In the Qur’an, the term ‘ ard used in most of the passages cited means the land-surface falling within the observer’s immediate view, rather than the earth as a planet. Third and more importantly, one does not at all take into consideration the second category of passages wherein the shape of the earth as a unit is mentioned. Second, despite the diversity and differences in the descriptive expressions in the passages one imposes on them all identical meanings. Misinterpretation occurs due to many reasons, first and foremost is when one concentrates on the passages of the first category and takes them to refer to the shape of the earth as a unit, which is not the case. Here the earth is spoken of as a unit and the description really gives an insight into its shape. In the second category of passages the word occurs in relation to the sun, the moon, the skies and the universe in general. In other words, the earth in these passages means the land or land-surface falling within an observer’s immediate view, in contradistinction to the mountains and rivers, rather than the entire earth as a unit. Here the listeners’ or readers’ attention is drawn mainly to the objects of nature and the land-surface falling within his immediate view. Here the emphasis is on how the earth has been made suitable and useful for man and other creatures. In one category it is mentioned in combination with or in comparison to the mountains and rivers. The passages wherein it occurs with any description of its shape and nature may be divided into two categories. At a number of places the word clearly comes in the sense of country or dominion while at other places it is used metaphorically to denote worldly life. Most of the uses are in connection with a description of Allah’s absolute dominion over the entire universe and His power of creation. The word ‘ ard occurs in the Qur’an some 461 times.
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