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قQuranicpediaEncyclopedia of the Glorious Qur’an

The Sun in the Quran الشَّمْس

In review — pending scholar verification

The Sun is described in the Quran as a "burning lamp" placed in the sky among the signs of Allah — appearing in numerous verses on cosmic ordering, the alternation of day and night, and oaths in early Meccan surahs.

Overview

Ash-Shams (Arabic: الشَّمْس; "the Sun") is described in the Quran as a sirāj wahhāj ("burning lamp") placed in the sky as one of the signs of Allah. It is mentioned by name in over 30 verses, in three principal contexts: (1) cosmic order (with the moon and stars); (2) the alternation of day and night; (3) oaths in early Meccan surahs.

Quranic references

  • Surah An-Naba 78:13 — "And [We] made [therein] a burning lamp."
  • Surah Nuh 71:16 — "And He made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp."
  • Surah Yā-Sīn 36:38 — "And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing."
  • Surah Yunus 10:5 — "It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light."
  • Surah Al-Anbiya 21:33 — "And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; each, in an orbit, floating."
  • Surah Ar-Raʿd 13:2 — same.
  • Surah Ash-Shams 91:1 — "By the sun and its brightness."
  • Surah Al-Furqān 25:45 — the lengthening shadow with respect to the sun.

In eschatology

One of the major signs of the Hour is the rising of the sun from the west (Sahih Muslim 2901; Sahih al-Bukhari 4635). Surah Al-Aʿrāf 7:158 references closing of the door of repentance after this event.

See also

References

  1. The Quran: Surahs Yunus 10:5; Ar-Raʿd 13:2; Al-Anbiya 21:33; Al-Furqān 25:45; Yā-Sīn 36:38; Nuh 71:16; An-Naba 78:13; Ash-Shams 91:1.
  2. Sahih al-Bukhari 4635; Sahih Muslim 2901.
  3. Ibn Kathir, Tafsīr, on the cited verses.