Page 74 - Allah is Known through Reason

Space may be imagined as an enormous cavity: an infinitely vast cav-

ity, a cavity containing stars, planets and bodies in motion. However, space
is not a cavity left to itself. It is a "system" consisting of countless stars, solar
systems, planets, satellites and comets. It was earlier stated in the Qur'an
that the sky and space were created flawlessly within "a great order":
Do they not look at the sky above them? How We have built it and
adorned it, and there are no rifts therein? (Surah Qaf, 6)

STARS AND PLANETS
Let us first look at what is meant by the word "star" in the Qur'an. The
stars denoted by the words "necm" (star) and "kandil" (lamp) in the Qur'an
have two main functions as implied in the verses. They are a source of light
and they are used for navigation.
Particularly in the verses depicting the resurrection day, it is stressed
that the lights of the stars are put out and become dim. When the sun,
which is a star as well is referred to, the word "kandil "is used. The word
"kandil" is also used when referring to the stars adorning the sky. Yet a
very important distinction is made where the word "nur" (light) is used for
the moon. In this way, the stars and the objects that are not stars are dis-

tinguished from one another. This fact, which could not have been known
14 centuries ago, is one of the miracles of the Qur'an.
We had mentioned that the second function of the stars as they are
referred to in the verses is as a guide to navigation. These verses make it
plain that people can determine the right direction by the help of the stars
in the sky. In all of these verses, the word "necm" is used. Indeed, before
the invention of the compass, which has a very significant role at the out-
set of the geographical discoveries in the Middle Ages, navigation was only
possible with the help of the stars on night voyages.
How is it possible that the stars show direction? It is possible only if
they are arranged in an observable order in their fixed places. If a star
appeared in one place one night, and in another the next, it would be
impossible to find one's way by it. In this context, the particular places
where the stars appear in the sky have great importance. In the Qur'an,

74 Allah is Known Through Reason