Page 75 - Allah is Known through Reason

Allah says:

Nay, I swear by the places of the stars And behold! that verily is a tremen-
dous oath, if you but knew. (Surat al-Waqia, 75-76)

THE SUN AND THE MOON
There are many verses in the Qur'an that make mention of the sun
and the moon. An interesting property is revealed when their Arabic word-
ing is investigated. In the verses, the words "sirac" (lamp) and "vahhac"
(brightly-burning) are used for the sun. For the moon, the word "munir"
(enlightening, shiny) is used. Indeed, while the sun produces an enormous
amount of heat and light as a result of the nuclear reactions inside, the
moon merely reflects the light it receives from the sun. The verses make
reference to this distinction as follows:
Do you not see how God has created seven heavens in full harmony with
one another, and has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun
a (radiant) lamp? (Surah Nuh, 15-16)

We have built above you seven strong heavens, and have placed (there-
in the sun), a lamp full of blazing splendour. (Surat an-Naba, 12-13)

Blessed Is He Who has set up in the skies constellations, and has placed
among them a (radiant) lamp and a light-giving moon. (Surat al-Furqan,
61)

The difference between the sun and the moon is quite evident in the
verses. One is depicted as a source of light and the other as a light-reflect-
ing agent. It is impossible for such a detail to have been known at that
time. It was not until centuries later that men came into possession of this
knowledge. Therefore, the fact that this information was already given in
the Qur'an is one of the proofs that the Qur'an was revealed by God.
Now, let us turn our attention to another magnificent characteristic of
the heavenly bodies - which is their movements in space.

Scientific Facts and the Miracle of the Qur’an 75