Earth's Structure as Suggested by the Qur'an (1/2)

Shape
It has already been stated that Earth's diameter indicates that it is either oval or ball-shaped. Further evidence is provided when God says that He "enballs'' the night over the day and "enballs" the day over the night.

“He created the heavens and the earth in true (proportions). He makes the night overlap the day, and the day overlap the night.  He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law). Each one follows a course for an appointed time. Is He not the Exalted in Power, He Who forgives again and again?” (Surah Az-Zumar, 39:5)

Further evidence that the planet is ball-shaped is given when God calls Himself the Lord of the easts and the wests.  This fact must have been accepted easily by the people of that time, for they could see its truth by watching the horizon and viewing the sunrise at different points in the east, depending upon the season, in a north-to-south arc. However, as explained earlier, the time of the sun's rising varies by four minutes for each degree of longitude. This is a leading indication that our planet is ball-shaped:
“I call to witness (Our being) the Lord of all points in the east and the west that We can certainly ...” (Surah Al-Ma’arij, 70:4 0)

Layers of the Earth
God said that He created seven heavens and a similar number for the planet Earth:
“God is the One Who created seven firmaments and a similar number for the earth. His command penetrates (all) of them, that you may know that He has power over everything and that His knowledge surrounds everything.” (Surah At-Talaq, 65:12)

This verse could have two interpretations. The first is that He created several planets similar to ours. His statement that He is the "Lord of the worlds" (Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:2); an assertion that indicates a multiplicity of worlds either similar or dissimilar to ours supports this. However, the verse asserts their existence and is repeated several times a day as part of the ritual prayer. This is perhaps to remind people of His countless and diverse creations.

“All praise is due to God, Lord of the worlds.” (Surah Al-Fatihah, 1:1)

An alternative explanation is found in Surah At-Talaq, God fashioned Earth into layers just as He took heaven, which was one big mass, and fashioned it into layers one upon another. It seems that our planet is unique in God's creation and that other solar systems might not contain an identical planet.

All Qur'anic verses on the universe's creation state that the heavens are plural and Earth is singular. The following verses show how God established the plurality of the heavens and the singularity of our planet.

“The unbelievers say, "The Hour will never come to us." Reply, "By my Lord, by the One who knows the unseen, from whom not even the least atom in the heavens or the earth is hidden, it will come to you. Regardless of size, everything is recorded in a clear record.” (Surah Saba’, 34:3)

“The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory. All things celebrate His praise, and yet you do not understand how they declare His glory. Truly He is Oft Forbearing, Most Forgiving.” (Surah Al-Isra’, 17:44)

“A revelation from the Creator of the earth and the heavens on high ... to Him belongs what is in the heavens and on the earth, as well as what is between them and what is beneath the soil.” (Surah Ta-Ha, 20:4, 6)

“Say:  ‘The (Qur'an) was sent down by God, who knows the secret (that is) in the heavens and the earth. Truly, He is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.’ ” (Surah Al-Furqan, 25:6)

There is now strong scientific evidence that Earth is made of seven layers. Several authors have suggested that, in the beginning, our planet was probably a homogeneous mixture without continents or oceans. In the process of differentiation, iron sank to the center and lighter material floated upward to form a crust. As a result, Earth became a zoned planet with a dense iron core, a superficial crust of light rock, and a residual mantle that functions as a buffer zone. After careful seismic and other studies, it has been suggested that Earth has seven layers a continental crust (0-40 kms.) and an oceanic crust (0-10 kms.), a lithosphere (0-70 kms.), an asthenosphere  (70-250 kms.), a transitional zone (250-700 kms.), a lower mantle (700-2,900 kms.), a liquid iron core (2,900-4.980 kms.), and a solid iron core (4,980-6,371 kms.).

Thus it is clear that our planet consists of seven layers, as indicated in the Qur'an. Scientific research tells us the planet’s radius is 6,371 kms. and with a total mass of 6.6 hundred trillion tons, has a density of approximately 16 at the center and of 2.7 at the surface. Seismic records show that shock waves passing through the earth change their direction and speed at certain level s, a phenomenon known as discontinuity. Earth's layers were assumed, and it was recognized later that the continents rest on 15 major plates, which are named for the continent in question.

These plates, known as the lithosphere layer and as bearers of the planet's crust (both continents and oceans), move along Earth's molten core.  They are made of solidified rock approximately 70 kms thick and act as a thermal boundary conduction layer floating on the asthenosphere's molten or semi molten rock. At the interface of two plates, one tends to be pushed downward (subduction zone), which causes that lithosphere plate to descend into the hot molten mantle under the second plate's leading edge. This would have continued, and the plate's continent would have disappeared, if the top of the second plate's leading edge had no mountains. These mountains, trapped between one plate's descending subduction zone and the leading edge of the mountain-bearing second plate, prevent the plate with the continental crust on top from slipping into the interior.

Recent findings and theories throw light on the Qur'anic statement that our planet has seven layers. God also said that the time He took to create Earth was similar to the time that it He took to create the universe. Thus although the planet is small, its creation must have been on a vast scale.

Say: "Do you deny Him who created the earth in two days, and do you join others with Him as equal? He is the Lord of (all) the worlds." (Surah Fussilat, 41:9)