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Geocentrism and the Quran: Difference between revisions
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(→Classical Commentators: I have added some geocentric classical exegesis citations - I will continue to add to the others.) |
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|title=Geocentrism and the Quran | |||
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In several verses the [[Qur'an]] describes the movement of the sun and moon, a few times mentioning that they travel in a circuitous path, or sphere/hemisphere (''fee falakin'' فِى فَلَكٍ), but does not mention once that the Earth too is in motion.<ref name="LanesLexiconFalak">Falak [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume6/00000227.pdf Lane's Lexicon Volume 1 page 2443] and [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume6/00000228.pdf page 2444] Lane also says that the Arab astronomers said there were seven of these spheres for the sun, moon, and the five visible planets, rotating about the celestial pole. This must reflect the post-Qur'anic influence of Ptolemy, whose astronomical work was translated for the Arabs from the 8th century onwards.</ref> The geocentric (Earth-centered) view was the prevailing understanding of the universe prior to the 16th century when Copernicus helped explain and popularize a sun-centered (heliocentric) view of the universe. | In several verses the [[Qur'an]] describes the movement of the sun and moon, a few times mentioning that they travel in a circuitous path, or sphere/hemisphere (''fee falakin'' فِى فَلَكٍ), but does not mention once that the Earth too is in motion.<ref name="LanesLexiconFalak">Falak [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume6/00000227.pdf Lane's Lexicon Volume 1 page 2443] and [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume6/00000228.pdf page 2444] Lane also says that the Arab astronomers said there were seven of these spheres for the sun, moon, and the five visible planets, rotating about the celestial pole. This must reflect the post-Qur'anic influence of Ptolemy, whose astronomical work was translated for the Arabs from the 8th century onwards.</ref> The geocentric (Earth-centered) view was the prevailing understanding of the universe prior to the 16th century when Copernicus helped explain and popularize a sun-centered (heliocentric) view of the universe. | ||
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====No mention of Earth's orbit==== | ====No mention of Earth's orbit==== | ||
Critics often point out that while, according to the Quran, the stars have certain | Critics often point out that while, according to the Quran, the stars have certain settings on the horizon (''mawāqiʿi'' - literally places of falling<ref>mawāqiʿi مَوَٰقِعِ - [https://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume8/00000312.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 3058]</ref> {{Quran|56|75}}; note that these have no objective reality); and while the day, night, sun and moon are mentioned as all floating in a falak; and while the sun and moon are often mentioned as running their courses, there is never any indication whatsoever that the Earth itself runs any kind of course or orbit. | ||
Some suggest that the word "all" ([https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=kll kullun]) in Q. 21:33 and Q. 36:40 quoted above refers to all heavenly bodies, which would implicitly include the earth. Critics point out that the verses themselves already explicitly state what "all" refers to - they name the sun, moon, night, and day, all of which are described as mobile entities in other verses. | Some suggest that the word "all" ([https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=kll kullun]) in Q. 21:33 and Q. 36:40 quoted above refers to all heavenly bodies, which would implicitly include the earth. Critics point out that the verses themselves already explicitly state what "all" refers to - they name the sun, moon, night, and day, all of which are described as mobile entities in other verses. | ||
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===Quran 18:83-90 - The sun sets in a muddy spring and rises on a people without shelter=== | ===Quran 18:83-90 - The sun sets in a muddy spring and rises on a people without shelter=== | ||
{{Main|Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part One|Dhul-Qarnayn and the Sun Setting in a Muddy Spring - Part Two}} | |||
{{Quran-range|18|83|90}} also describes the physical, terrestrial locations where the sun is supposed to rise and set in response to a question about an existing legend. Here, in the Quranic account of life of Dhul Qarnayan or Alexander the Great, the physical setting place of the sun, located in muddy spring, can be seen by human eyes. Indeed, in this account, a human tribe is said to live adjacent to this celestial setting place. | {{Quran-range|18|83|90}} also describes the physical, terrestrial locations where the sun is supposed to rise and set in response to a question about an existing legend. Here, in the Quranic account of life of Dhul Qarnayan or Alexander the Great, the physical setting place of the sun, located in muddy spring, can be seen by human eyes. Indeed, in this account, a human tribe is said to live adjacent to this celestial setting place. | ||
[[Category:Dhul-Qarnayn|Dhul-Qarnayn]] | [[Category:Dhul-Qarnayn|Dhul-Qarnayn]] | ||
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{{Quote|{{Muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out '''from its rising place''' and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out '''from the place of your setting''', and it will rise from the place of its setting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|1|297}}|It is narrated on the authority of Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) one day said: Do you know where the Sun goes? They replied: Allah and His Apostle know best. He (the Holy Prophet) observed: Verily it (the Sun) glides till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it falls prostrate and remains there until it is asked: Rise up and go to the place whence you came, and it goes back and continues emerging out '''from its rising place''' and then glides till it reaches its place of rest under the Throne and falls prostrate and remains in that state until it is asked: Rise up and return to the place whence you came, and it returns and emerges out from it rising place and the it glides (in such a normal way) that the people do not discern anything (unusual in it) till it reaches its resting place under the Throne. Then it would be said to it: Rise up and emerge out '''from the place of your setting''', and it will rise from the place of its setting. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said. Do you know when it would happen? It would happen at the time when faith will not benefit one who has not previously believed or has derived no good from the faith.}} | ||
Similar versions of this hadith are found in Sahih Bukhari and elsewhere in Sahih Muslim. In another hadith Muhammad recorded telling the story of an earlier prophet who asked the sun to stop moving, whereafter the sun complied with his request. This hadith is based on the story of Joshua found in the Bible and is also found in Sahih Muslim<ref>{{Muslim|19|4327}}</ref>: | Similar versions of this hadith are found in Sahih Bukhari and elsewhere in Sahih Muslim. | ||
[https://sunnah.com/search?q=sun+rises+from+the+west Many hadith] continue this idea, with the sun rising from the opposite place as a sign of judgement day, such as: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|6|60|160}}|Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "The hour will not be established till <b>the sun rises from the West; and when it rises (from the West)</b> and the people see it, they all will believe. And that is (the time) when no good will it do to a soul to believe then." Then he recited the whole Verse (6.158)}}{{Quote|{{Muslim|41|6931}}|Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to us all of a sudden as we were (busy in a discussion). He said: What do you discuss about? They (the Companions) said. We are discussing about the Last Hour. Thereupon he said: It will not come until you see ten signs before and (in this connection) he made a mention of the smoke, Dajjal, the beast, <b>the rising of the sun from the west,</b> the descent of Jesus son of Mary (Allah be pleased with him), the Gog and Magog, and land-slides in three places, one in the east, one in the west and one in Arabia at the end of which fire would burn forth from the Yemen, and would drive people to the place of their assembly.}} | |||
In another hadith Muhammad recorded telling the story of an earlier prophet who asked the sun to stop moving, whereafter the sun complied with his request. This hadith is based on the story of Joshua found in the Bible and is also found in Sahih Muslim<ref>{{Muslim|19|4327}}</ref>: | |||
{{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|53|353}}|…So, the prophet carried out the expedition and when he reached that town at the time or nearly at the time of the ‘Asr prayer, he said to the sun, ‘'''O sun!''' You are under Allah’s Order and I am under Allah’s Order O Allah! '''Stop it (i.e. the sun) from setting.’''' It was stopped till Allah made him victorious…}} | {{Quote|{{Bukhari|4|53|353}}|…So, the prophet carried out the expedition and when he reached that town at the time or nearly at the time of the ‘Asr prayer, he said to the sun, ‘'''O sun!''' You are under Allah’s Order and I am under Allah’s Order O Allah! '''Stop it (i.e. the sun) from setting.’''' It was stopped till Allah made him victorious…}} | ||
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[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/91.2 Verse 91:2] ''and [by] the moon when it follows her, rising after she has set'' | [https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/91.2 Verse 91:2] ''and [by] the moon when it follows her, rising after she has set'' | ||
[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/21.33 Verse 21:33] ''And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, [...] in an orbit, a circular [one] like a mill in the sky, swimming, moving with speed, like a swimmer in water..''</ref> al-Qummi (a prominent Shia scholar), Al-Baghawi and al-Zamakhshari. | [https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/21.33 Verse 21:33] ''And He it is Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, [...] in an orbit, a circular [one] like a mill in the sky, swimming, moving with speed, like a swimmer in water..''</ref> al-Qummi (a prominent Shia scholar),<ref>[https://hubeali.com/books/English-Books/TafseerQummi/TafsirQummi-Vol3.pdf Tafsir Qummi Vol. 3] (pp. 32) (on Surah Isra 17:12) Ali Ibne Ibrahim Qummi English Translation: Sayyid Athar Husain S.H. Rizvi | ||
''..So when the sun, moon, stars and planets orbit in the sky, day and night are created... ...Imam (a) said: So, they bring the sun down and it is eclipsed and its color changes. When the Almighty Allah intends to exalt His signs, He places the sun in that sea and a thing through, which the Almighty Allah likes to show fear to His creation is the time of eclipse and in the same way it happens with the moon. When the Almighty Allah intends to bring those two out of there and return them to their orbits, He commands an angel appointed on that sky to return the sun to its orbit and angels puts it back into its orbit and it comes out of the darkness of water and in the same way He brings out the moon...''</ref> Al-Baghawi and al-Zamakhshari. | |||
===Ancient and modern Muslim astronomers=== | ===Ancient and modern Muslim astronomers=== | ||