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al-firaushah » Sun’s Orbit in the Qur’an

Sun’s Orbit in the Qur’an

March 30, 2005 on 10:02 pm | In Questions about Islam, Qur'an |

idbc wrote: “Why does the Quran say that the sun has an orbit, when we know it doesn’t?”

I suspect idbc is referring to either of the following verses:

“And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. They float, each in an orbit.” (21:33)

“It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.” (36:40)

We all know that the moon has its own orbit, revolving around the earth; however, the sun has its own orbit as well…around the galactic center, which is estimated to take about 225-250 million years for one “cosmic year.”

The Qur’an is correct, yet again.

3 Comments »

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  1. Mashallah, excellent post.

    Comment by DrMaxtor — August 1, 2005 #

  2. The Quran only mentions that the sun and moon each have an orbit.

    600AD common knowledge for sun to revolve earth.
    Today’s knowledge is for sun to revolve galaxy.

    Which orbit was Allah referring to??

    If HE is referring to the sun as it orbits earth, then Allah is WRONG.
    If HE is referring to the sun as it orbits galaxy, then no one would have believed him in 600AD……for they see it orbit earth every day, creating night and day.

    I believe Allah is talking about sun orbiting earth, since HE mentions night/day cycle…….not millions of years cycle.

    Comment by Scott — October 4, 2007 #

  3. I understand where you’re coming from, and while I think you may be partly right from the historical perspective, I think you’re ultimately wrong.
    In 600 AD Arabia, the Arabs may indeed have believed in a Ptolemaic-type universe, in which the Earth was at the center and everything orbited around it. I don’t know if that is what they thought, but let’s assume that it is. In which case, do not the sun and the moon seem to have their own “orbit,” not in the sense that we understand the word today, but in the sense that each follows its own path through the sky, what we call today the “zodiac?” In which case, is either verse above wrong? No.
    And while the Qur’an was revealed with the most important audience in mind (the Arabs circa 600 AD), it was also written for all mankind, for all time. One of the things that I was curious about before I reverted to Islam was whether there were any verses that had a “WTF?” factor to them, meaning, that the verses may not have made sense then or in subsequent years but would be proven true from scientific knowledge in the future. And I have come across several such verses, all of which deal with natural phenomena (e.g., mountains, salty vs. sweet water), including the two above.
    The Qur’an is correct, yet again.

    Comment by firaushah — October 7, 2007 #

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