Blog #7March 25, 2025Category: Celestial Bodies & Motion

The Sun, Moon, and Their Precise Orbits

Quranic Verse

Arabic

لَا ٱلشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تُدْرِكَ ٱلْقَمَرَ وَلَا ٱلَّيْلُ سَابِقُ ٱلنَّهَارِ ۚ وَكُلٌّۭ فِى فَلَكٍۢ يَسْبَحُونَ

Translation

English

"It is not allowable for the sun to reach the moon, nor does the night overtake the day, but each, in an orbit, is swimming." (Surah Ya-Sin 36:40)

Introduction

The Quran describes how the Sun and Moon move in their own orbits and how day and night follow a fixed cycle. This verse highlights the perfect order of the universe, where celestial bodies do not interfere with each other.

Modern astronomy confirms that the Sun, Moon, and Earth follow precise and independent orbits, supporting the statement in this verse.

Scientific Validation

1. The Sun and Moon Have Separate Orbits

  • The Sun moves through the Milky Way galaxy in its own orbit at about 828,000 km/h (514,000 mph).
  • The Moon orbits Earth at an average speed of 3,682 km/h (2,287 mph).
  • These paths are separate, and the Sun never collides with the Moon.

2. The Earth’s Rotation and Day-Night Cycle

  • The verse states that night cannot overtake day. This aligns with Earth’s rotation, which causes a continuous cycle of day and night.
  • The Earth rotates at 1,670 km/h (1,037 mph), ensuring that day and night follow a fixed and predictable sequence.

3. The Meaning of “Each is Swimming”

  • The Quran describes celestial bodies as “swimming” (يَسْبَحُونَ) in their orbits.
  • Modern physics confirms that planets, stars, and moons move smoothly in space due to gravity and momentum, just like objects floating in water.
  • The Sun, Moon, and Earth all follow a stable, balanced motion, preventing collisions.

This verse describes how celestial movements follow scientific laws, ensuring a harmonious cosmic system.

Reflection

This verse makes us think about:

  • How the Sun, Moon, and Earth move in a perfectly balanced system.
  • How the laws of physics maintain the stability of celestial bodies.
  • How scientific discoveries align with Quranic descriptions of the universe.

The precise motion of these celestial objects shows order in the universe, something both science and the Quran emphasize.

Conclusion

The Quran states that the Sun and Moon move in separate orbits and that day and night follow a fixed cycle. Modern astronomy confirms this, proving that celestial bodies move in a predictable and controlled manner.

This verse encourages us to explore the universe and understand the scientific principles behind its order. The more we study, the more we see how science and scripture connect in describing the wonders of space.