Question:
Are there reports that the earth is on a “whale”?
Answer:
Aban Ibn Taghlib reported that he asked Imam As-Sadiq (a.): “What is the earth upon? He said: “It is upon a fish.” I said: “What’s the fish upon?” He said: “Over the water.” I said: “What’s the water upon?” He said: “Over a rock.” I said: “What’s the rock upon?” He said: ” Upon the fine horn of a bull.” I said: “What is the bull upon?” He said: “Above the ground.” I said: “What is the earth on which we stand?” He said: “Far from it! with that the knowledge of the scholars went astray.” Muhammad Baqir Al-Majlisi writes: “Authentic (Sahih).” [Al-Kafi of Al-Kulaini, volume 8 page 89 Hadith 55; Mir’at-ul-Uqul of Al-Majlisi, volume 25 page 201]
محمد، عن أحمد، عن ابن محبوب، عن جميل بن صالح، عن أبان بن تغلب، عن أبي عبد الله عليه السلام قال: سألته عن الأرض على أي شيء هي؟ قال هي على حوت، قلت: فالحوت على أي شيء هو؟ قال: على الماء، قلت: فالماء على أي شيء هو؟ قال: على صخرة، قلت: فعلى أي شيء الصخرة؟ قال: على قرن ثور أملس، قلت: فعلى أي شيء الثور؟ قال: على الثرى، قلت: فعلى أي شيء الثرى؟ فقال: هيهات عنذلك ضل علم العلماء. قال محمد باقر المجلسي: صحيح
Hibat-ud-Din Ash-Shahrastani writes: “With the tradition may be meant that the earth is above something that has the shape of a fish. The meaning (of the bull) may be that the earth was created over something that has the shape of a bull’s horn.” [Al-Hay’ah Wa Al-Islam, page 75]
قال السيد هبة الدين الشهرستاني رحمه الله: فيکون الحديث هکذا الأرض على شکل حوت. وقال السيد رحمه الله: والمعنى أن الأرض خلقت على شكل قرن ثور
Abu Zibyan reported that Abdullah Ibn Abbas said: “The first thing God created was the pen. He said to him: “Write!” It said: “What shall i write?” He said: “Predestination.” Then He carried it out and wrote down everything that happens until the hour came. His throne was on the water and then the steam rose up from which the heavens were formed. Then He created the fish and spread the earth on it as a carpet and the earth is on the fish’s back. When the fish moves, the earth trembles, but the mountains grant a firm hold and the mountains boast in front of the earth.” Al-Hakim An-Naisaburi writes: “This tradition is authentic (Sahih) under the condition of the two scholars, but they have not publicized it. Muhammad Ibn Ahmad Adh-Dhahabi writes: “It fulfils the condition of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.” [Al-Mustadrak Ala As-Sahihain of Al-Hakim, Hadith 3840]
أخبرنا أبو زكريا يحيى بن محمد العنبري ثنا محمد بن عبد السلام ثنا إسحاق بن إبراهيم أنبأ جرير عن الأعمش عن أبي ظبيان عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: إن أول شيء خلقه الله القلم فقال له: اكتب فقال: و ما اكتب فقال: القدر فجرى من ذلك اليوم بما هو كائن إلى أن تقوم الساعة قال: وكان عرشه على الماء فارتفع بخار الماء ففتقت منه السموات ثم خلق النون فبسطت الأرض عليه و الأرض على ظهر النون فاضطرب النون فمادت الأرض فأثبتت بالجبال فإن الجبال تفخر على الأرض. وقال الحاكم النيسابوري: هذا حديث صحيح على شرط الشيخين و لم يخرجاه. تعليق الذهبي قي التلخيص: على شرط البخاري ومسلم
Abdullah Ibn Amr reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “Between each earth of the Earths there is a distance of 500 years and the highest of them is on the back of a fish and its two ends touch each other in heaven. The fish is on a rock and the rock is in the hand of the angel. The second earth is a windy prison, on the third is the stone of hell, on the fourth is the sulfur of hell, on the fifth is the serpents of hell, on the sixth is the scorpions of hell, and on the seventh is the fire of hell. On it is Iblis, chained with iron. A hand is in front of him and a hand is behind him, and if God wants to set him free – for what He wants – He will set him free.” [Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim, Hadith 13197]
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