What is the interpretation of the saying of Allah the Exalted: (And the sun runs to its resting place. That is the decree of the Exalted, the Knowing)?
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The questioner : Well, Allah the Exalted said: [Ya-Sin 36:38], so what is the interpretation of this verse?
The Shaykh : Its interpretation is as it came in the hadith:Sahih Muslim 2703 But the verse has no relation to the topic of the earth's sphericity, or whether it is stationary or moving. The verse is a report, meaning, about an unseen matter that will occur in the future.
The questioner : So, is the time of its resting place the Day of Resurrection, or in the hadith:?
The Shaykh : Yes, this is an authentic hadith, but its going to under the Throne does not conflict with the established religious facts; because it is always under the Throne. However, with regard to a specific country, which is al-Madinah, where the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke about it when he said to Abu Dharr: So the Messenger (peace be upon him) informed him that it goes and prostrates under the Throne when it sets with regard to al-Madinah. This is the meaning that removes the difficulty, that it is always setting in a country at every moment, but what is intended here is a specific setting for al-Madinah al-Munawwarah. So its prostration is at the time that corresponds to the timing of al-Madinah, and not with every country in the world.
The questioner : Is it understood from this hadith that the sun stops during its prostration?
The Shaykh : No, this is not necessary; because a weak person may prostrate while walking, right or not? Let us recall now the prayer of fear, it has two forms: the prayer of fear, and the prayer of severe fear; in the prayer of severe fear, there is no bowing and prostration as is customary, but rather it is gesturing with the head. So the Muslim fights and duels with the disbeliever, and the time has caught up with him, so he prays while walking toward his enemy. This is with regard to a human being, so what about a planet? Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) knows its reality best. So there is no contradiction between the two matters. Yes.
And the sun runs [on course] toward its stopping point. That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِThe Shaykh : Its interpretation is as it came in the hadith:
the rising of the sun from the west
مستقرها حين تطلع الشمس من مغربهاThe questioner : So, is the time of its resting place the Day of Resurrection, or in the hadith:
Every day it seeks permission under the Throne and prostrates
كل يوم تستأذن تحت العرش وتسجدThe Shaykh : Yes, this is an authentic hadith, but its going to under the Throne does not conflict with the established religious facts; because it is always under the Throne. However, with regard to a specific country, which is al-Madinah, where the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) spoke about it when he said to Abu Dharr:
Do you know where it goes?
أتدري أين تذهب؟The questioner : Is it understood from this hadith that the sun stops during its prostration?
The Shaykh : No, this is not necessary; because a weak person may prostrate while walking, right or not? Let us recall now the prayer of fear, it has two forms: the prayer of fear, and the prayer of severe fear; in the prayer of severe fear, there is no bowing and prostration as is customary, but rather it is gesturing with the head. So the Muslim fights and duels with the disbeliever, and the time has caught up with him, so he prays while walking toward his enemy. This is with regard to a human being, so what about a planet? Our Lord (Mighty and Majestic) knows its reality best. So there is no contradiction between the two matters. Yes.
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