The Qur'an & Astronomy

Orbits

Planets and stars have their own orbit

It was once believed that the earth was stationary and that all the other planets and stars were in movement. However, we now know that they all have their own orbits. The Qur'an mentions how the sun, moon and the earth all move to a 'prerecorded destiny.'

"[Allah] the heavens and the Earth in truth. He overlaps the night over the day and overlaps the day over the night, and enslaved the sun and the moon, all move to a prerecorded destiny. Is He not the Exalted, the Forgiver?" (Qur'an 39:5)

Planets and stars orbit the sun

For many centuries, a Geocentric model of orbit had been accepted. In this model, the earth is stationed in the center, whilst the planets and stars orbit around it. However, research has found strong evidence of a Heliocentric model in which the planets (including earth) and the stars orbit around the sun. This is now the accepted model of modern day astronomy. A Heliocentric model of orbit had been mentioned of in the Qur'an over 1400 years ago.

Planets return to original place after orbit

After completing an orbit, planets return to their original starting location of orbit.

"And the sky that returns." (Qur'an 86:11)

Planets

Scattered Planets

It was once thought that all planets were gravitationally bound by their own stars. The Qur'an, however, made mention of the idea of scattered and freely roaming planets in space. There is now a theory in modern science that dying stars can and have already ejected freely roaming planets.

"And if the planets were scattered." (Qur'an 82:2)

The Moon

The Moon borrows light from the Sun

Previously, it had been thought by scientists that the moon had it's very own light. We now know that this is not the case. Rather, the moon uses the light from the sun via reflection. In Surah Furqan, there is mention of the sun is a 'lamp' and that the moon borrows light.

"Blessed is the One Who has placed constellations in the sky, as well as a radiant lamp and a luminous moon." (Qur'an 25:61)

The Sun

The sun is in the center of our Solar System

The Qur'an indicates to us that the sun is in the centre of our solar system, with planets orbiting around it. It was previously thought by scientists that the it was the earth that was in the centre of our solar system.

Appearance of sunlight after darkness

The Qur'an mentions how darkness came before sunlight. This phenomenon was only recently discovered by researchers. Whereas, over 1400 years ago, the Qur'an made mention of the night being 'erased' and then subsequent 'revealing' of the sun:

"We have made the night and the day two wonders. We erased the wonder of the night, and made the wonder of the day revealing, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and know the number of years, and the calculation. We have explained all things in detail." (Qur'an 17:12)