(20:105) They ask you concerning the mountains: "Where will they go?" Say: "My Lord will scatter them like dust,

(20:106) and leave the earth a levelled plain

(20:107) in which you shall find no crookedness or curvature.⁸³

83. The shape the earth will assume on the Last Day is identified in several places in the Qur’an. For example, in al-Inshiqaq it is said: ‘When the earth is ‘flattened out’ (al-Inshiqaq 84: 3). In al-Infitar: ‘When the oceans are burst forth’ (al-Infitar 82: 3), which presumably means that the ocean-beds will be cleft and all their water will be absorbed by the recesses of the earth. In al-Takwir: ‘When the oceans boil over with swell’ (al-Takwir 81: 6). The present verse states: ‘They ask you concerning the mountains: Say: “‘My Lord will uproot them and scatter them like dust, and leave the earth a levelled plain in which you shall find no crookedness or curvature’’ (74 Ha 20: 105-7). If we consider these verses together the image of the Last Day that is conjured up is one where the earth would be reshaped, the oceans filled up, the mountains razed, the unevenness that we see today removed, and the forests cleared away, reducing the earth to a levelled plain. This change will occur as hinted at in the verse: ‘The Day when the heavens and the earth will be altogether changed. . .’ Ibrahim 14: 48).

It will be on this levelled earth that the Grand Assembly of the Hereafter, in which everyone will be called to account, will be held. Thereafter the earth will be subjected to another change, which will give it its final and everlasting ‘shape: ‘They will say: ‘‘Praise be to Allah, Who has truly fulfilled His promise to us, and has given us this land in heritage. We may dwell in the Garden as we will. What an excellent reward for the righteous!’’ (al-Zumar 39: 74).

We thus know that the whole earth will be changed into Paradise, to be inhabited by the pious and righteous servants of God. The whole earth will then become one country; the mountains, oceans, rivers and deserts which presently divide the earth into numerous countries and states will cease to exist, for these geographical divisions have created discord among mankind. It is worth noting that among the Companions and Successors, Ibn ‘Abbas and Qatadah also subscribe to the view that Paradise will be on this earth. (See al-Alusi, vol. 27, p. 27 — Ed.) They interpret the following verse: ‘Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass. Near it is the Garden of Abode’ (al-Najm 53: 14-15), to mean that the Garden [i.e. Paradise] will be that part of the earth which at present is the abode of the souls of martyrs. (See al-Qurtubi’s comments on the verse al-Zumar 39: 73 in his Commentary. See also al-Alusi, vol. 27, pp. 50-1 — Ed.)