Geocentrism and the Quran: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Conclusion: added a couple of the main points to conclusion)
(→‎The regular cycle of the sun: directing reader to notes above about the word 'resting place')
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{{Quote|{{cite quran|36|37|end=40|style=ref}}| A token unto them is night. '''We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness and the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him.''' That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.}}  
{{Quote|{{cite quran|36|37|end=40|style=ref}}| A token unto them is night. '''We strip it of the day, and lo! they are in darkness and the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him.''' That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shrivelled palm-leaf. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit.}}  


The Qur'an clearly tells us that the sun follows a daily cycle, which ends every night when the sun goes to its resting place. (ِمُسْتَقَرٍّ) Waalshshamsu (and the sun) tajree (runs) limustaqarrin (a resting point) laha (of it). Notice how the sun's movement is repeatedly mentioned in the context of night and day.  
The Qur'an clearly tells us that the sun follows a daily cycle, which ends every night when the sun goes to its resting place (ِمُسْتَقَرٍّ See notes in the Primary Evidence section regarding this word). Waalshshamsu (and the sun) tajree (runs) limustaqarrin (a resting point) laha (of it). Notice how the sun's movement is repeatedly mentioned in the context of night and day.  


A standard apologetic claim is that references to the sun's movement concern its 225 million year orbit around the milky way. Such a meaning would have no relevance to human timescales, nor would it be "a token" or sign for 7<sup>th</sup> century listeners, nor would it make sense in the context about the night-day cycle. Moreover, saying that it is not for the sun to overtake the moon is a very strange thing to say unless speaking from a naive human perspective where they orbit the same world.
A standard apologetic claim is that references to the sun's movement concern its 225 million year orbit around the milky way. Such a meaning would have no relevance to human timescales, nor would it be "a token" or sign for 7<sup>th</sup> century listeners, nor would it make sense in the context about the night-day cycle. Moreover, saying that it is not for the sun to overtake the moon is a very strange thing to say unless speaking from a naive human perspective where they orbit the same world, and indeed, will be one day joined together (see below).


===The movement of the sun and timekeeping===
===The movement of the sun and timekeeping===