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Geocentrism and the Quran: Difference between revisions

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Geocentrism and the Quran (view source)

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→‎The shape of the sun's course: Shortened this section, replacing some full quotes with verse citations + extra detail on 2:258
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===The shape of the sun's course===
===The shape of the sun's course===
Various verses explain the shape of the sun's course.  Apparently Allah brings the sun from east, it travels high and eventually goes down. Most of these can be dismissed as the same kind of convenient language we would use today ({{cite Quran|20|059}}, {{cite Quran|20|130}}, {{cite Quran|17|078}}, {{cite Quran|{{cite quran|6|77|end=78|style=ref}}}}, {{cite Quran|18|17}}). Some are more interesting, however.


These verses explain the shape of the sun's course.  Apparently the sun goes up from east, travels high and eventually goes down to the west.
Allah brings (yati يَأْتِى) the sun from the east:


The sun rises (goes up) in the east:
{{Quote|{{cite Quran|2|258|end=259|style=ref}}|Said Abraham, 'God '''brings the sun from the east'''; so bring thou it from the west.'}}


{{Quote|{{Quran|2|258}}|But it is Allah that causes the '''sun to rise from the east'''}}


{{Quote|{{Quran|2|078}}|And when '''he saw the sun rising up'''[…]}}
The Qur'an also describes the locations where the sun actually rises and sets in response to a question about an existing legend.  It can be seen by human eyes in the story of [[Dhul-Qarnayn]] (Alexander the Great):
 
The sun's course has a high point:
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|20|059}}|[…] and let the people assemble when the '''sun has risen high.'''}}
 
The sun goes up and down:
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|20|130}}|[…] the '''rising''' of the sun and ere the '''going down''' thereof}}
 
The sun goes down again in the west:
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|17|078}}|Establish worship at the '''going down of the Sun''' until the dark of night, and (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn. Lo! (the recital of) the Qur'an at dawn is ever witnessed.}}
 
{{Quote|{{cite quran|6|77|end=78|style=ref}}|When he saw the moon rising in splendor, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, He said: "unless my Lord guide me, I shall surely be among those who go astray." When he saw the Sun rising in splendor [...]}}
 
Here the course of the sun is described as a sign (ayat). Note that the rising of the sun is compared (again) to the rising of the moon (the same words are used). However, the moon is in an orbit around the earth, whilst the sun is not.
 
{{Quote|{{Quran|18|17}}|Thou wouldst have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the open space in the midst of the Cave. Such are among the Signs of Allah: He whom Allah, guides is rightly guided; but he whom Allah leaves to stray.}}
 
The Qur'an clearly assumes the sun ends its daily cycle every night when the sun goes to its resting place. (ِمُسْتَقَرٍّ or mustaqarrin).<ref>See the notes (No. 3) in the [http://wikiislam.net/wiki/Geocentrism_and_the_Quran#Primary_Evidence Primary Evidence] section of this article, regarding the translation of this word.</ref>
 
{{Quote|{{cite quran|36|37|end=38|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.}}
 
The Qur'an also describes the locations where the sun can be seen to go up and down.  It can be seen by human eyes in the story of [[Dhul-Qarnayn]] (Alexander the Great):


{{Quote|{{cite quran|18|84|end=90|style=ref}}| Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road. And he followed a road. '''Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring''', and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. Then he followed a road. '''Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.'''}}
{{Quote|{{cite quran|18|84|end=90|style=ref}}| Lo! We made him strong in the land and gave him unto every thing a road. And he followed a road. '''Till, when he reached the setting-place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring''', and found a people thereabout. We said: O Dhu'l-Qarneyn! Either punish or show them kindness. Then he followed a road. '''Till, when he reached the rising-place of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had appointed no shelter therefrom.'''}}


The place where the sun goes down has a name 'Mahgreb' (from the root ghuroob, meaning "to set" or "to be hidden by going away"). Today, North-Western Africa (Morocco in particular) is denoted by this very name. Interestingly, if one stands there and looks at the ocean at sunset one could 'observe' the sun going to its hidden resting place.<ref>For a detailed discussion of the key words in these verses, see the article [[Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring]]</ref>
For a detailed discussion of the key words in these verses, evidence showing that early Muslims took it literally, and contemporary Arabic and Syriac poems of the same legend, see the article [[Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring]]


The Qur'an is quite clear about the course of the sun. It does not even describe a complete orbit, but merely a rounded course (falak) that has a beginning, an end, and a highest point.
The Qur'an is quite clear about the course of the sun. It does not even describe a complete orbit, but merely a rounded course (falak) that has a beginning, an end, and a highest point.
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