tremendous benefits. They are firmly anchored mountains: if all creation joined forces to establish a range like this mountain range, they would have no means of doing so, regardless of how great their skill, strength, and capabilities became or how long they were given. They could never produce mountains like these.

Some scholars have said that these mountains extend into the earth as far as they rise into the sky. In other words, a mountain has a foundation and root within the earth, reaching a depth equal to its height above it. It is not far-fetched that Allah should establish the mountain so firmly within the earth that its depth equals its height in the sky, lest the winds shake it loose. Allah—Glorious and Exalted—therefore says:

“He cast firm mountains into the earth lest it sway with you, and rivers and roads so that you may find your way, as well as landmarks; and by the stars they are guided.” [al-Nahl: 15–16]

Allah—Glorious and Exalted—says, “And at the earth—how it was spread out?” That is: consider how Allah spread out this vast earth and made it an expansive surface so that people could live upon it through farming, building, and other activities. What do you think it would be like if the earth consisted of slopes rather than level ground—that is, if it were like mountains that must be climbed and ascended? Life would be arduous, and people would be unable to settle upon it. But Allah—Glorious and Exalted—made it a level expanse prepared for creation.

Some scholars have cited this verse as evidence that the earth is not spherical but rather an extended flat surface. This inference, however, is open to question, because other verses indicate that the earth is spherical, and observable reality bears witness to this. Allah—Glorious and Exalted—says:

“He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night.” [al-Zumar: 5]

Wrapping in this manner means making something round. It is well known that night and day alternate over the earth; if they are wrapped around it, it necessarily follows that the earth is spherical. Allah—Mighty and Majestic—also says:

“When the sky is split open, and heeds its Lord, as it must; and when the earth is spread out, casts out all that is within it, and becomes empty.” [al-Inshiqāq: 1–4]

Thus He says, “And when the earth is spread out.” It is reported in a hadith that on the Day of Resurrection it will be stretched out as a hide is stretched—that is, stretched as—