DIAMETERS OF THE EARTH AND SPACE

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DIAMETERS OF THE EARTH AND SPACE 

33- O society of jinns and men, cross the diameters of the heavens and the earth, 
if you have the ability, then pass beyond them. But you cannot, unless you 
acquire an authorization. 
55-Gracious, 33 

The Arabic word for diameter is ?kutr? of which the plural is ?aktar;? this 
refers to the fact that the heavens and the earth have a plurality of diameters. 
The Arabic language has a special plural to express ?duality;? the word aktar 
expresses a magnitude superior to one or two. We must be careful in the case of 
three-dimensional objects; ?diameter? exists only in spheroid figures. In the 
case of a perfect sphere we cannot speak of a plurality of diameters, for, in a 
perfect sphere, there can be only one diameter. We observe in the verse the use 
of the plural, which is remarkable. 

This verse is particularly important, as it refers to the geoidal structure of 
the world. Doubts about the spheroid structure of the world were dispelled by 
the law of gravitation of Newton (1642-1724). Previously it was believed that 
men, the living beings and the seas beneath the surface of the earth would have 
fallen down had the world been a sphere. Isaac Newton?s law of gravitation 
convinced men that their belief was false. Objections to the sphericity of the 
world were henceforth withdrawn, although many people still adhered to their 
former convictions. If you spoke of ?diameters? of the earth, Newton would have 
corrected you saying: ?the diameter of the earth.? A sphere can have but one 
diameter but in the geodesic sphere, which is the actual shape of the world, 
this is possible.

CONFINES OF SPACE
The mention in the verse of ?the diameters of the heavens? is also significant. 
Until man took cognizance of the primeval explosion and the 
expanding universe, many scientists believed space to be infinite. Space 
continuously expands and wherever it expands a new and still larger diameter is 
formed (this was explained in Ch. 1, 2 & 3). As a matter of fact, scientists 
have likened space to an inflating balloon in accord with the statement of the 
verse. Measurements taken at various spots in space would give different 
diametrical results, while even these measurements taken would change every 
instant. The use of the plural for the diameter of the heavens is of towering 
importance, since there is more than just one diameter and because the concept 
of infinite space is refuted. 

The equatorial axes and the diameters in between the equatorial axis will be the 
longest, while the shortest diameter will be in the polar region. Other 
diameters will range in between. The diameter measured from the level of the 
poles to the end point of the atmosphere, the one drawn from the equator to the 
end point of the atmosphere, and the diameters in between differ also. 

We should like to draw your attention to a point. In a good many translations of 
the Quran there are references to the confines of the earth and the heavens, to 
its periphery and contours and frontiers, and the word ?diameters? is skipped. 
Indeed, the extremities of the diameter of an area give the contour, the limits 
and the periphery of that area. We draw the attention of translators to this 
subtle point.

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