THE STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE SUN, THE MOON & THE STARS
We built seven firm layers above you. We installed a blazing lamp.
(Qur'an, 78:12-13)
As we know, the only source of light in the Solar System is the Sun. With advances in technology, astronomers discovered that the Moon was not a source of light but that it merely reflects the light reaching it from the Sun. The _expression "lamp" in the above verse is a translation of the Arabic word "sirajan," which most perfectly describes the Sun, the source of light and heat.
In the Qur'an Allah employs different words when referring to such celestial bodies as the Moon, the Sun and the stars. This is how the differences between the structures of the Sun and Moon are expressed in the Qur'an:
Do you not see how He created seven heavens in layers, and placed the moon as a light in them and made the sun a blazing lamp?
(Qur'an, 71:15-16)
In the above verse, the word "light" is used for the Moon ("nooran" in Arabic) and the word "lamp" for the Sun ("sirajan" in Arabic.) The word used for the Moon refers to a light-reflecting, bright, motionless body. The word used for the Sun refers to a celestial body which is always burning, a constant source of heat and light.
On the other hand, the word "star" comes from the Arabic root "nejeme," meaning "appearing, emerging, visible." As in the verse below, stars are also referred to by the word "thaqib," which is used for that which shines and pierces the darkness with light: self-consuming and burning:
It is the star that pierces through darkness! (Qur'an, 86:3)
We now know that the Moon does not emit its own light but reflects that reaching it from the Sun. We also know that the Sun and stars do emit their own light. These facts were revealed in the Qur'an in an age when mankind simply did not have the means to make scientific discoveries of their own accord. It was an age when peoples' knowledge of celestial bodies was severely restricted, to say the least. This further emphasises the miraculous nature of the book of Islam.
Reply:
What is the reason behind adva
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Noman)
Replied on (25/Sep/2006)
Allah the Almighty says; “And pursue not that you have no knowledge of; surely the hearing, the sight, the heart- all of those shall be questioned of.”
What is the reason behind advancing hearing over sight in the Holy Quran?
Allah the Almighty says; “And pursue not that you have no knowledge of; surely the hearing, the sight, the heart- all of those shall be questioned of.” ( 17:36 ),
(æáÇ ÊÞÝ ãÇ áíÓ áß Èå Úáã Åä ÇáÓãÚ æÇáÈÕÑ æÇáÝÄÇÏ ßá ÃæáÆß ßÇä Úäå ãÓÄæáÇ) ÇáÅÓÑÇÁ 36 .
and; “Not so did you cover yourselves, lest your hearing, your eyes and your skins should bear witness against you; but you thought that Allah would never know much of the things that you were working.” (41: 22),
( æóãóÇ ßõäÊõãú ÊóÓúÊóÊöÑõæäó Ãóäú íóÔúåóÏó Úóáóíúßõãú ÓóãúÚõßõãú æóáóÇ ÃóÈúÕóÇÑõßõãú æóáóÇ ÌõáõæÏõßõãú æóáóßöä ÙóäóäÊõãú Ãóäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóÚúáóãõ ßóËöíÑÇð ãøöãøóÇ ÊóÚúãóáõæäó ). (22- ÝÕáÊ)
and: “Say; ‘Think you, if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up you hearts, who – a god other than Allah – could restore them to you?’” ( 6:46 )
(Þá ÃÑÃíÊã Åä ÃÎÐ Çááå ÓãÚßã æÃÈÕÇÑßã æÎÊã Úáì ÞáæÈßã ãä Åáå ÛíÑ Çááå íÃÊíßã Èå) ÇáÃäÚÇã 46 .
What are the possible reasons behind advancing "hearing" over "sight" in Quran ?
1- Hearing develops before sight in the embryo stage , and it is the first sense that functions in life. The function of hearing starts immediately with the baby after deliver, in contrary to the eye which does not function the time the baby is brought to life. In other words, Allah the Almighty conveys to us that it is hearing that functions at first. If a disturbing sound is produced near the newly born baby, he/ she feels terrified and cries. But if a hand is approached near the same baby, he/ she does not move or sense any sort of danger.
2- Ear is preferred over and more superior than the eye, as it does not stop function by sleep. Since the very beginning of life, the ear functions at the first instance after delivery, while some other organs may wait days, or years to function. The eye needs light to see. Rays of light are reflected on things, then enter the eye to see things. If it is dark, the eye cannot function, but the ear can function day and night.
3- Ear is the link between man and the world. When Allah the Almighty decreed that the Men of the Cave sleep hundred of years, He said; “Then We smote their ears many years in the Cave.” ( 18 : 11 )
ÝóÖóÑóÈúäóÇ Úóáóì ÂÐóÇäöåöãú Ýöí ÇáúßóåúÝö Óöäöíäó ÚóÏóÏÇ [ÇáßåÝ: 11]
Hence when ear was out of function, men of the Cave were able to sleep hundred of years without any disturbance. Noisy daylight movements, contrary to night quietness, prevent man to sleep deeply. Yet the ears never sleep or lose attention.
It is noticed that the word hearing advances the word sight in the whole of Quran, except in one verse, which tackles doomsday: “If only you could see when the guilty ones will bend low their heads before their Lord! ‘Our Lord, we have seen and we have heard; now return us, that we may do righteousness, for we do have sure faith.’” (32: 12)
( æáæ ÊÑì ÅÐ ÇáãÌÑãæä äÇßÓæÇ ÑÁæÓåã ÚäÏ ÑÈåã ÑÈäÇ ÃÈÕÑäÇ æÓãÚäÇ ÝÇÑÌÚäÇ äÚãá ÕÇáÍÇ ÅäÇ ãæÞäæä ) ÓæÑÉ ÇáÓÌÏÉ 12
In this only verse, Allah forwards the word "see" over that of "hear", as the horrible scenes of Doomsday (the day of judgment) when overwhelming people, will be seen first before heard of. Allah knows best.
Another interesting point :
It is also noticed that the word ear is always referred to in the singular form while the word eyes in the plural form. Allah says: “Not so did you cover yourselves, lest your hearing, your eyes and your skins should bear witness against you; but you thought that Allah would never know much of the things that you were working.” (41: 22),
( æóãóÇ ßõäÊõãú ÊóÓúÊóÊöÑõæäó Ãóäú íóÔúåóÏó Úóáóíúßõãú ÓóãúÚõßõãú æóáóÇ ÃóÈúÕóÇÑõßõãú æóáóÇ ÌõáõæÏõßõãú æóáóßöä ÙóäóäÊõãú Ãóäøó Çááøóåó áóÇ íóÚúáóãõ ßóËöíÑÇð ãøöãøóÇ ÊóÚúãóáõæäó ) (22- ÝÕáÊ)
and: “Say; ‘Think you, if Allah took away your hearing and your eyes, and sealed up your hearts, who – a god other than Allah – could restore them to you?’” ( 6:46 )
(Þá ÃÑÃíÊã Åä ÃÎÐ Çááå ÓãÚßã æÃÈÕÇÑßã æÎÊã Úáì ÞáæÈßã ãä Åáå ÛíÑ Çááå íÃÊíßã Èå) ÇáÃäÚÇã 46 .
Why is it in the Quran the word "ear" is singular while "eyes" is plural ?
Why is it, in the Holy Quran, that the word “ear” is always singular, while the word “eyes” is plural? Why could it not be “ears and eyes”, or “ear and eye”? Allah the Almighty, in such an accurate _expression, seeks to reveal to us the precision of the Holy Quran. The sense of sight can be willingly controlled by man, as he is opt whether to see or not. Man can close his eyes for the things he does not like to see, but he cannot do the same with his sense of hearing, as he has no control over ear whether to hear or not. In other words, when someone is in a room where ten people are talking, their voices will reach his ear whether he is willing or not. The sense of sight vary among people; someone sees something while another sees something else due to a different variation of sight, while someone else closes his eyes and sees nothing. For hearing, we all share the same sound, if we are assembled in one place. Hence eyes vary but ears stand single.