Allah creating seven earths and seven heavens

Q: Is there an Ayah (Qur’anic verse) or Hadith which states that there are seven earths? It is a controversial issue among us. If so, in which Surah of the Qur’an or in which Hadith is this stated? May Allah reward you the best.

A: It is authentically established in the Glorious Qur’an that Allah the Exalted created seven earths, just like He created seven heavens, as Allah the Exalted says (what means): It is Allâh Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof (i.e. seven). His Command descends between them (heavens and earth), that you may know that Allâh has power over all things, and that Allâh surrounds all things in (His) Knowledge. (Al-Talaq, 65:12). It is authentically established in Hadith as well that there are seven earths, for Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from Sa‘id ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “Anyone who seizes a handspan of land unjustly, Allah will encircle him by it on the Day of Resurrection down seven earths.” The same Hadith is also narrated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhary and Muslim) from `Aishah as Marfu‘ (a Hadith narrated from the Prophet with a connected or disconnected chain of narration).May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.