What is the ruling on saying that the universe is flat, and does the one who says it commit an act of disbelief?
The assertion that the universe is flat is an erroneous statement that contradicts scientific facts, the explicit texts of the Quran and , and the consensus of scholars. However, one who says it is not to be excommunicated, because he has not denied a definitive text, but rather has misinterpreted verses in a way that deviates from their intended meaning. This error may have a negative impact on the one who asserts it and on others, as it might lead to the misconception that the Quran contradicts reality and scientific facts. Scholars have explained that the intent of the verses mentioning "flattened" and "spread out" is to describe the spreading of the Earth's surface and making it suitable for walking, not to describe the Earth's size or deny its sphericity. Furthermore, the immense size of the Earth makes its surface appear flat from a human perspective.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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