===Umm al-Qura===
===Umm al-Qura===
In verses 92 of Surah Al-An'am and 7 of Surah Al-Shura, there is an interpretation of "Umm al-Qura" (Mother of Cities) referring to [[Mecca]]. Some commentators have suggested that in the beginning, water covered all the land, and only the place of the Kaaba on a dry hill remained. This dryness gradually emerged from around the Ka'ba until it expanded to its current size.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 4, p. 201; Baghawī, ''Tafsir al-Baghawī'', vol. 1, p. 115; Samarqandī, ''Tafsīr al-samarqandī al-musammā baḥr al-ʿulūm'',  vol. 1, p. 486.</ref>
Quranic verses 92 of Sura al-An'am (6) and 7 of Surah Al-Shura (42) refer to [[Mecca]] as "Umm al-Qura" (Mother of Cities). Some interpretations suggest that in the beginning, Mecca stood as a solitary dry land amidst a water-covered world. This dry expanse gradually expanded, forming the land as we know it today.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 4, p. 201; Baghawī, ''Tafsir al-Baghawī'', vol. 1, p. 115; Samarqandī, ''Tafsīr al-samarqandī al-musammā baḥr al-ʿulūm'',  vol. 1, p. 486.</ref> In a narration from Imam Ali, the same concept is mentioned.<ref>''Al-Tafsīr al-mansūb ilā al-Imām al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī al-ʿAskarī'' vol. 7, p. 145;  Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 54, p. 88.</ref>  
In a narration from Imam Ali, the same concept is mentioned.<ref>''Al-Tafsīr al-mansūb ilā al-Imām al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī al-ʿAskarī'' vol. 7, p. 145;  Majlisī, ''Biḥār al-anwār'', vol. 54, p. 88.</ref>  
In a narration from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the reason for naming Mecca as Umm al-Qura has been understood to be the spreading of the earth (dahw al-Ard) from Mecca.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 131; Suyūṭī, ''Al-Durr al-manthūr fī tafsīr al-maʾthūr'', vol. 3, p. 29.</ref>
In a narration from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the reason for naming Mecca as Umm al-Qura has been understood to be the spreading of the earth (dahw al-Ard) from Mecca.<ref>Ṭūsī, ''Al-Tibyān fī tafsīr al-Qurʾān'', vol. 1, p. 131; Suyūṭī, ''Al-Durr al-manthūr fī tafsīr al-maʾthūr'', vol. 3, p. 29.</ref>
If the Ka'ba is the first part of the earth that emerged from water, it should be the highest point on Earth, but it is not. In response, it is explained that the spreading of the earth occurred millions of years ago, and during this time, the Earth has undergone transformations. Mountains have turned into ocean floors, and ocean floors have become mountains.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 5, p. 345.</ref>
 
A potential contradiction arises from the notion of the Ka'ba as the initial point of land emergence, suggesting it should be the highest point on Earth. To reconcile this, some explain that the Earth's dramatic transformation over millions of years, including the conversion of mountains into ocean floors and vice versa, has altered the planet's topography.<ref>Makārim Shīrāzī, ''Tafsīr-i nimūna'', vol. 5, p. 345.</ref>


==Notes==
==Notes==