Narrator says) I asked the Imam (as) about the planet Earth, does it rest upon anything? Imam (as) replied: "It rests upon a whale." I asked: "Does the whale rest upon anything?" Imam (as) replied: "Upon the water." I asked: "Does the water rest upon anything?" Imam (as) replied: "Upon a rock." I asked: "Does the rock rest upon anything?" Imam (as) replied: "Upon the horn of a straight/smooth backed bull." I asked: "Does the bull rest upon anything?" Imam (as) replied: "Upon wet sand/soil." I asked: "Does the soil rest upon anything?" Imam (as) replied: "Beyond (comprehension that is)! This is where the knowledge of the scholars goes astray
A number of our scholars have said these are symbols and not to be taken literally. If that’s the case then we accept the hadith. The hadith may refer to metaphysical dimensions that are not observable to us.