Question: Is there any verse stating that the earth is round, and if so, which sura is it in? I am hesitant as to whether it is flat or round. All countries are situated in lands surrounded by sea. What is there to keep in the outer edges of these seas? I request that you provide an explanation, and I kiss your hands.
Emirdağlı Ali Hoca
The Risale‑i Nur has solved questions of this sort. The Islamic scholars have accepted that the earth is round, and this in no way contradicts religion. The word “saṭh” in the verse does not indicate that the earth is not round. It has been laid down by the learned authorities that to be turned towards the qibla (istikbal‑i kıble) while performing the prayers is obligatory, and this is applicable to every part of the prayers, including the bowing and prostrating. Since according to the Shari‘a, there is a luminous line from the Ka‘ba upwards as far as the divine throne, and downwards to the ground, performing all the actions of the prayers in the direction of the qibla is possible with the earth being round.
Said Nursi