Did the Prophet, may God’s prayers and peace be upon him, know scientific facts such as the sphericity of the Earth, or did he interpret the verses that mention the flatness of the Earth literally?
The knowledge of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, was derived from revelation, guidance, and legislation, as Allah the Almighty said: "And Allah has sent down upon you the Book and Wisdom and has taught you that which you did not know. And ever has been upon you the grace of Allah great" (4:113), and "It is nothing but a revelation revealed, taught to him by one intense in strength" (53:4-5), and "And thus We have sent to you an inspiration of Our command. You did not know what is the Book or [what is] faith, but We have made it a light by which We guide whom We wish of Our servants. And indeed, you guide to a straight path" (42:52).
As for worldly sciences and experiences, they were not part of revelation. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, denied his knowledge of some details of worldly affairs, as in the about the pollination of date palms: "You are more knowledgeable in the affairs of your world." This indicates that his infallibility (ismah) was in matters of religion and , not in worldly affairs.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/1403
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 1403
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy