The creation of the Almighty is undoubtedly a great act of worship. The Holy Qur’an instructs man to look intently at his own creation and the world around him. And the Holy Qur’an is a unique and reliable source for this. It is discussed in the language of the Holy Qur’an, which has orbits in space, in verse 8 of Surah Jariyat, in the word ‘jatul hubuk’, meaning road or path. The small and large planets and satellites of space each revolve in their respective orbits. In the Holy Qur’an, Irshad has said, ‘The sun runs in its prescribed way. The moon also has a fixed orbit. ‘(Surah Yasin: 38, 39)
There is a kind of massive star in space, which itself is a collection of billions upon billions of planets, satellites and stars. In the language of the Qur’an, these are used in the word ‘tower’ or galaxy. In the first type of narration, it has been narrated in the Holy Qur’an that I have adorned the sky of the world with innumerable stars. (Surah As-Saffat: 6)
In the second type of context, the Qur’an describes the holy being as the great being who has placed countless galaxies in space, including the sun and the shining moon. (Surah Furqan: 71)
What is the color of the polymorphic space sky? Although it is known as blue sky in human face, in reality there is no specific color of the sky. Tiny molecules in the atmosphere appear blue at the edge of vision. Depending on the situation, the sky has different shapes. At the same time in the rainbow fair, seven colors were also created at the same time. This is how the description of this multi-faceted decoration of the sky comes in the Holy Qur’an. ‘I swear by the sky, which manifests itself in various forms.” (Surah Tariq: 11)
NASA, the largest space research organization in the world, has been able to discover that the circumference of the earth’s surface is shrinking and the circumference of space is expanding. Many people raised eyebrows at this shocking information. But 1,500 years ago today, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stood on the sand of the desert and provided this information from the Holy Qur’an. Allah the Almighty says, I have created the heavens with My own hands and I am the One who spreads them.” (Surah Jariyat: 48). In another verse, Allah says, “Do they not see that I am gradually narrowing the circumference of the earth? Are they still victorious?” (Surah Ambiya: 44)
How can such a huge space be floating in the middle of space? Allah Himself is giving the answer, ‘It is also one of His signs that the heavens and the earth stand only on His command. (Surah Rome: 25). In the Holy Qur’an, it has been said, “I created the seven heavens in a state of floating without pillars, which you see.” (Surah Luqman: 10)
Putting together several verses of the Holy Qur’an with the gates of space will make it easier to understand. In verse 32 of Surah Ambiya, Allah says, “I have created the heavens with a firm roof.” And there are doors to connect the sky. Irshad is saying in Kalam Pak, ‘The gates of heaven will not be opened for those who arrogantly reject My revelations. Again, these doors have strict guard system. Allah says: “Allah is the One Who has completed the construction of the seven layers of space in just two days. Arranged activities at each level. And He has adorned the heavens with innumerable lamps, and has established security.” (Surat al-Fusilat: 12)
Foggy space for the first time, the American space agency NASA provided information that space was very deeply hazy. This fog is mainly due to the scattering of sunlight in the morning and starlight at night. For example, in a foggy environment, the light of a lamp causes a different kind of ray scattering. In the Holy Qur’an, it has been said in this regard, “After completing the construction of the earth’s surface, he turned his attention to the construction of the sky and then it was foggy.” (Surah Fusilat:11)
Allah says: “Then I looked up to heaven and saw that it was surrounded by strong security forces.” (Surah Jinn: 8)
At the end of it all, the seven heavens will be rolled up like a book. Allah says: “On that day I will roll up the heavens as the scrolls are rolled up.” (Surat al-Ambiya: 104)
The Sun and the Moon
In the Holy Qur’an, it has been said, “He is the One who illuminated the sun and illuminated the moon with soft light.” (Surah Yunus: 13)
Science says that the moon has no light of its own. The reflected light of the sun is the source of the moon. The Holy Qur’an further clarifies, “Allah has set the moon as a light, and the sun as a lamp.” (Surah Nooh: 18).
The sun and the moon are created by God. Hadith scholars and researchers of Islam have said that solar eclipses and lunar eclipses convey the warning from Allah that the moon and sun, like other creations, are God’s creation; They are not worthy of worship. Since these two are themselves endangered, they cannot be worshiped. Rather, it is wise to take these two as the means of knowing Allah the Almighty.
Allah says, “Among His Signs are the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun nor to the moon; Prostrate yourselves before Allah, Who created them, if it is He Whom you worship with sincere devotion.”
One of the things that prove that Quran is the words of Allah, is that it informs us of scientific facts that no one could have possibly known about when Quran was sent 1400 years ago. Allah Says:
خَلَقَ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ ۚ يُكَوِّرُ الَّيْلَ عَلَى النَّهَارِ وَيُكَوِّرُ النَّهَارَ عَلَى الَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَؕ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِىْ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّىؕ اَلَا هُوَ الْعَزِيْزُ الْغَفَّارُ
“He created the heavens and the Earth with truth. He wraps the night around the day and wraps the day around the night, and has made the Sun and Moon subservient, each one running for a specified term. Is He not indeed the Almighty, the Endlessly Forgiving?”( Surat az-Zumar: 5)
In the above verse the movement of the Earth is described by the word “yukawwiru,” which comes from root verb “takwir,” meaning “to cover up a spherical body,” in the way that the rotation of the Earth gives rise to night and day, like the winding of a turban. The side in shadow is shrouded by the darkness of night, to be replaced by the brightness of day when the Sun rises. The positions of the Sun and Earth are revealed as follows in Surah Ya Sin:
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِىْ لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ؕ ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِؕ
وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتّٰى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُوْنِ الْقَدِيْمِ
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْۢبَغِىْ لَهَاۤ اَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِؕ وَكُلٌّ فِىْ فَلَكٍ يَّسْبَحُوْنَ
“And the Sun runs to its resting place. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. And We have decreed set phases for the Moon, until it ends up looking like an old palm spathe. It is not for the Sun to overtake the Moon nor for the night to outstrip the day; each one is swimming in a sphere.” (Surah Ya Sin, 38-40)
“By the Sun and its morning brightness, and the moon when it follows it, and the day when it displays it, and the night when it conceals it.” (Surat ash-Shams, 1-4)
As science and technology advance more and more examples of the compatibility between the Qur’an and science are coming to light. This is set out in another verse from the Qur’an:
لَـقَدْ كَانَ فِىْ قَصَصِهِمْ عِبْرَةٌ لِّاُولِى الْاَلْبَابِؕ مَا كَانَ حَدِيْثًا يُّفْتَـرٰى وَلٰـكِنْ تَصْدِيْقَ الَّذِىْ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ وَتَفْصِيْلَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَّهُدًى وَّرَحْمَةً لِّـقَوْمٍ يُّؤْمِنُوْنَ
“There is instruction in their stories for people of intelligence. This is not a narration which has been invented but confirmation of all that came before, a clarification of everything, and a guidance and a mercy for people who believe.” (Surah Yusuf, 111)
“And the Sun runs to its resting place. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.” (Surah Ya Sin, 38)
The verse “When the sun is compacted in blackness,” (Surat at-Takwir, 1) which appears in descriptions of Doomsday, tells us that such a time will be coming. The specific timing is known only to Allah.
The Arabic word “taqdeeru,” translated as “decree” in the verse, includes such meanings as “to appoint, to determine the destiny of something, to measure.” By this expression in verse 38 of Surah Ya Sin, we are told that the life span of the Sun is limited to a specific period, one ordained by Allah. Other verses of the Qur’an on the subject read:
اَللّٰهُ الَّذِىْ رَفَعَ السَّمٰوٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَؕ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِىْ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّىؕ يُدَبِّرُ الْاَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْاٰيٰتِ لَعَلَّكُمْ بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوْقِنُوْنَ
“Allah is He Who raised up the heavens without any support – you can see that – and then established Himself firmly on the Throne. He made the Sun and Moon subservient, each running for a specified term. He directs the whole affair. He makes the Signs clear so that hopefully you will be certain about the meeting with your Lord.” (Surat ar- Ra’d, 2)
يُوْلِجُ الَّيْلَ فِى النَّهَارِ وَيُوْلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِى الَّيْلِ ۙ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِىْ لِاَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ؕ ذٰ لِكُمُ اللّٰهُ رَبُّكُمْ لَـهُ الْمُلْكُ ؕ وَالَّذِيْنَ تَدْعُوْنَ مِنْ دُوْنِهٖ مَا يَمْلِكُوْنَ مِنْ قِطْمِيْرٍؕ
“He makes night merge into day and day merge into night, and He has made the Sun and Moon subservient, each one running until a specified time. That is Allah, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call on besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck.” (Surah Fatir: 13)
The way that such a giant mass of energy would one day consume all its energy and expire was revealed 1400 years ago in the Qur’an shows the presence of a sublime knowledge. That knowledge belongs to our Lord, Whose knowledge enfolds all things. Another verse of the Qur’an reveals:
وَحَآجَّهٗ قَوْمُهٗ ؕ قَالَ اَتُحَآجُّٓونِّىْ فِى اللّٰهِ وَقَدْ هَدٰٮنِؕ وَلَاۤ اَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُوْنَ بِهٖۤ اِلَّاۤ اَنْ يَّشَآءَ رَبِّىْ شَيْـًٔـا ؕ وَسِعَ رَبِّىْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ عِلْمًاؕ اَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُوْنَ
“And his people argued with him. He said: “Do you argue with me concerning Allah while (My Lord) delivered me to Guidance (Hidayet)? I do not fear in any way those that you set up with Him, unless my Lord wills something. My Lord surrounds in His Knowledge all things. Will you not then be mindful?” (Surat Al-An’am, 80)
The Sun is a shining glory (diya’) and the Moon a light (nur).The difference between Sun and Moon will be made clearer by further quotes from the Quran.
تَبٰـرَكَ الَّذِىْ جَعَلَ فِى السَّمَآءِ بُرُوْجًا وَّجَعَلَ فِيْهَا سِرٰجًا وَّقَمَرًا مُّنِيْرًا
“Blessed is the One Who placed the constellations in heaven and placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light.” (Surah 25:61)
“Did you see how God created seven heavens one above an other and made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp?” (Al Quran)
The Stars
The word ‘star’ appears thirteen times in the Quran (najm, plural nujum); it comes from a root meaning to appear, to come into sight. The word designates a visible heavenly body without saying of what kind, i.e. either generator of light or mere reflector of light received.
The term ‘star’ appears in the Quran thirteen times, and originates from the root meaning to appear, to be seen. The term refers to a visible celestial organ without mentioning what kind of light is received, i.e. either light generator or the plain reflector. A qualifying sentence is used like in the following sura to indicate that the item so designated is a star:
To make it clear that the object so designated is a star, a qualifying phrase is added as in the following sura:
وَالسَّمَآءِ وَالطَّارِقِۙ
وَمَاۤ اَدْرٰٮكَ مَا الطَّارِقُۙ
النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُۙ
“By the sky and the Night-Visitor, who will tell thee what the Night-Visitor is, the Star of piercing brightness.” (Surah 86:1-3)
In Surah 6: 97, Allah says:
وَهُوَ الَّذِىْ جَعَلَ لَـكُمُ النُّجُوْمَ لِتَهْتَدُوْا بِهَا فِىْ ظُلُمٰتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِؕ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الْاٰيٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَّعْلَمُوْنَ
“It is He Who make the Stars (as beacons) for you, that ye may guide yourselves, with their help, through the dark spaces of land and sea: We detail Our Signs for people who know.”
The Qur’an speaks of the guiding value of the dark stars. The scientists also noted that polar stars are widely employed in heavenly navigation. While the positions of other stars fluctuate over the night, the location of stars in the sky does not alter. It is hence a reliable northward indicator. In Surah 16: 12, Allah also says:
قُلْ لِّمَنْ مَّا فِى السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِؕ قُلْ لِّلّٰهِؕ كَتَبَ عَلٰى نَفْسِهِ الرَّحْمَةَ ؕ لَيَجْمَعَنَّكُمْ اِلٰى يَوْمِ الْقِيٰمَةِ لَا رَيْبَ فِيْهِ ؕ اَلَّذِيْنَ خَسِرُوْۤا اَنْفُسَهُمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُوْنَ
“He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the Sun and the Moon; and the Stars are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise.”
The Planets
A good definition of the meaning of the word kaukab in the Quran Seems to have been given in a very famous verse. The eminently spiritual nature of its deeper meaning stands forth, and is moreover the subject of much debate among experts in exegesis. It is nevertheless of great interest to offer an account of the comparison it contains on the subject of the word that would seem to designate a ‘planet’.
اَللّٰهُ نُوْرُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَالْاَرْضِ ؕ مَثَلُ نُوْرِهٖ كَمِشْكٰوةٍ فِيْهَا مِصْبَاحٌ ؕ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِىْ زُجَاجَةٍ ؕ اَلزُّجَاجَةُ كَاَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّىٌّ يُّوْقَدُ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُّبٰـرَكَةٍ زَيْتُوْنَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَّلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ ۙ يَّـكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِىْٓءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ ؕ نُوْرٌ عَلٰى نُوْرٍ ؕ يَهْدِى اللّٰهُ لِنُوْرِهٖ مَنْ يَّشَآءُ ؕ وَ يَضْرِبُ اللّٰهُ الْاَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِؕ وَاللّٰهُ بِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ عَلِيْمٌ ۙ
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth; the example of His light is like a niche in which is a lamp; the lamp is in a glass; the glass is as if it were a star shining like a pearl, kindled by the blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west – it is close that the oil itself get ablaze although the fire does not touch it; light upon light; Allah guides towards His light whomever He wills; and Allah illustrates examples for mankind; and Allah knows everything.” (Surah 24:35)
In one verse however, when seen in the light of modern science, it would seem very much that these can only be the heavenly bodies that we know to be planets. In surah 37, verse 6, we see the following: “We have indeed adorned the lowest heaven with an ornament, the planets.”
Celestial Organization
The information the Quran provides on this subject mainly deals with the solar system. References are however made to phenomena that go beyond the solar system itself: they have been discovered in recent times. There are two very important verses on the orbits of the Sun and Moon:
وَهُوَ الَّذِىْ خَلَقَ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَؕ كُلٌّ فِىْ فَلَكٍ يَّسْبَحُوْنَ
“(God is) the One Who created the night, the day, the sun and the moon. Each one is travelling in an orbit with its own motion.” (Surah 21:33)
لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْۢبَغِىْ لَهَاۤ اَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِؕ وَكُلٌّ فِىْ فَلَكٍ يَّسْبَحُوْنَ
“The sun must not catch up the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. Each one is travelling in an orbit with its own motion.” (Surah 36: 40)
The Sequence of Day and Night
“(God) covers the day with the night which is in haste to follow it.” (Al Quran)
وَاٰيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ ۖۚ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَاِذَا هُمْ مُّظْلِمُوْنَۙ
“And a sign for them (human beings) is the night. We strip it of the day and they are in darkness.” (Surah 36:37)
اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ يُوْلِجُ الَّيْلَ فِى النَّهَارِ وَيُوْلِجُ النَّهَارَ فِى الَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَّجْرِىْۤ اِلٰٓى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَّاَنَّ اللّٰهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُوْنَ خَبِيْرٌ
“Hast thou not seen how God merges the night into the day and merges the day into the night.” (Surah 31:29)
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