Download Astronomy and the Quran

their orbits (or on their axis) they are spheres
floating” (Ansari)
Astronomy and the
Qur’an
It adds the words “(all of them are planets)” and “(or
on their axis)” in parenthesis, because this is not in
the Arabic at all. So let’s ignore this one as being too
loose a translation, and ask “what does Sura 36:3740 really teach?” There are three possibilities:
June 2006 version
Orbits of sun and moon: The Qur’an taught that
the sun and moon moved in continuous
orbits/path around the earth of a particular,
ordained period
Some Muslims say the Qur’an contains scientific
truth about the orbits of the sun, moon, (and
sometimes planets). I was interested in investigating
this, and we will take a few twists and turns before
arriving at a conclusion. But the bottom line is:
unless a Muslim viewed these verses as the language
of appearance, these verses would disprove, not
prove the scientific accuracy of the Qur’an.
Swim to its resting place: The sun swims across the
sky during the day, and goes to its resting place at
night, returning to its place the previous dawn.
Likewise the moon swims in its path.
Sura 36:37-40 says, “And a sign for them is the
night: We withdraw there from the day, and behold
they are plunged in darkness; 38 and the sun runs its
course for a period determined for it; that is the
decree of (him), the exalted in might, the allknowing. 39 And the moon-we have measured for it
mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old (and
withered) Lower part of a date stalk. (40) It is not
permitted to the sun to catch up the moon, nor can
the night outstrip the day: Each (just) swims along in
(its own) orbit (according to law).” (Yusuf Ali’s
translation, original edition) [Words in parenthesis
are in parenthesis in the translation.]
Language of appearance: Same as the previous,
but this is intended as a description of how things
appear, not how they actually are.
Let’s Go Back to the Arabic
Course/Orbit: Yusuf Ali discusses the Arabic word
in question in footnote 3983 on p.1326. He says,
“Mustaqarr may mean: (1) a limit of time, a period
determined, as in vi. 67, or (2) a place of rest or
quiescence; or (3) a dwelling place, as in ii. 36. I
think the first meaning is best applicable here; but
some commentators take the second meaning. In that
case the simile would be that of the sun running a
race while he is visible to us, and taking a rest during
the night to prepare himself to renew his race the
following day. His stay with the antipodes appears to
us as his period of rest.”
Some Muslims point out “the sun runs its course for
a period determined for it” and the word “orbit” at
the end. However, we cannot make too much of the
sun’s “orbit” because Yusuf Ali’s translation has a
footnote (17) on that word saying “circuit, course”.
Furthermore, the revised edition of Yusuf Ali says
“resting place” instead of “period”.
Move/swim/rotate: yasbahuna can mean hastening
on, though its most direct meaning is swimming.
How Freely Do Some Muslims Translate
the Qur’an?
Swim/rotate: The famous Muslim commentator Ibn
Taymiyah (died 1328 A.D.) wrote, “celestial bodies
are round (istidaaratul-aflaak) - as it is the statement
of astronomers and mathematicians (ahlul-hay’ah
wal-hisab)..... The [word] falak [in the Arabic
language] means that which is round” (Majmu’ulFatawa vol. 6, p. 566-567)
The Sufi site
http://www.sufi.co.za/modern_science_and_islam.ht
m goes even farther, saying
“All these the earth and heavenly bodies (all of them
are planets) and they are all the time in motion in
1
Where would you go to find the correct meaning of
the Qur’an? Zamakhshari? al-Tabari? Baidawi? If
you were an early Muslim, you would just go to
Mohammed himself! Here what Mohammed
explained, according to both Bukhari and al-Tabari.
It is not a “scientific miracle” that the sun and moon
“falak” because
a) The Arabic term for the earth orbiting the sun is
not falak but mahrek.
b) The word falak did not originate with the Qur’an;
it was a foreign loan word.
“Narrated Abu Dhar : The Prophet asked me at
sunset, ‘Do you know where the sun goes (at the
time of sunset)?’ I replied, ‘Allah and His Apostle
know better.’ He said, ‘It goes (i.e. travels) till it
prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the
permission to rise again, and it is permitted and them
( a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate
itself but its prostration will not be accepted,…’”
Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283
One person contributed the following: “The root
[Arabic -- falaka] … from the same primitive
Semitic root we get [Akkadian -- pilakku]; [Hebrew
-- pelek]; [Arabic -- falkatun], all meaning the whirl
of a spindle, and by another line of derivation
[Arabic -- falakun]; [Ethiopic -- falaka] for the
celestial hemisphere. So the philologers as a rule
endeavour to derive [Arabic -- falkun] from this root,
imagining it is so named from its rounded shape.”
Another translation of the same passage of alBukhari says:
“Abzur Ghifari (ra) narrated: one day Prophet
Mohammad (pbuh) asked me, ‘Abzar do you know
after setting where does Sun go?’ I replied, ‘I do not
know, only Allah’s apostle can say better.’ Then
Prophet (SA) replied, ‘After setting, the sun remains
prostrated under Allah’s Aro’sh (Allah’s throne) and
waits for Allah’s command for rising again in the
East. Day will come when sun will not get any more
permission from Allah to rise again and Qeyamot
(dooms day) will fall upon earth’”.
Also, the word falak was used by Arabs, before the
time of Muhammad, to refer to the voyage of the
celestial objects in the “sky dome”. The people
before, and in Muhammad’s time, believed in the
Aristotelian/Ptolemaic model of the universe where
the earth was at the center and was surrounded by 7
spherical domes. And celestial bodies were believed
to move in these spheres, or spheres themselves were
believed to move in a course. The fact that the
Qur’an speaks of seven heavens strongly suggest
that Muhammad’s “astronomy” fit the Ptolemaic and
Aristotelian models, which were believed to be
factual at this point in history.
al-Tabari vol.1 p.231 says, “I asked the Messenger
of God [Mohammed] ‘Where does it [the sun] set?’
He replied: ‘It sets in the heaven and is then raised
from heaven to heaven until it is raised to the
highest, seventh heaven. Eventually, when it is
underneath the Throne, it falls down and prostrates
itself, and the angels who are in charge of it prostrate
themselves together with it. The sun then says, My
Lord, whence do you command me to rise, from
where I set or from where I rise?’ He continued. This
is (meant by) God’s word: ‘And the sun: It runs to a
place where it is to reside (at night)’ where it is held
underneath the Throne – ‘That is decreed by One
Mighty and Knowing’ by ‘this’ is meant the
procedure of the mighty’ Lord in His royal authority,
the Lord Who is ‘knowing’ about His creation. He
continued. Gabriel brings to the sun a garment of
luminosity from the light of the Throne, according to
the measure of the hours of the day. It is longer in
the summer and shorter in the winter, and of
My Conclusion (so far): While the Arabic is vague,
these words say nothing ancient people prior to
Mohammed did not already say.
However, if we assume that Mohammed and his
early followers could understand the Qur’an (a pretty
safe assumption), and that the scientific view of the
Qur’an is fairly consistent, then we have two ways
arriving at a reasonable conclusion. First, what did
early Muslims say about this, and second, what does
the rest of the Qur’an say.
What Mohammed and Early Muslims
Said About the Sun
2
The Prophet [Mohammed] replied: ‘Ali, they are
five stars: Jupiter (al-birjis), Saturn (zuhal), Mercury
(utarid), Mars (Bahram), and Venus (al-zuhrah).
These five stars rise and run like the sun and the
moon and race with them together. All the other
stars are suspended from heaven as lamps are from
mosques,…” al-Tabari vol.1 p.235-236
intermediate length in the autumn and spring.
[spring, fall, and winter fashions!] He continued.
The sun puts on that garment, as one of you here
puts on his garment. Then, it is set free to roam in
the air of heaven until it rises whence it does. … The
same course is followed by the moon in its rising …
But Gabriel brings it a garment from the light of the
Footstool. This is (meant by) God word ‘He made
the sun a luminosity and the moon a light.’”
“God created an ocean three fasrakhs (18 kilometers)
removed from heaven. Waves contained, it stands in
the air by the command of God. No drop of it is
spilled. All the oceans are motionless, but that ocean
flows at the rate of the speed of an arrow. It is set
free to move in the air evenly, as if it were a rope
stretched out in the area between east and west. The
sun, the moon, and the retrograde stars [5 planets]
run in its deep swell. This is (meant by) God’s word:
‘Each swims in a sphere.’ ‘The sphere’ is the
circulation of the chariot in the deep swell of that
ocean.” al-Tabari vol.1 p.235
The sun and moon are signs of Allah. Abu Dawud
vol.1 book 2 no.1173 p.304;
Sunan Nasa’i vol.2 no.1462,1464 p.272; vol.2
no.1465,1466 p.273; vol.2 no.1475 p.278vol.2
no.1477 p.280; vol.2 no.1481 p.283; vol.2
no.1485-1486 p.286-287; vol.2 no.1488-1489
p.287,289; vol.2 no.1500 p.297; vol.2 no.1502
p.299; vol.2 no.1505 p.300; vol.2 no.1506 p.301
Dhu al-Qarnaiyn [Zul Qarnain] “witnessed the
setting of the sun in its resting place into a pool of
black and foetid slime.” al-Tabari vol.5 p.173174 (See Sura 18:82-97)
Conclusion from early Muslims: The sun literally
goes to a resting place at night, and the sun and
moon literally “swim” in an ocean of water in the
sky.
al-Tabari vol.1 p.234 also mentions that the sun sets
in a muddy spring. The word “muddy” is
hami’ah, meaning mean black clay, but hamiyah
is a similar word that can mean hot. (See footnote
442 p.234)
What the Rest of the Qur’an Says
Note that verse numbers are different in various
translations of the Qur’an. These verse numbers and
quotes are from Yusuf ‘Ali (revised edition). I
corrected the capitalization.
“He [Mohammed] continued. When the sun rises, it
rises upon its chariot from one of those springs
accompanied by 360 angels…. When God wishes to
test the sun and the moon, showing His servants a
sign and thereby asking them to stop disobeying
Him and to start to obey, the sun tumbles from the
chariot and falls into the deep of that ocean, which is
the sphere. When God wants to increase the
significance of the sign and frighten His servants
severely, all of the sun falls, and nothing of it
remains upon the chariot. That is a total eclipse of
the sun, when the day darkens and the stars come
out.” al-Tabari vol.1 p.236
Sura 20:53 “He who has made for you the earth like
a carpet spread out”
Sura 50:7 “And the earth – We have spread it
out4946, and set thereon mountains…”
Yusuf ‘Ali’s footnote 4946 says, “Cf. xiii. 3; and xv.
19 and n.1955. The earth is round, and yet it appears
stretched out as a vast expanse, like a carpet kept
steady with the weight of the mountains.” So
regardless of whether you believe this teaches the
flat earth or not, Yusuf ‘Ali says this verse at least
says the earth appears as a flat carpet.
What Mohammed and Early Muslims Tell
Us About the Heavens
Sura 67:15 “It is He who as made the earth
manageable5571…” Other translations have “level”.
3
Yusuf Ali’s footnote 5571 says, “Zalul is used in ii
71 for an animal trained and tractable: here it is used
to qualify the earth, and I have translated
‘manageable’….”
cosmology in the Qur’an. More significantly, he
traveled to where the sun set, and found that it set in
a muddy/murky spring.
If you ask astronomers if the sun really sets in a
muddy spring, they might laugh at you.
Sura 71:15 “‘See ye not how Allah has created the
seven heavens one above another ‘And made the
moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a
glorious lamp?” Even granted that this is language of
appearance, there is not hint of teaching of modern
astronomy.
Conclusion: The Qur’an teaches the following:
The earth is flat, spread out like a carpet and pegged
flat by mountains
The sun has a defined path through the day, then sets
in a muddy/murky spring and goes to Allah’s throne.
The sun then rises at a specific spot
Except for five “retrograde stars” (planets), the stars
are hung like lamps.
Mohammed taught early Muslims this as a literal
truth, not just a metaphor or simile.
Sura 71:19 “‘And Allah has made the earth for you
as a carpet (spread out),5718…” Yusuf ‘Ali’s footnote
5718 says, “cf. xx 53.
Sura 78:6-7 “Have We [Allah] not made the earth as
a wide Expanse5890, and the mountains as pegs?”
Yusuf ‘Ali’s footnote 5890 says, See n. 2038 to xvi.
15. Cf. also xiii. 3 and xv. 19. The spacious expanse
of the earth may be compared to a carpet, to which
the mountains act as pegs….”
The Purpose of Stars and Meteors
“The lowest heaven has lamps [stars], and ‘We have
made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the
Evil ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of
the Blazing Fire.’” Sura 67:5
Zul-Karnain in Sura 18 and the Science of
Astronomy
“The creation of these stars is for three purposes, i.e.
as decoration of the sky, as missiles to hit the devils,
and as signs to guide travellers. So, if anybody tries
to find a different interpretation, he is mistaken and
just wastes his efforts...” Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.3
before no.421 p.282.
Sura 18:85-86 “One (such) way he [Zul-qarnain]
followed, until, when he reached the setting of the
sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: near
it he found a people: We [Allah] said: ‘O Zulqarnain! (Thou hast authority,) either to punish
them, or to treat them with kindness.” “Murky” has
also been translated as “muddy” and “black”.
“spring of … water” has also been translated as
“spring”. M.H. Skahir translates this as “black sea”.
Shooting stars are sometimes hurled at devils who
try to listen in on heavenly secrets. Sahih Muslim
vol.1 book 4 no.902 and footnote 674 p.243.
Sura 18:89-90 “Then followed he [Zul-qarnain]
(another) way, until when he came to the rising of
the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we
had provided no covering protection against the
sun.”
Shooting stars are to hit [bad] angels before they
spread what they heard. Sometimes the bad angels
tell soothsayers before they are hit though. Ibn-iMajah vol.1 book 1 no.194 p.110.
Meteors are to attack jinn (genies) Sahih Muslim
vol.4 book 24 no.5538 p.1210
Muslim commentators differ on exactly who Zulqarnain (man of two horns) is. Some think
Alexander the Great, some think Cyrus of Persia,
and some a Yemeni king. It does not matter though.
Regardless, Zul-qarnain was able to travel to where
the sun actually rose. This supports a flat earth
Stars guard against Satan. al-Tabari vol.1 p.223
Mohammed Splitting the Moon in Two
4
“The demand of the pagans to the Prophet to show
them a miracle. The Prophet showed them the
splitting of the moon. Narrated ‘Abdullah bin
Massud: During the lifetime of the Prophet the moon
was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said,
‘Bear witness (to this).’” Bukhari vol.4 book 56
ch.26 and vol.4 book 56 ch.26 no.830 p.533.
of the solar system at the New Creation: Cf. lxxv. 89.”
Nobody else in the world at this time reported the
moon split in two. As a side note, the Enclopaedia
Britannica vol.13 1972 p.458B has a picture of the
Chomsungdae astronomical observatory, near
Kyongju Korea, built in the 7th century Silla period.
There is no record that they, or anybody else, saw
the moon split in two.
“Narrated Anas that the Meccan people requested
Allah’s Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he
showed them the splitting of the moon.” Bukhari
vol.4 book 56 ch.26 no.831 p.533.
Counter-examples in the Qur’an?
“Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas: The moon was split into two
parts during the lifetime of the Prophet.” Bukhari
vol.4 book 56 ch.26 no.832 p.534.
Ignoring the previous verses, let’s discuss other
verses in the Qur’an some Muslims believe support
modern astronomical theories. In fairness to them,
here are the verses they bring up, along with
responses.
Splitting the moon. Bukhari vol.6 book 60 ch.225
no.290 p.273 and footnote 1 p.273; vol.6 book 60
ch.287 no.387-391 p.365-366; vol.6 book 60 ch.261
no.345,349 p.331; Bukhari vol.6 book 60 ch.265
no.368-370 p.331,336
Sura 7:54 “…He draweth the night as a veil o’er the
day, each seeking the other in rapid succession:...”
Response, day and night following each other is
true, but says nothing about science or astronomy
that primitive people did not know.
Splitting the moon Sahih Muslim vol.4 book 37
no.6721,6724-6730 p.1467-1468
Sura 54:1 says, “The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh,
and the moon was cleft asunder. (Yusuf ‘Ali revised
edition).
Sura 13:2a and Sura 31:10 both say that Allah
raised the heavens without any pillars that you can
see”.
Response: While not all ancient peoples believed
the heavens were held by pillars, this merely says
Allah did not have any visible pillars that could be
seen.
Note that cleft asunder means the mean was split in
half, and the verb here is past tense. We have no
records of any other people in the world, including
close-by Egypt, Syria, or Persia that saw the moon
split in two. The Qur’an and hadiths do not say how
it got back together either.
Sura 13:2b “…He has subjected the sun and the
moon! Each one runs (its course) for a term
appointed”
Response: That both the sun and moon have
regularity was observable by even primitive people.
Yusuf ‘Ali in footnote 5128 says, “Three
explanations are given in the Mufradat, and perhaps
all three apply here: (1) that the moon once appeared
cleft asunder in the valley of Makkah within sight of
the Prophet, his Companions, and some Unbelievers;
(2) that the prophetic past tense indicates the future,
the cleaving asunder of the moon being a Sign of the
Judgment approaching; and (3) that the phrase is
metaphorical, meaning that the matter has become
clear as the moon. That the first was noticed by
contemporaries, including Unbelievers, is clear from
verse 2. The second is an incident of the disruption
Sura 21:30 “Do not the Unbelievers see that the
heavens and the earth were joined together (as one
Unit of Creation), before we [Allah] clove them
asunder?” A few Muslims view this as the Qur’an
anticipating the big bang theory.
Response: The ancient Egyptians, Aryan Hindus,
and others believed the heavens and earth were
together before being separated. To merely say the
5
heavens and earth were joined together (implying
halves) is more like those ancient mythologies than
the big bang theory. But the big bang theory does
not even say the earth was cleft from anything.
Rather, it says the earth gradually was built up from
space dust.
be used to prove a modern scientific view in the
Qur’an.
Sura 25:61-62 “Blessed is He who made
constellations in the skies, and placed therein a lamp
and a moon giving light. And it is he who made the
night and the day to follow each other:…”
Response: Calling the sun a lamp does nothing to
prove the Qur’an had modern scientific views. The
day and night following each other is true, but it is
something even primitive people all knew.
Sura 21:33 “All (the celestial bodies) swim along,
each in its2695 rounded course. Yusuf Ali’s footnote
2695 is instructive here. It says, “I have indicated,
unlike most translators, the metaphor of swimming
implied in the original words:…”
Malik’s translation says, “all (celestial bodies) move
swiftly in an orbit of their own.”
Response: The Arabic word was understood as
“swim” as Yusuf Ali has correctly translated, as
shown by al-Tabari vol.1 p.235; al-Tabari vol.1
p.236. Also the verses speak of the sun and moon,
not other celestial bodies, so it is not quite correct to
put (celestial bodies) in the translation in
parenthesis. The Qur’an does not say anything
moves in a path/orbit in the sky except the sun,
moon and retrograde stars (planets).
Sura 27:88 “…these mountains which you see and
think are firmly fixed, will pass away like clouds…”
(Malik) One Muslim apologist apparently believes
this alludes to the earth’s rotation.
Response: The verse before mentions the last
trumpet, so the context is the end times, not today.
Sura 29:44 says that the creation of the heavens and
the earth is a sign for those who believe.
Response: The creation of heaven and earth shows
God’s majesty according to Psalm 8:1,3,5; Psalm
19:1-6. Mohammed knew of the Psalms (zubur) of
David, so there is no news here.
Sura 21:104 “The day that We roll up the heavens
like a scroll”.
Response: It is unclear to me how this supposed to
anticipate modern astronomy, but Mohammed’s first
wife took him to hear the gospels from a Christian,
and the Bible in Revelation 6:14 and in the Old
Testament in Isaiah 34:4 mentions that the heavens
will be rolled up as a scroll. However, Christians do
not generally try to fit modern astronomy into
Revelation 6:14.
Sura 31:29, Sura 35:13, Sura 36:37, and Sura 39:5
all say that Allah merges night into day and day into
night. It also says the sun and moon each run their
appointed course. Sura 55:5 also says the sun and
moon run their appointed courses.
Response: There is nothing to suggest this is not the
path of the sun and moon in the sky. These things
were known and observed by ancient, primitive
people too. Saying a truth that even pagans already
believed of course does not prove a book wrong.
However, repeating common knowledge in no way
proves the Qur’an predicted modern scientific
knowledge.
Sura 22:65 “…He withholds the sky2847 from falling
on the earth except by His leave…” Yusuf ‘Ali’s
footnote 2847 says that this word samaa can mean
(1) something high, (2) a root, a ceiling, (3) the sky,
the canopy of heaven. (4) cloud or rain. He says he
understand the last meaning here, though most
authorities seem to render it by some such words as
“sky”.
Response: Thus many authorities the word would be
“sky” which is most consistent with a flat earth
view. So while we cannot say this verse definitely
proves the flat earth view in the Qur’an, due to the
vagueness of the Arabic, this verse certainly cannot
Sura 51:47,48 “We have build the firmament with
might: and We indeed have vast power. And we
have spread out the (spacious) earth: how excellently
We do spread out!” (Yusuf ‘Ali). Other translations
say “like a carpet”.
Response: Spreading out the earth, which some see
as teaching a flat earth, does nothing to prove the
Qur’an taught modern scientific theories. As a nonMuslim, I am willing to admit that this might not be
6
Sura 86:1-3 “By the heaven and by the visitant by
night, and what will explain to you what the visitant
by night is? It is the star of piercing brightness. (Just
as Allah Almighty is taking care of each star in the
galaxies, similarly) over each soul there is an
appointed guardian angel.” (Malik)
Some Muslims claim this teaches that the sun is a
star.
teaching the falsehood that the earth is flat, but
rather be a poetic expression. Muslims have used
this to say the Qur’an taught the big bang expansion
of the universe. The fact that God spread out the
heavens does not specifically mean the big bang
theory, and God stretching out the heavens is in the
Bible in Isaiah 42:5. However, Christians do not try
to use a vague reference like this to prove the
anticipated the big bang theory.
Response: Note two things: a) the sun is not
mentioned here, and b) everything in parenthesis
was added in the English translation; it is not in the
original Arabic!
Sura 55:33 mentions zones of the earth that men
and Jinns [genies] cannot pass beyond without
authority.
Response: Zones of the earth does not teach modern
geography, though it sounds a bit like sea monsters
or other barriers keep people from traveling to other
parts of the earth. Likewise zones of heaven does not
mean much, except that both Mohammed and Jewish
tradition speak of seven heavens.
Yusuf ‘Ali (revised edition) gives a much more
accurate translation here. “By the Sky6067 and the
Night-Visitant6068 (therein); And what will explain to
thee What the Night-Visitant is? – (It is) the Star of
piercing brightness; - there is no soul but has a
protector over it.6069”
Sura 71:15-16 “See ye not how Allah has create the
seven heavens one above another, And made the
moon a light in the midst, and made the sun as a
(Glorious) lamp?” It is claimed by some Muslims
that the seven layers of the earth’s atmosphere
(troposphere, stratosphere, etc.) are the seven
heavens.
Response: Besides seven heavens being common
with Jewish tradition, calling the moon a light and
the sun a lamp does not show modern scientific
views, though this is not falsehood if it is understood
as poetic language. Also, if the seven heavens were
the seven layers of the earth’s atmosphere, it would
be wrong to say the sun, moon, and stars are in the
heavens.
Yusuf ‘Ali’s footnote 606 says, “…The ‘Star of
piercing brightness’ is understood by some to be the
Morning Star, by others to be the planet Saturn, by
others again to be Sirius, or the Pleids [Pleiades] or
shooting stars. I think it is best to take the ‘Star’ in
the collective or generic sense, for stars shine on
every night of the year, and their piercing brightness
is most noticeable on the darkest night.”
Some Interpretations Are Really Out of
This World!
Here are some other Muslim views recorded in
http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/interprt.htm. This
site has other good info too.
As a side note, though the Bible never mentions
seven heavens, various apocryphal traditions
mention seven heavens: 2 Enoch 20:1; 20:1 p.134135; Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah 7:8; 9:1,6;
10:17; The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs
ch.3.3 p.13. 3 Baruch 11:1 p.675 mentions 5
heavens, though it does not say that is all there are.
So even if it were a scientific miracle that
Mohammed mentioning seven heavens corresponded
to the earth’s atmospheric layers, it would be even a
greater miracle that these earlier works mentioned
seven heavens too.
“Take for instance Muhammad Hanafi al-Banna
who discovered allusions to aeroplanes (Sura 17:1),
artificial satellites (Sura 41:53), interplanetary travel
(Sura 55:33), and the hydrogen bomb (Sura 74:3338) (Jansen 1980:48).
Thus, it was not surprising when men like
Muhammad Kamil Daww wrote that the miracle of
the “scientific” content of the Qur’an was even
greater than the miracle of its matchless eloquence.
7
This gave veracity to Muhammad, and hence a
correctness to all the statements in the Qur’an.
John of Damascus (c.676-749 A.D.) had a very good
scientific explanation of eclipses. “The sun and the
moon, moreover, suffer eclipse, and this
demonstrates the folly of those who worship the
creature in place of the Creator, and teaches us how
changeable and alterable all things are. … Now the
cause of the eclipse of the sun is that the body of the
moon is interposed like a partition –wall and casts a
shadow, and prevents the light from being shed
down on us; and the extent of the eclipse is
proportional to the size of the moon’s body that is
found to conceal the sun. But do not marvel that the
moon’s body is the smaller. For many declare that
the sun is many times larger than the earth, and the
holy Fathers say that it is equal to the earth: yet often
a small cloud, or even a small hill or a wall quite
conceals it. The eclipse of the moon, on the other
hand, is due to the shadow the earth casts on it when
it is fifteen days’ moon and the sun and moon
happen to be at the opposite poles of the highest
circle, the sun being under the earth and the moon
above the earth. For the earth cases a shadow and the
sun’s light is prevented from illuminated the moon,
and therefore it is then eclipsed.” Exposition of the
Orthodox Faith book 2 ch.7 p.25
Today the person best known for popularizing
scientific exegesis is the French doctor Maurice
Bucaille. In his book, The Bible, The Qur’an and
Science, he seeks to expose the unscientific nature of
the Bible while simultaneously elevating the status
of the Qur’an by using the same criteria.”
But Some Muslims Were more Down to
Earth
It must be mentioned that many Muslims do not hold
to the previous interpretations. Some see these
verses are simply remarking on easily observed
things in the sky.
Muhammad said: “Refrain from speaking about me
except of what you know.
Whoever speaks a lie about me deliberately, may
him prepare his place in the hellfire. And whoever
interprets Qur’an by his own opinion may him
prepare his place in the Hellfire.” Tirmiz EE, Tefsir
1, (2951) (contributed)
By about 20 B.C., Chinese writings show they
understood the causes of an eclipse.. In 8 B.C.
Chinese predicted a solar eclipse the 135-month
recurrence period. By A.D. 206 the Chinese
improved and could predict solar eclipses by
analyzing the Moon's motion. See
http://www.museumeclipse.org/about/history.html.
And the Chinese were behind the Babylonians and
Greeks here.
“Nay, We hurl the Truth against Falsehood, and it
knocks out its brain, and behold, Falsehood doth
perish! Ah! Woe be to you for the (false) things ye
ascribe (to Us).” Sura 21:19
If anyone deliberately attributes a lie to Mohammed,
their abode is Hell. Abu Dawud vol.3 ch.1372 book
19 no.3643 p.1036. Also Bukhari vol.2 book 23
ch.33 no.378 p.212-213
The Babylonians discovered an 18-year (actually
6,585 ½ day) cycle, which was called Saros for
predicting eclipses. According to the Encyclopaedia
Britannica 1956 vol.7 p.913, tables of this go back
to the 4th century B.C. To over-simplify a bit, while
a solar eclipse occurs somewhere in the world about
six times every ten years, a solar eclipse only occurs
in one region every 18 years or so. The Greek
scientist Thales of Miletus achieved fame by
predicting in advance the eclipse of 5/28/585 B.C.
according to Herodotus. While the Lydians and
Medes saw this as a divine sign of the gods, Thales
and the Greeks knew this was a natural phenomena.
“...And whoever intentionally ascribes something to
me [Mohammed] falsely, he will surely take his
place in the (Hell) Fire.” Bukhari vol.8 book 73
ch.109 no.217 p.139-140.
A false witness is tantamount to ascribing partners to
Allah. Ibn-i-Majah vol.3 book 13 no.2372 p.414
What Could A Christian Know About
Eclipses At That Time?
8
We think he knew of the Babylonian system, and
there had been an eclipse on 5/18/603 B.C.
mentioned previously, he correctly predicted an
eclipse, probably using the Babylonian system.
Thales measured the apparent diameter of the sun
correctly, and defined the Ursa Minor constellation
and wrote about using it (and the north star) for
navigation. Thales thought the earth was suspended
in a sea of water.
Anatolius of Cappadocia (270-280 A.D.) in his Book
on Arithmetic in Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.6 p.153
mentions “And Thales discovered the eclipse of the
sun and its period in the tropics in its constant
inequality…. And Anaximenes [died c.570 B.C.]
discovered that the moon has her light from the sun,
and found out also the way in which she suffers
eclipse.” Thales reportedly taught Anaximander,
who taught Anaximenes. Thales is called the father
of philosophy because he preceded Pythagoras,
Plato, Socrates, and all the other philosophers.
The earth is a sphere: Pythagoras (c.580/572492/490 B.C.) was a famous philosopher who
thought numbers had mystical qualities. He knew
you could not see ships over the horizon, and so
taught that the earth was a spherical ball. He also
figured out that the morning and evening star
(Venus) was the same. Pythagoras’ pupil Philolaus
(ca.500 B.C.) visualized the earth moving through
space as well as rotating. He taught there was a
mystical “central fire” and all astronomical objects,
including the earth and sun, rotated around it. See
http://www.skyscript.co.uk/copernicus.html for more
info.
Conclusion: While more primitive peoples did not
know of the scientific advances of the Greeks, there
were at least some philosophers, a thousand years
prior to the time of Mohammed, who had an
understanding of eclipses that was more scientific
than what was in the Qur’an.
The moon has ravines and plains: Anaxagoras
(born c.500 B.C.) Moon is like earth, with ravines
and plains, and shines with reflected light. The sun is
red-hot stone on fire, larger than Peloponnesian
peninsula. Anaxagoras’ views were not well
received; he was put on trial for impiety against the
gods. He was sentenced to death, but the sentence
was commuted to exile from Athens.
What Could A Christian Know About
Astronomy At That Time?
Just how primitive was people’s astronomical
knowledge around Mohammed’s time? John of
Damascus (c.676-749 A.D.) lived not long after
Mohammed, and quite frankly, we can learn more
correct astronomy from him than we can from the
Qur’an. Here is what he said. “…some hold that the
earth is in the form of a sphere, others that it is in
that of a cone. At all events it is much smaller than
the heaven, and suspended almost like a point in its
midst.” Exposition of the Orthodox Faith book 2
ch.10 p.28-29. Now John of Damascus actually lived
a little after the time of Mohammed, so let’s look at
the science of astronomy among the Greeks prior to
Mohammed. The Greeks had a variety of views, but
here are the views that are closest to modern
astronomy.
Part Geocentric, Part Heliocentric: Herakleides
(c.388/380-c.310 B.C.) though that Mercury and
Venus orbited around the sun, while the sun and
everything else orbited around the earth. He also
taught that the earth rotates.
Heliocentric (earth orbits the sun): Greeks had a
variety of views on astronomy, Aristarchus of Samos
(ca.310-230 B.C.) was said the sun went around the
earth, according to his pupil Archimedes.
Aristarchus practiced astronomy in Alexandria. He is
called the Copernicus of ancient astronomy, because
he taught that the sun was 20 times farther from the
earth than the moon, hence must be much larger.
[Actually the sun is about 400 times farther from the
earth than the moon.]
Prediction of eclipses: Thales of Miletus (c.624c.548/7 B.C.), is called the father of philosophy and
founded the Milesian school of philosophy. He is
thought to be the teacher of Anaximander (c.611c.547 A.D.), who in turn taught Anaximenes. As
9
But if the earth revolved, it must be moving very
fast; yet we do not see things flying around. Thus,
because the ancient people had no concept of
gravity, Aristarchus’ view fell out of favor in most
people’s minds. We have preserved his On the Sizes
and Distances of the Sun and the Moon where is said
that when the moon is half full, the earth, moon, and
sun for a 90 degree triangle.
Clement of Alexandria (193-217/220 A.D.)
mentions Philolaus in The Stromata book 3 ch.3
p.384.
Hippolytus (writing 225/235/6 A.D.) mentions,
among other scientists, Aristarchus the Samian (of
Samos) and Archimedes in his discussion on
astronomy in The Refutation of All Heresies book 4
ch.8 p.28.
Later, by the time Claudius Ptolemy published his
Syntaxis of Astronomy in 150 A.D., the view of
everything revolving around the earth dominated
European and Middle eastern thought for 1500
years. See
http://physics.gmu.edu/~jevans/astr103/CourseNotes
/history_greekGeocentricHeliocentric.html
and http://www-history.mcs.standrews.ac.uk/history/HistTopics/Greek_astronomy.
html for ore info. By the way, if you looking this up
yourself, be aware that Aristarchus of Samothrace,
(c.217–c.145 B.C) is a different person.
Conclusion: The Greeks, inheriting from
Babylonian and Egyptian culture, had some
remarkable astronomical insights. Among their
differing views, some Greeks taught that the earth is
a sphere that rotates and revolves around the sun.
Pre-Nicene Christians knew of these views. These
views anticipated modern science more than the
statements in the Qur’an.
Muslims Views and Responses
Ocean tides caused by moon and rotation:
Another philosopher who held to Aristarchus’ view
was Seleucus (150 B.C.). He said the ocean tides
were caused by the rotating of the earth and the
revolution of the moon. See
http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/GreekScience/Students
/Kristen/Aristarchus.html for more info.
1. The Qur’an anticipates modern science: The
sun and moon are in orbit and rotate along their axis
(Sura 21:33; 36:27-40). The Qur’an even teaches the
big bang theory (Sura 21:30; Sura 51:47,48). The
Arabic word falak means “orbit”. Astronomers tell
us that the sun orbits the center of the galaxy every
250 million years or so. The Arabic word yasbahuna
(from sabaha) means rotating on its axis.
Pre-Nicene Christians were aware of these things:
Anatolius of Cappadocia (270-280 A.D.) in his Book
on Arithmetic Ante-Nicene Fathers vol.6 p.153
wrote, “And Thales discovered the eclipse of the sun
and its period in the tropics in its constant inequality.
And Anaximander discovered that the earth is poised
in space, and moves round the axis of the universe.
And Anaximenes discovered that the moon has her
light from the sun, and found out also the way in
which she suffers eclipse. And the rest of the
mathematicians have also made additions to these
discoveries. We may instance the facts-that the fixed
stars move round the axis passing through the poles,
while the planets remove from each other”
1 Response: Actually this is wishful thinking for
two reasons.
1) The words are vague: falak is Arabic means
course, progress as well as orbit, and yasbahuna can
mean hastening on, though its most direct meaning
is swimming.
2) Mohammed told us clearly what is means, and it
means the sun and moon traveled over earth,
swam/rode in a chariot across the earth’s sky.
3) Early Greeks taught that the sun and moon orbit
around the earth (Aristarchus of Samos c.310-230
A.D.) and Seleucus (150 B.C.).
Athenagoras (c.177 A.D.) mentions Pythagoras and
that Philolaus taught that all things are included in
God, showing that God is One and God. A Plea For
Christians ch.6 p.131
Again, here are two sources of what Mohammed
said.
10
“God created an ocean three fasrakhs (18 kilometers)
removed from heaven. Waves contained, it stands in
the air by the command of God. No drop of it is
spilled. All the oceans are motionless, but that ocean
flows at the rate of the speed of an arrow. It is set
free to move in the air evenly, as if it were a rope
stretched out in the area between east and west. The
sun, the moon, and the retrograde stars [5 planets]
run in its deep swell. This is (meant by) God’s word:
‘Each swims in a sphere.’ ‘The sphere’ is the
circulation of the chariot in the deep swell of that
ocean.” al-Tabari vol.1 p.235
4. The sun’s resting place means the ultimate
destruction of the sun.
Narrated Abu Dhar : The Prophet asked me at
sunset, ‘Do you know where the sun goes (at the
time of sunset)?” I replied, “Allah and His Apostle
know better.” He said, “It goes (i.e. travels) till it
prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the
permission to rise again, and it is permitted and them
( a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate
itself but its prostration will not be accepted,…”
Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283. Sahih
Muslim vol.1 book 1 ch.73 no.297-300 p.95-96 also
has a lot of detail on this conversation with
Mohammed and Abu Dharr.
5 Response: This would sound reasonable, except
for what Bukhari and al-Tabari wrote that
Mohammed said. If Bukhari and al-Tabari were
wrong about this, then what criteria is there for
saying they were right about anything.
4 Response: A typical person reading this, in any
language, would think it refers to a periodic cycle,
not ultimate destruction.
5. Language of appearance: The sun, moon, and
planets mark a path in the sky. These verses were
meant neither to support nor contradict modern
science, but were poetic expressions merely saying
Allah was behind what people naturally observed.
Conclusion
Some (but not all) Muslims try to use these verses
to prove the scientific accuracy of the Qur’an.
Unless you see an error in this discussion, it is not
intellectually honest to try to claim this proves the
scientific accuracy of the Qur’an. In fact, some of
these verses contradict what we know by modern
science, unless you understand them to be poetic and
the language of appearance. However, Bukhari and
al-Tabari show these were understood quite literally.
The sun and moon swim in the sky over the earth.
2. The Qur’an mentions the sun’s orbit around
the center of our galaxy.
2 Response: The sun does not have an independent
orbit in our galaxy. If the Qur’an was attempting to
teach modern science, it should have said the sun,
moon, earth, and retrograde stars (planets) all orbit
the galaxy together. Historically, the first person
who said the sun, earth, and everything else rotated
around a central fire was Philolaus (ca.500 B.C.).
However, the most important thing in the world is
not what you know, but Who you know. It is not
which theories of men you believe, but whether you
follow what the True God has revealed. Every single
viewpoint on astronomy up to the nineteenth century
has some error in it. Who’s to say that in the future
people will not say the same about our scientific
views? The only way we can know what is true is by
what God has revealed to us. We have trust that God
would reveal what we need to know, and that He
would preserve the meaning of His revelation.
Again, we also know exactly what Mohammed
meant, because he told us, as Bukhari vol.4 book 54
ch.4 no.441 p.283 and al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 record.
3. The sun’s resting place means it is shining on
the other side of the earth.
Again, we also know exactly what Mohammed
meant, because he told us, as Bukhari vol.4 book 54
ch.4 no.441 p.283 and al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 record.
11
Bibliography: Translations of the Qur’an
http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/interprt.htm
1. Arberry, Arthur J. The Koran Interpreted.
Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. 1955.
2. Dawood, N.J. The Koran. Penguin Books. 19561999.
3. Malik, Farooq-i-Azam. English Translation of the
Meaning of AL-QUR’AN : The Guidance for
Mankind. The Institute of Islamic Knowledge. 1997
4. Pickthall, Mohammed Marmaduke. The Meaning
of the Glorious Koran. Dar al-Islamiyya (Kuwait)
(no date given)
5. Rodwell, J.M. The Koran. First Edition. Ivy
Books, Published by Ballantine Books. 1993.
6. Shakir, M.H. The Qur’an. Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an,
Inc. 12th U.S. Edition 2001.
7. Sher Ali, Maulawi. The Holy Qur’an. Islam
International Publications Limited (Ahmadiyya)
1997
8. Yusuf ‘Ali, Abdullah. The Holy Qur-an : English
translation of the meanings and Commentary.
Revised & Edited by The Presidency of Islamic
Researches, IFTA. King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing
Complex. (Al Madina Saudi Arabia) 1410 A.H.
Other References
Campbell, Dr. William. The Qur’an and the Bible in
the Light of History and Science (2nd edition). Arab
World Ministries 2002.
The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih AlBukhari Arabic-English Vol.1 by Dr. Muhammad
Muhsin Khan. Islamic University, Al-Medina AlMunawwara AL MAKTABAT AL SALAFIAT AL
MADINATO AL MONAWART
No date, No copyright.
The History of al-Tabari : An Annotated Translation.
Ehsan Yar-Shater, General Editor. State University
of New York Press 1989-.
12
Appendix – Translations of Sura 36:38-40
outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along In (its
own) orbit (According to Law).
(Yusuf Ali’s translation of the Qur’an (p.1326-1327)
Revised & Edited by The Presidency of Islamic
Researches, IFTA. King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing
Complex.)
“And the sun runs on to a term appointed for it; that
is the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing. (39)
And (as for) the moon, We have ordained for it
stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm
branch. (40) Neither is it allowable to the sun that it
should overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip
the day; and all float on in a sphere.” M.H. Shakir’s
translation
(37) And a Sign for them is the Night; We withdraw
therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged into
darkness; (38) And the Sun runs his course for a
period determined for him: that is the decree of
(Him), the exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. (39)
And the Moon – We have measured for her
mansions13 (to traverse) till she returns like the old
(and withered) lower part of date-stalk.” (40) It is
not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor
can the Night outstrip the Day: each (just) swims
along in (its own) orbit17 (according to Law).
Footnote 17 says “Circuit, course”
Abdullah Yusuf Ali published by MILLAT Book
Centre
Pickthall’s translation has one verse number lower.
“(37) And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for
him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.
(38) And for the moon We have appointed mansions
till she return like an old shriveled palm-leaf.” (39) It
is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the
night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.”
(M.M. Pickthall’s translation)
(38) And a Sign for them is the night from which
We strip off the day, and lo! They are in darkness.
(39) And the sun is moving on the course prescribed
for it. That is the decree of the Almighty, the AllKnowing God.”
Maulawi Sher Ali’s translation (Ahmadiyya)
This differs from the previous (revised) Yusuf Ali in
“for a period determined for him:” vs. “unto a
resting place, for him:” and “stations” vs.
“mansions”
“And a sign for them is the night; We strip it of the
day and lo, they are in darkness. And the sun – it
runs to a fixed resting-place; that is the ordaining of
the All-mighty, the All-knowing. And the moon- We
have determined it by stations, till it returns like an
aged palm-bought. It behooves not the sun to
overtake the moon, neither does the night outstrip
the day, each swimming in a sky.” A.J. Arberry’s
translation
(36:37-40) Another sign for them is the night; when
We withdraw the daylight from it, and behold they
are in darkness. The sun runs its course, this course
is pre-estimated for it by the Almighty, the AllKnowing. As for the moon, We have designed
phases for it till it again becomes like an old dry
palm branch. Neither it is possible for the sun to
overtake the moon, nor for the night to outstrip the
day; each floats along in its own orbit.”
Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik’s translation.
“A sign to them also is the night. We withdraw the
day from it, and lo! They are plunged in darkness;
And the sun hasteneth to her place of rest. This, the
ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing! And as for
the moon, We have decreed stations for it, till it
change like an old and crooked palm branch. To the
sun it is not given to overtake the moon, nor doth the
night outstrip the day; but each in its own sphere
doth journey on.”
J.M. Rodwell’s translation of the Qur’an
(37) And a Sign for them Is the Night: We withdraw
Therefrom the Day, and behold They are plunged in
darkness; (38) And the Sun Runs unto a resting
place, For him: that is The decree of (him) The
Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. (39) And the
Moon, - We have measured for her Stations (to
traverse) Till she returns Like the old (and withered)
Lower part of a date-stalk. (40) It is not permitted To
the Sun to catch up The Moon, nor can The Night
13
“The night is another sign for men. From the night
We lift the day – and they are plunged in darkness.
The sun hastens to its resting-place; its course is laid
for it by the Mighty One, the All-Knowing. We have
ordained phases for the moon, which daily wanes
and in the end appears like a bent old twig. The sun
is not allowed to overtake the moon, nor does the
night outpace the day. Each in its own orbit swims.”
N.J. Dawood’s translation of the Qur’an.
http://www.submission.org/efarsi/arabic/sura36.html
says, “The sun sets into a specific location,
according to the design of the Almighty, the
Omniscient.”
14