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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Logic For Islamic Rules Rotation of the Earth Question: Astronomers believe that the shape of the Earth is spherical and it revolves around its axis; is it confirmed by science or still undecided? And if the Earth really revolves what are its scientific and perceptible signs? What is the reason that the Polestar, by means of which direction of Kiblah is ascertained, always shows up at the same location?

Other than this, is there any matter available in the Holy Quran and Islamic traditions that supports this? Answer: In the present age it is scientifically proved that earth is spherical and it rotates around its axis and for this different arguments are given. The most evident proof of the movement of the earth is the Proof of Pendulum. It is that if a heavy thing is hung with a rope that it can oscillate freely; when it is moved, it continues its movement for quite a long time.

Now if the earth were immobile and without movement, then it is necessary that, the movement of the related thing should be up to a fixed line, but experience shows that the movement is not up to a fixed line and that it gradually moves away from the first line. It is also known by this experience that the earth always moves from one fixed direction toward the other. The direction of this movement, which is from West to East can be determined by the cause of lines.

(For better understanding and explanation of this argument take the benefit of the books on astronomical science in which different sketches are present). In the same way it is known by experience that if a stone is slowly left to fall from a height it does not fall in an exactly straight line but it falls slightly towards the West; and this shows that earth is moving from West to East.

Of course, what we see that the Polestar is always at one place, it is so because it is situated almost opposite to the axis of the earth. It is obvious that if a ball is turned round on its axis (for example a needle is pierced in the middle of an apple and the apple is rotated around the needle) then the point of the axis will always remain the same. For example the tip of the needle will always remain at the same place. That is reason that the polestar is always seen at one place.

As far as the behavior of earth is concerned, we should pay attention towards the point in front (lower part of the earth), since the shape of earth is almost like a ball.