Cosmology And The Koran. Geocentric?

[USResident]

@psyah

Hmm … You know I was thinking about this whole topic with a clear mind and there is more to it now.

First of all we need to make sure that we are using the word “orbit” correctly.

Then we need to make sure that have understood the meaning just as you say

“the Sun does not overtake the moon”

Then there is also the context of the verses …

After looking at the verses I realised that some of the answers are staring at us already …

Just refer to the previous verses, Where it starts from “Wa 'aayatu hum-ul-Lailu …”

37. And a sign for them is the night, We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness.

38. And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.

39. And the moon, We have measured for it mansions (to traverse) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.

40. It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.

Compare verses 37, 38 and 39 with verse 40.

Okay … In 37 it states clearly that if the Day is taken away the result is Night. Hence this provides context to the part of verse 40 which states that “nor does the night outstrip the day” … in other words … “taking away the night will not bring day, but taking away the day will bring night”

Next we see in the Verse 38 that the sun is on a course until a fixed term, can this mean that it is consuming itself? Can it mean that this Sun will not always be there? Can it mean that the sun is travelling very fast?

Now look at verse 39 and we see that the moon is RETURNING i.e. in a cycle of some sort after perishing it grows again from a thin sliver … compared with a date leaf/stalk … I would hazard a guess that this is the phase of the moon. However, the moon moves faster in the sky and it moves faster than the sun in actual fact. So in verse 39 it states that the moon is faster and more longer lasting than the Sun, so in verse 40 the opposite condition i.e. the sun will never overtake the moon at those things …

So I truly feel that these verses need to be treated together to get a fuller understanding of them.

I do agree that some of the answers are quite lucid especially those involving the moon phases. No one can mistake those.

When we say DAY, does it mean the absense of sunlight or the condition where the sun has not yet be revealed to our sight along the horizon. I choose the second because that seems to agree more with the other Quranic verses. The sun has to be hidden by the rotation of the earth not the moon (solar eclipse).

Its important to under the meaning of orbit in verse 36:40 because it applies to all the entities mentioned in that verse. Meaning that the sun, moon, night and day are all following an orbit. The application of the word in such a way makes me think that it does not have to do with celestial orbits. So the meaning of orbit is more in general terms of following a closed routine rather than actual astronomical terminilogy which associates with an orbit.

I seem to wonder the English translation is creating all the conflict and confusion. What would help is understand how the arabic words were understood at the time of revelation.