Science in Quran

download Science in Quran

of 32

description

Science in Qur'an..

Transcript of Science in Quran

SCIENCE IN QURANRAHUL RAJTHIS ARTICLE CONTAINS SO CALLED SCIENCE IN QURAN

RJ3865 JAMSHEDPUR 7205388380 7735807838 05/08/2011

. 2:22 WHO made the earth a bed for you, and the heaven a roof, and caused water to come down from the clouds and therewith brought forth fruits for your sustenance; so do not set up equals to ALLAH, while you know. Sher Ali Commentary: ... who has made the earth AS FLAT and comfortable as a bed and placed upon it mountains standing firm... (Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Part 1), Surah Al-Fatihah Surah Al-Baqarah, ayat 1 to 141, abridged by Sheikh Muhammad Nasib Ar-Rafai [Al-Firdous Ltd., London, 1998 second edition], pp. 79-80) The online version reads: ... He made the earth a resting place for them, just like the bed, STABLE with the firm mountains ... meaning, a ceiling ... (Source)

Q. 13:3 And He it is who hath outstretched the earth, and placed on it the firm mountains, and rivers: and of every fruit He hath placed on it two kinds: He causeth the night to enshroud the day. Verily in this are signs for those who reflect. Rodwell Commentary: Allah mentions His perfect ability and infinite authority, since it is He Who has raised the heavens without pillars by His permission and order. He, by His leave, order and power, has elevated the heavens high above the earth, distant and far away from reach. The heaven nearest to the present world encompasses the earth from all directions, and is also high above it from every direction. The distance between the first heaven and the earth is five hundred years from every direction, and its thickness is also five hundred years. The second heaven surrounds the first heaven from every direction, encompassing everything that the latter carries, with a thickness also of five hundred years and a distance between them of five hundred years. The same is also true about the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth and the seventh heavens... meaning, there are pillars, but you cannot see them, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Al-Hasan, Qatadah, and several other scholars. Iyas bin Mu`awiyah said, "The heaven is like a dome over the earth," meaning, without pillars... (Source)

Q. 15:19

And the earth have WE spread out, and set therein firm mountains and cause every thing to grow therein in proper proportion. Sher Ali We are told in the Tafsir al-Jalalayn that: And the earth We have stretched it out, SPREAD IT FLAT, and cast therein firm mountains, lest it should sway beneath its inhabitants, and caused to grow therein every kind of balanced thing, [every kind of thing] known and determined. (Source; capital and underline emphasis ours)

Q. 16:15 And He has set up on the earth mountains standing firm, lest IT [the earth] should shake with you; and rivers and roads; that ye may guide yourselves; Y. Ali Commentary: ... Then Allah mentions the earth and how He placed in it mountains standing firm, which make it stable and keep it from shaking in such a manner that the creatures dwelling on it would not be able to live. Hence Allah says ... (79: 32). (Source)

Q. 20:53 [since he is the One] Who has laid out the earth as a carpet for you and has traced highways on it for you, and sent down water from the sky, We have brought forth every sort of plant with it, of various types. T.B. Irving

Q. 22:65 Do you not see that Allah has made subservient to you whatsoever is in the earth and the ships running in the sea by His command? And He withholds the heaven FROM FALLING ON THE EARTH except with His permission; most surely Allah is Compassionate, Merciful to men. Shakir Commentary: If He willed, He could give the sky permission to fall on the earth, and whoever is in it would be killed, but by His kindness, mercy and power, He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth, except by His leave ... (Source)

Note: Certainly it is God, the Creator who put everything in place to function well. And He is also the sustainer who upholds the continuing existence of the world. However, the above formulation presupposes that the sky above us is something heavy and hard which could cause serious damage, even kill people, if it were to fall down. That certainly is scientific nonsense!

Q. 27:61 Is not He (better than your gods) Who has made the earth as A FIXED ABODE, and has placed rivers in its midst, and has placed firm mountains therein, and has set a barrier between the two seas (of salt and sweet water). Is there any ilah (god) with Allah? Nay, but most of them know not. Hilali-Khan Note here these two other translations: Is not He (best) Who made the earth A FIXED ABODE ... Pickthall He who made the earth A FIXED PLACE... A.J. Arberry Commentary: meaning, STABLE AND STATIONARY, SO THAT IT DOES NOT MOVE OR CONVULSE, because if it were to do so, it would not be a good place for people to live on. But by His grace and mercy, He has made it smooth and calm, and it is not shaken or moved ... (Source)

Q. 30:25 Among His signs are [the fact] that the sky and earth HOLD FIRM at His command. Then whenever He calls you forth out of the earth once and for all, you will (all) come forth! Irving Commentary: This is like the Ayat ... (22: 65)... (35:41). Whenever `Umar bin Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, swore an emphatic oath, he would say, "No, by the One by Whose command the heaven and the earth stand," i.e., THEY STAND FIRM by His command to them and His subjugation of them. Then, when the Day of Resurrection comes, the Day when the earth will be exchanged with another earth and the dead will come forth from their graves, brought back to life by His command and His call to them... (Source)

Q. 31:10 He created the heavens without any pillars THAT YE CAN SEE; He set on the earth mountains standing firm, lest it should shake with you; and He scattered through it beasts of all kinds. We send down rain from the sky, and produce on the earth every kind of noble creature, in pairs. Pickthall Commentary: means, the mountains which stabilize and lend weight to the earth, lest it should shake with its water... (Source) This statement makes it clear that the shaking is not at all about earthquakes as Muslims often claim.

Q. 35:41 Verily! Allah grasps the heavens and the earth LEST THEY MOVE away from their places, and if they were TO MOVE away from their places, there is not one that could grasp them after Him. Truly, He is Ever Most Forbearing, Oft Forgiving. Hilali-Khan Commentary: means, LEST THEY SHOULD SHIFT FROM WHERE THEY ARE. This is like the Ayat ... (22:65), and ... (30:25) ... means, no one can make them stay and preserve them except Him ... (Source) One Muslim website candidly admits that the heavens and earth are in fact stationary according to the Quran: Question: ASSALAM-O-ALAIKUM, WHAT IS THE RULING OF SHARIA ON THE MOVEMENT OF EARTH. GIVE EXPLANATION. Answer: According to the teaching of Quran and Hadith, the sky and earth ARE STATIONARY and planets rotate. It is the sun that moves around the earth WHILE THE EARTH DOES NOT MOVE AROUND THE SUN.

There are many verses of the Holy Quran that clearly show the rotation of the moon and the sun, which are given as under: 1) "And made the sun and the moon subservient. Each runs to a turns stated" (Al-Quran, part 13, Sura Al-Ra'ad (The Thunder)-13, verse 2) 2) "And He made the sun and the moon subservient for you which are constantly moving" (Al-Quran, part 13, Sura Ibraheem -14, verse 23) 3) And each (The moon the sun) is floating in an orbit." (Al-Quran, part 23, Sura Yaseen -36, verse 140) It is thus quiet [sic] clear that the sun moves and it is obligatory upon every muslim [sic] to believe it. Because it is what Allah Almighty ordains us to believe. In the light of the Holy Quran and Hadith the theory of the rotation of the earth IS ABSOLUTELY WRONG. Allah Almighty says: "Undoubtedly, Allah has withheld the heavens and the earth least they move." (AL-Quran) In the book "Fiq-hus- Sahaba Baad-Al- Khulfa-e-Alarba" there has been recorded a statement/saying of k'ab in the presense [sic] of syedna Abdullah bin Masood, the man who keeps the secrets of messenger of Allah (pbuh) and syedna Huzaifa bin Alyaman (r.a.). This statement of K'ab is "The heaven revolves". However, both Syedna Abdullah bin Masood (r.a.) and syedna Huzaifa bin Alyaman (r.a.) said agreeably that "K'ab said incorrect, and undoubtedly Allah has withheld the heaven and the earth least they move. And Abdullah Bin Masood (r.a.) supporting this statement added that Allah's commandment is enough for us, and they (Heavens & Earth) do not move. This statement has been narrated by Saeed bin Mansoor (r.a.) and Abd bin Hameed son of Jareer, son of Almanzer (r.a.) and they narrated it with reference of Hafiz bin Abd ibne Hameed (r.a.). (Source: Muslim discussion board posting by PrinceZD; bold, and bold capital emphasis ours. The above is his transcribed/edited text of the answer given by the Imam of the site www.dawateislami.net, section "Ask the Imam". The original article is found here.)

Q. 40:64 It is God who made for you the earth A FIXED PLACE and heaven for an edifice; And He shaped you, and shaped you well, and provided you with the good things. That then is God, your Lord, so blessed be God, the Lord of all Being. Arberry Commentary: means, `He made it STABLE and SPREAD IT OUT for you, so that you might live on it and travel about in it; He strengthened it with the mountains so that it does not shake with you' ... means, `a ROOF covering and protecting the world.' (Source)

Q. 43:10 (Yea, the same that) has made for you the earth (like a carpet) spread out, and has made for you roads (and channels) therein, in order that ye may find guidance (on the way); Y. Ali Commentary: means, smooth, STABLE AND FIRM, so that you can travel about in it, and stand on it and sleep and walk about, even though it is created above water, but He has strengthened it with the mountains, lest it should shake. (Source)

Q. 50:6-7 What, have they not beheld heaven above them, how We have built it, and decked it out fair, AND IT HAS NO CRACKS? And the earth -- We stretched it forth, and cast on it firm mountains, and We caused to grow therein of every joyous kind ... Arberry Allah built the heavens without any cracks. Commentary: i.e., clefts, according to Mujahid. Others said that Furuj means, rifts, or cracks ... (Source) This presupposes that the heavens are a physical object which has an actual hard surface that can crack.

Q. 51:48 And the earth WE have spread out, and how excellently do WE spread it out! Sher Ali

Q. 55:10 It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures: Pickthall

Q. 67:3-5 Who hath created seven heavens in harmony. Thou (Muhammad) canst see no fault in the Beneficent One's creation; then look again: Canst thou see any RIFTS? Then look again and yet again, thy sight will return unto thee weakened and made dim. And verily We have beautified the world's heaven with lamps, and We have made them missiles for the devils, and for them We have prepared the doom of flame.

Who could ever imagine and which scientist would accept that stars or meteors (i.e. lamps) are used as missiles against spirit beings like the devils? Commentary: meaning, look at the sky and pay close attention to it. Do you see any flaw, deficiency, defect or RIFTS in it Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Ad-Dahhak, Ath-Thawri and others said concerning Allah's statement ... that it means CRACKS. As-Suddi said that ... means any TEARS. (Source)

Q. 71:15-20 Have you not regarded how God created seven heavens one upon another, and set the moon therein for a light and the sun for a lamp? And God caused you to grow out of the earth, then He shall return you into it, and bring you forth. And God has laid the earth for you as a carpet, that thereof you may thread ways, ravines. Arberry The only way for there to be heavens piled on top of each other is if the author of the Quran erroneously assumed that the heavens were actual physical objects much like a metallic dome. This explains why the author of the Quran could talk about cracks in the heavens. Ibn Kathir, in his comments on S. 2:29, reiterates this very point by likening the creation of the heavens and earth to a building: These Ayat indicate that Allah started creation by creating earth, then He made heaven into seven heavens. This is how building usually starts, with the lower floors first and then the top floors, as the scholars of Tafsir reiterated, as we will come to know, Allah willing... (Source) Hence, Allah first created the earth, since it functioned much like the ground floor of a house, and then piled the heavens on top of each other in a similar manner to the way a bulider constructs several floors on top of one another! Here, now, are Ibn Kathir's comments to Q. 71:15-20: meaning, He made a distinction between them (the sun and moon) in reference to their lighting. He made each one of them in a set manner with a distinct quality so that the night and day may be known. They (the night and day) are known by the rising and setting of the sun. He also determined fixed stations and positions for the moon, and He made its light vary so that sometimes it increases until it reaches a maximum, then it begins to decrease until it is completely veiled. This shows the passing of months and years ... (Source)

Q. 78:6-7 Have WE not made the earth AS A BED, And the mountains AS PEGS? Sher Ali Commentary: meaning, an established, firm and peaceful resting place that is subservient to them ... meaning, He made them AS PEGS for the earth TO HOLD IT IN PLACE, MAKE IT STABLE AND FIRM. This is so that it may be suitable for dwelling AND NOT QUAKE with those who are in it ... (Source)

Q. 79:27-30 What, are you stronger in constitution or the heaven He built? He lifted up its vault, and levelled it, and darkened its night, and brought forth its forenoon; and the earth - after that He spread it out, Arberry The commentators Jalalayn write: and after that He spread out the earth: HE MADE IT FLAT, for it had been created before the heaven, but without having been spread out; (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; source; capital emphasis ours)

Q. 88:20 Nor even how the earth has been FLATTENED out? Irving The earth, how it was made FLAT? N.J. Dawood Commentary: meaning, how they have been erected. For indeed they are firmly affixed so that the earth does not sway with its dwellers. And He made them with the benefits and minerals they contain ... meaning, how it has been spread out, extended and made smooth. Thus, He directs the bedouin to consider what he himself witnesses. His camel that he rides upon, the sky that is above his head, the mountain that faces him, and the earth that is under him, all of this is proof of the power of the Creator and Maker of these things. These things should lead him to see that He is the Lord, the Most Great, the Creator, the Owner, and the Controller of everything. Therefore, He is the God other than Whom none deserves to be worshipped. (Source) The two Jalals say:

And the earth, how it was laid out flat?, and thus infer from this the power of God, exalted be He, and His Oneness? The commencing with the [mention of] camels is because they are closer in contact with it [the earth] than any other [animal]. As for His words sutihat, 'laid out flat', this on a literal reading suggests THAT THE EARTH IS FLAT, WHICH IS THE OPINION OF MOST OF THE SCHOLARS of the [revealed] Law, and not a sphere as astronomers (ahl al-hay'a) have it, even if this [latter] does not contradict any of the pillars of the Law. (Tafsir al-Jalalayn; source; bold, capital and underline emphasis ours)

Q. 91:5-6 By the heaven and That which built it and by the earth and That which extended it! Arberry Commentary: Mujahid said, "Tahaha means He spread it out." Al-`Awfi reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said ... "This means what He created in it." `Ali bin Abi Talhah reported from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Tahaha means that He proportioned it." Mujahid, Qatadah, AdDahhak, As-Suddi, Ath-Thawri, Abu Salih and Ibn Zayd all said that... means, He spread it out ... (Source) Tafsir al-Jalalayn states: and [by] the earth and the One Who spread it, LAID OUT FLAT. (Source; capital emphasis ours) It should be obvious from the above verses that the author of the Quran erroneously believed in a flat earth kept stable by mountains. The author further erroneously thought that the sun and moon traveled throughout the heavens whereas the earth remained in a fixed position, motionless. Muslims cannot accuse us of misreading or misunderstanding the above passages. We presented the views of Ibn Kathir who provided citations from the early Muslims concurring with our interpretation.

Islamic Cosmology in light of early Muslim exegesis of Surah 68:1We provide some more interpretations from recognized Islamic scholars and from Muslim traditions to show that they too believed in a flat, motionless earth. In this particular section the citations will center around the meaning of the letter Nun in surah 68:1: Nun. By the Pen and by the (Record) which (men) write, Since we already extensively quoted Ibn Kathir, we will start off this section with him as well. Ibn Kathir provides certain Muslim traditions explaining the letter Nun. What the

readers are about to read may prove quite shocking, especially to those Muslims who have never heard of these traditions before. The citations are taken from the Arabic version of Ibn Kathirs Commentary, since the English translation omits these traditions. As the readers begin to read them it will become obvious why these tales were omitted from the English version. We will not be quoting all of the traditions, but only those which are relevant to the early Muslim view of the cosmos. Before proceeding to the traditions, we would again like to richly thank our dear brother in the Lord Jesus, Dimitrius, for again taking the time out of his busy schedule to translate the Arabic for us. Without his help we wouldnt be able to provide these translations to our English readers. May our risen Lord and immortal Savior, Jesus Christ, continue to richly bless him and his family. With that said, we now turn to the traditions.

It was said that "Nun" refers to A GREAT WHALE that rides on the currents of the waters of the great ocean AND ON ITS BACK IT CARRIES THE SEVEN EARTHS, as was stated by Imam Abu Jafar Ibn Jarir. Narrated by Ibn Bashar, narrated by Yahya, narrated by Sufyan AlThuri, narrated by Sulayman Al-Amash, narrated by Abu Thubian, narrated by Ibn Abbas who related, "The first thing that Allah created was the pen and He said to it Write. The pen asked, What shall I write? Allah said, Write (the) fate (of everything). So the pen wrote everything that shall be from that moment until judgment day. Then Allah created the "Nun" and He caused steam to rise out of which the heavens were created AND THE EARTH WAS THEN LAID FLAT ON THE NUNS BACK. Then the Nun became nervous and (as a result) the earth began to sway, but (Allah) fastened (the earth) with mountains lest the earth should move ... It was narrated by Ibn Jarir, narrated by Ibn Hamid, narrated by Ataa, narrated by Abu AlDahee, narrated by Ibn Abbas who stated, "The first thing my Lord created, may He be Exalted and Glorified, was the pen and He said to it, Write. So the pen wrote all that will be until judgment day. Then Allah created the Nun (the whale) above the waters AND HE PRESSED THE EARTH INTO ITS BACK. Al Tabarani narrated the same hadith above (from the prophet Muhammad) who narrated from Abu Habib Zaid Al-Mahdi Al Marouzi, narrated by Said Ibn Yaqub Al-Talqani, narrated by Muamal Ibn Ismail, narrated by Hamad Ibn Zaid, narrated by Ataa Ibn Al Saib, narrated by Abu Al Dahee Muslim Ibn Subaih, narrated by Ibn Abbas who stated that the prophet may peace and blessing be upon him and his family - said, "The first things Allah created were the pen and the whale and He said to the pen Write. The pen asked, What shall I write? Allah replied, Everything that shall be until judgment day. Then He said Nun. By the Pen and by what they write. So Nun is the whale and al-Qalam is the pen" ...

Ibn Abu Nujaih stated that Ibrahim Ibn Abu Bakir was informed by Mujahid who said, "It was said that Nun is the great whale WHO IS UNDERNEATH THE SEVEN EARTHS." Furthermore, Al-Baghawy may Allah rest his soul - and a group of commentators stated that on the back of this whale there is a great rock whose thickness is greater than the width of the heavens and the earth and above this rock is A BULL THAT HAS FORTY THOUSAND HORNS. On the body of this bull are placed the seven earths and all that they contain, and Allah knows best. (Source)

AL-TABARI Here are the traditions which renowned Muslim historian al-Tabari transmitted regarding the meaning of surah 68:1. He basically repeats what Ibn Kathir wrote. Someone might say: If it is as you have described, namely, that God created the earth before the heaven, then what is the meaning of the statement of Ibn Abbas told all of you by Wasil b. Abd al-Ala al-Asadi- Muhammad b. Fudayl- al-Amash- Abu Zabyan- Ibn Abbas: The first thing God created is the Pen. God then said to it: Write!, whereupon the Pen asked: What shall I write, my lord! God replied: Write what is predestined! He continued: And the Pen proceeded to (write) whatever is predestined and gong to be to the Coming of the Hour. God then lifted up the water vapor and split the heavens off from it. Then God created THE FISH (nun), AND THE EARTH WAS SPREAD OUT UPON ITS BACK. The fish became agitated, with the result that the earth was shaken up. It was steadied BY MEANS OF THE MOUNTAINS, for they indeed proudly (tower) over the earth. I was told about the same by Wasil - Waki - al-Amash - Abu Zabyan - Ibn Abbas. According to Ibn al-Muthanna - Ibn Abi Adi - Shubah - Sulayman (al-Amash?) - Abu Zabyan - Ibn Abbas: The first (thing) created by God is the Pen. It proceeded to (write) whatever is going to be. (God) then lifted up the water vapor, and the heavens were created from it. Then He created the fish, and the earth was spread out on its back. The fish moved, with the result that the earth was shaken up. It was steadied by means of the mountains, for the mountains indeed proudly (tower) over the earth. So he said, and he recited: "Nun. By the Pen and what they write." I was told the same by Tamim b. al-Muntasir - Ishaq (b. Yusuf) - Sharik (b. Abdallah alNakhai) - al-Amash - Abu Zabyan or Mujahid - Ibn Abbas, with the exception, however, that he said: And the heavens were split off from it (instead of: were created). According to Ibn Bashshar - Yahya - Sufyan - Sulayman (al-Amash?) - Abu Zabyan - Ibn Abbas: The first (thing) created by God is the Pen. God said: Write!, whereupon the Pen asked: What shall I write? God replied: Write what is predestined! He continued. And (the Pen) proceeded to (write) whatever is predestined and going to be from that day on to the Coming of the Hour. Then God created the fish. He lifted up the water vapor, and heaven was split off from it, and the earth was spread out upon the back of the fish. The fish became agitated, and as a result, the earth was shaken up. It was steadied by means of the mountains, he continued, for they proudly (tower) over the earth.

According to Ibn Humayd - Jarir (b. Abd al-Hamid) - Ata b. al-Saib - Abu al-Duha Muslim b. Subayh - Ibn Abbas: The first thing created by God is the Pen. God said to it: Write!, and it wrote whatever is going to be until the Coming of the Hour. Then God created the fish. Then he heaped up the earth upon it. This reportedly IS A SOUND TRADITION AS TRANSMITTED ON THE AUTHORITY OF IBN ABBAS and on the authority of others in the sense commented upon and explained and does not contradict anything transmitted by us from him on this subject. Should someone ask: What comment on his authority and that of others proves the soundness of what you have transmitted to us in this sense on his authority? He should be referred to what I have been told by Musa b. Harun al-Hamdani - Abdallah b. Masud and some (other) companions of the Messenger of God (commenting on): "He is the One Who created for you all that is on earth. Then He stretched out straight toward the heaven and fashioned it into seven heavens." Gods throne was upon the water. He had not created anything except what He created before the water. When He wanted to create the creation, He brought forth smoke from the water. The smoke rose above the water and hovered loftily over it. He therefore called it "heaven." Then He dried out the water, and thus made it one earth. He split it AND MADE IT INTO SEVEN EARTHS on Sunday and Monday. He created the earth UPON A (big) FISH (hut), THAT BEING THE FISH (nun) MENTIONED BY GOD IN THE QURAN: "Nun. By the Pen." The fish was in the water. The water was UPON THE BACK OF A (small) ROCK. The rock was UPON THE BACK OF AN ANGEL. The angel was UPON A (big) ROCK. The big rock - THE ONE MENTIONED BY LUQMAN - WAS IN THE WIND, neither in heaven nor on the earth. The fish moved and became agitated. As a result, the earth quacked, whereupon He firmly, anchored the mountains on it, and it was stable. This is stated in Gods word that He made for the earth "firmly anchored (mountains), lest it should shake you up."(The History of AlTabari: General Introduction and From the Creation to the Flood, translated by Franz Rosenthal [State University of New York Press (SUNY), Albany, 1989], Volume 1, pp. 218220) Al-Tabari also wrote: According to Muhammad b. Sahl b. 'Askar-Isma'il b. 'Abd al-Karim-Wahb, mentioning some of his majesty (as being described as follows): The heavens and the earth and the oceans are in the haykal, and the haykal is in the Footstool. God's feet are upon the Footstool. He carries the Footstool. It became like a sandal on His feet. When Wahb was asked: What is the haykal? He replied: Something on the heavens' extremities that surrounds the earth and the oceans like ropes that are used to fasten a tent. And when Wahb was asked how earths are (constituted), he replied: They are seven earths that are FLAT and islands. Between each two earths, there is an ocean. All that is surrounded by the (surrounding) ocean, and the haykal is behind the ocean. (Ibid., pp. 207-208)

AL-QURTUBI Narrated by Al-Walid Ibn Muslim, narrated by Malik Ibn Ans, narrated by Sumay son of Abu Bakir, narrated by Abu Salih Al-Samaan, narrated by Abu Hurayrah who related that he heard the prophet - peace be upon him say, "The first thing Allah created was the pen, then

He created the Nun which is an inkwell. This is what Allah stated (in sura 68:1) Nun and the Pen. And He said to it, Write. So the pen wrote all that will be until judgment day. Then Allah created the Nun (the whale) above the waters AND HE PRESSED THE EARTH INTO IS BACK. He (Allah) then said to the pen Write. The pen asked What shall I write? Allah replied, Write what was and what will be until judgment day; whether deed, reward, consequence and punishment- until judgment day. Thus the pen wrote what shall be until judgment day. Allah then placed a seal over the pen and it will not talk until judgment day. Then Allah created the mind and said, By my Glory, I will establish you in those whom you love and I will take you away from those whom you despise." Mujahid related that Nun is the whale that is underneath the seventh earth. He stated that the Pen is what was used to write Al-Thikir (The Remembrance - Quran). Likewise, it was also narrated by Mukatil, Murrah Al-Hamdani, Ata Al-Kharasani, Al Suddi and AlKalbi who all said, "Nun is the whale upon which all the earths are placed." Narrated by Abu Thabyan, narrated by Ibn Abbas who said, "The first thing that Allah created was the Pen which wrote all that shall be. Then water vapor began to rise, out of which the heavens were created. Then (Allah) created Nun (the whale) and flattened the earth on its back. When the earth began to lean, it was reinforced with mountains, which are on its surface." Then Ibn Abbas read the verse (Sura 68:1) Nun and the Pen. Al-Kalbi and Mukatil stated that the name (of the whale) is Al-Bahmout. Al-Rajis said, "Why do I see you all silent and the Lord my God created Al-Bahmout?" Abu Yakthan and Al-Waqidi stated that the name (of the whale) is Leotha; Whereas Kab stated that its name is Lo-tho-tha or Bil-Ha-motha. Kab said, "Satan crept up to the whale, on whom the seven earths are placed, and whispered into its heart saying, Do you realize what is on your back, Oh Lo-tho-tha of beasts and plants and humans and others? If you are annoyed with them, you can throw them all off your back. So Lo-tho-tha intended to do what was suggested (by Satan) but Allah sent the whale a reptile that crawled through into its blowhole and reached its brain. The whale then cried to Allah may He be glorified and honored and He gave permission for the reptile to exit (the whale)." Kab continued and said, "By Allah, the whale stares at the reptile and the reptile stares at the whale, and if the whale intends to do (what Satan suggested) the reptile would return to the place it was before." (Source)

TAFSIR IBN ABBAS And from his narration on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas that he said regarding the interpretation of Allah's saying (Nun): '(Nun) He says: Allah swears by the Nun, which is the whale that carries the earths on its back while in Water, and beneath which is the Bull and under the Bull is the Rock and under the Rock is the Dust and none knows what is under the Dust save Allah. The name of the whale is Liwash, and it is said its name is Lutiaya'; the name of the bull is Bahamut, and some say its name is Talhut or Liyona. The whale is in a sea called 'Adwad, and it is like a small bull in a huge sea. The sea is in a hollowed rock whereby there is 4,000 cracks, and from each crack water springs out to the earth. It is also said that Nun is one of the names of the Lord; it stands for the letter Nun in Allah's name al-Rahman (the Beneficent); and it is also said that a Nun is an inkwell. (By the pen) Allah swore by the

pen. This pen is made of light and its height is equal to the distance between Heaven and earth. It is with this pen that the Wise Remembrance, i.e. the Guarded Tablet, was written. It is also said that the pen is one of the angels by whom Allah has sworn, (and that which they write (therewith)) and Allah also swore by what the angels write down of the works of the children of Adam, (Tanwr al-Miqbs min Tafsr Ibn 'Abbs; source; bold and underline emphasis ours)

Other Miscellaneous TraditionsThe preceding Muslim commentators werent alone in narrating some fantastic interpretations. Hadith compilers like Abu Dawud had a few fabulous ones as well: Narrated Al-Abbas ibn AbdulMuttalib: I was sitting in al-Batha with a company among whom the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was sitting, when a cloud passed above them. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) looked at it and said: What do you call this? They said: Sahab. He said: And muzn? They said: And muzn. He said: And anan? They said: And anan. AbuDawud said: I am not quite confident about the word anan. He asked: Do you know the distance between Heaven and Earth? They replied: We do not know. He then said: The distance between them is seventy-one, seventy-two, or seventy-three years. The heaven which is above it is at a similar distance (going on till he counted seven heavens). Above the seventh heaven there is a sea, the distance between whose surface and bottom is like that between one heaven and the next. Above that there ARE EIGHT MOUNTAIN GOATS the distance between whose hoofs and haunches is like the distance between one heaven and the next. Then Allah, the Blessed and the Exalted, is above that. (Sunan Abu Dawud, Book 40, Number 4705) Here is one from al-Tirmidhi: Narrated Anas ibn Malik Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said, "When Allah created the Earth it began to oscillate, so He created the mountains, ordered them onto it, and it became steady. The angels marvelled at the strength of the mountains and asked their Lord whether there was anything in His creation stronger than the mountains, to which He replied that iron was stronger. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than iron, and He replied that fire was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than fire and He replied that water was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than water and He replied that wind was. They asked if anything in His creation was stronger than wind and He replied, "Yes, the son of Adam who gives sadaqah with his right hand which concealing it from his left." Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition. (Al-Tirmidhi, Number 602; taken from the ALIM CD-ROM Version) This next final tradition is taken from Muhammad ibn Abd Allah al-Kisais book Qisas alAnbiya (Tales of the Prophets):

Kaab al-Ahbar said: When God wished to create the dry land, He commanded the wind to churn up the waters. When they had become turbulent and foamy, waves swelled and gave off vapor. Then God commanded the foam to solidify, and it became dry. In two days he created the dry land on the face of the waters, as He hath said: Say, do ye indeed disbelieve in him who created the earth in two days? (41:9). Then He commanded these waves to be still, and they formed the mountains, which He used as pegs to hold down the earth, as He hath said: And we placed stable mountains on the earth lest it should move with them (21:31). Were it not for the mountains, the earth would not have been stable enough for its inhabitants. The veins of these mountains are connected with the veins of Mount Qaf, which is the range that surrounds the earth. Then God created the seven seas. The first is called Baytush and surrounds the earth from behind Mount Qaf. Behind it is a sea called Asamm, behind which is a sea called Qaynas, behind which is a sea called Sakin, behind which is a sea called Mughallib, behind which is a sea called Muannis, behind which is a sea called Baki, which is the last. These are the seven seas, and each of them surrounds the sea before it. The rest of the seas in which are creatures whose number only God knows, are like gulfs to these seven. God created sustenance for all these creatures on the fourth day, as He hath said: And he provided therein the food of the creatures designed to be the inhabitants thereof, in four days; equally, for those who ask (41:10). There are seven earths. The first is called Ramaka, beneath which is the Barren Wind, which can be bridled by no fewer than seventy thousand angels. With this wind God destroyed the people of Ad. The inhabitants of Ramaka are a nation called Muwashshim, upon whom is everlasting torment and divine retribution. The second earth is called Khalada, wherein are the implements of torture for the inhabitants of Hell. There dwells a nation called Tamis, whose food is their own flesh and whose drink is their own blood. The third earth is called Arqa, wherein dwell mulelike eagles with spearlike tails. On each tail are three hundred and sixty poisonous quills. Were even one quill placed on the face of the earth, the entire universe would pass away. The inhabitants thereof are a nation called Qays, who eat dirt and drink mothers' milk. The fourth earth is called Haraba, wherein dwell the snakes of Hell, which are as large as mountains. Each snake has fangs like tall palm trees, and if they were to strike the hugest mountain with their fangs it would be leveled to the ground. The inhabitants of this earth are a nation called Jilla, and they have no eyes, hands or feet but have wings like bats and die only of old age. The fifth earth is called Maltham, wherein stones of sulphur hang around the necks of infidels. When the fire is kindled the fuel is placed on their breasts, and the flames leap up onto their faces, as He hath said: The fire whose fuel is men and stones (2:24), and Fire shall cover their faces (14:50). The inhabitants are a nation called Hajla, who are numerous and who eat each other. The sixth earth is called Sijjin. Here are the registers of the people of Hell, and their works are vile, as He hath said: Verily the register of the actions of the wicked is surely Sijjin (83:7). Herein dwells a nation called Qatat, who are shaped like birds and worship God truly. The seventh earth is called Ajiba and is the habitation of Iblis. There dwells a nation called Khasum, who are black and short, with claws like lions. It is they who will be given dominion over Gog and Magog, who will be destroyed by them. And the earth was tossed about with its inhabitants like a ship, so God sent down an angel of extreme magnitude and strength and ordered him to slip beneath the earth and bear it up on his shoulders. He stretched forth one of his hands to the East and the other to the West and took hold of the earth from end to end [Note: this again presumes that the earth is flat]. However, there was no foothold for him, so God created from an emerald a square

rock, in the middle of which were seven thousand holes. In each hole there was a sea, description of which is known only to God. And He commanded the rock to settle beneath the angels feet. The rock, whoever, had no support, so God created a great bull with forty thousand heads, eyes, ears, nostrils, mouths, tongues and legs and commanded it to bear the rock on its back and on its horns. The name of the bull is al-Rayyan. As the bull had no place to rest its feet, God created a huge fish, upon which no one may gaze because it is so enormous and had so many eyes. It is even said that if all the seas were placed in one of its gills, they would be like a mustard seed in the desert. This fish God commanded to be a foothold for the bull, and it was done. The name of this fish is Behemoth. Then He made its resting place the waters, beneath which is the air, and beneath the air is the Darkness, which is for all the earths. There, beneath the Darkness, the knowledge of created things ends. (Ibid., translated by Wheeler M. Thackston Jr. [Great Books of the Islamic World, Inc., Distributed by Kazi Publications; Chicago, IL 1997], pp. 8-10; bold emphasis ours) In summarizing these particular sections, traditions purported to be from Muhammad and his companions such as Ibn Abbas, Muhammads cousin, and considered to be one of the most knowledge individuals, we discover that: 1. Allah has spread out or flattened the earth on the back of a great fish (or whale). 2. Allah created mountains to keep the earth from shaking due to the movement of the fish. 3. The fish is floating in some extra-terrestrial water. 4. The water is upon a rock. 5. This rock is on the back of an angel. 6. The angel himself is standing upon a rock. 7. This other rock is supported by wind which is neither in the heavens nor the earth! 8. Other traditions say that the great fish is underneath the seventh earth. 9. On the fishs back there is a rock the size of the heavens and earth. 10. There is an ox upon this rock having 40,000 horns! 11. Furthermore, this ox supports all the seven earths upon its back! 12. Other traditions say that the ox is supported by the fish. 13. There is a sea above the seventh heaven. 14. Finally, above this seventh heaven there are eight mountain goats! After citing all these citations there can be no doubt that the author of the Quran, the first Muslims, and some of the earliest Muslim commentators, believed that the earth was flat. Furthermore, the evidence shows that the first Muslims held to erroneous and fanciful views of the cosmos that parallel the Greek and Indian myths and fairytales. Sura 36:37-40 says, "And a sign for them is the night: We withdraw there from the day, and behold they are plunged in darkness; 38 and the sun runs its course for a period determined for it; that is the decree of (him), the exalted in might, the allknowing. 39 And the moon-we have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old (and withered) Lower part of a date stalk. (40) It is not permitted to the sun to catch up the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to law)." (Yusuf Alis translation, original edition). [Words in parenthesis are in parenthesis in the translation.] Some Muslims point out "the sun runs its course for a period determined for it" and the word "orbit" at the end. However, we cannot make too much of the suns "orbit"

because Yusuf Alis translation has a footnote (17) on that word saying "circuit, course". Furthermore, the revised edition of Yusuf Ali says "resting place" instead of "period".

What Mohammed and Early Muslims Said About the SunWhere would you go to find the correct meaning of the Quran? Zamakhshari? alTabari? Baidawi? If you were an early Muslim, you would just go to Mohammed himself! Here what Mohammed explained, according to both Bukhari and al-Tabari. "Narrated Abu Dhar : The Prophet asked me at sunset, Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)? I replied, Allah and His Apostle know better. He said, It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and them ( a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted," Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283. Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 1 ch.73 no.297-300 p.95-96 also has a lot of detail on this conversation with Mohammed and Abu Dharr. Another translation of the same passage of al-Bukhari says: "Abzur Ghifari (ra) narrated: one day Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) asked me, Abzar do you know after setting where does Sun go? I replied, I do not know, only Allah\s apostle can say better. Then Prophet (SA) replied, After setting, the sun remains prostrated under Allahs Arosh (Allahs throne) and waits for Allahs command for rising again in the East. Day will come when sun will not get any more permission from Allah to rise again and Qeyamot (dooms day) will fall upon earth". al-Tabari vol.1 p.231 says, "I asked the Messenger of God [Mohammed] Where does it [the sun] set? He replied: It sets in the heaven and is then raised from heaven to heaven until it is raised to the highest, seventh heaven. Eventually, when it is underneath the Throne, it falls down and prostrates itself, and the angels who are in charge of it prostrate themselves together with it. The sun then says, My Lord, whence do you command me to rise, from where I set or from where I rise? He continued. This is (meant by) Gods word: And the sun: It runs to a place where it is to reside (at night) where it is held underneath the Throne That is decreed by One Mighty and Knowing by this is meant the procedure of the mighty Lord in His royal authority, the Lord Who is knowing about His creation. He continued. Gabriel brings to the sun a garment of luminosity from the light of the Throne, according to the measure of the hours of the day. It is longer in the summer and shorter in the winter, and of intermediate length in the autumn and spring. [spring, fall, and winter fashions!] He continued. The sun puts on that garment, as one of you here puts on his garment. Then, it is set free to roam in the air of heaven until it rises whence it does. The same course is followed by the moon in its rising But Gabriel brings it a garment from the light of the Footstool. This is (meant by) God word He made the sun a luminosity and the moon a light." The sun and moon are signs of Allah. Abu Dawud vol.1 book 2 no.1173 p.304;

Sunan Nasai vol.2 no.1462,1464 p.272; vol.2 no.1465,1466 p.273; vol.2 no.1475 p.278vol.2 no.1477 p.280; vol.2 no.1481 p.283; vol.2 no.1485-1486 p.286-287; vol.2 no.1488-1489 p.287,289; vol.2 no.1500 p.297; vol.2 no.1502 p.299; vol.2 no.1505 p.300; vol.2 no.1506 p.301 Dhu al-Qarnaiyn [Zul Qarnain] "witnessed the setting of the sun in its resting place into a pool of black and foetid slime." al-Tabari vol.5 p.173-174 (See Sura 18:82-97) al-Tabari vol.1 p.234 also mentions that the sun sets in a muddy spring. The word "muddy" is hamiah, meaning mean black clay, but hamiyah is a similar word that can mean hot. (See footnote 442 p.234) "He [Mohammed] continued. When the sun rises, it rises upon its chariot from one of those springs accompanied by 360 angels. When God wishes to test the sun and the moon, showing His servants a sign and thereby asking them to stop disobeying Him and to start to obey, the sun tumbles from the chariot and falls into the deep of that ocean, which is the sphere. When God wants to increase the significance of the sign and frighten His servants severely, all of the sun falls, and nothing of it remains upon the chariot. That is a total eclipse of the sun, when the day darkens and the stars come out." al-Tabari vol.1 p.236

What Mohammed and Early Muslims Tell Us About the HeavensThe Prophet [Mohammed] replied: Ali, they are five stars: Jupiter (al-birjis), Saturn (zuhal), Mercury (utarid), Mars (Bahram), and Venus (al-zuhrah). These five stars rise and run like the sun and the moon and race with them together. All the other stars are suspended from heaven as lamps are from mosques," al-Tabari vol.1 p.235-236 "God created an ocean three fasrakhs (18 kilometers) removed from heaven. Waves contained, it stands in the air by the command of God. No drop of it is spilled. All the oceans are motionless, but that ocean flows at the rate of the speed of an arrow. It is set free to move in the air evenly, as if it were a rope stretched out in the area between east and west. The sun, the moon, and the retrograde stars [5 planets] run in its deep swell. This is (meant by) Gods word: Each swims in a sphere. The sphere is the circulation of the chariot in the deep swell of that ocean." al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 Conclusion from early Muslims: The sun literally goes to a resting place at night, and the sun and moon literally "swim" in an ocean of water in the sky.

What the Rest of the Quran SaysNote that verse numbers are different in various translations of the Quran. These verse numbers and quotes are from Yusuf Ali (revised edition). I corrected the capitalization.

Sura 20:53 "He who has made for you the earth like a carpet spread out" Sura 50:7 "And the earth We have spread it out4946, and set thereon mountains" Yusuf Alis footnote 4946 says, "Cf. xiii. 3; and xv. 19 and n.1955. The earth is round, and yet it appears stretched out as a vast expanse, like a carpet kept steady with the weight of the mountains." So regardless of whether you believe this teaches the flat earth or not, Yusuf Ali says this verse at least says the earth appears as a flat carpet. Sura 67:15 "It is He who as made the earth manageable5571" Other translations have "level". Yusuf Alis footnote 5571 says, "Zalul is used in ii 71 for an animal trained and tractable: here it is used to qualify the earth, and I have translated manageable." Sura 71:15 "See ye not how Allah has created the seven heavens one above another And made the moon a light in their midst, and made the sun as a glorious lamp?" Even granted that this is language of appearance, there is not hint of teaching of modern astronomy. Sura 71:19 "And Allah has made the earth for you as a carpet (spread out),5718" Yusuf Alis footnote 5718 says, "cf. xx 53. Sura 78:6-7 "Have We [Allah] not made the earth as a wide Expanse5890, and the mountains as pegs?" Yusuf Alis footnote 5890 says, See n. 2038 to xvi. 15. Cf. also xiii. 3 and xv. 19. The spacious expanse of the earth may be compared to a carpet, to which the mountains act as pegs."

Zul-Karnain in Sura 18 and the Science of AstronomySura 18:85-86 "One (such) way he [Zul-qarnain] followed, until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: near it he found a people: We [Allah] said: O Zul-qarnain! (Thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness." "Murky" has also been translated as "muddy" and "black". "spring of water" has also been translated as "spring". M.H. Skahir translates this as "black sea". Sura 18:89-90 "Then followed he [Zul-qarnain] (another) way, until when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom we had provided no covering protection against the sun." Muslim commentators differ on exactly who Zul-qarnain (man of two horns) is. Some think Alexander the Great, some think Cyrus of Persia, and some a Yemeni king. It does not matter though. Regardless, Zul-qarnain was able to travel to where the sun actually rose. This supports a flat earth cosmology in the Quran. More significantly, he traveled to where the sun set, and found that it set in a muddy/murky spring. If you ask astronomers if the sun sets in a muddy spring, they will tell you "no". Conclusion: The Quran teaches the following:

The earth is flat, spread out like a carpet and pegged flat by mountains The sun has a defined path through the day, then sets in a muddy/murky spring and goes to Allahs throne. The sun then rises at a specific spot Except for five "retrograde stars" (planets), the stars are hung like lamps. Mohammed taught early Muslims this as a literal truth, not just a metaphor or simile.

The Purpose of Stars and Meteors"The lowest heaven has lamps [stars], and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil ones, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire." Sura 67:5 "The creation of these stars is for three purposes, i.e. as decoration of the sky, as missiles to hit the devils, and as signs to guide travellers. So, if anybody tries to find a different interpretation, he is mistaken and just wastes his efforts..." Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.3 before no.421 p.282. Shooting stars are sometimes hurled at devils who try to listen in on heavenly secrets. Sahih Muslim vol.1 book 4 no.902 and footnote 674 p.243. Shooting stars are to hit [bad] angels before they spread what they heard. Sometimes the bad angels tell soothsayers before they are hit though. Ibn-i-Majah vol.1 book 1 no.194 p.110. Meteors are to attack jinn (genies) Sahih Muslim vol.4 book 24 no.5538 p.1210 Stars guard against Satan. al-Tabari vol.1 p.223

Mohammed Splitting the Moon in Two

"The demand of the pagans to the Prophet to show them a miracle. The Prophet showed them the splitting of the moon. Narrated Abdullah bin Massud: During the lifetime of the Prophet the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet said, Bear witness (to this)." Bukhari vol.4 book 56 ch.26 and vol.4 book 56 no.830 p.533. "Narrated Anas that the Meccan people requested Allahs Apostle to show them a miracle, and so he showed them the splitting of the moon." Bukhari vol.4 book 56 no.831 p.533.

"Narrated Ibn Abbas: The moon was split into two parts during the lifetime of the Prophet." Bukhari vol.4 book 56 no.832 p.534. Splitting the moon. Bukhari vol.6 book 60 no.290 and footnote 1 p.273; vol.6 book 60 no.387-391 p.365-366; vol.6 book 60 no.345,349,368-370 p.331,336 Splitting the moon Sahih Muslim vol.4 book 37 no.6721,6724-6730 p.1467-1468 Sura 54:1 says, "The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon was cleft asunder. (Yusuf Ali revised edition). Note that cleft asunder means the mean was split in half, and the verb here is past tense. We have no records of any other people in the world, including close-by Egypt, Syria, or Persia that saw the moon split in two. The Quran and hadiths do not say how it got back together either. Yusuf Ali in footnote 5128 says, "Three explanations are given in the Mufradat, and perhaps all three apply here: (1) that the moon once appeared cleft asunder in the valley of Makkah within sight of the Prophet, his Companions, and some Unbelievers; (2) that the prophetic past tense indicates the future, the cleaving asunder of the moon being a Sign of the Judgment approaching; and (3) that the phrase is metaphorical, meaning that the matter has become clear as the moon. That the first was noticed by contemporaries, including Unbelievers, is clear from verse 2. The second is an incident of the disruption of the solar system at the New Creation: Cf. lxxv. 8-9." Nobody else in the world at this time reported the moon split in two. As a side note, the Enclopaedia Britannica vol.13 1972 p.458B has a picture of the Chomsungdae astronomical observatory, near Kyongju Korea, built in the 7th century Silla period.

Counter-examples in the Quran?Ignoring the previous verses, lets discuss other verses in the Quran some Muslims believe support modern astronomical theories. In fairness to them, here are the verses they bring up, along with responses. Sura 7:54 "He draweth the night as a veil oer the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession:..." Response, day and night following each other is true, but says nothing about science or astronomy that primitive people did not know. Sura 13:2a and Sura 31:10 both say that Allah raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see". Response: While not all ancient peoples believed the heavens were held by pillars, this merely says Allah did not have any visible pillars that could be seen.

Sura 13:2b "He has subjected the sun and the moon! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed" Response: That both the sun and moon have regularity was observable by even primitive people. Sura 21:30 "Do not the Unbelievers see that the heavens and the earth were jointed together (as one Unit of Creation), before we [Allah] clove them asunder?" Muslims view this as the Quran anticipating the big bang theory. Response: The ancient Egyptians, Aryan Hindus, and others believed the heavens and earth were together before being separated. To merely say the heavens and earth were joined together (implying halves) is more like those ancient mythologies than the big bang theory. Sura 21:33 "All (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its2695 rounded course. Yusuf Alis footnote 2695 is instructive here. It says, "I have indicated, unlike most translators, the metaphor of swimming implied in the original words:" Maliks translation says, "all (celestial bodies) move swiftly in an orbit of their own." Response: The Arabic word was understood as "swim" as Yusuf Ali has correctly translated, as shown by al-Tabari vol.1 p.235; al-Tabari vol.1 p.236. Also the verses speak of the sun and moon, not other celestial bodies, so it is not quite correct to put (celestial bodies) in the translation in parenthesis. The Quran does not say anything moves in a path/orbit in the sky except the sun, moon and retrograde stars (planets). Sura 21:104 "The day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll". Response: It is unclear to me how this supposed to anticipate modern astronomy, but Mohammeds first wife took him to hear the gospels from a Christian, and the Bible in Revelation 6:14 and in the Old Testament in Isaiah 34:4. However, Christians do not generally try to fit modern astronomy into Revelation 6:14. Sura 22:65 "He withholds the sky2847 from falling on the earth except by His leave" Yusuf Alis footnote 2847 says that this word samaa can mean (1) something high, (2) a root, a ceiling, (3) the sky, the canopy of heaven. (4) cloud or rain. He says he understand the last meaning here, though most authorities seem to render it by some such words as "sky". Response: Thus many authorities the word would be "sky" which is most consistent with a flat earth view. So while we cannot say this verse definitely proves the flat earth view in the Quran, due to the vagueness of the Arabic, this verse certainly cannot be used to prove a modern scientific view in the Quran. Sura 25:61-62 "Blessed is He who made constellations in the skies, and placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light. And it is he who made the night and the day to follow each other:"

Response: Calling the sun a lamp does nothing to prove the Quran had modern scientific views. The day and night following each other is true, but it is something even primitive people all knew. Sura 27:88 "these mountains which you see and think are firmly fixed, will pass away like clouds" (Malik) One Muslim apologist apparently believes this alludes to the earths rotation. Response: The verse before mentions the last trumpet, so the context is the end times, not today. Sura 29:44 says that the creation of the heavens and the earth is a sign for those who believe. Response: The creation of heaven and earth shows Gods majesty according to Psalm 8:1,3,5; Psalm 19:1-6. Mohammed knew of the Psalms (zubur) of David, so there is no news here. Sura 31:29,Sura 35:13, Sura 36:37, and Sura 39:5 all say that Allah merges night into day and day into night. It also says the sun and moon each run their appointed course. Sura 55:5 also says the sun and moon run their appointed courses. Response: There is nothing to suggest this is not the path of the sun and moon in the sky. These things were known and observed by ancient, primitive people too. Saying a truth that even pagans already believed of course does not prove a book wrong. However, repeating common knowledge in no way proves the Quran predicted modern scientific knowledge. Sura 51:47,48 "We have build the firmament with might: and We indeed have vast power. And we have spread out the (spacious) earth: how excellently We do spread out!" (Yusuf Ali). Other translations say "like a carpet". Response: Spreading out the earth, which some see as teaching a flat earth, does nothing to prove the Quran taught modern scientific theories. As a non-Muslim, I am willing to admit that this might not be teaching the falsehood that the earth is flat, but rather be a poetic expression. Muslims have used this to say the Quran taught the big bang expansion of the universe. The fact that God spread out the heavens does not specifically mean the big bang theory, and God stretching out the heavens is in the Bible in Isaiah 42:5. However, Christians do not try to use a vague reference like this to prove the anticipated the big bang theory. Sura 55:33 mentions zones of the earth that men and Jinns [genies] cannot pass beyond without authority. Response: Zones of the earth does not teach modern geography, though it sounds a bit like sea monsters or other barriers keep people from traveling to other parts of the earth. Likewise zones of heaven does not mean much, except that both Mohammed and Jewish tradition spoke of seven heavens.

Sura 71:15-16 "See ye not how Allah has create the seven heavens one above another, And made the moon a light in the midst, and made the sun as a (Glorious) lamp?" It is claimed by some Muslims that the seven layers of the earths atmosphere (troposphere, stratosphere, etc.) are the seven heavens. Response: Besides seven heavens being in common with Jewish tradition, calling the moon a light and the sun a lamp does not show modern scientific views, though this is not falsehood if it is understood as poetic language. Also, if the seven heavens were the seven layers of the earths atmosphere, it would be wrong to say the sun, moon, and stars are in the heavens. As a side note, though the Bible never mentions seven heavens, various apocryphal traditions mention seven heavens: 2 Enoch 20:1; 20:1 p.134-135; Martyrdom and Ascension of Isaiah 7:8; 9:1,6; 10:17; The Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs ch.3.3 p.13. 3 Baruch 11:1 p.675 mentions 5 heavens, though it does not say that is all there are. So even if it were a scientific miracle that Mohammed mentioning seven heavens corresponded to the earth's atmospheric layers, it would be even a greater miracle that these earlier works mentioned seven heavens too. Sura 86:1-3 "By the heaven and by the visitant by night, and what will explain to you what the visitant by night is? It is the star of piercing brightness. (Just as Allah Almighty is taking care of each star in the galaxies, similarly) over each soul there is an appointed guardian angel." (Malik) Some Muslims claim this teaches that the sun is a star. Response: Note two things: a) the sun is not mentioned here, and b) everything in parenthesis was added in the English translation; it is not in the original Arabic! Yusuf Ali (revised edition) gives a much more accurate translation here. "By the Sky6067 and the Night-Visitant6068 (therein); And what will explain to thee What the Night-Visitant is? (It is) the Star of piercing brightness; - there is no soul but has a protector over it.6069" Yusuf Alis footnote 606 says, "The Star of piercing brightness is understood by some to be the Morning Star, by others to be the planet Saturn, by others again to be Sirius, or the Pleids [Pleiades] or shooting stars. I think it is best to take the Star in the collective or generic sense, for stars shine on every night of the year, and their piercing brightness is most noticeable on the darkest night."

Some Interpretations Are Really Out of This World!Here are some other Muslim views recorded in http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/interprt.htm. This site has other good info too. "Take for instance Muhammad Hanafi al-Banna who discovered allusions to aeroplanes (Sura 17:1), artificial satellites (Sura 41:53), interplanetary travel (Sura 55:33), and the hydrogen bomb (Sura 74:33-38) (Jansen 1980:48).

Thus, it was not surprising when men like Muhammad Kamil Daww wrote that the miracle of the "scientific" content of the Quran was even greater than the miracle of its matchless eloquence. This gave veracity to Muhammad, and hence a correctness to all the statements in the Quran. Today the person best known for popularizing scientific exegesis is the French doctor Maurice Bucaille. In his book, The Bible, The Quran and Science, he seeks to expose the unscientific nature of the Bible while simultaneously elevating the status of the Quran by using the same criteria."

But Some Muslims Were More Down to EarthIt must be mentioned that many Muslims do not hold to the previous interpretations. Some see these verses are simply remarking on easily observed things in the sky. Muhammad said: "Refrain from speaking about me except of what you know. Whoever speaks a lie about me deliberately, may him prepare his place in the hellfire. And whoever interprets Quran by his own opinion may him prepare his place in the Hellfire." Tirmiz EE, Tefsir 1, (2951) (contributed)

"Nay, We hurl the Truth against Falsehood, and it knocks out its brain, and behold, Falsehood doth perish! Ah! Woe be to you for the (false) things ye ascribe (to Us)." Sura 21:19 If anyone deliberately attributes a lie to Mohammed, their abode is Hell. Abu Dawud vol.3 ch.1372 book 19 no.3643 p.1036. Also Bukhari vol.2 book 23 no.378 p.212-218 "...And whoever intentionally ascribes something to me [Mohammed] falsely, he will surely take his place in the (Hell) Fire." Bukhari vol.8 book 73 no.217 p.139-140. A false witness is tantamount to ascribing partners to Allah. Ibn-i-Majah vol.3 book 13 no.2372 p.414

Muslims Views and Responses1. The Quran anticipates modern science: The sun and moon are in orbit and rotate along their axis (Sura 21:33; 36:27-40). The Quran even teaches the big bang theory (Sura 21:30; Sura 51:47,48). The Arabic word falak means "orbit". Astronomers tell us that the sun orbits the center of the galaxy every 250 million years or so. The Arabic word yasbahuna (from sabaha) means rotating on its axis. 1 Response: Actually this is wishful thinking for two reasons. 1) The words are vague: falak is Arabic means course, progress as well as orbit, and yasbahuna can mean hastening on, though its most direct meaning is swimming.

2) Mohammed told us clearly what is means, and it means the sun and moon traveled over earth, swam/rode in a chariot across the earths sky. Again, here are two sources of what Mohammed said. "God created an ocean three fasrakhs (18 kilometers) removed from heaven. Waves contained, it stands in the air by the command of God. No drop of it is spilled. All the oceans are motionless, but that ocean flows at the rate of the speed of an arrow. It is set free to move in the air evenly, as if it were a rope stretched out in the area between east and west. The sun, the moon, and the retrograde stars [5 planets] run in its deep swell. This is (meant by) Gods word: Each swims in a sphere. The sphere is the circulation of the chariot in the deep swell of that ocean." al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 Narrated Abu Dhar : The Prophet asked me at sunset, Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and them ( a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted," Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283 2. The Quran mentions the suns orbit around the center of our galaxy. 2 Response: The sun does not have an independent orbit in our galaxy. If the Quran was attempting to teach modern science, it should have said the sun, moon, earth, and retrograde stars (planets) all orbit the galaxy together. Again, we also know exactly what Mohammed meant, because he told us, as Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283 and al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 record. 3. The suns resting place means it is shining on the other side of the earth. Again, we also know exactly what Mohammed meant, because he told us, as Bukhari vol.4 book 54 ch.4 no.441 p.283 and al-Tabari vol.1 p.235 record. 4. The suns resting place means the ultimate destruction of the sun. 4 Response: A typical person reading this, in any language, would think it refers to a periodic cycle, not ultimate destruction. 5. Language of appearance: The sun, moon, and planets mark a path in the sky. These verses were meant neither to support nor contradict modern science, but were poetic expressions merely saying Allah was behind what people naturally observed. 5 Response: This would sound reasonable, except for what Bukhari and al-Tabari wrote that Mohammed said. If Bukhari and al-Tabari were wrong about this, then what criteria is there for saying they were right about anything.

ConclusionSome (but not all) Muslims try to use these verses to prove the scientific accuracy of the Quran. Unless you see an error in this discussion, it is not intellectually honest to try to claim this proves the scientific accuracy of the Quran. In fact, some of these verses contradict what we know by modern science, unless you understand them to be poetic and the language of appearance. However, Bukhari and al-Tabari show these were understood quite literally. The sun and moon swim in the sky over the earth. However, the most important thing in the world is not what you know, but Who you know. It is not which theories of men you believe, but whether you follow what the True God has revealed. Every single viewpoint on astronomy up to the nineteenth century has some error in it. Whos to say that in the future people will not say the same about our scientific views? The only way we can know what is true is by what God has revealed to us. We have trust that God would reveal what we need to know, and that He would preserve the meaning of His revelation.

Bibliography: Translations of the Quran1. Arberry, Arthur J. The Koran Interpreted. Macmillian Publishing Co., Inc. 1955. 2. Dawood, N.J. The Koran. Penguin Books. 1956-1999. 3. Malik, Farooq-i-Azam. English Translation of the Meaning of AL-QURAN : The Guidance for Mankind. The Institute of Islamic Knowledge. 1997 4. Pickthall, Mohammed Marmaduke. The Meaning of the Glorious Koran. Dar alIslamiyya (Kuwait) (no date given) 5. Rodwell, J.M. The Koran. First Edition. Ivy Books, Published by Ballantine Books. 1993. 6. Shakir, M.H. The Quran. Tahrike Tarsile Quran, Inc. 12th U.S. Edition 2001. 7. Sher Ali, Maulawi. The Holy Quran. Islam International Publications Limited (Ahmadiyya) 1997 8. Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. The Holy Qur-an : English translation of the meanings and Commentary. Revised & Edited by The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA. King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing Complex. (Al Madina Saudi Arabia) 1410 A.H.

Other References

Campbell, Dr. William. The Qur'an and the Bible in the Light of History and Science (2nd edition). Arab World Ministries 2002. The Translation of the Meanings of Sahih Al-Bukhari Arabic-English Vol.1 by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan. Islamic University, Al-Medina Al-Munawwara AL MAKTABAT AL SALAFIAT AL MADINATO AL MONAWART No date, No copyright. The History of al-Tabari : An Annotated Translation. Ehsan Yar-Shater, General Editor. State University of New York Press 1989-. http://debate.org.uk/topics/history/interprt.htm

Appendix Translations of Sura 36:38-40"And the sun runs on to a term appointed for it; that is the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing. (39) And (as for) the moon, We have ordained for it stages till it becomes again as an old dry palm branch. (40) Neither is it allowable to the sun that it should overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day; and all float on in a sphere." M.H. Shakirs translation Pickthalls translation has one verse number lower. "(37) And the sun runneth on unto a resting-place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise. (38) And for the moon We have appointed mansions till she return like an old shriveled palm-leaf." (39) It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day. They float each in an orbit." (M.M. Pickthalls translation) (38) And a Sign for them is the night from which We strip off the day, and lo! They are in darkness. (39) And the sun is moving on the course prescribed for it. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing God." Maulawi Sher Alis translation (Ahmadiyya) (36:37-40) Another sign for them is the night; when We withdraw the daylight from it, and behold they are in darkness. The sun runs its course, this course is preestimated for it by the Almighty, the All-Knowing. As for the moon, We have designed phases for it till it again becomes like an old dry palm branch. Neither it is possible for the sun to overtake the moon, nor for the night to outstrip the day; each floats along in its own orbit." Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Maliks translation. (37) And a Sign for them Is the Night: We withdraw Therefrom the Day, and behold They are plunged in darkness; (38) And the Sun Runs unto a resting place, For him: that is The decree of (him) The Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. (39) And the Moon, - We have measured for her Stations (to traverse) Till she returns Like the old (and withered) Lower part of a date-stalk. (40) It is not permitted To the Sun to catch

up The Moon, nor can The Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along In (its own) orbit (According to Law). (Yusuf Alis translation of the Quran (p.1326-1327) Revised & Edited by The Presidency of Islamic Researches, IFTA. King Fahd Holy Qur-an Printing Complex.) (37) And a Sign for them is the Night; We withdraw therefrom the Day, and behold they are plunged into darkness; (38) And the Sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the exalted in Might, the All-Knowing. (39) And the Moon We have measured for her mansions13 (to traverse) till she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of date-stalk." (40) It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit17 (according to Law). Footnote 17 says "Circuit, course" Abdullah Yusuf Ali published by MILLAT Book Centre This differs from the previous (revised) Yusuf Ali in "for a period determined for him:" vs. "unto a resting place, for him:" and "stations" vs. "mansions" "And a sign for them is the night; We strip it of the day and lo, they are in darkness. And the sun it runs to a fixed resting-place; that is the ordaining of the All-mighty, the All-knowing. And the moon- We have determined it by stations, till it returns like an aged palm-bought. It behooves not the sun to overtake the moon, neither does the night outstrip the day, each swimming in a sky." A.J. Arberrys translation "A sign to them also is the night. We withdraw the day from it, and lo! They are plunged in darkness; And the sun hasteneth to her place of rest. This, the ordinance of the Mighty, the Knowing! And as for the moon, We have decreed stations for it, till it change like an old and crooked palm branch. To the sun it is not given to overtake the moon, nor doth the night outstrip the day; but each in its own sphere doth journey on." J.M. Rodwells translation of the Quran "The night is another sign for men. From the night We lift the day and they are plunged in darkness. The sun hastens to its resting-place; its course is laid for it by the Mighty One, the All-Knowing. We have ordained phases for the moon, which daily wanes and in the end appears like a bent old twig. The sun is not allowed to overtake the moon, nor does the night outpace the day. Each in its own orbit swims."

Is the Thunder an Angel? The Quran says that thunder glorifies Allah:

And Ar-Ra'd (thunder) glorifies and praises Him, and so do the angels because of His Awe, He sends the thunderbolts, and therewith He strikes whom He wills, yet they (disbelievers) dispute about Allah. And He is Mighty in strength and Severe in punishment. S. 13:13 Hilali Khan Normally, one would assume that this simply a poetic way of describing how creation glorifies God by doing the very thing it was designed to do. In other words, one can argue that the author is personifying thunder in order to highlight how it serves God by accomplishing the purpose for which it was created. When we turn to the Muslim sources, however, it is rather apparent that the author of the Quran believed that the thunder wasnt simply an impersonal force, but an angel. The Tafsir of Ibn Abbas says in reference to this text: (The thunder hymneth His praise) by His command; it is an angel; it is also said: it is the voice of the sky (and (so do) the angels) and also the angels hymn His praise (for awe of Him) the angels have awe towards Allah. (He launcheth the thunder bolts) i.e. fire (and smiteth with them whom He will) He destroys by means of fire whoever He will, referring here to Zayd Ibn Qays whom Allah destroyed by fire, along with his friend Amir Ibn alTufayl who was killed as a result of being stabbed in his waist (while they dispute (in doubt) concerning Allah) while they dispute with Muhammad (pbuh) concerning the Religion of Allah, (and He is mighty in wrath) His chastisement is severe. (Tanwr al-Miqbs min Tafsr Ibn Abbs; source; bold and underline emphasis ours) The renowned commentators, the two Jalals, wrote: And the thunder - this is an angel, who is in charge of the clouds, driving them, [while he] constantly, proclaims His praise, that is, he says, 'Glory be to God through His praise' (subhana'Llah wa-bi-hamdihi), and so too the angels, proclaim His praise, in awe of Him, that is, of God. He unleashes the thunderbolts - these are a fire which issues forth from the clouds - and smites with them whom He will, such that it burns [that person]: this was revealed regarding a man to whom the Prophet (s) had sent someone to invite [to Islam] and who said, 'Who is the Messenger of God? And what is God? Is He [made] of gold, or of silver, or of copper?', whereupon a thunderbolt came down on him and blew off the top of his head; yet they, that is, the disbelievers, dispute, argue with the Prophet (s), about God, though He is great in might, in power, or in [the severity of His] retribution. (Tafsir alJalalayn; source; bold and underline emphasis ours) The Quran translators Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan add that: (2) (V.13:13) Ar-Ra'd: It is said that he is the angel in charge of clouds and he drives them as ordered by Allah, and he glorifies His Praises. (Tafsir Al-Qurtubi) (Hilali-Khan, Interpretation of the Meanings of the Noble Qur'an: With Comments from Tafsir At-Tabari, Tafsir Al-Qurtubi and Tafsir Ibn Kathir and Ahadith from Sahih Al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and other Ahadith Books [Darussalam Publishers & Distributors, Riyadh, Lahore, Houston, New York, First Edition: January 1, 2000], Part 3. From Surah 10 to 15, p. 258) The late Christian writer and apologist Abdallah Abd al-Fadi quotes another renowned commentator named al-Baidawi and from hadith compiler al-Tirmidhi:

Al Baidawi said, "Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet was asked about the thunder. He answered, It is an angel entrusted with the clouds. He has entwined shreds of fire with which he drives the clouds and the angels, in awe of God. Another opinion says that the pronoun him refers to the thunder itself." Al-Tirmidhi brought out, quoting Ibn Abbas, that "the Jews came to Muhammad and said, Tell us about the thunder. What is it? He said, One of the angels who is entrusted with the clouds. He has entwined shreds of fire with which he drives the clouds wherever God wills. They asked, What is this sound, then, which is heard? He said, It is his rebuke to the clouds, that they should stop where they have been commanded. They said, You have spoken the truth!" (Abd al-Fadi, Is the Quran Infallible? [Light of Life, P.O. Box 13, A9503 Villach, Austria], p. 27) The problem with the above claims is that thunder "is the sound of the shockwave caused when lightning instantly heats the air around it to up to 30 000 C (54 000 F). That superheated air expands rapidly, then contracts as it cools. The rapid expansion/contraction generates sound waves, making the sound that is called thunder."