Search and find articles and topics quickly and accurately!  See different advanced ways to search for articles on this site.

Important Notes on the Scientific Notions
in the Noble Quran:

Does the Noble Quran support "The Earth moves around the Sun" theory?

This article is a direct rebuttal to http://humanists.net/avijit/ (By Avijit Roy), which in my opinion is one the strongest articles written by "Free Thinkers" who attack all religions and scriptures.

Even though he is not a Jew nor a Christian, he starts his article by a quote from a Bangladeshi apostate woman:

"Koranic teaching still insists that the sun moves around the earth.  How can we advance when they teach things like that?"   [Taslima Nasrin, 'Time" magazine, Jan 31, 1994]

The Quranic and Islamic teaching does not insist nor directly claim that the sun moves around the earth, as I will clearly prove it in this article.

Personally I don't have a problem with anyone criticizing the Noble Quran or Islam, especially when they bring facts to the table.  In fact I do honestly and truthfully appreciate these people, because after I clarify the Truth to them, I only strengthen my own and my brothers' and sisters' faith in Islam.

By the way, a Muslim brother proved from "kifaata", "Mihaada", "wada'aha" & "farsh" in the Noble Quran that the earth's motion was mentioned.

Please visit: http://www.answering-christianity.com/motion_of_earth.htm for the details and proofs.

He wrote:

......They claim that the Qur'an provides a kind of scientific knowledge which was impossible to acquire by men of that time. This is also a proof that the Qur'an is the word of Allah !!!!

BUT IS IT REALLY TRUE ?

I have read the Qur'an and then the Hadith several times with a free mind and I saw just the opposite picture what my Muslim "scholars" claim. I don't want to explain anything about the Textual Variants of the Qur'an or The Origins of the Qur'an here, because many discerning words have already been spent on this issue.

My response:

Even though this is irrelevant to the subject, but I do want to bring to the reader's attention that the above two links that Mr. Avijit Roy mentioned had been refuted on this site at:

www.answering-christianity.com/quran/textual.htm

www.answering-christianity.com/quran/quranerr.htm

He wrote:

As an engineer, I do have much more interest in current practical issues rather than the historical. At first glance I wondered whether it is really true that the Qur'an holds such kind of precise knowledge that was impossible to be acquired by the ancient people? To examine such a hypothesis, I did not have to go for grandiose words like "Big Bang Theory", or "Anatomy, Embryology and Genetics" (if readers are interested in these kind of issues, they may refer to my Mukto-mona Article page );

My response:

To see the accurate scientific claims in the Noble Quran and Islam from the "Big Bang Theory and the Cosmic Crunch", to "Iron was sent down to earth through asteroids and wasn't formed by earth materials as other metals were", to "The Universe is expanding", to "The Human formation", to "Life originated from water", etc..., please visit:

Science in the Noble Quran and Islam.

He wrote:

rather I took a simple scientific fact which was proven a long time ago (but obviously not before the time when the Quranic verses were written or collected); and the simple fact is--"The Earth moves around the Sun". My enquiry is:

DOES THE QUR'AN SUPPORT THIS FACT ?

Ancient people believed that our Earth is flat and they thought that "it is not the Earth but the Sun that moves". In the Quran we see exactly the same picture that represents the idea of the people of that time. Not only the Quran ---but also the Bible, the Gita, the Mohabharat and the Vedas depict the same picture because these common “facts” were seen by the naked eyes of the ancient people in their everyday life. The people of the ancient world did not have prior knowledge about relative motion, they incorrectly thought that it is the Sun which moves, not the Earth !!

My response:

Well, without being biased nor try to answer away any error in Islam, but the Bible and the Pagan Gita, the Mohabharat and the Vedas clearly and DIRECTLY claim that the earth doesn't move and that the sun rotates around it:

From the Bible:

"He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved.  (From the NIV Bible, Psalm 104:5)"

"The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.  (From the NIV Bible, Ecclesiastes 1:5)"

From the Pagan books (as taken from your article):

"Sabita made this Earth fixed by different devices (like hills and mountains) and sustains sky without pillars so that it does not move" [RIK VEDA]

"The sky is immovable, the Earth is immovable and these mountains are also immovable" [RIK VEDA 10-173-4]

Please visit The Earth is flat according to the Bible.

However, no where in the Noble Quran or any Saying (Hadith) from Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him do you see a straight forward and DIRECT claim about the sun rotating around the earth and that the earth doesn't move.

Please visit What does the sun orbit?

He wrote:

Here I quote some of the verses from the Quran so that we can form the concept of the movement of the Sun:

" And the Sun runs on its fixed course for a term…." [Ya-Sin(36:38)]

".... And He has subjected the Sun and the moon. Each running for an appointed term. Verily, He is the All-Mighty….." [Az-Zumar(39:5)]

"...He has subjected the Sun and the moon (to continue going round)! Each running (its course) for a term appointed……" [ Ar-Ra'd (13:2)]

"And He it is Who has created the night and the day, and the Sun and the moon, each in an orbit running." [Al-Anbiya(21:33)]

"Allah merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night, and has subjected the Sun and the moon, each running its course for a term appointed; and that Allah is aware of what you do." [Luqman(31:29)]

I'll also suggest that the interested reader to go through Al-Baqarah (2:258), Al-Kahf (18:86, 18:90) and Ta-Ha(20:130) to affirm the concept that Quran clearly states that Sun is moving.

My response:

Let us look at the Noble Verses that Mr. Avijit Roy raised and some of the details and analysis about them:

"Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because God had granted him power? Abraham said: 'My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death.' He said: 'I give life and death'. Said Abraham: 'But it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the east: Do thou then cause him to rise from the West.' Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth God Give guidance to a people unjust.  (The Noble Quran, 2:258)"

This Noble Verse has no scientific error.  Here Abraham, the father of Ishmael and Isaac, peace be upon them, was trying to explain to his people that there is a GOD Almighty bigger and Greater than their idol gods.  He causes the sun to rise from the east and set in the west, which their gods can't do.

"God is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that ye can see; is firmly established on the throne (of authority); He has subjected the sun and the moon (to his Law)! Each one runs (its course) for a term appointed. He doth regulate all affairs, explaining the signs in detail, that ye may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord. And it is He Who spread out The earth, and set thereon Mountains standing firm, And (flowing) rivers: and fruit of every kind He made In pairs, two and two: He draweth the Night as a veil O'er the Day. Behold, verily In these things there are Signs For those who consider!  (The Noble Quran, 13:2-3)"

In these Noble Verses, we see Allah Almighty declaring that the sun and the moon will keep running in their orbits until their time is up.  This is scientifically been proven to be true and their time will end when the Cosmic Crunch occurs, which also was mentioned in the Noble Quran. 

Also, "He Who spread out The earth" is "Wa huwa Al-lathi MADDA Al-Ard" in Arabic.  The word "MADDA" which was translated as "spread out" actually means "expand" or "made bigger" or "grew".  So the Noble Verse should read as "He Who expanded The earth".   This Noble Verse doesn't at all suggest that the earth is flat.  It simply means that Allah Almighty made the earth big enough to contain GOD Almighty's creations on earth without crowding or lack of space.

Notice also the scientific claim "and fruit of every kind He made In pairs, two and two:", which read in Arabic as "Wa min kulli al-thimar jaalaa feeha ZAWJAYN ITHNAYN".  "Zawjayn Ithnayn" literally means either "two pairs" or "a married couple of two".   "Zawjayn" either means "pair" or "married couple" or "joined couple" or "united couple", and "ithnayn" means "two".

So the Noble Verse could also be translated as "and fruit of every kind He made in a couple of two", which would coincide to a male and a female.

Important Note:  No matter how you translate the Noble Verses, how is it possible for anyone 1400 years ago to even guess that even fruits are formed by male and female sexual connection.

The following is the commentary of Minister (Sheikh) Abdullah Yusuf Ali regarding Noble Verse 13:3:

"Plants like animals have their reproductive apparatus - male stamens and female pistils.  In most cases the same flower combines both stamens and pistils, but in some cases these organs are specialised in separate flowers, and in some cases, even in separate trees.  The date palm of Arabia and the Papaya of India, are instances of fruit trees which are unisexual. (Cf. 20:53 and 31:10)" [2]

" 'He Who has made for you The earth like a carpet Spread out; has enabled you To go about therein by roads (And channels); and has sent Down water from the sky.'  With it have We produced Diverse pairs of plants Each separate from the others.  (The Noble Quran, 20:53)"

In this Noble Verse we clearly see Allah Almighty describing the production of the plants through plants unisex.

I want to comment on the translation "The earth like a carpet Spread out", which is "Al-ard MAHDA".  "Al-ard" means "the earth" and "mahda" means "to straighten" or "to make straight", or "to comfort (as in mahdi, the comfortor)" or "alleviate".

For instance, When workers build streets, they comfort (mahd) or alleviate the land for us to be able to drive our cars on it. 

Again, the Noble Verse doesn't suggest that the earth is flat.  It says that Allah Almighty alleviated the land for us "to go about therein by roads". 

"He created the heavens Without any pillars that ye Can see; He set On the earth mountains Standing firm, lest it Should shake with you; And He scattered through it Beasts of all kinds.  We send down rain From the sky, and produce On the earth every kind Of noble creature, in pairs.   (The Noble Quran, 31:10)"

"I think that sex life in plants is referred to, as in 13:3, where see n. 1804, though the pairs here may refer to animals also.   "Noble" (karim) may refer to the more beneficent plants and trees (and animals), which Allah has created for man's use." [3]

Please visit: All things are made in pairs according to Islam: [1] [2]

Continuing with the Noble Verses that were raised by Mr. Avijit Roy:

"Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: 'O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness.'  (The Noble Quran, 18:86)"

"Until, when he came to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.  (The Noble Quran, 18:90)"

"Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.  (The Noble Quran, 20:130)"

I have proven with great details that Noble Verses 18:86 and 18:90 are Divine Figurative Speech, as there are MANY Divine Figurative Speeches in the Noble Quran.

In the mentioned article, I raised few questions that critics could not answer.  The following was taken from the same article www.answering-christianity.com/sunrise_sunset.htm:

Did the Noble Quran really say that the sun sets and rises on earth?

The sections of this article are:

1-  The Noble Quran's Divine Claims and detailed analysis about them.

     -   Aayn (spring) VS hufra (hole, pit) are clear proofs in Noble Verse 18:86.

2-  "balagha" is metaphoric and "yudrik" is literal.

4-  The Prophecies of the Iron Gates did come true, and the Iron Gates were found!

5-  The Miracles and Prophecies of the Noble Quran which prove its Divinity.
6-  Conclusion.
7-  Articles on other web sites explaining Noble Verses 18:86 and 18:90.

1-  The Noble Quran's Divine Claims and detailed analysis about them:

Before we start, we have to first of all know that the Noble Quran does contain Divine Figurative and Poetical Speech and Parables in it, as I documented many of Them in good details, and it does also contain speech that is literal such as the Divine Scientific Claims and Notions about how GOD Almighty Created things.   In this article, we will examine whether certain Noble Verses were meant to be Figurative Speech or Literal One.

Let us look at the following Noble Verses from the Noble Quran.  Please pay close attention to the bolded and underlined parts.

Let us look at Noble Verses 18:83-110:

83. They ask thee concerning Zul-qarnain [or Dhul-qarnain]. Say, 'I will rehearse to you something of his story.'
84. Verily We established his power on earth, and We gave him the ways and the means to all ends.
85. One (such) way he followed,
86. Until, when he reached ("balagha".....it doesn't mean literal arrival.  See Noble Verses 6:19, 12:22, 18:61, 18:86, 18:90, 18:93, 24:59, 28:14, 37:102, 46:15 in the next section below.  "adraka" or "yudrik" mean literal arrival or reaching as also shown in the next section below) the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: 'O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness.' 
87. He said: 'Whoever doth wrong, him shall we punish; then shall he be sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of (before).
88. But whoever believes, and works righteousness,- he shall have a goodly reward, and easy will be his task as We order it by our Command.' 
89. Then followed he (another) way,
90. Until, when he came (balagha....not literal.   See the next section) to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.
91. (He left them) as they were: We completely understood what was before him.
92. Then followed he (another) way,
93. Until, when he reached (balagha.....not literal.  See the next section) (a tract) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word.
94. They said: 'O Zul-qarnain! the Gog and Magog (People) do great mischief on earth: shall we then render thee tribute in order that thou mightest erect a barrier between us and them?'
95. He said: '(The power) in which my Lord has established me is better (than tribute): Help me therefore with strength (and labour): I will erect a strong barrier between you and them:
96. Bring me blocks of iron.' At length, when he had filled up the space between the two steep mountain-sides, He said, 'Blow (with your bellows)' Then, when he had made it (red) as fire, he said: 'Bring me, that I may pour over it, molten lead.'
97. Thus were they made powerless to scale it or to dig through it.
98. He said: 'This is a mercy from my Lord: But when the promise of my Lord comes to pass, He will make it into dust; and the promise of my Lord is true.'
99. On that day We shall leave them to surge like waves on one another: the trumpet will be blown, and We shall collect them all together.
100. And We shall present Hell that day for Unbelievers to see, all spread out,-
101. (Unbelievers) whose eyes had been under a veil from remembrance of Me, and who had been unable even to hear.

There are several points and proofs to notice here:

1-  The sun had always risen from the east and set in the west in a constant circular motion.  To our human perspective, the sun had always rose from the east, and set in the west, and then goes under the earth to rise back from the east and so on.

2-  The sun could not physically set on a lake or Spring, because that area of water could not have space or hole under it where the sun would go through it to then go under the earth so it would rise back up again from the east.

3-  Not a single Muslim scholar interpreted this Noble Verse as the SUN SETTING INSIDE THE Murky spring water.  See the "Aayn (spring) VS hufra (hole, pit) are clear proofs in Noble Verse 18:86." sub-section below.

4-  On the contrary in point #3, the Muslim scholars were the first to recognize earth as a spherical globe.

5-  If the verses were to be taken literally, then the sun would have to set in the west, and would have to then rise back from the west, and then set in the east and then rise back from the east and so on.

Please visit: Ample figurative and poetical Noble Verses in the Noble Quran.

Did the sun ever rise from the west?

Did the sun ever bounce back and forth between the east and the west in its rising and setting?

See the "Aayn (spring) VS hufra (hole, pit) are clear proofs in Noble Verse 18:86." sub-section below.

6-  If we take the above Noble Verses LITERALLY, then this means that the sun would have to bounce back and forth between the west and the east.

7-  While the Noble Verses above don't give specific timing on how long it took Zul-Qarnayn to roam through the lands, but people back then were believed to do a lot of traveling on foot.  While they didn't have the convenient and time-saving transportation that we have today, but nonetheless, they did travel through the lands without a problem.  They were very physical in their life styles and they were able to build so much resistance against tiredness.

8-  Clearly, the setting of the sun, is a figurative speech (see examples of Noble Verses) indicating that he reached a town with a spring or lake in it, and he meditated through the beautiful view of the setting of the sun on that town.

9-  Some might say that the Noble Verse meant to say that the sun set on a place or through a hole near that Spring.  In this case, this interpretation had refuted their "Literal Speech" interpretation, because they now had NULLIFIED their point and fixed position about the sun setting exactly in that murky lake or spring.  Since they now agree that it doesn't NECESSARILY mean that the sun literally set on the water, then the "setting through a hole near the water" claim is only an interpretation without clear cut certainty and proofs.   See the sections below regarding the mentioned Iron Gates (only mentioned in the Noble Quran and no where else) were indeed found, and see the Scientific and Divine Miracles in the Noble Quran along with the modern scientific proofs confirming their Truthfulness.

Having established point #9, we now can indisputably say that the Speech in the above Noble Verses is Figurative and not Literal.  Otherwise, we are left with the explanation of why the sun never rose from the west.  Not even once.

Aayn, VS hufra are clear proofs in Noble Verse 18:86:

Noble Verse 18:86:

(a)-  Proofs that "aayn" means spring or lake or a body of water:

"And remember Moses prayed for water for his people; We said: "Strike the rock with thy staff." Then gushed forth therefrom twelve springs (fainfajarat minhu ithnata AAashrata AAaynan). Each group knew its own place for water. So eat and drink of the sustenance provided by God, and do no evil nor mischief on the (face of the) earth.  (The Noble Quran, 20:60)"

"We divided them into twelve tribes or nations. We directed Moses by inspiration, when his (thirsty) people asked him for water: "Strike the rock with thy staff": out of it there gushed forth twelve springs (ithnata AAashrata AAaynan): Each group knew its own place for water. We gave them the shade of clouds, and sent down to them manna and quails, (saying): "Eat of the good things We have provided for you": (but they rebelled); to Us they did no harm, but they harmed their own souls.   (The Noble Quran, 7:160)"

"And to Solomon (We made) the Wind (obedient): Its early morning (stride) was a month's (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month's (journey); and We made a Font of molten brass to flow for him (waasalna lahu AAayna alqitri); and there were Jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord, and if any of them turned aside from our command, We made him taste of the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.   (The Noble Quran, 34:12)"

"In them (each) will be two Springs flowing (free) (AAaynani tajriyani);  (The Noble Quran, 55:50)"

"In them (each) will be two Springs (AAaynani) pouring forth water in continuous abundance:  (The Noble Quran, 55:66)"

"A fountain (AAaynan) there, called Salsabil.  (The Noble Quran, 76:18)"

"A spring (AAaynan), from (the waters) whereof drink those Nearest to God.  (The Noble Quran, 83:28)"

"The while they are given, to drink, of a boiling hot spring (AAaynin aniyatin),  (The Noble Quran, 88:5)"

"Therein will be a bubbling spring (AAaynun jariyatun):   (The Noble Quran, 88:12)"

 (b)-  Proofs that "aayn" DOES NOT mean hole or open space:

"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which God (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude God's favour on you; for ye were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His Grace, ye became brethren; and ye were on the brink of the pit (hufratin) of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus doth God make His Signs clear to you: That ye may be guided.  (The Noble Quran, 3:103)"

The Arabic word "hufra" literally means a hole or a pit.  Allah Almighty never used this word in the rising and setting of the sun.

(c)-  "taghrubu" means to go away:

"Until, when he reached the setting of the sun (ghuroob al-shams), he found it set (taghrubu) in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."  (The Noble Quran, 18:86)"

"taghrubu" in Arabic is derived from the root word "ghuroob", which has one literal meaning which is "to go away" or "to leave" or "to disappear".  "gharb" means "west".

"taghrubu" does literally mean to "going away" or "disappearing", and doesn't necessarily have to be in the direction of the west.

Get out of my face!

"ughrub aan wajhi" literally means "get out of my face" or "go away from me now!". 

So taking this literal meaning of the words in Noble Verse 18:86, the Noble Verse would then read as follows:

"Until, when he reached sunset, he found it disappearing in a spring (aayn) of murky (or dark) water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."  (The Noble Quran, 18:86)"

By the way, "spring" (aayn), can also mean a body of water and not necessarily a pond or a fount.  When Allah Almighty refers to the SPRINGS in Heaven, He is probably referring to large bodies of blissful water!

Again, as I mentioned above in the fifth point:

5-  If the verses were to be taken literally, then the sun would have to set in the west, and would have to then rise back from the west, and then set in the east and then rise back from the east and so on.

Please visit: Ample figurative and poetical Noble Verses in the Noble Quran.

Did the sun ever rise from the west?

Did the sun ever bounce back and forth between the east and the west in its rising and setting?

(d)-  The Black Sea and the dark waters near it:

It is no coincidence that the black sea was named as such!  Yet, Allah Almighty CLEARLY referred to the waters near its neighborhood in Noble Verse 18:86!

Here is why the "black sea" was named as such:

"Another possible explanation comes from the color of the Black Sea's deep waters. Being further north than the Mediterranean Sea and much less saline, the microalgae concentration is much more rich, hence the dark color." (Source)

The neighboring waters of the black sea do also contain less saline and high concentration of microalgae:

"We now come to the Iron Gate which corresponds exactly to the Quranic description, and has the best claim to be connected with Alexander's story.  It is near another Derbend in Central Asia, Hissar District, about 150 miles southeast of Bukhara.  A very narrow defile, with overhanging rocks, occurs on the main route between Turkestan and India:  latitude 38 degrees N; longitude 67 degrees E.  It is now called in Turkish-Buzghol Khana (Goat- house), but was formerly known as the Iron Gate (Arabic, Bab al Hadid; Persian, Dar-i-ahani; Chinese Tie-men-kuan).  There is no iron gate there now, but there was one in the seventh century, when the Chinese traveler Hiouen Tsiang saw it on his journey to India.   He saw two folding gates cased with iron hung with bells.   Nearby is a lake named Iskandar Kul, connecting the locality with Alexander the Great. 

..................

The Mediterranean interpretation may pass if we had not a closer explanation.   Alexander's first exploits were when he was a mere boy, in the reign of his father Phillip.  The region of Illyricum was due west of Macedonia, and Macedonia's first expansion was in that direction.  The town of Lychnis was annexed to Macedonia and thus the western frontier of Macedonia was secured.  The northern frontier towards the Danube had already been secured, and the lesson he subsequently gave no Thebes secured him against attack from the Greek States to the south, and prepared the way for his great march east against the Persian Empire.

To the west of the town of Lychnis is a lake170 square miles in area, fed by underground springs that issue through limestone rocks and give out murky water.   Both town and lake are now called Ochrida, about 50 miles west of Monastir.   The water is so dark that the river which forms the outlet of the lake to the north is called the Black Drin.  Looking at the sunset from the town, the observer would see the sun set a pool of murky water (18:86).  It was a question before the boy Alexander -- the dreamy, impulsive, fearless rider -- whether he would put the barbarous Illyricans to the sword or show them mercy.  He showed true discrimination and statesmanship.  He punished the guilty but showed kindness to the innocent, and thus consolidated his power in the west.  This I construe to be the meaning of (Noble Verses) 18:86-87; otherwise these verses do not seem to be perfectly clear."  (Source)

So clearly, Allah Almighty's description of the dark waters of the lands near the black sea is accurate, and the claim of the Iron Gates had been historically proven to be True!

(click here for the Iron Gates details)

All Praise and Glory are due to Allah Almighty!!

Noble Verse 18:90:

(a)-  MatliAAa VS mashriq clearly prove that Noble Verse 18:90 never declared that Dhul-Qarnayn reached the ends of the earth:

It is first of all important to know that Noble Verses 18:83-110 are poetical and metaphorical, and not literal.  This is clearly seen in Allah Almighty's choice of words as clearly proven throughout this article.

Notice in Noble Verse 18:90, Allah Almighty said "matliaaa alshshamsi" AND NOT "mashriqa alshshamsi".  This is very important because the Arabic words "sharq" and "gharb" which mean "east" and "west" respectively, are the root words for the sun's rising "mashriq alshams" and sun setting "maghrib alshams".   "Mashriq" is derived from "sharq" and "maghrib" is derived from "gharb".

While "maghrib" was used in Noble Verse 18:86, but "mashriq" was never in Noble Verse 18:90!  The word "matliaaa" was used instead.  Like "balagha" (reached) as clearly proven below, "matliaaa" IS NOT a literal.  See the following sub-section for more proofs.  It is metaphoric.  The reason it is metaphoric is because this word is precisely used when good news or major events occur.  For instance, when Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, arrived to the city of Madina, the Muslims there sang the famous song "Talaaa al-badru aalyna", which means "The full moon has come up above us".

Very important points and proofs:

We must also know that since the sun rises upon all of the nations and tribes of this earth, as this was a known fact 1500 years ago, then one does not necessarily have to physically be near the physical location where the sun rises (going along with the flat-earth theory).  So "mashriq" wouldn't be suitable here, because it would mean that Dhul-Qarnayn went all the way to the far east after he was in the far west.

Tuloo Al-Shams:

Also, Allah Almighty used the root word "tuloo", which is what "matliaaa" is derived from, in the following Noble Verses:

"Therefore be patient with what they say, and celebrate (constantly) the praises of thy Lord, before the rising (tulooAAi) of the sun, and before its setting; yea, celebrate them for part of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day: that thou mayest have (spiritual) joy.  (The Noble Quran, 20:130)"

"Bear, then, with patience, all that they say, and celebrate the praises of thy Lord, before the rising (tulooAAi) of the sun and before (its) setting (alghuroobi).  (The Noble Quran, 50:39)"

Again, the fact that the sun rises above all of the nations of this earth, then there is no question that "tuloo" is metaphoric and not literal since one does not need to be near the hole where the sun rises from (assuming that the Noble Quran embraces the flat-earth theory, which is bogus, because the Noble Quran declared that the earth is egg-shaped).

By the way, "maghrib" is not literal either, because in Noble Verse 50:39 above, "alghuroobi" is a sister word of "maghrib" (both derived from the same root word "gharb" or "west"), and since the sun sets on every nation on earth, and one does not have to be physically near the hole where the sun sets in (again, assuming that the Noble Quran embraces the flat-earth theory, which is bogus, because the Noble Quran declared that the earth is egg-shaped), then this clearly means that Dhul-Qarnayn did not physically reach the setting of the sun, as further proven in the sections below, nor did the Noble Quran say that he went to the "ends of the earth".  In fact, no where in the Noble Quran does the term "ends of the earth" exist!

The fact that Allah Almighty never used the word "mashriq" instead of "matliaaa" proves:

1-  Dhul-Qarnayn did not go to the "ends of the earth".

2-  Allah Almighty specifically made it clear that Dhul-Qarnayn did not go to the far west where the sun sets and then went to the far east where the sun rises, since the word "mashriq" was never used in the Noble Verses.

3-  Allah Almighty did use in OTHER Noble Verses "mashriq" and "sharq" when referring to places located in the east, and to the rising of the sun, in the Noble Quran.  See the following Noble Verses.

Shorooq Al-Shams:

"Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East (makanan sharqiyyan).  (The Noble Quran, 19:16)"

"God is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The Parable of His Light is as if there were a Niche and within it a Lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a brilliant star: Lit from a blessed Tree, an Olive, neither of the east nor of the west (la sharqiyyatin wala gharbiyyatin), whose oil is well-nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! God doth guide whom He will to His Light: God doth set forth Parables for men: and God doth know all things.  (The Noble Quran, 24:35)"

"To God belong the east (almashriqu) and the West (waalmaghribu): Whithersoever ye turn, there is the presence of God. For God is all-Pervading, all-Knowing.  (The Noble Quran, 2:115)"

"The fools among the people will say: "What hath turned them from the Qibla to which they were used?" Say: To God belong both east and West (lillahi almashriqu waalmaghribu): He guideth whom He will to a Way that is straight.   (The Noble Quran, 2:142)"

"It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or West (qibala almashriqi waalmaghribi); but it is righteousness- to believe in God and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfil the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and a dversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.  (The Noble Quran, 2:177)"

"Hast thou not Turned thy vision to one who disputed with Abraham About his Lord, because God had granted him power? Abraham said: "My Lord is He Who Giveth life and death." He said: "I give life and death". Said Abraham: "But it is God that causeth the sun to rise from the east (almashriqi): Do thou then cause him to rise from the West (almaghribi)." Thus was he confounded who (in arrogance) rejected faith. Nor doth God Give guidance to a people unjust.  (The Noble Quran, 2:258)"

"(Moses) said: "Lord of the East (almashriqi) and the West (waalmaghribi), and all between! if ye only had sense!"  (The Noble Quran, 26:28)"

"Till, when (such a one) comes to Us, he says (to his Qareen (Satan / devil companion)) "Would that between me and you were the distance of the two easts (almashriqayni)" a worst (type of) companion (indeed)!  (The Noble Quran, 43:38)"

"(He is) Lord of the two Easts (almashriqayni) and Lord of the two Wests (almaghribayni):  (The Noble Quran, 55:17)"

"(He is) Lord of the East and the West (almashriqi waalmaghribi): there is no god but He: take Him therefore for (thy) Disposer of Affairs.  (The Noble Quran, 73:9)"

"It was We that made the hills declare, in unison with him, Our Praises, at eventide (bialAAashiyyi) and at break of day (waal-ishraqi),  (The Noble Quran, 38:18)"

"(He is) Lord of the two Easts (almashriqayni) and Lord of the two Wests (almaghribayni):  (The Noble Quran, 55:17)"

So as we clearly see, Dhul-Qarnayn DID NOT go to the "ends of the earth" according to the Noble Quran!  He rather walked for a period of time and he met during the sun rising and sun setting some tribes.

(b)-  No mention of Aayn or Hufra in this Noble Verse:

"Until, when he came (balagha) to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.  (The Noble Quran, 18:90)"

Notice here that Allah Almighty did not mention any spring (aayn) or hole/pit (hufra) that the sun came from.  This further proves:

1-  Dhul-Qarnayn did not go to the "ends of the earth".

2-  The earth doesn't have two "springs" and/or "holes" that it rises and sets through.

In the sub-section below, "Balagha is used for time determination since clocks didn't exist back then!", we will see how "balagha" was used for determining time since clocks didn't exist back then.

People determined time and date through the:

1-  Sun.

2-  Moon.

3-  Lines in the sky (day breaks, even breaks, etc...).

4-  Stars.

Sun rise and sun set were another form of time determination.  It was one of the clocks 1500 year ago!

Noble Verse 18:85, 89 & 92:

(a)-  The speech in these Noble Verses:

"Then followed he (another) way,  (The Noble Quran, 18:85)"

"Then followed he (another) way,  (The Noble Quran, 18:89)"

"Then followed he (another) way,  (The Noble Quran, 18:92)"

The speech in Noble Verses 18:85,89 & 92 is clear that Dhul-Qarnayn walked or marched for short distances and did not go to the ends of the earth!  

"thumma ittaba'a sababa", literally read as:

thumma - then.

ittaba'a - he walked; he followed; he proceeded.  It could also mean he continued to walk/follow/proceed.

sababa - path; way; avenue.

The text just doesn't at all say or refer to Dhul-Qarnayn going to the farthest western point on earth where the sun sets, and then he went back to the farthest eastern point on earth where the sun rises, and then went back somewhere in the middle and stopped at between two mountains!

In fact, no where in any of the Noble Verses are the words "back" or "ends of the earth" mentioned!

In fact, no where in the entire Noble Quran is "ends of the earth" mentioned!

2-   "balagha" is metaphoric and "yudrik" is literal:

This section is divided into the following sub-sections:

1-  Balagha is not literal.

2-  Balagha is used for time determination since clocks didn't exist back then!

3-  Yudrik and tudrik are literal.

4-  Further proofs from the word "adraaka".

5-  So why would GOD Almighty speak in such a complex and confusing way?

Let us look at the following ample Noble Verses to set the record clear once and for all regarding the two Arabic words "balagha" and "yudrik".

1-  Balagha is not literal!

Let us look at the following Noble Verses:

"Say: "What thing is most weighty in evidence?" Say: "God is witness between me and you; This Quran hath been revealed to me by inspiration, that I (Prophet Muhammad) may warn you and all whom it reaches (balagha). Can ye possibly bear witness that besides God there is another God?" Say: "Nay! I cannot bear witness!" Say: "But in truth He is the one God, and I truly am innocent of (your blasphemy of) joining others with Him."  (The Noble Quran, 6:19)"

Here in this Noble Verse, the word balagha is referring to those men and women of mankind who will hear about the Noble Quran in their life.

Obviously, Prophet Muhammad is not alive today to "warn" anyone!

"Balagha" here is rather more symbolic and metaphoric!

"When Joseph attained (balagha) His full manhood, We gave him power and knowledge: thus do We reward those who do right.  (The Noble Quran, 12:22)"

Notice, no specific age or range of age was given.  "Balagha" here is rather a symbolic term that says that when Joseph became mature enough and grown enough, GOD Almighty then "gave him power and knowledge...."  Nothing physical was touched or reached by "balagha" in this Noble Verse.

"But when the children among you come (balagha) of age, let them (also) ask for permission, as do those senior to them (in age): Thus does God make clear His Signs to you: for God is full of knowledge and wisdom.  (The Noble Quran, 24:59)"

"When he reached (balagha) full age, and was firmly established (in life), We bestowed on him wisdom and knowledge: for thus do We reward those who do good.  (The Noble Quran, 28:14)"

"Then, when (the son) reached (balagha) (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: "O my son! I see in vision that I offer thee in sacrifice: Now see what is thy view!" (The son) said: "O my father! Do as thou art commanded: thou will find me, if God so wills one practising Patience and Constancy!"   (The Noble Quran, 37:102)"

Notice again in these Noble Verses, no specific age or range of age was given.  It is open, especially for Noble Verse 24:59, because it depends on the child's personality, gender, and the environment that he/she was raised in.  These factors will determine when his/her parents will decide on when he/she has "grown up".

When the child is "grown up", then the rules would apply to him/her.

No age limitation or restriction was given here.  Each child is different!

"But when they reached (balagha) the Junction, they forgot (about) their Fish, which took its course through the sea (straight) as in a tunnel.  (The Noble Quran, 18:61)"

"Until, when he reached (balagha) the setting of the sun, he found it set in a spring of murky water: Near it he found a People: We said: "O Zul-qarnain! (thou hast authority,) either to punish them, or to treat them with kindness."  (The Noble Quran, 18:86)"

"Until, when he came (balagha) to the rising of the sun, he found it rising on a people for whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun. (The Noble Quran, 18:90)"

These three Noble Verses are talking about physical places in unspecified locations.

"Until, when he reached (balagha) between two mountains, he found, beneath them, a people who scarcely understood a word.  (The Noble Quran, 18:93)"

Again, this Noble Verse is talking about Dul-Qarnayn reaching a random spot in a land where people lived in a land that expanded between two vast mountains.  He didn't necessarily, at first, reach where they were living.  Notice "he found, beneath them...."  So Dhul-Qarnayn was some where up there on one of the mountains looking down at the village or the town or country side that the people lived in.

"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth. The carrying of the (child) to his weaning is (a period of) thirty months. At length, when he reaches (balagha) the age of full strength and attains (balagha) forty years, he says, "O my Lord! Grant me that I may be grateful for Thy favour which Thou has bestowed upon me, and upon both my parents, and that I may work righteousness such as Thou mayest approve; and be gracious to me in my issue. Truly have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow (to Thee) in Islam."  (The Noble Quran, 46:15)"

In this Noble Verse, Allah Almighty first Said that when the man reaches the full age (the same exact Arabic Words for in Noble Verses 12:22 and 28:14 (balagha ashuddah)), and then becomes 40 years old.  While "balagha" here is used for the exact reaching of the age of 40, but the context that it was used in the Noble Verse is that when the man reaches his full age and reaches 40 years old and beyond, he will be more thankful to GOD Almighty and to his parents, because he will most probably be a father with growing children then, and he will appreciate the role that his parents played when they raised him, and the hardship that they went through from emotions (caring for him and worrying about him getting hurt) and physical hardship (his mother beast-feeding him in the middle of the night, and his father working hard to provide for him).

So even in this Noble Verse, "balagha" is used more symbolically than literally.

2-   Balagha is used for time determination since clocks didn't exist back then!

When people spoke of time and time determination, such as what time to perform a prayer from the 5-daily Prayers, they relied mostly and heavily on:

1-  The sun.  Dawn for instance was the time for the morning prayer.

2-  The pink or reddish line in the sky determined the evening daily prayer and the ending of the Ramadan fasting for the day.

3-  The moon determined the start of night.

And so on....

The word "balagha" when referring to any heavenly object was mainly used for determining the time of the day.  For instance, when the Muslims talk about the pink or reddish line in the sky appearing so that they can start the evening daily prayer and end the fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, they say a phrase such as:

"Balagha al-khattu al-ahmar haddah", which means "The red line has reached its limit"

Of course, the phrase can be different from person to person, but the word "balagha" would be mainly used for such time determination, because again, clocks did not exist 1500 years ago.

So balagha, maghrib al-shams, and matliAAa al-shams in Noble Verses 18:86 & 90, were referring to the time in the day that Dhul-Qarnayn reached the mentioned places, and not the actual physical places themselves, because the sun via its rising and setting is used for time determination.

Now as to the two mountains in Noble Verse 18:93, that is probably literal (although even in this Noble Verse balagha here is giving a very general place and not a specific location), because the words "between two mountains" are referring to an actual place that Dhul-Qarnayn finally arrived to and not a metaphoric one.

3-   Yudrik and tudrik are literal!

Let us look at the following Noble Verses and set of Hadiths (Sayings of Prophet Muhammad):

"It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up (tudrik) the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (falak) (according to Law).  (The Noble Quran, 36:40)"

"It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course (falak).  (The Noble Quran, 21:33)"

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked if the sun and the moon would ever collide while they are rising and setting above the earth.  Allah Almighty responded to them by Saying that neither the sun will ever catch up with the moon, nor will the moon ever catch up with the sun.  On the contrary, each one of them is swimming in its own orbit (falak)!  They are not on the same orbit (falak). 

Of course, on Judgement Day, things will be different, and all of the stars and the planets will explode and collide with each others as Allah Almighty Said:

"The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.  (The Noble Quran, 21:104)"

"Nay! When the earth is pounded to powder,  (The Noble Quran, 89:21)"

"And the earth is moved, and its mountains, and they are crushed to powder at one stroke, -  (The Noble Quran, 69:14)"

It is predicted in the Noble Quran that the earth will be pounded with asteroids (a nuclear attack from outer space) before Judgement Day and its mountains will be leveled to a flat crushed sand.

"No vision can grasp (tudrik-hu) Him, but His grasp (yudrik) is over all vision: He is above all comprehension, yet is acquainted with all things.  (The Noble Quran, 6:103)"

Here in this Noble Verse, the visions of GOD Almighty's creations can not see Him, but He, the Almighty, can see all.  This is literal and not metaphoric.

""Wherever ye are, death will find you out (yudrikkumu), even if ye are in towers built up strong and high!" If some good befalls them, they say, "This is from God"; but if evil, they say, "This is from thee" (O Prophet). Say: "All things are from God." But what hath come to these people, that they fail to understand a single fact?  (The Noble Quran, 4:78)"

Here in this Noble Verse, Allah Almighty is saying that no one can escape death!  Again, this is literal and not metaphoric.

"He who forsakes his home in the cause of God, finds in the earth Many a refuge, wide and spacious: Should he die (yudrik-hu almawtu) as a refugee from home for God and His Apostle, His reward becomes due and sure with God: And God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  (The Noble Quran, 4:100)"

Again, death in this Noble Verse is literal and not metaphoric.

There is no question that "yudrik" and "tudrik" are literal while "balagha" above is metaphoric!

4-   Further proofs from the word "adraaka":

The Arabic word "adraaka", which means to come to complete comprehension or to fully know, is derived from the root word "idraak", which also the words "yudrik" and "tudrik" above are derived from.  "idraak" literally means to reach the complete knowledge of or to reach the end of.  Also, another root word that is equal to "idraak" is "adraka", which means the same thing.

Some examples of adraka:

1-  George finally adraka (realized; comprehended; reached the reality of) that he was wrong!

2-  When the lion adraka (got a hold of; reached) his prey, he killed it and began to eat it!

3-  The American soldiers adrakoo (plural of adraka) Saddam Hussein's fox hole that he was hiding in, and they arrested him after that.

4-  The British civilian jet balaghat the US' air space from the international waters over the Atlantic ocean.

Here no specific location is given regarding the airplane.  All we know is that the airplane was detected by the Radar or Satellite and that it is now over the US space (either water or soil) in general.  While the radar can certainly pin point the airplane, but the Arabic word balaghat here is used for general and unspecified location.


5-  (Sorry for this insensible example.  I certainly do not mean to be inconsiderate to the American reader especially my dear American Muslim brothers and sisters, but rather I am trying to prove a point)

The hijacked airplane adrakat the south tower of the world trade center building on 9/11/2001!

Here balaghat would be grammatically WRONG!  Adrakat is the proper word because we are now pin pointing an exact location where the airplane flew to.  We do not even need to say that the airplane crashed into the building, because Arabic is a poetical language, and adrakat here in this sentence would suffice that, because adrakat is for precise reachings while balaghat is for general ones that would also include symbolic and metaphoric ones.

Notice again that we do not even need to say that the airplane crashed into the building!

In the Arabic grammar, the word "balagha" can not be substituted in the above sentences, because it would be grammatically wrong.  "balagha" is not literal. 

1-  I can't say the lion balagha his prey when I am trying to say that he hunted it down. 

2-  I can't say that the American soldiers "balaghoo" (plural of balagha) Saddam Hussein when I am referring to an actual physical confrontation and arrest.

3-  I can't say that George "balagha" that he was wrong.

etc...

Same thing with Noble Verses 18:86, 18:90, 18:93 above about the rising and setting of the sun.  Because Allah Almighty used the word "balagha" in all of them and not "adraka" or any word derived from it such as "yudrik", then it is quite clear that the speech is metaphoric and not literal.

That is why Allah Almighty used the word "tudrik", not balagha, in Noble Verse 36:40 above when He addressed the question about the sun and the moon ever colliding with each others!

Colliding is a physical event, not symbolic!

Again, I renew my challenge:

If the sun literally set in a murky lake or sea or ocean, then this means that it would have to stay inside that body of water for the night and rise the next morning from the WEST, not the EAST!

Have the sun ever risen from the west?  No!

Let us look at the following Noble verses:

"And what will make thee realise (adraaka) what the Sure Reality is?  (The Noble Quran, 69:3)"

"And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what Hell-Fire is?   (The Noble Quran, 74:27)"

"And what will explain to thee(adraaka) what is the Day of Sorting out?  (The Noble Quran, 77:14)"

"Again, what will explain to thee (adraaka) what the Day of Judgment is?  (The Noble Quran, 82:18)"

"And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what the (Day) of Noise and Clamour is?  (The Noble Quran, 101:3)"

In these Noble Verses, Allah Almighty is referring to the the literal knowledge about the Day of Judgement , its timing and the details of events that will take place in it.  The Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked several times about the Day of Judgement and it will come.  Allah Almighty responded by saying that only Him, the Almighty, Know when Judgement Day will come, and what the details of it will be.   Notice how "adraaka" is used for literal events and not metaphoric ones.

"Day! Surely the record of the wicked is (preserved) in Sijjin. And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what Sijjin is? (There is) a Register (fully) inscribed. Woe, that Day, to those that deny-  (The Noble Quran, 83:7-10)"

"Day, verily the record of the Righteous is (preserved) in 'Illiyin. And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what 'Illiyun is? (There is) a Register (fully) inscribed,  (The Noble Quran, 83:18-20)"

In these Noble Verses, Allah Almighty is talking about the actual records that keep track of every person's deeds.  Allah Almighty further said in the Noble Quran:

"Then shall anyone who has done an atom's weight of good, see it!  And anyone who has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.  (The Noble Quran, 99:7-8)"

He, the Almighty, also said:

"In whatever business thou mayest be, and whatever portion thou mayest be reciting from the Quran,- and whatever deed ye (mankind) may be doing,- We are witnesses thereof when ye are deeply engrossed therein. Nor is hidden from thy Lord (so much as) the weight of an atom on the earth or in heaven. And not the least and not the greatest of these things but are recorded in a clear record.   (The Noble Quran, 10:61)"

"There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance dependeth on God: He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record.  (The Noble Quran, 11:6)"

"Knowest thou not that God knows all that is in heaven and on earth? Indeed it is all in a Record, and that is easy for God.   (The Noble Quran, 22:70)"

"Nor is there aught of the unseen, in heaven or earth, but is (recorded) in a clear record.  (The Noble Quran, 27:75)"

"The Unbelievers say, "Never to us will come the Hour": Say, "Nay! but most surely, by my Lord, it will come upon you;- by Him Who knows the unseen,- from Whom is not hidden the least little atom in the heavens or on earth: Nor is there anything less than that, or greater, but is in the Record Perspicuous:  (The Noble Quran, 34:3)"

"And the Earth will shine with the Glory of its Lord: the Record (of Deeds) will be placed (open); the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forward and a just decision pronounced between them; and they will not be wronged (in the least).  (The Noble Quran, 39:69)"

"Every matter, small and great, is on record.  (The Noble Quran, 54:53)"

"No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: That is truly easy for God:  (The Noble Quran, 57:22)"

"Then he that will be given his Record in his right hand will say: "Ah here! Read ye my Record!  (The Noble Quran, 69:19)"

"And he that will be given his Record in his left hand, will say: "Ah! Would that my Record had not been given to me!   (The Noble Quran, 69:25)"

"And all things have We preserved on record.  (The Noble Quran, 78:29)"

Further more with "adraaka":

"By the Sky and the Night-Visitant (therein);- And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what the Night-Visitant is?- (It is) the Star of piercing brightness;- There is no soul but has a protector over it. Now let man but think from what he is created!  (The Noble Quran, 86:1-5)"

"And shown him the two highways? But he hath made no haste on the path that is steep. And what will explain to thee (adraaka) the path that is steep?- (It is:) freeing the bondman; Or the giving of food in a day of privation. To the orphan with claims of relationship, Or to the indigent (down) in the dust. Then will he be of those who believe, and enjoin patience, (constancy, and self-restraint), and enjoin deeds of kindness and compassion. Such are the Companions of the Right Hand. But those who reject Our Signs, they are the (unhappy) Companions of the Left Hand. On them will be Fire vaulted over (all round).  (The Noble Quran, 90:10-20)"

"We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by God's permission, on every errand: Peace!...This until the rise of morn!  (The Noble Quran, 97:1-5)"  This is a blessed day during the Fasting Month of Ramadan when the Noble Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

"But he whose balance (of good deeds) will be (found) light,- Will have his home in a (bottomless) Pit. And what will explain to thee (adraaka) what this is? (It is) a Fire Blazing fiercely!  (The Noble Quran, 101:8-12)"

"Woe to every (kind of) scandal-monger and-backbiter, Who pileth up wealth and layeth it by, Thinking that his wealth would make him last for ever! By no means! He will be sure to be thrown into That which Breaks to Pieces, And what will explain to thee (adraaka) That which Breaks to Pieces? (It is) the Fire of (the Wrath of) God kindled (to a blaze), The which doth mount (Right) to the Hearts: It shall be made into a vault over them, In columns outstretched.  (The Noble Quran, 104:1-9)"

Notice again in these Noble Verses and in all of the Noble Verses above that used the Noble Word "adraaka", Allah Almighty used "adraaka" in literal sense.   The details of Hell Fire, Judgement Day, the Records of Deeds, the Night of Power, etc..., all of these are literal events and objects that GOD Almighty Created for and against Mankind.

There is no question that "adraaka", like "yudrik" and "tudrik", is literal and not metaphoric or symbolic!

5-   So why would GOD Almighty speak in such a complex way?

Because the Noble Quran is complexly poetical (poetry usually contains statements in it that contain exaggeration and sentences that are not always to be taken literally), and because Allah Almighty Spoke with Mankind in all times and all places in the Noble Quran, the above Noble Verses that talk about the rising and setting of the sun are simply speaking to people who had no knowledge about astronomy.   The Noble Verses are, instead, addressing the people's perspectives and the way they saw things.  That is why their words, such as "balagha" and "sababa" (means), are metaphorical, because they were addressing the people's perspectives and covering the story in a brief and poetical manner.

And because GOD Almighty is Truthful and Divine in the Noble Quran, He carefully Chose the correct words when He talked about incidents that involved the "balagha", "yudrik" and "tudrik".   Those incidents that were poetical and metaphoric, He Chose "balagha" for them, while the ones that were literal, He Chose "yudrik" and "tudrik".

All Glory and Praise are due to Him!

Also, Arabic is a very complex, artistic and poetical language by nature!  A single word can mean a host of meanings.  The art and beauty of Arabic comes in how a person constructs and puts together words to form a sentence or paragraph.  The art and creativity in the style and poetry are what determine the strength and beauty of the sentence or poem.  That is why the Noble Quran is extremely difficult to understand sometimes, even by the fluent and professional Arabic speakers.  That is why Muslims always say that the translations of the Noble Quran do it absolutely no justice, because the poetry and complexity of language-art are completely compromised in the translation.  What the English reader, for instance, is left with when reading the English Noble Quran, is the subject that the Noble Verses are talking about.  But he/she doesn't see the beautiful and complex stylistic and linguistic Divine Miracle that the Arabic text carries in it.

At any rate, Allah Almighty Chose for the Noble Quran to be Difficult to comprehend, and to be quite a challenge to interpret and translate, because:

1-  He Chose to have the Miracle of the Noble Quran be an ever lasting one by living in the text of the Holy Book Itself.

2-  To demonstrate Its Divinity to the Arabs back then, who were very experienced/mature, fluent and also addicted to poetry, along with the Arabic-speaking people today, and to challenge them and to show them that certainly the Noble Quran is not just an average everyday book.  It is indeed a Divine Miracle, proving that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, is indeed a Truthful and real Prophet.

3-  This is Allah Almighty's way to Lead to the Right Path whom He pleases and to Lead astray whom He pleases.

I apologize for the repetition, but I have no choice but to, again, renew my challenge:

If the sun literally set in a murky lake or sea or ocean, then this means that it would have to stay inside that body of water for the night and rise the next morning from the WEST, not the EAST!

Have the sun ever risen from the west?  No!

Also, as I demonstrated in the "The Miracles and Prophecies of the Noble Quran which prove its Divinity" section below, Allah Almighty also spoke to us today and addressed us in our Scientific Language that we understand.

3-   Further clear-cut proofs from the moon in the Noble Quran!

The moon and what people thought about the moon, 1500 years ago, further proves that Noble Verses 18:86 and 18:90 are metaphoric and not literal.  Let us consider the following analysis:

1-   No where is it documented that people in Arabia used to think that the moon would set in a hole on earth.  People always viewed it as a planet that went around the earth.

2-   When solar eclipses occur, the moon comes exactly in front of the sun and covers its light.  This means that the sun is farther than the moon.  In fact, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, knew about the solar eclipses:

Narrated Asma' bint Abu Bakr: "The Prophet ordered us to free slaves at the time of solar eclipses.  (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 46, Number 695)"

Narrated Abu Bakra: "The solar eclipse occurred while we were sitting with the Prophet 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,"  (Translation of Sahih Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 72, Number 676)"

Allah Almighty also talked about the eclipse of the moon in the Noble Quran:

"And the moon is eclipsed.  (The Noble Quran, 75:8)"

3-   When Allah Almighty spoke about the moon in the Noble Quran, He said that it is swimming in its own orbit (falak).  He Said the same about the sun:

"It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up (tudrik) the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (falak) (according to Law).  (The Noble Quran, 36:40)"

"It is He Who created the Night and the Day, and the sun and the moon: all (the celestial bodies) swim along, each in its rounded course (falak).  (The Noble Quran, 21:33)"

The Prophet, peace be upon him, was asked if the sun and the moon would ever collide while they are rising and setting above the earth.  Allah Almighty responded to them by Saying that neither the sun will ever catch up with the moon, nor will the moon ever catch up with the sun.  On the contrary, each one of them is swimming in its own orbit (falak)!  They are not on the same orbit (falak). 

Of course, on Judgement Day, things will be different, and all of the stars and the planets will explode and collide with each others as Allah Almighty Said:

"The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books (completed),- even as We produced the first creation, so shall We produce a new one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfil it.  (The Noble Quran, 21:104)"

"Nay! When the earth is pounded to powder,  (The Noble Quran, 89:21)"

"And the earth is moved, and its mountains, and they are crushed to powder at one stroke, -  (The Noble Quran, 69:14)"

It is predicted in the Noble Quran that the earth will be pounded with asteroids (a nuclear attack from outer space) before Judgement Day and its mountains will be leveled to a flat crushed sand.

4-   If Allah Almighty truly Said that the sun sets on earth in Noble Verses 18:86 and 18:90, then this means that the MOON TOO SETS ON EARTH!

Show me where in the Noble Quran did Allah Almighty declare that the moon sets on earth!

4-  The Prophecies of the Iron Gates did come true, and the Iron Gates were found!

To further support my proofs above, it is important to know that the Iron Gates were found, and the description that the Noble Quran Gave perfectly matched their geographic location.  I have detailed explanations and proofs about this in the following article:

The story of Gog and Magog and the Iron Gates in the Noble Quran.

5-  The Miracles and Prophecies of the Noble Quran which prove its Divinity:

From www.answering-christianity.com/sci_quran.htm:

Non-Muslim Scientists embraced Islam after discovering the Miracles of the Noble Quran!

Allah Almighty Said:

"We will soon show them Our signs in the Universe and INSIDE THEIR SELVES, until it will become quite clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient as regards your Lord that He is a witness over all things?  (The Noble Quran, 41:53)"