The Lowest Point of Earth

Allah, may He be Exalted and Glorified, said in the Qur’an:

“Alif Laam Meem, the Romans have been defeated, in the lowest part of the land (adnal-ardh), but after defeat they will soon be victorious.” (Qur’an, Surah Ar-Rum, 30:1-3).

The term “adna” means both nearer and lowest. The commentators of the Qur’an, May Allah be pleased with all of them, were of the opinion that “adnal-ardh” meant the nearest land to the Arabian Peninsula.

When we investigated the lowest part of the earth, we found that it was exactly the same spot that witnessed the battle in which the Romans were defeated. When we informed Professor Palmer about this, he contested saying that there were many other areas which are lower than the one referred to in the Qur’anic verse. He gave examples and names of other areas in Europe and in the United States. We assured him that our information was verified and correct. He had with him a topographical globe that showed elevations and depressions. He said that it would be easy with that globe to ascertain which was the lowest spot on earth. He turned the globe with his hands and focused his sign on the area near Jerusalem. To his astonishment, there was a small arrow sticking out towards that area with words: “the lowest part on the face of the earth.”

Professor Palmer was even more astonished when he found that the Qur’an talks about the past and describes how creation first began; how the earth and heavens were created; how the water gushed forth from the depth of the earth; how the mountains were anchored on land; how vegetation first began; how is earth today, describing the mountains, describes its phenomena, describes the changes on the surface of the earth as witnessed in the Arabian Peninsula. It even describes the future of the land of Arabs and the future of the whole earth.

At this, Professor Palmer acknowledged that the Qur’an is such a wondrous Book which describes the past, the present, and the future. Like many other scientists, Professor Palmer was hesitant at first. But soon later he was forthcoming with his opinions. In Cairo, he presented a research paper dealing with the inimitable aspects of geological knowledge contained in the Qur’an. He said that he did not know what was the state of the art in the field of science during the days of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

He declared: “But from what we know about the scanty knowledge and means at that time, we can undoubtedly conclude that the Qur’an is a light of Divine Knowledge revealed to Muhammad (Peace be upon him).”