cube?
Ta-Ha (20:53)
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًۭا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًۭا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًۭا مِّن نَّبَاتٍۢ شَتَّىٰ ٥٣
˹He is the One˺ Who has laid out the earth for ˹all of˺ you, and set in it pathways for you, and sends down rain from the sky, causing various types of plants to grow,
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
(He is) the One who made the earth a cradle for you, and made in it pathways for you to move, and sent down water from the heavens; and We brought forth with it pairs of different vegetations :
— T. Usmani
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
— Saheeh International
” وہی جس نے تمہارے لئے زمین کو گہوارہ بنایا اور اس میں تمہارے چلنے کو راستے بنائے اور اوپر سے پانی برسایا “ ‘ پھر اس کے ذریعہ سے مختلف اقسام کی پیداوار نکالی۔
— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an
وہ (وہی تو ہے) جس نے تم لوگوں کے لئے زمین کو فرش بنایا اور اس میں تمہارے لئے رستے جاری کئے اور آسمان سے پانی برسایا۔ پھر اس سے انواع واقسام کی مختلف روئیدگیاں پیدا کیں
— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari
وہی جس نے زمین کو تمہارے لیے بچھونا بنایا اور اس میں تمہارے (چلنے کے) لیے راستے بنائے اور آسمان سے پانی نازل کیا پھر ہم نے اس (پانی) سے نکالے طرح طرح کے نباتات
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
The word 'مَهْدًۭا' is used to describe how Allah has made or appointed (جَعَلَ) the Earth (ٱلْأَرْضَ) for us (لَكُمُ).
The root 'م ه د' occurs sixteen times in The Quran. Exploring the usage of the words in the various ayaat:
The Romans (30:44)
مَن كَفَرَ فَعَلَيْهِ كُفْرُهُۥ ۖ وَمَنْ عَمِلَ صَـٰلِحًۭا فَلِأَنفُسِهِمْ يَمْهَدُونَ ٤٤
Those who reject Faith will suffer from that rejection: and those who work righteousness will spread their couch (of repose) for themselves (in heaven):
— A. Yusuf Ali
جس شخص نے کفر کیا تو اس کے کفر کا ضرر اُسی کو ہے اور جس نے نیک عمل کئے تو ایسے لوگ اپنے ہی لئے آرام گاہ درست کرتے ہیں
— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari
Those who revert to the Deen of Allah, and do acts of reform are for themselves preparing their resting place.
...
The Cloaked One (74:14)
وَمَهَّدتُّ لَهُۥ تَمْهِيدًۭا ١٤
and extended (power and honour) to him pretty well.
— T. Usmani
And spread [everything] before him, easing [his life].
— Saheeh International
اور اس کے لئے ریاست کی راہ ہموار کی ،
— Fe Zilal al-Qur'an
اور میں نے اس کے لیے ہر قسم کا سامان خوب اچھی طرح سے تیار کردیا۔
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
With reference to context, regarding a particular 'kafir' individual, Allah is stating that He has made everything easy and within his power.
...
The Cow (2:206)
وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ ٱتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ أَخَذَتْهُ ٱلْعِزَّةُ بِٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ فَحَسْبُهُۥ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَلَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ٢٠٦
When it is said to them, “Fear Allah,” pride carries them off to sin. Hell will be their proper place. What an evil place to rest!
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
When it is said to him, “Fear Allah”, he is tempted by arrogance to (commit) sin. Hell is then enough for him, and it is indeed an evil bed to rest.
— T. Usmani
When it is said to him, "Fear Allah", He is led by arrogance to (more) crime. Enough for him is Hell;-An evil bed indeed (To lie on)!
— A. Yusuf Ali
اور جب اس سے کہا جاتا ہے کہ اللہ سے ڈرو تو جھوٹی عزت نفس اس کو گناہ پر اور جما دیتی ہے اور یقیناً وہ برا ٹھکانہ ہے۔
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
Regarding a type of pilgrim who seeks to cause corruption, destroying crops and progeny (Q2:205), when he is reminded to fear Allah, his power (ٱلْعِزَّةُ) drives him to more sin. Such a person is preparing an evil place of rest for himself.
...
Family of Imran (3:12)
قُل لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ سَتُغْلَبُونَ وَتُحْشَرُونَ إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ١٢
˹O Prophet!˺ Tell the disbelievers, “Soon you will be overpowered and driven to Hell—what an evil place to rest!”
— Dr. Mustafa Khattab, The Clear Quran
Say to those who disbelieve: “You shall soon be overcome and shall be gathered into Hell. Indeed, it is an evil bed (in which) to rest.”
— T. Usmani
(اے نبی ﷺ !) کہہ دیجیے ان لوگوں سے جو کفر کی روش اختیار کر رہے ہیں کہ تم سب کے سب (دُنیا میں) مغلوب ہو کر رہو گے اور (پھر آخرت میں) جہنم کی طرف گھیر کرلے جائے جاؤ گے اور وہ بہت برا ٹھکانہ ہے
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
The kafirs (rejectors /disbelievers) are being warned that they will be overcome. The example of Pharaoh and his family, and those before them, is presented in the previous ayat (Q3:11). They also belied the signs, and thus were caught out for their sins, and Allah is indeed severe in punishment. The disbelievers are being warned of the terrible place of rest they are preparing for themselves through their disbelief and rejection.
...
Family of Imran (3:196-197)
لَا يَغُرَّنَّكَ تَقَلُّبُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْبِلَـٰدِ ١٩٦
The strutting of the disbelievers about the land should not deceive you.
— T. Usmani
Be not deceived by the [uninhibited] movement of the disbelievers throughout the land.
— Saheeh International
اے نبیؐ! دنیا کے ملکوں میں خدا کے نافرمان لوگوں کی چلت پھرت تمہیں کسی دھوکے میں نہ ڈالے
— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi
3:197
مَتَـٰعٌۭ قَلِيلٌۭ ثُمَّ مَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۚ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ١٩٧
It is just a little enjoyment. After that, their resort is Hell; and it is an evil abode.
— T. Usmani
[It is but] a small enjoyment; then their [final] refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.
— Saheeh International
یہ محض چند روزہ زندگی کا تھوڑا سا لطف ہے، پھر یہ سب جہنم میں جائیں گے جو بدترین جائے قرار ہے
— Tafheem e Qur'an - Syed Abu Ali Maududi
Again, it is being explained that we should not be deceived by the movement of disbelieving people across lands (international travel), which essentially is a symbol of worldly business and prosperity. It is just a little enjoyment, but eventually they will be led to Hell, an evil final resting place.
...
The Heights (7:41)
لَهُم مِّن جَهَنَّمَ مِهَادٌۭ وَمِن فَوْقِهِمْ غَوَاشٍۢ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ ٤١
Hell will be their resting place and their covering, layer upon layer- this is how We punish those who do evil.
— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
For them there is Hell, as a couch (below) and folds and folds of covering above: such is Our requital of those who do wrong.
— A. Yusuf Ali
ان کے لیے جہنم ہی کا بچھونا ہوگا اور اوپر سے اسی کا اوڑھنا ہوگا۔ اور اسی طرح ہم ظالموں کو بدلہ دیں گے۔
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
For the arrogant falsifiers, the gates of the sky will not be opened for a very long time; they will not be able to ascend to the sky, and their resting place/ bed/ couch and coverings will be in Hell; this is how those who ut their nafs in darkness will be recompensed.
...
The Thunder (13:18)
لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَجَابُوا۟ لِرَبِّهِمُ ٱلْحُسْنَىٰ ۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَمْ يَسْتَجِيبُوا۟ لَهُۥ لَوْ أَنَّ لَهُم مَّا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًۭا وَمِثْلَهُۥ مَعَهُۥ لَٱفْتَدَوْا۟ بِهِۦٓ ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلْحِسَابِ وَمَأْوَىٰهُمْ جَهَنَّمُ ۖ وَبِئْسَ ٱلْمِهَادُ ١٨
For those who have responded to their Lord is the best [reward], but those who did not respond to Him - if they had all that is in the earth entirely and the like of it with it, they would [attempt to] ransom themselves thereby. Those will have the worst account, and their refuge is Hell, and wretched is the resting place.
— Saheeh International
There will be the best of rewards for those who respond to their Lord; those who do not respond would willingly give away the earth’s contents twice over, if they had it, in order to ransom themselves, so terrible will be their reckoning. Hell will be their home, and their bed wretched.
— M.A.S. Abdel Haleem
جن لوگوں نے اپنے رب کی دعوت پر لبیک کہا ان کے لیے بھلائی ہے اور جنہوں نے اس کی دعوت کو قبول نہیں کیا اگر ان کے پاس ہو جو کچھ ہے زمین میں سب کا سب اور اس کے ساتھ اتنا ہی اور بھی تو وہ (یہ سب کچھ) ضرور بدلے میں دے ڈالیں یہی لوگ ہیں جن کے لیے برا حساب ہے اور ان کا ٹھکانہ جہنم ہے اور وہ بہت برا ٹھکانہ ہے
— بیان القرآن (ڈاکٹر اسرار احمد)
For those who respond to their Lord is a good recompense.
Those who do not, they will face their terrible reckoning, and a terrible bed in Hell.
...
Similarly, Q38:56 جَهَنَّمَ يَصْلَوْنَهَا فَبِئْسَ الْمِهَادُ resting place, place to dwell, bed
...
The Tidings (78:6)
أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَـٰدًۭا ٦
Have We not made the earth a resting place?
— Saheeh International
6. Have We not made the earth as a bed,
— Al-Hilali & Khan
کیا ہم نے زمین کو بچھونا نہیں بنایا
— Fatah Muhammad Jalandhari
The Earth is a resting place, a bed, for each one of us. We live upon it, and we are buried in it. Each one in his or her own grave.
Notice that the usage of the word in all the ayaat quoted above consistently applies to each person individually. So, it is talking about the micro shape of the Earth. Exploring a few more ayaat:
The Winnowing Winds (51:48)
وَٱلْأَرْضَ فَرَشْنَـٰهَا فَنِعْمَ ٱلْمَـٰهِدُونَ ٤٨
And the earth was spread out by Us as a floor; so how well have We spread it out!
— T. Usmani
And We have spread out the (spacious) earth: How excellently We do spread out!
— A. Yusuf Ali
اورزمین کوہم نے بچھایا، پس کیاہی ہم خوب بچھانے والے ہیں
— Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Regarding the Earth in general, again we find the use of the same root. So, assuming it is again informing of the micro structure, what does modern research's finding is? To quote from University of Pennsylvania's website (emphasis mine):
In a new paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a team from the University of Pennsylvania, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, and University of Debrecen uses math, geology, and physics to demonstrate that the average shape of rocks on Earth is a cube.
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Related Posts
In this blog:
Until The Camel Passes Through The Eye Of The Needle (Q7:40)
When the Sun rose from the West
External links:
Micro Earth
Plato was right. Earth is made, on average, of cubes
Macro Earth
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