The Orbital Movement of the Sun and the Moon

The Dawah Center - Quran & Science

“And it is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an [falak] orbit are [yasbahoon] swimming.”

Quran 21:33

“It is not allowable [i.e., possible] for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an [falak] orbit, is [yasbahoon] swimming.”

Qur’ān 36:40

The Arabic words used in these verses are falak and yasbahoon which can be translated as ‘sphere or orbit’ and ‘swimming.’

This concept of the movement of the sun and the moon and the other planets is in perfect harmony with recent discovery.

It is inconceivable that an Arab, living centuries ago in the most primitive part of the world, could have rightly used such a specific term to describe the movements of planets without divine guidance.

It should be noted that the discovery of the orbital movement of all celestial bodies was due to the invention of telescopes.

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