Salamu alaykum
First of all, even if the Qur’an doesn’t state that the earth spins around its axis it doesn’t mean there is a ‘difficulty’ with the Qur’an. The Qur’an doesn’t say mosquitoes have wings either. A difficulty would be an error in the Qur’an that we cannot explain away, not a fact that is not mentioned.
The Sun moves in a roughly circular orbit around the galaxy at a distance of 26, 500 light-years. The orbital speed is roughly 230 km/s and its orbital period is about 240 million years.
The Moon makes a complete orbit around the Earth every 27.3 days. This is called a sidereal month.
The translation “overtake” is not very accurate. A better word, IMHO, is “catch up with”. As such the sun indeed has never caught up with the moon: they never touched or collided and that’s because “each in its orbit swims!”
I don’t see that at all! Maybe I don’t see clearly without my glasses. The verse itemizes several of God’s precise designs and signs that all can clearly see for themselves.
That’s not important! The Sahaaba did not know anything about science and in fact verses like this one are what compelled them to study astronomy, math, etc. precisely to understand.
With verses like this (and others), God is wetting the appetite of Muslims to seek knowledge.
Say, “Travel through the land and observe how He began creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed Allah, over all things, is competent.” (29:20)
Which they sure did;
Mohammed al-Sijz (945-1020 CE), Ali Qushji (1403-1473), Abu al-Rayhan al-Birun, Ja’far ibn Muhammad al-Balkhi were amongst those who were of the opinion that Earth was moving.
Nasir al-Din al-Tusi (1201-1274) was an astronomer, biologist, chemist, mathematician, philosopher, physician, physicist, scientist, and a theologian. Tusi was also the first to present empirical observational evidence of the Earth’s rotation, using the location of comets relevant to the Earth as evidence.
It’s interesting to note that some of them were theologians whilst some of them studied under the supervision of scholars (like Ali Qushji).
Apparently (though I have personally not verified it) the Hanbali scholars have recorded a fatwa in ‘Tabaqaat ul-Hanbaabilah’ that there is consensus on the roundness of the Earth and its’ movement and whoever says otherwise is a kaafir.
Not directly but implicitly. The rotation of the earth is what causes day and night! Another knowledge-appetite wetter
I’m not so sure;
Until, when they arrive [at the place of Judgement], He will say, “Did you deny My signs while you encompassed them not in knowledge, or what [was it that] you were doing?” (27:84)
And the decree will befall them for the wrong they did, and they will not [be able to] speak. (27:85)
Do they not see that We made the night that they may rest therein and the day giving sight? Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. (27:86)
And [warn of] the Day the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will be terrified except whom Allah wills. And all will come to Him humbled (27:87)
And you see the mountains and think they are rigid while they pass [like] the passing of clouds. [That is] the handiwork of God who perfected everything. He is knowledgeable of what you do." (27:88).
The verse does not specify a day when that will happen, so it apply all the time. Evidence supporting that include;
a) The verse clearly speaks in the present tense and not in the future tense.
b) *To refer to the statements 'you think the mountains are stationary’, and ‘while they are moving’ '*to the
future is impossible.
c) If they, the mountains, were to fly in the future then how could man, even if he were perched at a safe distance on another planet, believe them to be stationary despite watching them flying in space? Hence such a translation is out of the question. Also, to translate this verse to indicate that though humans today consider the mountains to be stationary, they are not so because in future they will fly, would be evidently wrong. If the mountains are stationary today the humans would certainly see them to be stationary. It is not a question of their thinking them to be stationary. The Quran would have said ‘You know them to be stationary and so they are but in future they will no longer be so’. This is not what the Quran says at all.
d) 27:86 talks about signs of God and so does 27:88.
e) How God ends the verse by saying “that is the handiwork of God, who perfected everything.” That clause would have no relevance if the phenomenon in question happens only on one exceptional day.
Now how can the mountains be passing if the earth is stagnant as people felt and believed? Another knowledge-appetite wetter!
Again, not directly because people at the time had no way of verifying it but could clearly see the sun and the moon moving about. The two verses that mention the word “Falak” (orbit) both include the day and the night in the orbit that they swim. That’s food for thought for the curious.
Then they would be wrong comments, because the verses clearly mention four phenomena: the sun, the moon, the day and the night. “Kull” can only mean “all”. “Both” is "Kilaahuma.
That’s alignment, not catching up!
And Allah swt knows best!