قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Say, "He (is) Allah, the One.
Allah, the Eternal, the Absolute.
Not He begets and not He is begotten.
And not is for Him equivalent any [one]."
[Al-Quran 112]
Abstract
Exploring the erased sign of the night according to the ayaat of The Quran and recent scientific discoveries.
Full Text
وَجَعَلْنَا اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ آيَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَا آيَةَ اللَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَا آيَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِّتَبْتَغُوا فَضْلًا مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلًا
And We have made the night and the day (as) two signs. Then We erased (the) sign (of) the night, and We made (the) sign (of) the day visible, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know (the) number (of) the years, and the account. And every thing - We have explained it (in) detail.
[Al-Quran 17:12]
The alternation of the day and night make it easy to keep count of passing time. The Sun and the Moon are used to calculate time of the day, number of months and the years. A variety of calculation systems have been employed over the ages, yet they all are based on the Sun and/or the Moon.
In Surah Fussilat (Explained in Detail), it is stated:
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
And of His Signs (are) the night and the day and the sun and the moon. (Do) not prostrate to the sun and not to the moon, but prostrate to Allah the One Who created them, if you, Him alone, worship.
[Al-Quran 41:37]
The sun and the moon have been deified in many mythologies and worshipped by many people. In Surah Yunus, the reason given for the sign of the night and the day and their signs, in Q17:12, is again repeated, mentioning the sun and moon explicitly in this ayat, while reiterating the fact that Allah ﷻ created them:
هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ مَا خَلَقَ اللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ
He (is) the One Who made the sun a ضِيَاءً, and the moon a نُورًا and determined for it phases, that you may know (the) number (of) the years and the count (of time). Not created Allah that except in truth. He explains the Signs for a people (who) know.
[Al-Quran 10:5; Translation edited to retain Arabic terms]
The moon is described as a nur (نُورًا), and Surah anNur informs us that Allah ﷻ is نُورُ of the السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ:
اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ مَثَلُ نُورِهِ كَمِشْكَاةٍ فِيهَا مِصْبَاحٌ الْمِصْبَاحُ فِي زُجَاجَةٍ الزُّجَاجَةُ كَأَنَّهَا كَوْكَبٌ دُرِّيٌّ يُوقَدُ مِن شَجَرَةٍ مُّبَارَكَةٍ زَيْتُونَةٍ لَّا شَرْقِيَّةٍ وَلَا غَرْبِيَّةٍ يَكَادُ زَيْتُهَا يُضِيءُ وَلَوْ لَمْ تَمْسَسْهُ نَارٌ نُّورٌ عَلَىٰ نُورٍ يَهْدِي اللَّهُ لِنُورِهِ مَن يَشَاءُ وَيَضْرِبُ اللَّهُ الْأَمْثَالَ لِلنَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Allah (is the) نُورُ (of) the heavens and the earth. (The) example (of) His نُورِ (is) like a niche in it (is) a lamp; the lamp (is) in a glass, the glass as if it were a planet brilliant (which) is lit from a tree blessed - an olive, not (of the) east and not (of the) west, would almost its oil glow, even if not touched it fire. نُّورٌ upon نُورٍ. Allah guides to His نُورِ whom He wills. And Allah sets forth the examples for the mankind. And Allah of every thing (is) All-Knower.
[Al-Quran 24:35; Translation edited]
هُوَ الَّذِي يُرِيكُمُ الْبَرْقَ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَيُنشِئُ السَّحَابَ الثِّقَالَ
وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ
He (is) the One Who shows you the lightning, a fear and a hope and brings up the heavy clouds.
And glorifies the thunder [with] and the Angels for fear of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and strikes with it whom He wills, yet they dispute about Allah. And He (is) Mighty (in) Strength.
[Al-Quran 13:12-13]
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And when Musa came to Our appointed place and spoke to him his Lord, he said, "O my Lord! Show me (that) I may look at You." He said, "Never you (can) see Me, but look at the mountain [then] if it remains in its place then you will see Me." But when revealed (His) Glory his Lord to the mountain, He made it crumbled to dust and Musa fell down unconscious. And when he recovered he said, "Glory be to You! I turn (in repentance) to you, and I am (the) first (of) the believers."
[Al-Quran 7:143]
ثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And when you said, "O Musa! Never (will) we believe in you until we see Allah manifestly." So seized you the thunderbolt while you (were) looking.
Then We revived you from after your death, so that you may (be) grateful.
[Al-Quran 2:55-56]
Are they waiting [except] that comes to them Allah in (the) shadows of [the] clouds, and the Angels, and is decreed the matter? And to Allah return (all) the matters.
[Al-Quran 2:210]
On the Day of Judgement:
In Surah arRa`d, we read:
وَيُسَبِّحُ الرَّعْدُ بِحَمْدِهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ مِنْ خِيفَتِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ الصَّوَاعِقَ فَيُصِيبُ بِهَا مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُمْ يُجَادِلُونَ فِي اللَّهِ وَهُوَ شَدِيدُ الْمِحَالِ
He (is) the One Who shows you the lightning, a fear and a hope and brings up the heavy clouds.
And glorifies the thunder [with] and the Angels for fear of Him. And He sends the thunderbolts and strikes with it whom He wills, yet they dispute about Allah. And He (is) Mighty (in) Strength.
[Al-Quran 13:12-13]
When Moses (Musa عليه السلام) desired to see Allah ﷻ :
وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And when Musa came to Our appointed place and spoke to him his Lord, he said, "O my Lord! Show me (that) I may look at You." He said, "Never you (can) see Me, but look at the mountain [then] if it remains in its place then you will see Me." But when revealed (His) Glory his Lord to the mountain, He made it crumbled to dust and Musa fell down unconscious. And when he recovered he said, "Glory be to You! I turn (in repentance) to you, and I am (the) first (of) the believers."
[Al-Quran 7:143]
When the Bani Israel demanded to see Allah ﷻ :
وَإِذْ قُلْتُمْ يَا مُوسَىٰ لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ نَرَى اللَّهَ جَهْرَةً فَأَخَذَتْكُمُ الصَّاعِقَةُ وَأَنتُمْ تَنظُرُونَثُمَّ بَعَثْنَاكُم مِّن بَعْدِ مَوْتِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And when you said, "O Musa! Never (will) we believe in you until we see Allah manifestly." So seized you the thunderbolt while you (were) looking.
Then We revived you from after your death, so that you may (be) grateful.
[Al-Quran 2:55-56]
The Day when Allah ﷻ comes:
هَلْ يَنظُرُونَ إِلَّا أَن يَأْتِيَهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي ظُلَلٍ مِّنَ الْغَمَامِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَقُضِيَ الْأَمْرُ وَإِلَى اللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ الْأُمُورُAre they waiting [except] that comes to them Allah in (the) shadows of [the] clouds, and the Angels, and is decreed the matter? And to Allah return (all) the matters.
[Al-Quran 2:210]
On the Day of Judgement:
وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And (will) shine the earth with (the) نُورِ (of) its Lord and (will) be placed the Record and (will) be brought the Prophets and the witnesses, and it (will) be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
[Al-Quran 39:69, Translation edited]
Putting together the knowledge provided in the eleven ayaat quoted above with what science has so far discovered:
ضِيَاءً
The Quran uses this root six times, and is variously understood as light that shines, illuminates, flashes or glows. The sun, when above the horizon, is the brightest object in the sky. It emits the visible light humans use to see, as well as other shorter and longer wavelengths of light. The visible light is a very narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum.
نُورًا
The Quran uses the word نُور several times, and is variously translated as light which is reflected, lustrous, beautiful, enlightening. The root of this word is shared by the word نَارًا which means fire. We know that fire is produced in a process where heat energy is also generated along with the light.
The moon is visible to humans, most nights of the month, through the sunlight it reflects. It waxes and wanes, and the phases of the moon are used by many calendar systems.
A full moon is the brightest object in the night sky. The Quran also informs us that Allah ﷻ has made the moon a nur (جَعَلَ ... الْقَمَرَ نُورًا). However, Q17:12 informs us that the sign of the night has been erased or blotted out, that is made invisible to us. As mentioned above, the visible light is only a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. When the moon is viewed in other wavelengths, it is a wonderful spectacle. Especially, in gamma rays of greater than 20 MeV, the moon is the brightest object in the sky, outshining everything else, while the sun cannot usually be even seen at these energies:
A full moon is the brightest object in the night sky. The Quran also informs us that Allah ﷻ has made the moon a nur (جَعَلَ ... الْقَمَرَ نُورًا). However, Q17:12 informs us that the sign of the night has been erased or blotted out, that is made invisible to us. As mentioned above, the visible light is only a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. When the moon is viewed in other wavelengths, it is a wonderful spectacle. Especially, in gamma rays of greater than 20 MeV, the moon is the brightest object in the sky, outshining everything else, while the sun cannot usually be even seen at these energies:
The Moon is not the only source of high energy gamma ray emissions. There are other regions of the earth and sky emitting gamma rays as well. An intense celestial Gamma Ray Burst from within our own galaxy has also been recorded a day after the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004...
Terrestrial gamma ray flashes have energies up to 20 MeV (million electron volts). Gamma Rays are also known to be emitted by lightning discharges, in the range of 10-20 MeV. It has been estimated that several hundred terrestrial gamma ray flashes occur daily.
Gamma Ray Bursts are flashes of gamma rays. They are the most energetic and most luminous form of light in the Universe. Very-high energy gamma radiation, having photon energies from 100GeV to 100 TeV have been detected in emissions from astronomical sources. Scientists theorise the existence of Ultra-high energy gamma rays with photon energies higher than 100 TeV, however these have not been detected yet.
Moreover, there is a diffuse Cosmic Gamma Ray Background Radiation all around, such that, it is said that if we had gamma vision, there would be no dark place anywhere. The source of this radiation remains unidentified.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
Terrestrial gamma ray flashes have energies up to 20 MeV (million electron volts). Gamma Rays are also known to be emitted by lightning discharges, in the range of 10-20 MeV. It has been estimated that several hundred terrestrial gamma ray flashes occur daily.
Gamma Ray Bursts are flashes of gamma rays. They are the most energetic and most luminous form of light in the Universe. Very-high energy gamma radiation, having photon energies from 100GeV to 100 TeV have been detected in emissions from astronomical sources. Scientists theorise the existence of Ultra-high energy gamma rays with photon energies higher than 100 TeV, however these have not been detected yet.
Moreover, there is a diffuse Cosmic Gamma Ray Background Radiation all around, such that, it is said that if we had gamma vision, there would be no dark place anywhere. The source of this radiation remains unidentified.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِمَا تُبْصِرُونَ
وَمَا لَا تُبْصِرُونَ
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ
But nay! I swear by what you see,
And what not you see,
Indeed, it (is) surely (the) Word (of) a Messenger noble.
[Al-Quran 69:38-40]
The Quran is indeed a message from the Almighty Allah ﷻ , who has sent His messengers with guidance. Gamma rays occupy the shortest wavelength, and thus the highest photon energy, in the Electromagnetic Spectrum. We humans can see a very narrow band of the Electromagnetic Spectrum, which is the Visible Light:
Attribution: transferred by Penubag (talk · contribs) on 05:04, 15 May 2008 [CC BY-SA 2.5 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons
And then, we know nothing yet about the dark energy and dark matter, which scientists believe constitutes most of our Universe.
اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
Allah (is the) Creator (of) all things, and He (is) over all things a Guardian.
Allah (is the) Creator (of) all things, and He (is) over all things a Guardian.
لَّهُ مَقَالِيدُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
For Him (are the) keys (of) the heavens and the earth. And those who disbelieve in (the) Verses (of) Allah, those - they (are) the losers.
For Him (are the) keys (of) the heavens and the earth. And those who disbelieve in (the) Verses (of) Allah, those - they (are) the losers.
قُلْ أَفَغَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَأْمُرُونِّي أَعْبُدُ أَيُّهَا الْجَاهِلُونَ
Say, "Is (it) other than Allah you order me (to) worship, O ignorant ones?"
Say, "Is (it) other than Allah you order me (to) worship, O ignorant ones?"
وَلَقَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ وَإِلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكَ لَئِنْ أَشْرَكْتَ لَيَحْبَطَنَّ عَمَلُكَ وَلَتَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِينَ
And verily, it has been revealed to you and to those who (were) before you, if you associate (with Allah) surely, will become worthless your deeds and you will surely be among the losers.
And verily, it has been revealed to you and to those who (were) before you, if you associate (with Allah) surely, will become worthless your deeds and you will surely be among the losers.
بَلِ اللَّهَ فَاعْبُدْ وَكُن مِّنَ الشَّاكِرِينَ
Nay! But worship Allah and be among the thankful ones.
Nay! But worship Allah and be among the thankful ones.
وَمَا قَدَرُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ قَدْرِهِ وَالْأَرْضُ جَمِيعًا قَبْضَتُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَالسَّمَاوَاتُ مَطْوِيَّاتٌ بِيَمِينِهِ سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
And not they appraised Allah (with) true appraisal, while the earth entirely (will be) in His Grip (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, and the heavens (will be) folded in His Right Hand. Glory be to Him! And High is He above what they associate (with Him).
And not they appraised Allah (with) true appraisal, while the earth entirely (will be) in His Grip (on the) Day (of) the Resurrection, and the heavens (will be) folded in His Right Hand. Glory be to Him! And High is He above what they associate (with Him).
وَنُفِخَ فِي الصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَن فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
And (will) be blown [in] the trumpet, then (will) fall dead whoever (is) in the heavens and whoever (is) on the earth except whom Allah wills. Then (it will) be blown [in it] a second time, and behold! They (will be) standing waiting.
And (will) be blown [in] the trumpet, then (will) fall dead whoever (is) in the heavens and whoever (is) on the earth except whom Allah wills. Then (it will) be blown [in it] a second time, and behold! They (will be) standing waiting.
وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ
And (will) shine the earth with (the) light نُورِ (of) its Lord and (will) be placed the Record and (will) be brought the Prophets and the witnesses, and it (will) be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
And (will) shine the earth with (the) light نُورِ (of) its Lord and (will) be placed the Record and (will) be brought the Prophets and the witnesses, and it (will) be judged between them in truth, and they will not be wronged.
وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ
And (will) be paid in full every soul what it did; and He (is the) Best-Knower of what they do.
And (will) be paid in full every soul what it did; and He (is the) Best-Knower of what they do.
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَٰذَا قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ
And (will) be driven those who disbelieve to Hell (in) groups until when they reach it, (will) be opened its gates and (will) say to them its keepers, "Did not come to you Messengers from you reciting to you (the) Verses (of) your Lord and warning you (of the) meeting (of) your Day this?" They (will) say, "Yes!" But has been justified (the) word (of) punishment against the disbelievers.
And (will) be driven those who disbelieve to Hell (in) groups until when they reach it, (will) be opened its gates and (will) say to them its keepers, "Did not come to you Messengers from you reciting to you (the) Verses (of) your Lord and warning you (of the) meeting (of) your Day this?" They (will) say, "Yes!" But has been justified (the) word (of) punishment against the disbelievers.
قِيلَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ
It will be said, "Enter (the) gates (of) Hell (to) abide eternally therein, and wretched is (the) abode (of) the arrogant."
It will be said, "Enter (the) gates (of) Hell (to) abide eternally therein, and wretched is (the) abode (of) the arrogant."
وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ
And (will) be driven those who feared their Lord, to Paradise (in) groups until when they reach it and (will) be opened its gates and (will) say to them its keepers, "Peace be upon you, you have done well, so enter it (to) abide eternally."
And (will) be driven those who feared their Lord, to Paradise (in) groups until when they reach it and (will) be opened its gates and (will) say to them its keepers, "Peace be upon you, you have done well, so enter it (to) abide eternally."
وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ
And they will say, "All praise (be) to Allah, Who has fulfilled for us His promise and has made us inherit the earth, we may settle [from] (in) Paradise wherever we wish. So excellent (is the) reward (of) the workers."
وَتَرَى الْمَلَائِكَةَ حَافِّينَ مِنْ حَوْلِ الْعَرْشِ يُسَبِّحُونَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَقِيلَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
And you will see the Angels surrounding [from] around the Throne glorifying (the) praise (of) their Lord. And (will) be judged between them in truth, and it will be said, "All praise be to Allah, (the) Lord (of) the worlds."
Last updated on November 17, 2022
