Quran verses by topic

Quran verses about the earth, a cradle and a trust

15 verses from the Quran about the earth, each in Arabic with transliteration and the Sahih International translation, and a line on its context.

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِرَٰشًۭا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءًۭ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًۭا لَّكُمْ ۖ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًۭا وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾

Allazee ja'ala lakumul arda firaashanw wassamaaa'a binaaa 'anw wa anzala minassamaaa'i maaa'an fa akhraja bihee minas samaraati rizqal lakum falaa taj'aloo lillaahi andaadanw wa antum ta'lamoon

[He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him].

The earth as a bed and the sky as a canopy, with rain that brings out fruit. Said right after the call to worship your Lord (2:21).

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًۭا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًۭا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءًۭ فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًۭا مِّن نَّبَاتٍۢ شَتَّىٰ ﴿٥٣﴾

Allazee ja'ala lakumul arda mahdanw wa salaka lakum feehaa subulanw wa anzala minas samaaa'i maaa'an fa akhrajnaa biheee azwaajam min nabaatin shatta

[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.

Musa to Pharaoh: my Lord made the earth a cradle for you, put paths through it, and sent rain that brings out plants of many kinds.

وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًۭا ﴿١٩﴾ لِّتَسْلُكُوا۟ مِنْهَا سُبُلًۭا فِجَاجًۭا ﴿٢٠﴾

Wallaahu ja'ala lakumul arda bisaataa Litaslukoo minhaa subulan fijaajaa

19 And Allah has made for you the earth an expanse 20 That you may follow therein roads of passage.' "

Nuh to his people: Allah spread out the earth for you so you can travel its wide roads.

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًۭا فَٱمْشُوا۟ فِى مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا۟ مِن رِّزْقِهِۦ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلنُّشُورُ ﴿١٥﴾

Huwal lazee ja'ala lakumul arda zaloolan famshoo fee manaakibihaa wa kuloo mir rizqihee wa ilaihin nushoor

It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.

Allah made the earth tame for you: walk its paths and eat of His provision, and to Him is the return.

وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَضَعَهَا لِلْأَنَامِ ﴿١٠﴾

Wal arda wada'ahaa lilanaame

And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.

He laid out the earth for all living creatures, not for people alone.

وَٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ ﴿٣٠﴾ أَخْرَجَ مِنْهَا مَآءَهَا وَمَرْعَىٰهَا ﴿٣١﴾ وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَرْسَىٰهَا ﴿٣٢﴾ مَتَٰعًۭا لَّكُمْ وَلِأَنْعَٰمِكُمْ ﴿٣٣﴾

Wal arda b'ada zaalika dahaaha. Akhraja minha maa-aha wa mar 'aaha. Wal jibala arsaaha. Mataa'al lakum wali an 'aamikum.

30 And after that He spread the earth. 31 He extracted from it its water and its pasture, 32 And the mountains He set firmly 33 As provision for you and your grazing livestock.

He spread the earth out, brought water and pasture out of it, and set the mountains firm, as provision for you and your animals.

۞ قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ﴿٩﴾ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقْوَٰتَهَا فِىٓ أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍۢ سَوَآءًۭ لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ ﴿١٠﴾

Qul a'innakum latakfuroona billazee khalaqal arda fee yawmaini wa taj'aloona lahooo andaadaa; zaalika Rabbul 'aalameen Wa ja'ala feehaa rawaa siya min fawqihaa wa baaraka feehaa wa qaddara feehaaaa aqwaatahaa feee arba'ati ayyaamin sawaaa'al lissaaa'ileen

9 Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds." 10 And He placed on the earth firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information] of those who ask.

The earth was made in two days, and its mountains, blessing and provision set in four days, which the tafsir counts as including the first two. The Quran does not say how long these days are.

أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ مِهَٰدًۭا ﴿٦﴾ وَٱلْجِبَالَ أَوْتَادًۭا ﴿٧﴾

Alam naj'alil arda mihaa da Wal jibaala au taada

6 Have We not made the earth a resting place? 7 And the mountains as stakes?

The earth a resting place and the mountains as pegs. The classical tafsir reads it as the mountains holding the earth steady for its people (16:15). Some modern writers link it to mountain roots; that is their interpretation.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنْهَٰرًۭا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَءَايَٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿٣﴾

Wa Huwal lazee maddal arda wa ja'ala feehaa rawaasiya wa anhaaraa; wa min kullis samaraati ja'ala feehaa zawjainis yaini Yughshil lailan nahaar; inna fee zaalika la aayaatil liqawminy yatafakkaroon

And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.

He spread the earth, placed mountains and rivers in it, made every fruit in pairs, and covers the day with the night: signs for people who think.

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًۭا فَفَتَقْنَٰهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾

Awalam yaral lazeena kafarooo annas samaawaati wal arda kaanataa ratqan faftaqnaahumaa wa ja'alnaa minal maaa'i kulla shai'in haiyin afalaa yu'minoon

Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?

The heavens and earth were joined, then parted, and every living thing was made from water. Ibn Abbas explained the parting as the sky giving rain and the earth giving plants (Tafsir Ibn Kathir). Some writers read it as the Big Bang; that is their interpretation.

وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَٰٓئِكَةِ إِنِّى جَاعِلٌۭ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةًۭ ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ ٱلدِّمَآءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّىٓ أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾

Wa iz qaala rabbuka lil malaaa'ikati innee jaa'ilun fil ardi khaleefatan qaalooo ataj'alu feehaa mai yufsidu feehaa wa yasfikud dimaaa'a wa nahnu nusabbihu bihamdika wa nuqaddisu laka qaala inneee a'lamu maa laa ta'lamoon

And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."

Allah told the angels He would place a khalifah, a successor, on the earth. People are trusted with it.

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَكُمْ خَلَٰٓئِفَ ٱلْأَرْضِ وَرَفَعَ بَعْضَكُمْ فَوْقَ بَعْضٍۢ دَرَجَٰتٍۢ لِّيَبْلُوَكُمْ فِى مَآ ءَاتَىٰكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ سَرِيعُ ٱلْعِقَابِ وَإِنَّهُۥ لَغَفُورٌۭ رَّحِيمٌۢ ﴿١٦٥﴾

Wa Huwal lazee ja'alakum khalaaa'ifal ardi wa rafa'a ba'dakum fawqa ba'din darajaatil liyabluwakum fee maaa aataakum; inna Rabbaka saree'ul 'iqaab; wa innahoo la Ghafoorur Raheem

And it is He who has made you successors upon the earth and has raised some of you above others in degrees [of rank] that He may try you through what He has given you. Indeed, your Lord is swift in penalty; but indeed, He is Forgiving and Merciful.

He made you successors on the earth and raised some above others in rank, to test you in what He gave you.

۞ مِنْهَا خَلَقْنَٰكُمْ وَفِيهَا نُعِيدُكُمْ وَمِنْهَا نُخْرِجُكُمْ تَارَةً أُخْرَىٰ ﴿٥٥﴾

Minhaa khalaqnaakum wa feehaa nu'eedukum wa minhaa nukhrijukum taaratan ukhraa

From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time.

From the earth We created you, into it We return you, and from it We bring you out again.

ظَهَرَ ٱلْفَسَادُ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِى ٱلنَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ ٱلَّذِى عَمِلُوا۟ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ ﴿٤١﴾

Zaharal fasaadu fil barri wal bahri bimaa kasabat aydinnaasi li yuzeeqahum ba'dal lazee 'amiloo la'allahum yarji'oon

Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].

Corruption has appeared on land and sea because of what people's hands have done, so that they taste some of it and turn back.

وَلَا تُفْسِدُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ بَعْدَ إِصْلَٰحِهَا وَٱدْعُوهُ خَوْفًۭا وَطَمَعًا ۚ إِنَّ رَحْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ قَرِيبٌۭ مِّنَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ ﴿٥٦﴾

Wa laa tufsidoo fil ardi ba'da islaahihaa wad'oohu khawfanw wa tama'aa; inna rahmatal laahi qareebum minal muhsineen

And cause not corruption upon the earth after its reformation. And invoke Him in fear and aspiration. Indeed, the mercy of Allah is near to the doers of good.

Do not spread corruption on the earth after it has been set right, and call on Him in fear and hope.

Arabic: Tanzil, Uthmani script. English: Sahih International. Context notes are ours, drawn from the classical tafsir. Tap ▶ to hear a verse.

Guide

About these verses, and how to use them

The Quran describes the earth as something made for us: spread out like a bed (2:22), a cradle with paths through it (20:53), tamed so we can walk it and eat of its provision (67:15). Its mountains hold it steady, its rain brings out every kind of plant, and it is full of signs for people who think (13:3). It is also a trust: Allah placed people on it as successors (2:30) and told them not to spread corruption on it after it has been set right (7:56). These are the main verses about the earth, each with its context from the classical tafsir.

The 15 verses on this page

2:22, 20:53, 71:19-20, 67:15, 55:10, 79:30-33, 41:9-10, 78:6-7, 13:3, 21:30, 2:30, 6:165, 20:55, 30:41, 7:56. Tap a reference to open that ayah with the verses around it, or read the full surah.

Caring for the earth

The Prophet ﷺ said the whole earth has been made a masjid and a means of purification for this ummah (Sahih al-Bukhari 335, Sahih Muslim 521). He said that if a Muslim plants a tree or sows a crop and a bird, a person or an animal eats from it, it is a charity for him (Sahih al-Bukhari 2320, Sahih Muslim 1553), and that if the Hour comes while one of you holds a palm sapling, he should plant it if he can (Musnad Ahmad and al-Adab al-Mufrad, graded sahih by al-Albani).

A note on science

Some websites read verses like 21:30 and 78:7 as early statements of the Big Bang or of mountain roots. Those are some writers' interpretations, not the meaning the classical tafsir gives, and the verses do not depend on them. On the shape of the earth, classical scholars such as Ibn Hazm and Ibn Taymiyyah wrote that it is round, and read "spread out" as how it lies for the people walking on it. See what about science? for more, and the signs of Allah in creation.

Other topics: trust in Allah (tawakkul), patience, women, life, death, forgiveness, parents, marriage, hardship and ease, rizq (provision), mercy, gratitude, Ramadan and fasting, peace, motivation, blessings and barakah, the signs of Allah in creation, love, Allah's love, clouds and rain, education and knowledge, repentance (tawbah), children, charity, the afterlife (akhirah), strength, success, the death of a loved one.

Questions

Good to know

What does the Quran say about the earth?

That Allah spread it out as a bed and cradle (2:22, 20:53), set mountains on it to keep it steady (16:15), made it tame for us to walk and seek provision (67:15), and placed people on it as successors who must not corrupt it (2:30, 7:56).

Does the Quran say the earth is flat?

No ayah says it is flat. Verses that call it spread out (15:19, 51:48, 79:30) describe how it lies for the people living on it. Classical scholars such as Ibn Hazm and Ibn Taymiyyah wrote that the earth is round.

How old is the earth according to the Quran?

The Quran does not give an age. It says the heavens and earth were made in six days (7:54) and does not define how long those days are. 22:47 says a day with your Lord is like a thousand years of your counting, and early scholars differed on the length.

Which ayah says we were created from the earth?

20:55: "From the earth We created you, and into it We will return you, and from it We will extract you another time."