The Term ‘Ard (Earth) In The Holy Qur’an And Its Significance

One of the most important basic elements necessary for the bestowal of water, food grains and all other basic requirements for the survival of human beings, as well as other creatures, is the earth (‘ard). In Arabic dictionaries, the word ‘ard (earth) is a noun which means the land and soil. This word is referred to many times both in the Qur’an and in the traditions of Muhammad sallAllahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. In the Qur’an, the term ‘ard is mentioned several times (see al-Baqi 1994).

Said Moses to his people: “Pray for help from Allah, and (wait) in patience and constancy: for the earth is Allah’s, to give as a heritage to such of His servants as He pleaseth; and the end is (best) for the righteous.” (Surah al-A‘raf, 7: 128)

“Verily your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and is firmly established on the throne (of authority), regulating and governing all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave (hath been obtained). This is Allah your Lord; Him therefore serve ye: will ye not receive admonition?” (Surah Yunus, 10: 3)

“And it is He who spread out the earth, and set thereon mountains standing firm and (flowing) rivers: and fruit of every kind He made in pairs, two and two: He draweth the night as a veil over the Day. Behold, verily in these things there are signs for those who consider!” (Surah al-Ra‘d, 13:3)

“He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky. With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.” (Surah Taha, 20: 53)

“And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: How excellently We do spread out.” (Surah al-Dhariyat, 51: 48)

“(Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way).” (Surah al-Zukhruf, 43:10)

“It is Allah Who has made for you the earth as a resting place, and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape - and made your shapes beautiful, - and has provided for you Sustenance, of things pure and good;- such is Allah your Lord. So Glory to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds!” (Surah Ghafir, 40: 64)  

 “Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 22)

“And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out).” (Surah Nuh, 71: 19)

“Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse.” (Surah al-Naba’ 78: 6)

In these verses, we found that the earth, as far as its value is concerned, is described as mahd, (Surah al-Zukhraf 43:10; Surah al-Naba’ 78: 6), mustaqarr or qarar, (Surah al-Ghafir 40:64), firash, (Surah al-Baqarah 2: 22), bisat (Surah Nuh 71: 19) and mihad (Surah al- Naba’ 78: 6). All these terms denote the surface of the earth which includes everything that is on the surface such as land and soil, mountains, plants, trees, forests, etc. The term ‘ard also means a place that is smooth and easy for man to walk on, work on, cultivate on plants and crops, build on houses and factories and do everything on it within his limits. In this regard, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

“It is He Who has made the earth manageable for you, so traverse ye through its tracts and enjoy of the sustenance which He furnishes, but unto Him is the Resurrection.” (Surah al-Mulk, 67: 15)

Many Mufassirun of the Qur’an comment the above verse by saying that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala made and prepared this earth in such a way that it has become a suitable place to build our home and the home of all terrestrial beings. It supports plant and animal life and is the origin of the main food resources for both man and animal. It has not come by itself, but by the Will and Power of the Creator. God created man to settle on the earth, generation after generation. He, with his Wisdom, placed it at a suitable distance and created such conditions on it which made it possible for different species to exist and stay alive on it (Fakhr al-Din al-Razi 1985; al-Qurtubi 1994). In fact, the land, according to the Qur’an, is considered dead or drought, whenever there is lack of rainfall and intensive dryness of the atmosphere that causes wilting and death of plants and hardship to cattle, other animals and man. However, it is Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala Who revives it by sending water from the sky and covers it with plants and trees. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

 “It is Allah Who sends forth the winds so that they raise up the clouds, and We drive them to a land that is dead, and revive the earth therewith after its death: even so (will be) the Resurrection.” (Surah Fatir, 35: 9)

Again, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

“See you not that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and forthwith the earth becomes clothed with green? For Allah is All-subtle, All-Aware.” (Surah al-Hajj, 22: 63)

“A sign for them is the earth that is dead. We revive it and We bring forth from it grain, so that they may eat thereof; and We have placed therein gardens of date-palm and grapes, and We have caused springs of water to gush forth therein, that they may eat of the fruit thereof, and their hands made it not. Will they not then give thanks?” (Surah Yasin, 36: 33-35)

“In the rain which God sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead.” (Surah al-Baqarah, 2: 164)

In relation to the above verses, Syed Muhamad Naquib al-Attas, in his interpretation of the Surah al-Tariq 86: verse 1, Wa al-Sama’ Dhati al-Raj` interprets the word din as referring to returning rain which brings benefit to the earth by bringing life to it and by causing good growth which is beneficial to life. Similarly, as rain gives life to the earth which would otherwise be dead, so does din gives life to man, without which man would be dead (see al-Attas 1993).

For this reason, soil, which is one of the components of the earth, has been entrusted to man and he must take care of it by preserving and protecting it since it supports plant and animal’s life. The soil begets plants, which are the origin of the main food resources consumed by both man and animals. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says:

“A sign for them is the Earth that is dead: We do give it life and produce grain therefrom, of which ye do eat. And We produce therein orchards, with date-palms and vines, and We cause springs to gush forth therein: that they may enjoy the fruit of this (artistry): it was not their hands that made this: will they not then give thanks?” (Surah Yasin, 36: 33-35)