Northern Lights

Âurora Borealis  

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August 12, 2024; 12:45am

August 12, 2024; 12:39am

August 12, 2024; 12:38am

August 12, 2024; 12:35am

August 12, 2024; 12:32am

August 12, 2024; 12:21am

August 12, 2024; 12:20am

[Canada, August 12, 2024; Aurora photographed between 12am - 1am]

Northern lights, known as Aurora Borealis, is a spectacle of colours which appear as curtains of light, like when a movie ends and curtains close on the stage ... they appear as faint whitish or greenish, growing stronger and redder, and then fading back. The night sky becomes colourful. At the zenith (directly overhead, top of the sky), there appears a swirl of lights, taking on various shapes. It is a dome of lights radiating all around the sky. A vortex of fluid colours. 

The colours are caused by ionisation of gases in the Earth's atmosphere as it experiences a geomagnetic storm. Scientists link it to solar activity, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections. The Earth is naturally protected by its magnetic field which forms an invisible shield around it. As the atmosphere is hit by a solar wind, these incoming winds ionise the gases in the atmosphere. Different gases give off different lights. Regions near the Earth's magnetic poles are able to witness this spectacular display of dancing colours, fluidly moving across the sky. 

The Sun, a creation of Allah, is throwing charged particles, and we are constantly being protected from it. The damage that is being done by it, in the atmosphere, is visible in colours. Now, consider what Surah ar-Rahman mentions about a future event: 

فَإِذَا ٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَكَانَتْ وَرْدَةًۭ كَٱلدِّهَانِ ٣٧

And when the heaven is split open and becomes rose-colored like oil -

— Saheeh International

When the sky is rent asunder, and it becomes red like ointment:

— A. Yusuf Ali

فَبِأَىِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ٣٨

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? -

— Saheeh International

Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?

— A. Yusuf Ali

[Al-Quran 55:37-38]

In Surah an-Nazi'at, we read a series of abstract statements: 

وَٱلنَّـٰزِعَـٰتِ غَرْقًۭا ١

By the forceful chargers

وَٱلنَّـٰشِطَـٰتِ نَشْطًۭا ٢

raring to go,

وَٱلسَّـٰبِحَـٰتِ سَبْحًۭا ٣

sweeping ahead at full stretch,

فَٱلسَّـٰبِقَـٰتِ سَبْقًۭا ٤

overtaking swiftly

فَٱلْمُدَبِّرَٰتِ أَمْرًۭا ٥

to bring the matter to an end,

يَوْمَ تَرْجُفُ ٱلرَّاجِفَةُ ٦

on the Day when the blast reverberates

تَتْبَعُهَا ٱلرَّادِفَةُ ٧

and the second blast follows,

قُلُوبٌۭ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَاجِفَةٌ ٨

hearts will tremble

أَبْصَـٰرُهَا خَـٰشِعَةٌۭ ٩

and eyes will be downcast.

يَقُولُونَ أَءِنَّا لَمَرْدُودُونَ فِى ٱلْحَافِرَةِ ١٠

They say, ‘What? shall we be brought back to life,

أَءِذَا كُنَّا عِظَـٰمًۭا نَّخِرَةًۭ ١١

after we have turned into decayed bones?’ and they say,

قَالُوا۟ تِلْكَ إِذًۭا كَرَّةٌ خَاسِرَةٌۭ ١٢

‘Such a return is impossible!’

فَإِنَّمَا هِىَ زَجْرَةٌۭ وَٰحِدَةٌۭ ١٣

But all it will take is a single blast,

فَإِذَا هُم بِٱلسَّاهِرَةِ ١٤

and they will be back above ground.

[Al-Quran 79:1-14; Translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem]

Imagine when Allah splits the sky open and all havoc is let lose upon the Earth. Then, what will be the state of the sky, and who will protect those on Earth from it? 

In Surah Ibrahim, we read: 

رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِى وَلِوَٰلِدَىَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ ٤١

Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers the Day the account is established."

وَلَا تَحْسَبَنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَـٰفِلًا عَمَّا يَعْمَلُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ ۚ إِنَّمَا يُؤَخِّرُهُمْ لِيَوْمٍۢ تَشْخَصُ فِيهِ ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرُ ٤٢

And never think that Allāh is unaware of what the wrongdoers do. He only delays them [i.e., their account] for a Day when eyes will stare [in horror].

[Al-Quran 14:41-42, Translation: Saheeh International]

From ancient times till today, sun-worship has been going on. The ancient Egyptians worshipped the Sun, and the modern Japanese people worship the sun. They both believe that their king is a descendant of the Sun. So, it is not out of place that in Surah an-Nazi'at we are informed about the Pharaoh declaring himself as the supreme god, and then being punished for his audacious false claim [Q79:15-26].  

Immediately after that, attention is drawn towards the sky: 

ءَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ ۚ بَنَىٰهَا ٢٧

Which is harder to create: you people or the sky that He built,

رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّىٰهَا ٢٨

raising it high and perfecting it,

وَأَغْطَشَ لَيْلَهَا وَأَخْرَجَ ضُحَىٰهَا ٢٩

giving darkness to its night and bringing out its morning brightness,

وَٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ ذَٰلِكَ دَحَىٰهَآ ٣٠

and the earth, too, He spread out,

[Al-Quran 79:27-30; Translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem]

We have been given a lifetime of free-will and guidance to choose for ourselves how we want to be recompensed, where we would like to spend our eternity, before the overwhelming event arrives. That will be the Day of Recompense. 

Thus, Surah an-Nazi'at concludes: 

يَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلسَّاعَةِ أَيَّانَ مُرْسَىٰهَا ٤٢

They ask you [Prophet] about the Hour,

فِيمَ أَنتَ مِن ذِكْرَىٰهَآ ٤٣

saying, ‘When will it arrive?’, but how can you tell [them that]?

إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ مُنتَهَىٰهَآ ٤٤

Its time is known only to your Lord;

إِنَّمَآ أَنتَ مُنذِرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰهَا ٤٥

you are only sent to warn those who fear it.

كَأَنَّهُمْ يَوْمَ يَرَوْنَهَا لَمْ يَلْبَثُوٓا۟ إِلَّا عَشِيَّةً أَوْ ضُحَىٰهَا ٤٦

On the Day they see it, it will seem they lingered [in this life] an evening [at most,] or its morning.

[Al-Quran 79:42-46; Translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem]

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Last updated on: October 6, 2024

The Unique Eclipse

DRAFT  

فَاِذَا بَرِقَ الۡبَصَرُۙ‏ ٧

But when sight is confounded

وَخَسَفَ الۡقَمَرُۙ‏ ٨ 

And the moon is eclipsed

وَجُمِعَ الشَّمۡسُ وَالۡقَمَرُۙ‏ ٩

And sun and moon are united,

[Al-Quran 75, Translation: Pickthal]

Surah al-Qiyamah describes a very unusual eclipse of the moon: on the Day of Resurrection, the Moon is not only eclipsed, but is also united with the Sun. That is, both the Sun and the Moon are on the same side of the Earth, and the Moon is eclipsed, and (then?) the Sun and Moon are united. 

That means that the Sun is eclipsing the Moon? Or is that lunar eclipse not due to the Sun coming in front of it? May be it means that the moon will no longer be radiant. It will stop being visible at all radiations, visible and invisible to the human eye. After all, the previous ayat is stating that the vision will be confounded / dazzled / something to do with lightning (Q75:7(فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَرُ)).  

The above description cannot be understood with the current theories about the present and the future of the solar system and the relative placement of objects in it, and what eclipse means. Normally, the general scientific explanation for solar and lunar eclipse is as follows: 

[copied from Wikipedia page Eclipse on March 29, 2024]:

The term eclipse is most often used to describe either a solar eclipse, when the Moon's shadow crosses the Earth's surface, or a lunar eclipse, when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow.  

[copied from Wikipedia page Solar eclipse on March 29, 2024]:

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, thereby obscuring the view of the Sun from a small part of the Earth, totally or partially. 

[Screenshot from Wikipedia; Author attribution: By Sagredo - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3653837]  

[copied from Wikipedia page Lunar eclipse on March 29, 2024]:

A lunar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the Moon moves into the Earth's shadow, causing the Moon to be darkened.^[1] Such an alignment occurs during an eclipse season, approximately every six months, during the full moon phase, when the Moon's orbital plane is closest to the plane of the Earth's orbit.

This can occur only when the Sun, Earth, and Moon are exactly or very closely aligned (in syzygy) with Earth between the other two, which can happen only on the night of a full moon when the Moon is near either lunar node. The type and length of a lunar eclipse depend on the Moon's proximity to the lunar node.^{[citation needed]}

[Screenshot from Wikipedia; Author attribution: By Sagredo - Own work, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=3629491]

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خَسَفَ

Surah alQiyamah not only describes an unusual eclipse, which cannot be understood with current theories, but it also seems to redefine the meaning of an eclipse:

The root khā sīn fā (خ س ف) occurs eight times in the Quran, lending to the meanings of cave, swallow, darken. In Arabic, the word is also used for eclipse. So, several translations of Q75:8 state that the moon is eclipsed. Looking up the root words in Lane's Lexicon (pages 738-739), the impression this word lends in various usages is when something disappears back into the ground, whether its a house built upon it, or the water in a well, or the loss of light in an eclipse. Compare screenshots below.  

Screenshot from https://corpus.quran.com/qurandictionary.jsp?q=xsf#(75:8:1)

Screenshot from Google search Arabic to English

Screenshot from https://corpus.quran.com/translation.jsp?chapter=75&verse=8

    

Screenshots from page 738 of Lane's Lexicon

The Quran states that the Moon has been appointed as a Nur. The following is an excerpt from Gamma Rays, Visible Light & 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:   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Moon_egret.jpg 

https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060527.html

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.

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Some ahaadith on Eclipse (خَسَفَ) 

In the search results for eclipse in a Hadith collection, there are ahaadith about (خَسَفَ) and about (كَسَفَ), both generally translated as (eclipse). The following are a few ahaadith about (خَسَفَ):  

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مَعْمَرٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يُونُسُ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ، قَالَ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَخَرَجَ يَجُرُّ رِدَاءَهُ حَتَّى انْتَهَى إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ، وَثَابَ النَّاسُ إِلَيْهِ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَانْجَلَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، وَإِنَّهُمَا لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ، وَإِذَا كَانَ ذَاكَ فَصَلُّوا وَادْعُوا حَتَّى يُكْشَفَ مَا بِكُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏ وَذَاكَ أَنَّ ابْنًا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَاتَ، يُقَالُ لَهُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ، فَقَالَ النَّاسُ فِي ذَاكَ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Bakra: In the lifetime of the Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) the sun eclipsed and he went out dragging his clothes till he reached the Mosque. The people gathered around him and he led them and offered two rak`at. When the sun (eclipse) cleared, he said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death of someone, and so when an eclipse occurs, pray and invoke Allah till the eclipse is over." It happened that a son of the Prophet (ﷺ) called Ibrahim died on that day and the people were talking about that (saying that the eclipse was caused by his death).

Sahih al-Bukhari 1063

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1063

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حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى، عَنْ يُونُسَ، عَنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَكْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَنَحْنُ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ يَجُرُّ ثَوْبَهُ مُسْتَعْجِلاً، حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ وَثَابَ النَّاسُ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ، فَجُلِّيَ عَنْهَا، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا وَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا فَصَلُّوا وَادْعُوا اللَّهَ حَتَّى يَكْشِفَهَا ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Bakra: The solar eclipse occurred while we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) He got up dragging his garment (on the ground) hurriedly till he reached the mosque The people turned (to the mosque) and he offered a two-rak`at prayer whereupon the eclipse was over and he traced us and said, "The sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah, so if you see a thing like this (eclipse) then offer the prayer and invoke Allah till He remove that state."

Sahih al-Bukhari 5785

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5785

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حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ انْخَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أُرِيتُ النَّارَ، فَلَمْ أَرَ مَنْظَرًا كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ أَفْظَعَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: The sun eclipsed and Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered the eclipse prayer and said, "I have been shown the Hellfire (now) and I never saw a worse and horrible sight than the sight I have seen today."

Sahih al-Bukhari 431

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:431

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حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ أَبِي أُوَيْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مَالِكٌ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "The sun and the moon are two signs amongst the Signs of Allah. They do not eclipse because of someone's death or life. So, if you see them (i.e. eclipse), celebrate the Praises of Allah (i.e. pray).

Sahih al-Bukhari 3202

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:3202

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أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ فَصَلَّى فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ جِدًّا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ جِدًّا ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ جِدًّا وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ فَفَرَغَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ وَقَدْ جُلِّيَ عَنِ الشَّمْسِ فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَنْكَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَصَلُّوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ أَحَدٌ أَغْيَرَ مِنَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ أَنْ يَزْنِيَ عَبْدُهُ أَوْ أَمَتُهُ يَا أُمَّةَ مُحَمَّدٍ لَوْ تَعْلَمُونَ مَا أَعْلَمُ لَضَحِكْتُمْ قَلِيلاً وَلَبَكَيْتُمْ كَثِيرًا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Aishah said: "There was an eclipse of the sun during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He stood and prayed, standing for a very long time, then he bowed for a very long time. Then he stood up and (remained standing) for a very long time, but shorter than the first time. Then he bowed for a very long time, but shorter than the first time. Then he prostrated, then he raised his head and stood for a long time, but it was shorter than the first time. The he stood up and (remained standing) for a long time, but it was shorter than the first time. Then he prostrated, and when he finished his prayer, the eclipse had ended. He addressed the people and praised and glorified Allah, then he said: 'The sun and the moon do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. If you see that then pray, give in charity, and remember Allah, the Mighty and Sublime.' And he said: 'O Ummah of Muhammad! There is no one who is more jealous than Allah (SWT) when His male or female slave commits Zina. O Ummah of Muhammad, if you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.'"

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1500

https://sunnah.com/nasai:1500

Surah AlNoor states the punishment for zina, gives guidelines for modesty of sight and clothing, and then describes Allah as the Noor of the skies and earth. The above Hadith mentions eclipse and zina together as if there is a relation between these two. 

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حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَامِرٍ الأَشْعَرِيُّ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ بَرَّادٍ، وَمُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أُسَامَةَ عَنْ بُرَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي بُرْدَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، قَالَ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَامَ فَزِعًا يَخْشَى أَنْ تَكُونَ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي بِأَطْوَلِ قِيَامٍ وَرُكُوعٍ وَسُجُودٍ مَا رَأَيْتُهُ يَفْعَلُهُ فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ هَذِهِ الآيَاتِ الَّتِي يُرْسِلُ اللَّهُ لاَ تَكُونُ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يُرْسِلُهَا يُخَوِّفُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ وَدُعَائِهِ وَاسْتِغْفَارِهِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي رِوَايَةِ ابْنِ الْعَلاَءِ كَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ يُخَوِّفُ عِبَادَهُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Abu Musa reported: The sun eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). He stood in great anxiety fearing that it might be the Doomsday, till he came to the mosque. He stood up to pray with prolonged qiyam, ruku', and prostration which I never saw him doing in prayer; and then he said: These are the signs which Allah sends, not on account of the death of anyone or life of any one, but Allah sends them to frighten thereby His servants. So when you see any such thing, hasten to remember Him, supplicate Him and beg pardon from Him, and in the narration transmitted by Ibn 'Ala the words are: " The sun eclipsed"."" He frightens His servants."

Sahih Muslim 912

https://sunnah.com/muslim:912

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أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، أَنَّ عَمْرَةَ، حَدَّثَتْهُ أَنَّ عَائِشَةَ قَالَتْ إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ مَخْرَجًا فَخُسِفَ بِالشَّمْسِ فَخَرَجْنَا إِلَى الْحُجْرَةِ فَاجْتَمَعَ إِلَيْنَا نِسَاءٌ وَأَقْبَلَ إِلَيْنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَذَلِكَ ضَحْوَةً فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَامَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ دُونَ رُكُوعِهِ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ قَامَ الثَّانِيَةَ فَصَنَعَ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ إِلاَّ أَنَّ قِيَامَهُ وَرُكُوعَهُ دُونَ الرَّكْعَةِ الأُولَى ثُمَّ سَجَدَ وَتَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَلَمَّا انْصَرَفَ قَعَدَ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَقَالَ فِيمَا يَقُولُ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ النَّاسَ يُفْتَنُونَ فِي قُبُورِهِمْ كَفِتْنَةِ الدَّجَّالِ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ مُخْتَصَرٌ ‏.‏

'Aishah said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) went out and the sun became eclipsed. We went out to the apartment and some women gathered around us. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) turned to us, and that was at the time of the forenoon. He stood for a long time, then he bowed for a long time, then he raised his head and stood for a shorter time than the first, then he bowed for a shorter time than the first, then he prostrated. Then he stood up again and did the same, except that he stood and bowed for a shorter time than in the first rak'ah. Then he prostrated and the eclipse ended. When he had finished he sat on the minbar and among the things he said was: 'The people will be tried in their graves like the trial of the Dajjal.'"

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1499

https://sunnah.com/nasai:1499

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وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَظَرَ إِلَى الْقَمَرِ فَقَالَ: «يَا عَائِشَةُ اسْتَعِيذِي بِاللَّهِ مِنْ شَرِّ هَذَا فَإِنَّ هَذَا هُوَ الْغَاسِقُ إِذا وَقب» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيّ

‘A’isha told of the Prophet looking at the moon and saying, “Seek refuge in God from the evil of this one, ‘A'isha, for this is the darkness when it overspreads.” 2 2. cf. Qur’an, cxiii, 3. The tradition is said to refer to the moon being eclipsed.

Tirmidhi transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 2475

https://sunnah.com/mishkat:2475

This English of this Hadith states that this refers to the moon being eclipsed, even though it does not state explicitly in the Arabic text. In fact it states he was looking at the moon. 

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حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ انْخَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً نَحْوًا مِنْ قِرَاءَةِ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً، وَهْوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً، وَهْوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهْوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً، وَهْوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً، وَهْوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً، وَهْوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ وَقَدْ تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ آيَتَانِ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ، لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ ذَلِكَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، رَأَيْنَاكَ تَنَاوَلْتَ شَيْئًا فِي مَقَامِكَ، ثُمَّ رَأَيْنَاكَ كَعْكَعْتَ‏.‏ قَالَ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ الْجَنَّةَ، فَتَنَاوَلْتُ عُنْقُودًا، وَلَوْ أَصَبْتُهُ لأَكَلْتُمْ مِنْهُ مَا بَقِيَتِ الدُّنْيَا، وَأُرِيتُ النَّارَ، فَلَمْ أَرَ مَنْظَرًا كَالْيَوْمِ قَطُّ أَفْظَعَ، وَرَأَيْتُ أَكْثَرَ أَهْلِهَا النِّسَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا بِمَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ بِكُفْرِهِنَّ ‏"‏‏.‏ قِيلَ يَكْفُرْنَ بِاللَّهِ قَالَ ‏"‏ يَكْفُرْنَ الْعَشِيرَ، وَيَكْفُرْنَ الإِحْسَانَ، لَوْ أَحْسَنْتَ إِلَى إِحْدَاهُنَّ الدَّهْرَ كُلَّهُ، ثُمَّ رَأَتْ مِنْكَ شَيْئًا قَالَتْ مَا رَأَيْتُ مِنْكَ خَيْرًا قَطُّ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `Abdullah bin `Abbas: The sun eclipsed in the lifetime of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) . Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) offered the eclipse prayer and stood for a long period equal to the period in which one could recite Surat-al-Baqara. Then he bowed for a long time and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first standing, then bowed again for a long time but for a shorter period than the first; then he prostrated twice and then stood up for a long period which was shorter than that of the first standing; then he bowed for a long time which was shorter than the previous one, and then he raised his head and stood up for a long period which was shorter than the first standing, then he bowed for a long time which was shorter than the first bowing, and then prostrated (twice) and finished the prayer. By then, the sun (eclipse) had cleared. The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "The sun and the moon are two of the signs of Allah. They eclipse neither because of the death of somebody nor because of his life (i.e. birth). So when you see them, remember Allah." The people say, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We saw you taking something from your place and then we saw you retreating." The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "I saw Paradise and stretched my hands towards a bunch (of its fruits) and had I taken it, you would have eaten from it as long as the world remains. I also saw the Hell-fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! Why is it so?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good deeds. If you are benevolent to one of them throughout the life and if she sees anything (undesirable) in you, she will say, 'I have never had any good from you.' "

Sahih al-Bukhari 1052

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:1052

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وَحَدَّثَنِي هَارُونُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الأَيْلِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ الْحَارِثِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ الْقَاسِمِ، حَدَّثَهُ عَنْ أَبِيهِ الْقَاسِمِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي بَكْرٍ الصِّدِّيقِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ، اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ يُخْبِرُ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ لاَ يَخْسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ وَلاَ لِحَيَاتِهِ وَلَكِنَّهُمَا آيَةٌ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَصَلُّوا ‏"‏ ‏.‏

'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed: Verily the sun and the moon do not eclipse on account of the death or life of anyone. They are in fact the signs among the signs of Allah. So when you see them, observe prayer.

Sahih Muslim 914

https://sunnah.com/muslim:914

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أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ، عَنِ الأَوْزَاعِيِّ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَنُودِيَ الصَّلاَةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَاجْتَمَعَ النَّاسُ فَصَلَّى بِهِمْ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ فِي رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَأَرْبَعَ سَجَدَاتٍ ‏‏.‏‏

It was narrated from Az-Zuhri, from 'Urwah, that: Aishah said: "The sun was eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and it was called out: 'As-salatu jam'iah (prayer is about to begin in congregation).' So the people gathered and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led them in prayer, bowing four times in two rak'ahs and prostrating four times."

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1473

https://sunnah.com/nasai:1473

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أَخْبَرَنِي مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، عَنْ مَرْوَانَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ سَلاَّمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ أَبِي كَثِيرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، قَالَ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَأَمَرَ فَنُودِيَ الصَّلاَةُ جَامِعَةٌ فَصَلَّى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِالنَّاسِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَسَجْدَةً ثُمَّ قَامَ فَصَلَّى رَكْعَتَيْنِ وَسَجْدَةً ‏.‏ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ مَا رَكَعْتُ رُكُوعًا قَطُّ وَلاَ سَجَدْتُ سُجُودًا قَطُّ كَانَ أَطْوَلَ مِنْهُ ‏.‏ خَالَفَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ حِمْيَرٍ ‏.‏

It was narrated that Abdullah bin 'Amr said: "The sun was eclipsed during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), so he issued orders that the call be given: 'As-salatu jam'iah. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led the people in prayer, bowing twice and prostrating twice. Then he stood and prayed, bowing twice and prostrating once. 'Aishah said: 'I never bowed or prostrated for so long as that.'"

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1479

https://sunnah.com/nasai:1479

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وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ سَعِيدٍ، عَنْ عَمْرَةَ بِنْتِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّ يَهُودِيَّةً جَاءَتْ تَسْأَلُهَا فَقَالَتْ أَعَاذَكِ اللَّهُ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ‏.‏ فَسَأَلَتْ عَائِشَةُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَيُعَذَّبُ النَّاسُ فِي قُبُورِهِمْ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَائِذًا بِاللَّهِ مِنْ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ رَكِبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ذَاتَ غَدَاةٍ مَرْكَبًا فَخَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَرَجَعَ ضُحًى فَمَرَّ بَيْنَ ظَهْرَانَىِ الْحُجَرِ ثُمَّ قَامَ يُصَلِّي وَقَامَ النَّاسُ وَرَاءَهُ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَسَجَدَ ثُمَّ قَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ فَقَامَ قِيَامًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَكَعَ رُكُوعًا طَوِيلاً وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الأَوَّلِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَ ثُمَّ سَجَدَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ فَقَالَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَقُولَ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُمْ أَنْ يَتَعَوَّذُوا مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ‏.‏

Yahya related to me from Malik from Yahya ibn Said from 'Amra bint Abd ar-Rahman from A'isha, the wife of the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, that a jewish woman came to beg from her and said, "May Allah give you refuge from the punishment of the grave." So A'isha asked the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, "Are people punished in their graves?", and the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, took refuge in Allah from that. Then one morning the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out on a journey and there was an eclipse of the sun, and he returned in the late morning and passed through his apartments. Then he stood and prayed, and the people stood behind him. He stood for a long time, and then went into ruku for a long time. Then he rose and stood for a long time, though less than the first time, and then went into ruku for a long time, though less than the first time. Then he rose, and went down into sajda. Then he stood for a long time, though less than the time before, and then went into ruku for a long time, though less than the time before. Then he rose and stood for a long time, though less than the time before, and then went into ruku for a long time, though less than the time before. Then he rose, and went down into sajda. When he had finished he said what Allah willed him to say, and then he told them to seek protection for themselves from the punishment of the grave."

Muwatta Malik

https://sunnah.com/malik/12/3

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أَخْبَرَنَا هِلاَلُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ هِلاَلٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ عَيَّاشٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا زُهَيْرٌ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَسْوَدُ بْنُ قَيْسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي ثَعْلَبَةُ بْنُ عِبَادٍ الْعَبْدِيُّ، مِنْ أَهْلِ الْبَصْرَةِ أَنَّهُ شَهِدَ خُطْبَةً يَوْمًا لِسَمُرَةَ بْنِ جُنْدُبٍ فَذَكَرَ فِي خُطْبَتِهِ حَدِيثًا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ سَمُرَةُ بْنُ جُنْدُبٍ بَيْنَا أَنَا يَوْمًا وَغُلاَمٌ مِنَ الأَنْصَارِ نَرْمِي غَرَضَيْنِ لَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حَتَّى إِذَا كَانَتِ الشَّمْسُ قِيدَ رُمْحَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ فِي عَيْنِ النَّاظِرِ مِنَ الأُفُقِ اسْوَدَّتْ فَقَالَ أَحَدُنَا لِصَاحِبِهِ انْطَلِقْ بِنَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَوَاللَّهِ لَيُحْدِثَنَّ شَأْنُ هَذِهِ الشَّمْسِ لِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِي أُمَّتِهِ حَدَثًا - قَالَ - فَدَفَعْنَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ - قَالَ - فَوَافَيْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ خَرَجَ إِلَى النَّاسِ - قَالَ - فَاسْتَقْدَمَ فَصَلَّى فَقَامَ كَأَطْوَلِ قِيَامٍ قَامَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ مَا نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا ثُمَّ رَكَعَ بِنَا كَأَطْوَلِ رُكُوعٍ مَا رَكَعَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ مَا نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا ثُمَّ سَجَدَ بِنَا كَأَطْوَلِ سُجُودٍ مَا سَجَدَ بِنَا فِي صَلاَةٍ قَطُّ لاَ نَسْمَعُ لَهُ صَوْتًا ثُمَّ فَعَلَ ذَلِكَ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ مِثْلَ ذَلِكَ - قَالَ - فَوَافَقَ تَجَلِّي الشَّمْسِ جُلُوسَهُ فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَسَلَّمَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَشَهِدَ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَشَهِدَ أَنَّهُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولُهُ ‏.‏ مُخْتَصَرٌ ‏.‏

Tha'labah bin 'Abbad Al-'Abdi from the people of Al-Basrah narrated that: He attended a Khutbah one day that was delivered by Samurah bin Jundub. In his Khutbah he mentioned a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). Samurah bin Jundub said: "One day a boy from among the Ansar and I were shooting at two targets of ours, during the time of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), when the sun was at a height of two or three spears as it appears to one who is looking at the horizon. The sun turned black, and we said to one another, let us go to the masjid, for by Allah (SWT) this must herald some event concerning the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and his ummah. We went to the masjid and we saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) coming out to the people. He went forward and prayed. He stood for the longest time that he had ever stood in any prayer in which he led us, but we did not hear him saying anything. Then he bowed for the longest time that he had ever bowed in any prayer in which he led us, but we did not hear him saying anything. Then he prostrated for the longest time that he had ever prostrated in any prayer in which he led us, but we did not hear him saying anything. The he did likewise in the second rak'ah. And the eclipse ended as he was sitting at the end of the second rak'ah. The he said the salam, then he praised and glorified Allah (SWT), and bore witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah (SWT) and he bore witness that he was the slave and Messenger of Allah." Narrated in abridged form.

Sunan an-Nasa'i 1484

https://sunnah.com/nasai:1484

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حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ نُمَيْرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ فَاطِمَةَ، عَنْ أَسْمَاءَ، قَالَتْ خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ وَهِيَ تُصَلِّي فَقُلْتُ مَا شَأْنُ النَّاسِ يُصَلُّونَ فَأَشَارَتْ بِرَأْسِهَا إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَقُلْتُ آيَةٌ قَالَتْ نَعَمْ ‏.‏ فَأَطَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم الْقِيَامَ جِدًّا حَتَّى تَجَلاَّنِي الْغَشْىُ فَأَخَذْتُ قِرْبَةً مِنْ مَاءٍ إِلَى جَنْبِي فَجَعَلْتُ أَصُبُّ عَلَى رَأْسِي أَوْ عَلَى وَجْهِي مِنَ الْمَاءِ - قَالَتْ - فَانْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَقَدْ تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَخَطَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّاسَ فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏ "‏ أَمَّا بَعْدُ مَا مِنْ شَىْءٍ لَمْ أَكُنْ رَأَيْتُهُ إِلاَّ قَدْ رَأَيْتُهُ فِي مَقَامِي هَذَا حَتَّى الْجَنَّةَ وَالنَّارَ وَإِنَّهُ قَدْ أُوحِيَ إِلَىَّ أَنَّكُمْ تُفْتَنُونَ فِي الْقُبُورِ قَرِيبًا أَوْ مِثْلَ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ - لاَ أَدْرِي أَىَّ ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ - فَيُؤْتَى أَحَدُكُمْ فَيُقَالُ مَا عِلْمُكَ بِهَذَا الرَّجُلِ فَأَمَّا الْمُؤْمِنُ أَوِ الْمُوقِنُ - لاَ أَدْرِي أَىَّ ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ - فَيَقُولُ هُوَ مُحَمَّدٌ هُوَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ جَاءَنَا بِالْبَيِّنَاتِ وَالْهُدَى فَأَجَبْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا ‏.‏ ثَلاَثَ مِرَارٍ فَيُقَالُ لَهُ نَمْ قَدْ كُنَّا نَعْلَمُ إِنَّكَ لَتُؤْمِنُ بِهِ فَنَمْ صَالِحًا وَأَمَّا الْمُنَافِقُ أَوِ الْمُرْتَابُ - لاَ أَدْرِي أَىَّ ذَلِكَ قَالَتْ أَسْمَاءُ - فَيَقُولُ لاَ أَدْرِي سَمِعْتُ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ شَيْئًا فَقُلْتُ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

Asma' reported: The sun eclipsed during the lifetime of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). As I went to 'A'isha who was busy in prayer. I said: What is the matter with the people that they are praying (a special prayer)? She ('A'isha) pointed towards the sky with her head. I said: Is it (an unusual) sign? She said: Yes. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up for prayer for such a long time that I was about to faint. I caught hold of a waterskin lying by my side, and began to pour water over my head, or (began to sprinkle water) on my face. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then finished and the sun had brightened. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) then addressed the people, (after) praising Allah and lauding Him, and then said: There was no such thing as I did not see earlier, but I saw it at this very place of mine. I ever saw Paradise and Hell. It was also revealed to me that you would be tried in the graves, as you would he tried something like the turmoil of the Dajjal. Asma' said: I do not know which word he actually used (qariban or mithl), and each one of you would be brought and it would be said: What is your knowledge about this man? If the person is a believer, (Asma' said: I do not know whether it was the word al-Mu'min or al-Mu'qin) he would say: He is Muhammad and he is the Messenger of Allah. He brought to us the clear signs and right guidance. So we responded and obeyed him. (He would repeat this three times), and it would be said to him: You should go to sleep. We already knew that you are a believer in him. So the pious man would go to sleep. So far as the hypocrite or sceptic is concerned (Asma' said: I do not know which word was that: al-Munafiq (hypocrite) or al-Murtad (doubtful) he would say: I do not know. I only uttered whatever I heard people say.

Sahih Muslim 905a

https://sunnah.com/muslim:905a

And Allah knows best. 

Links to a few posts

Nur vs Zulm

Radioactive Human

Superheroes & Monsters

Night (لَيْلاً) and Day (نَهَاراً)

Creation Narrative & the Natural World

Humans & The Human Condition

The Fig, The Olive, Tur of Sinai & The Secure Land

The Torah & The Quran

Jinn-Human Hybrids

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Last updated on: April 14, 2024 

The Sun, The Moon & The Planets

  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]

Topic 

The Sun and Moon as Signs of Allah, and their appearance in dreams. 

Full Text 

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُون

And of His portents are the night and the day and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon; but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if it is in truth Him Whom ye worship

[Al-Quran 41:37, Translation: Pickthal]

Islam [Q22:26, Q22:78] is about acknowledging that there is only one deity: Allah, and to Him alone is complete submission and worship due. Worship of heavenly bodies and ancestors, particularly worship of the Sun and the Moon has been prevalent among various mythologies around the world. 

Prophet Abraham was a Hanif [Q2:135, Q3:67, Q6:161], from the group of Prophet Noah [Q37:83]. Abraham lived at a time when his father and nation were polytheists [Q6:74], and the King claimed absolute power over life and death [Q2:258]. Among the narratives in The Quran, we find two mentions of the Sun as regards to Prophet Abraham:  

أَلَمْ تَرَ إِلَى الَّذِي حَاجَّ إِبْرَاهِيمَ فِي رَبِّهِ أَنْ آتَاهُ اللَّهُ الْمُلْكَ إِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّيَ الَّذِي يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ قَالَ أَنَا أُحْيِي وَأُمِيتُ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ فَإِنَّ اللَّهَ يَأْتِي بِالشَّمْسِ مِنَ الْمَشْرِقِ فَأْتِ بِهَا مِنَ الْمَغْرِبِ فَبُهِتَ الَّذِي كَفَرَ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الظَّالِمِين

Bethink thee of him who had an argument with Abraham about his Lord, because Allah had given him the kingdom; how, when Abraham said: My Lord is He Who giveth life and causeth death, he answered: I give life and cause death. Abraham said: Lo! Allah causeth the sun to rise in the East, so do thou cause it to come up from the West. Thus was the disbeliever abashed. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk

[Al-Quran 2:258, Translation: Pickthal]

Allah has full control over all His creation, whether big or small. Though the Sun and Moon are among His Signs, yet they are not worthy of worship: 

6:74  وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ آزَرَ أَتَتَّخِذُ أَصْنَامًا آلِهَةً إِنِّي أَرَاكَ وَقَوْمَكَ فِي ضَلَالٍ مُّبِين

6:74  (Remember) when Abraham said unto his father Azar: Takest thou idols for gods? Lo! I see thee and thy folk in error manifest

6:75  وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِين

6:75  Thus did We show Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth that he might be of those possessing certainty

6:76  فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِين

6:76  When the night grew dark upon him he beheld a star planet. He said: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: I love not things that set

6:77  فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّين

6:77  And when he saw the moon uprising, he exclaimed: This is my Lord. But when it set, he said: Unless my Lord guide me, I surely shall become one of the folk who are astray

6:78  فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُون

6:78  And when he saw the sun uprising, he cried: This is my Lord! This is greater! And when it set he exclaimed: O my people! Lo! I am free from all that ye associate (with Him)

6:79  إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِين

6:79  Lo! I have turned my face toward Him Who created the heavens and the earth, as one by nature upright, and I am not of the idolaters

6:80  وَحَاجَّهُ قَوْمُهُ قَالَ أَتُحَاجُّونِّي فِي اللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَانِ وَلَا أَخَافُ مَا تُشْرِكُونَ بِهِ إِلَّا أَن يَشَاءَ رَبِّي شَيْئًا وَسِعَ رَبِّي كُلَّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا أَفَلَا تَتَذَكَّرُون

6:80  His people argued with him. He said: Dispute ye with me concerning Allah when He hath guided me? I fear not at all that which ye set up beside Him unless my Lord willeth aught. My Lord includeth all things in His knowledge. Will ye not then remember

6:81  وَكَيْفَ أَخَافُ مَا أَشْرَكْتُمْ وَلَا تَخَافُونَ أَنَّكُمْ أَشْرَكْتُم بِاللَّهِ مَا لَمْ يُنَزِّلْ بِهِ عَلَيْكُمْ سُلْطَانًا فَأَيُّ الْفَرِيقَيْنِ أَحَقُّ بِالْأَمْنِ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُون

6:81  How should I fear that which ye set up beside Him, when ye fear not to set up beside Allah that for which He hath revealed unto you no warrant? Which of the two factions hath more right to safety? (Answer me that) if ye have knowledge

6:82  الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُوا إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُولَٰئِكَ لَهُمُ الْأَمْنُ وَهُم مُّهْتَدُون

6:82  Those who believe and obscure not their belief by wrongdoing, theirs is safety; and they are rightly guided

6:83  وَتِلْكَ حُجَّتُنَا آتَيْنَاهَا إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَلَىٰ قَوْمِهِ نَرْفَعُ دَرَجَاتٍ مَّن نَّشَاءُ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ حَكِيمٌ عَلِيم

6:83  That is Our argument. We gave it unto Abraham against his folk. We raise unto degrees of wisdom whom We will. Lo! thy Lord is Wise, Aware

[Al-Quran 6:74-83, Translation: Pickthal; edited in italics for clarity]

Joseph's Dream 

إِذْ قَالَ يُوسُفُ لِأَبِيهِ يَا أَبَتِ إِنِّي رَأَيْتُ أَحَدَ عَشَرَ كَوْكَبًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ رَأَيْتُهُمْ لِي سَاجِدِين

When Joseph said unto his father: O my father! Lo! I saw in a dream eleven planets and the sun and the moon, I saw them prostrating themselves unto me

...

وَرَفَعَ أَبَوَيْهِ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ وَخَرُّوا لَهُ سُجَّدًا وَقَالَ يَا أَبَتِ هَٰذَا تَأْوِيلُ رُؤْيَايَ مِن قَبْلُ قَدْ جَعَلَهَا رَبِّي حَقًّا وَقَدْ أَحْسَنَ بِي إِذْ أَخْرَجَنِي مِنَ السِّجْنِ وَجَاءَ بِكُم مِّنَ الْبَدْوِ مِن بَعْدِ أَن نَّزَغَ الشَّيْطَانُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ إِخْوَتِي إِنَّ رَبِّي لَطِيفٌ لِّمَا يَشَاءُ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيم

And he placed his parents on the dais and they fell down before him prostrate, and he said: O my father! This is the interpretation of my dream of old. My Lord hath made it true, and He hath shown me kindness, since He took me out of the prison and hath brought you from the desert after Satan had made strife between me and my brethren. Lo! my Lord is tender unto whom He will. He is the Knower, the Wise

[Al-Quran 12:4, ..., 12:100; Translation: Pickthal]

In Surah Yusuf (Joseph), he dreams a dream in which he sees the sun (الشَّمْسَ), the moon (الْقَمَرَ) and eleven planets (كَوْكَبًا). When his dream is realised, the sun corresponds to his father, the moon to his mother, and the eleven planets are his eleven bothers. 

Isaac's Dream

The Testament of Abraham is regarded as a pseudepigraphic text of the Old Testament by the Jews, but is considered scripture by the Beta Israel. It has two versions: long and short. In Chapter 7 (long recension)/Chapter 7:1-18 (short recension), Isaac's dream is explained, in which the Sun represents his father Abraham, and the Moon represents his mother, both of whom are to be taken away by the very bright light that is brighter that seven suns. The interpretation of the dream is that they are soon to taken away by death.  

The Meeting with The Lord   

Returning back to Q41:37, night and day, Sun and Moon, are the Signs of Allah. The presence of parents is a wonderful gift of our Creator, but they are also creations, and can be taken away at any time. The Sun and the Moon are also wonderful gifts of our Creator, and while we enjoy and benefit from their presence, we must remember that the true Creator and Sustainer is Allah, and to Him alone is prostration and worship due. There awaits a reckoning, when the Sun and Moon are united: 

75:1  لَا أُقْسِمُ بِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَة

75:1  Nay, I swear by the Day of Resurrection

75:2  وَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالنَّفْسِ اللَّوَّامَة

75:2  Nay, I swear by the accusing soul (that this Scripture is true)

75:3  أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنسَانُ أَلَّن نَّجْمَعَ عِظَامَه

75:3  Thinketh man that We shall not assemble his bones

75:4  بَلَىٰ قَادِرِينَ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّسَوِّيَ بَنَانَه

75:4  Yea, verily. We are Able to restore his very fingers

75:5  بَلْ يُرِيدُ الْإِنسَانُ لِيَفْجُرَ أَمَامَه

75:5  But man would fain deny what is before him

75:6  يَسْأَلُ أَيَّانَ يَوْمُ الْقِيَامَة

75:6  He asketh: When will be this Day of Resurrection

75:7  فَإِذَا بَرِقَ الْبَصَر

75:7  But when sight is confounded

75:8  وَخَسَفَ الْقَمَر

75:8  And the moon is eclipse

75:9  وَجُمِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَر

75:9  And sun and moon are united

75:10  يَقُولُ الْإِنسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ أَيْنَ الْمَفَرّ

75:10  On that day man will cry: Whither to flee

75:11  كَلَّا لَا وَزَر

75:11  Alas! No refuge

75:12  إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمُسْتَقَرّ

75:12  Unto thy Lord is the recourse that day

75:13  يُنَبَّأُ الْإِنسَانُ يَوْمَئِذٍ بِمَا قَدَّمَ وَأَخَّر

75:13  On that day man is told the tale of that which he hath sent before and left behind

75:14  بَلِ الْإِنسَانُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِ بَصِيرَة

75:14  Oh, but man is a telling witness against himself

75:15  وَلَوْ أَلْقَىٰ مَعَاذِيرَه

75:15  Although he tender his excuses

75:16  لَا تُحَرِّكْ بِهِ لِسَانَكَ لِتَعْجَلَ بِه

75:16  Stir not thy tongue herewith to hasten it

75:17  إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا جَمْعَهُ وَقُرْآنَه

75:17  Lo! upon Us (resteth) the putting together thereof and the reading thereof

75:18  فَإِذَا قَرَأْنَاهُ فَاتَّبِعْ قُرْآنَه

75:18  And when We read it, follow thou the reading

75:19  ثُمَّ إِنَّ عَلَيْنَا بَيَانَه

75:19  Then lo! upon Us (resteth) the explanation thereof

75:20  كَلَّا بَلْ تُحِبُّونَ الْعَاجِلَة

75:20  Nay, but ye do love the fleeting No

75:21  وَتَذَرُونَ الْآخِرَة

75:21  And neglect the Hereafter

75:22  وُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ نَّاضِرَة

75:22  That day will faces be resplendent

75:23  إِلَىٰ رَبِّهَا نَاظِرَة

75:23  Looking toward their Lord

75:24  وَوُجُوهٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ بَاسِرَة

75:24  And that day will other faces be despondent

75:25  تَظُنُّ أَن يُفْعَلَ بِهَا فَاقِرَة

75:25  Thou wilt know that some great disaster is about to fall on them

75:26  كَلَّا إِذَا بَلَغَتِ التَّرَاقِي

75:26  Nay, but when the life cometh up to the throat

75:27  وَقِيلَ مَنْ رَاق

75:27  And men say: Where is the wizard (who can save him now)

75:28  وَظَنَّ أَنَّهُ الْفِرَاق

75:28  And he knoweth that it is the parting

75:29  وَالْتَفَّتِ السَّاقُ بِالسَّاق

75:29  And agony is heaped on agony

75:30  إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْمَسَاق

75:30  Unto thy Lord that day will be the driving

75:31  فَلَا صَدَّقَ وَلَا صَلَّى

75:31  For he neither trusted, nor prayed

75:32  وَلَٰكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى

75:32  But he denied and flouted

75:33  ثُمَّ ذَهَبَ إِلَىٰ أَهْلِهِ يَتَمَطَّى

75:33  Then went he to his folk with glee

75:34  أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَى

75:34  Nearer unto thee and nearer

75:35  ثُمَّ أَوْلَىٰ لَكَ فَأَوْلَى

75:35  Again nearer unto thee and nearer (is the doom)

75:36  أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنسَانُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدً

75:36  Thinketh man that he is to be left aimless

75:37  أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِيٍّ يُمْنَى

75:37  Was he not a drop of fluid which gushed forth

75:38  ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى

75:38  Then he became a clot; then (Allah) shaped and fashioned

75:39  فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالْأُنثَى

75:39  And made of him a pair, the male and female

75:40  أَلَيْسَ ذَٰلِكَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يُحْيِيَ الْمَوْتَى

75:40  Is not He (Who doeth so) Able to bring the dead to life

[Al-Quran 75, Translation: Pickthal; typos corrected]

References & Links 

https://www.thetorah.com/article/yhwhs-war-against-the-egyptian-sun-god-ra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_deity 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nature_worship

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parents%27_Worship_Day 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testament_of_Abraham

...

Last updated on: December 16, 2020

The Lord is my Rock

 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 Surah al-Ikhlas]

Abstract

Strictly staying within the confines of Surah al-Ikhlas, this is a humble attempt to understand the physical description of God in The Bible and The Quran.   

Full Text 

Preamble

Monotheists believe in One Deity, while polytheists have a pantheon of deities, a family of gods. Muslims believe that there is nothing like Allah, the arabic word for God. The Jews also believe in One God. The Christians, while they believe in the Supreme God of The Torah/Bible, they also believe Jesus to be the begotten son of God. The Quran clearly declares that there is no god except Allah  ﷻ 

The Bible and The Quran present insights about God. I believe that each statement in the scriptures have been revealed by God for a definite purpose. Moreover, I believe the scriptures are meant to be studied literally. I also believe that the original Arabic text of The Quran is preserved in pristine condition, and is unedited. Therefore, staying strictly within the confines of Surah al-Ikhlas, that Allah  ﷻ is One and Only, Allah  ﷻ is Eternal and Self-Sufficient, that there is nothing like Allah  ﷻ, and that Allah  ﷻ neither begets nor is begotten, the following is a humble attempt to understand the description of God in The Bible and The Quran.   

The Rock

In the Bible, it states: 

הַצּוּר֙ תָּמִ֣ים פָּֽעֳל֔וֹ כִּ֥י כָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אֵ֤ל אֱמוּנָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין עָ֔וֶל צַדִּ֥יק וְיָשָׁ֖ר הֽוּא

The deeds of the [Mighty] Rock are perfect, for all His ways are just; a faithful God, without injustice He is righteous and upright. 

[Deuteronomy 32:4, Jewish Translation]

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he. 

[Deuteronomy 32:4, Christian Translation]

Like a Planet 
Surah anNur describes Allah as: 

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

God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The allegory of His light is that of a pillar on which is a lamp. The lamp is within a glass.
The glass is like a brilliant planet,
fueled by a blessed tree, an olive tree, neither eastern nor western. Its oil would almost illuminate, even if no fire has touched it. Light upon Light. God guides to His light whomever He wills. God thus cites the parables for the people. God is cognizant of everything.
[Al-Quran 24:35; Translation: Talal A. Itani (new translation)]

Though in most translations of Q24:35 we find كَوْكَبٌ translated as star, The Quran uses the word نَّجْمُ for star. According to my understanding, it is more correct to translate كَوْكَبٌ as planet.


Omnipresent
The Bible uses the word 'Rock', and The Quran gives the example of a glass which is like a brilliant planet. It is important to emphasise on the word 'like', as when Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام) was being shown the kingdom of the heavens and the earth:

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِي إِبْرَاهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ الْمُوقِنِينَ

فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ اللَّيْلُ رَأَىٰ كَوْكَبًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَا أُحِبُّ الْآفِلِينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي فَلَمَّا أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِي رَبِّي لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الضَّالِّينَ

فَلَمَّا رَأَى الشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَٰذَا رَبِّي هَٰذَا أَكْبَرُ فَلَمَّا أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَا قَوْمِ إِنِّي بَرِيءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

And thus did We show Abraham the realm of the heavens and the earth that he would be among the certain [in faith]

So when the night covered him [with darkness], he saw a star planet He said, "This is my lord." But when it set disappeared, he said, "I like not those that disappear."

And when he saw the moon rising, he said, "This is my lord." But when it set disappeared, he said, "Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among the people gone astray."

And when he saw the sun rising, he said, "This is my lord; this is greater." But when it set disappeared, he said, "O my people, indeed I am free from what you associate with Allah .

Indeed, I have turned my face toward He who created separated the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah ."

[Al-Quran 6:75-79, Translation: Sahih International, edited in italics]

The Quran uses the triliteral root hamza fā lām (أ ف ل) four times, only in the ayaat quoted above. According to Lane's Lexicon, it means to become hidden, absent or concealed. The Quran informs us that Allah  ﷻ  is omnipresent:

وَلِلَّهِ الْمَشْرِقُ وَالْمَغْرِبُ فَأَيْنَمَا تُوَلُّوا فَثَمَّ وَجْهُ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَاسِعٌ عَلِيمٌ

And for Allah (is) the east and the west, so wherever you turn [so] there (is the) face (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Encompassing, All-Knowing.

[Al-Quran 2:115] 

The Quran speaks of the Face of Allah ﷻ , the Hand of Allah ﷻ , and so on. We may do well to remember that we ourselves are made of dust, made of the same material as of planet Earth, yet, we have a definite shape, hands, face, heads and hearts. Moreover, we are breathing, living beings. However, it is important to remember that the Earth and its materials were created by Allah ﷻ ; that is, Allah ﷻ  is not made of the matter that He ﷻ  created to invent the Universe.

Allah ﷻ  is The Greatest 

Allah ﷻ  is the King of the heavens and earth. Mankind has a meeting scheduled with Allah ﷻ . Many ayaat of The Quran tell us that Allah ﷻ is the Most Great, the Most High. Perhaps the ayat which presents the most vivid concept of the relative size of Allah ﷻ  as compared to His creation is in Surah azZumar, ayat 67: 

 

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). 

[Al-Quran 39:67]

Those Who Were Given Knowledge Before  

Surah al-Isra concludes with the following ayaat: 

وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَا مُوسَىٰ تِسْعَ آيَاتٍ بَيِّنَاتٍ فَاسْأَلْ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ إِذْ جَاءَهُمْ فَقَالَ لَهُ فِرْعَوْنُ إِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا مُوسَىٰ مَسْحُورًا

And We had certainly given Moses nine evident signs, so ask the Children of Israel [about] when he came to them and Pharaoh said to him, "Indeed I think, O Moses, that you are affected by magic."

قَالَ لَقَدْ عَلِمْتَ مَا أَنزَلَ هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِلَّا رَبُّ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ بَصَائِرَ وَإِنِّي لَأَظُنُّكَ يَا فِرْعَوْنُ مَثْبُورًا

[Moses] said, "You have already known that none has sent down these [signs] except the Lord of the heavens and the earth as evidence, and indeed I think, O Pharaoh, that you are destroyed."

فَأَرَادَ أَن يَسْتَفِزَّهُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ فَأَغْرَقْنَاهُ وَمَن مَّعَهُ جَمِيعًا

So he intended to drive them from the land, but We drowned him and those with him all together.

وَقُلْنَا مِن بَعْدِهِ لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ اسْكُنُوا الْأَرْضَ فَإِذَا جَاءَ وَعْدُ الْآخِرَةِ جِئْنَا بِكُمْ لَفِيفًا

And We said after Pharaoh to the Children of Israel, "Dwell in the land, and when there comes the promise of the Hereafter, We will bring you forth in [one] gathering."

وَبِالْحَقِّ أَنزَلْنَاهُ وَبِالْحَقِّ نَزَلَ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا مُبَشِّرًا وَنَذِيرًا

And with the truth We have sent the Qur'an down, and with the truth it has descended. And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a bringer of good tidings and a warner.

وَقُرْآنًا فَرَقْنَاهُ لِتَقْرَأَهُ عَلَى النَّاسِ عَلَىٰ مُكْثٍ وَنَزَّلْنَاهُ تَنزِيلًا

And [it is] a Qur'an which We have separated [by intervals] that you might recite it to the people over a prolonged period. And We have sent it down progressively.

قُلْ آمِنُوا بِهِ أَوْ لَا تُؤْمِنُوا إِنَّ الَّذِينَ أُوتُوا الْعِلْمَ مِن قَبْلِهِ إِذَا يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ يَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ سُجَّدًا

Say, "Believe in it or do not believe. Indeed, those who were given knowledge before it - when it is recited to them, they fall upon their faces in prostration,

وَيَقُولُونَ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّنَا إِن كَانَ وَعْدُ رَبِّنَا لَمَفْعُولًا

And they say, "Exalted is our Lord! Indeed, the promise of our Lord has been fulfilled."

وَيَخِرُّونَ لِلْأَذْقَانِ يَبْكُونَ وَيَزِيدُهُمْ خُشُوعًا

And they fall upon their faces weeping, and the Qur'an increases them in humble submission.

قُلِ ادْعُوا اللَّهَ أَوِ ادْعُوا الرَّحْمَٰنَ أَيًّا مَّا تَدْعُوا فَلَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ وَلَا تَجْهَرْ بِصَلَاتِكَ وَلَا تُخَافِتْ بِهَا وَابْتَغِ بَيْنَ ذَٰلِكَ سَبِيلًا

Say, "Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call - to Him belong the best names." And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way.

وَقُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي لَمْ يَتَّخِذْ وَلَدًا وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ شَرِيكٌ فِي الْمُلْكِ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ وَلِيٌّ مِّنَ الذُّلِّ وَكَبِّرْهُ تَكْبِيرًا

And say, "Praise to Allah , who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification."

[Al-Quran 17:101-111, Translation: Sahih International]

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Last updated on November 17, 2022