An-Naba: (6) Have We not made the earth...

"Have We not made the earth a resting place," and so on, is an inauguration [of speech] put forth to verify the news concerning which they are questioning, by enumerating some of the proofs that testify to its truth, following what was alerted to by the aforementioned deterrence. It is permissible that it is by the estimation of "Say," as if it were said: "Say, how can you deny or doubt the Resurrection when you have witnessed what indicates it of [His] absolute power, all-encompassing knowledge, and dazzling wisdom, which necessitates that what He has created is not in vain?" Implicit in this is that one who is of great status and dazzling power ought to be feared and dreaded, and one should be moved by His deterrence and warnings.

The interrogative particle (Hamzah) is for affirmation following negation. Al-mihad (a resting place) is a prepared, smoothed-out bed. In Al-Qamus, the mahd is the place prepared for an infant, like the mihad; thus, al-mahd is in the meaning of al-mihad. This is supported by the recitation of Mujahid and Isa al-Hamdani: mahdan (as a bed). In that case, the verse contains a refined metaphor, and both of them are verbal nouns (masdar) used to name that which is prepared. It is also permitted that it remains as a verbal noun—and description by the verbal noun is frequent—or that the estimation is "possessing a resting place" or "a bed." It is said that just as it is possible for al-mihad to be a verbal noun used to name the object, it is possible for it to be fi'al, meaning a noun on that measure, taken for the object like al-ilah (the deity) and al-imam (the leader).

Making the earth a resting place is either in its original creation or thereafter. Regardless, there is no indication in the verse that contradicts its sphericity, as is the well-known opinion from several schools of thought. The school of modern astronomers holds that it is flattened at the poles because it was extremely soft in the beginning of its state due to the extreme heat latent in it at that time, and it moved upon its axis; the combination of these factors necessitated its becoming flattened at them according to them. The people of the Sacred Law do not state this, and no evidence for the one who claims it will be perfected until Allah inherits the earth and whoever is upon it.