Exploring Islam
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Questions and Answers
    • All Questions
    • Principles and Bases >
      • Overview of Religion,Theology
      • Methodology of Understanding Islam
      • Qur'an: General, Interpretation
      • Beliefs
      • Spirituality and Morals
    • Laws and Obligations >
      • Acts of Worship
      • Economics, Transactions
      • Social, Family, Personal
      • Edibles
      • Penal Law
      • Politics and State Affairs
    • Non-Core Topics >
      • Analysing a Hadith (narration)
      • Muslim Sects/Views/Customs, Other Faiths
      • Criticisms on Islam/Religion
      • Miscellaneous
    • All Categories
  • Multimedia
  • About the Author
  • Educational Resources
  • Conceptual Illustrations
  • Heart to Heart

Sun and Moon's Light in the Qur'an

Question:

Salaam bro,

The verse 10:5 states that " He it is who gave the Sun radiance and the Moon light." 
Whilst it is true that we see the Moon shining, but we now know that Moon has no light of its own and reflects the light from the Sun, so would that not negate the statement of moon light?


Answer:

Salam,

The part of the verse under question is as follows:

... هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَ الْقَمَرَ نُورًا
"It is God who has made the sun radiant and the moon luminous ..." (10:5)

The Qur'an has not made any comments about the sources of these lights here. It simply says that (for you human beings) he made the sun a radiant and the moon luminous. This is the statement of a true fact. The Qur'an is not a book of science and does not make scientific statements. It makes statements that are true from our point of view. We say moon beam or moon light while we appreciate that moon is not the original source of that light. 

In fact the very different words that are used in the verse admits that there is a fundamental difference in between the nature of the light that comes from the sun and the light that comes from the moon. 
----------------
April 2013 
Picture
Send a Follow Up Question/Discussion
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.