Do Muslims believe the sun sets in a muddy pond?

Question

Sura 18, verse 86 implies that the sun sets in a muddy pond. What's that supposed to mean?

I'm racist? I don't understand this allegation. I'm sorry if this came across as mean spirited, but I think its better to ask an honest question than to just assume Muslims are morons. I was just trying to get both sides of the story.

Answer 1

please read the verse carefully,,, it does not says that sun sets in muddy water.. i will paste the verse for you again.


“Till, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a muddy spring, and found a people thereabout: We said: O Zul Qarnain! Either punish or show them kindness.”
Al-Quraan 18:86


Note that, This verse clearly says that "he found it setting ....", Quran does not says that The sun sets in a muddy spring.

‘Sunrise’ literally means rising of the sun. Today when the word ‘sunrise’ is used most of the people know that the earth is rotating and is moving in relation to the sun. Most of us know that the sun does not rise during sunrise. However even an astronomer uses the word ‘sunrise’. Similarly we know that during sunset, the sun does not actually set. But we still use this word. this is how the language evolved. Quran was meant for people and therefore it should be in accordance with the language used by man.

"setting place of the sun" >>>>> "what do we mean when we say japan is in the east and USA is in the west?"
oes it mean that the earth is flat and japan is located at the eastern edge of the universe? This is metaphorical usage.

“he found it setting in a muddy spring…” means that he saw the sun as if it were setting in the ocean. This is something that everyone who goes to the coast or beach can see: it looks as if the sun is setting into the sea, but in fact it never leaves its path in which it is fixed.


The Qur’anic statement is clearly metaphorical, and this is the way it has been understood by most of the classical and modern commentators of the Qur’an.

Quran mentions so many scientific facts about sun and universe which were not known before.

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It was thought that the Sun was stationary and did not rotate about its axis like the Earth.

Quran (21:33) 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.

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

Quran 14:33 And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses; and the night and the day hath he (also) made subject to you

This verse mentions an essential fact discovered by modern astronomy, i.e. the existence of the individual orbits of the Sun and the Moon, and their journey through space with their own motion. The ‘fixed place’ towards, which the sun travels, carrying with it the solar system, has been located exactly by modern astronomy. It has been given a name, the Solar Apex. The solar system is indeed moving in space towards a point situated in the constellation of Hercules (alpha Layer) whose exact location is firmly established.

The sun takes approximately 25 days to rotate around its axis.
and the sun travels through space at roughly 150 miles per second, and takes about 200 million years to complete one revolution around the center of our Milky Way Galaxy.


Quran says that the sun will extinguish after a certain period.

Al- Quran 36:38 “And the Sun Runs its course For a period determined For it; that is The decree of (Him) The exalted in Might, The All-Knowing.”

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Should we not ponder over the question: “What was the source of knowledge contained in the Qur’aan?”


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HOPE THIS ANSWERS.

Answer 2

it's metaphoric.

Answer 3

May God forgive me if I am wrong, for I am not a scholar on the Qur'an, yet I belive this part of Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) is referring to the story of Gog and Magog (people who are locked up as we speak by a wall but will return towards the end of times). This verse you are referring to, and this "muddy pond" you mention, actually refers to the Black Sea. It is believed that the people of Gog and Magog are people from this area in Europe around the Black Sea. Zhul-Qurnain is who built the wall and the "sun setting in the muddy pond" is referring to when the sun was setting on the Black Sea. I believe that is the reference of this verse.

Answer 4

No, it means when sun sets it looks like it is setting in a muddy pond. But give me the complete verse with the context so that i can explain better to you.

Answer 5

Thanks for your query but I think the Qur'an has been mistranslated or mispresented to you..

Regarding Sun setting in Muddy pond in Qur'an, the Arabic word used in Qur'an is "Wajadah" which means it apperaed to Zulqarnain that sun is setting in Muddy pond.

secondly, the other Arabic word used is "Magrib" it can be used for time as well as place. If i Say Sun sets in west it means place and if I say sun sets at 7 PM it means time.

when we use such words like sun sets or sun rises, we do not mean that sun actually rises or sets because science today tells us that sun does not rise nor sets, yet you find in the newspapers eveyday that sun rise today at 6:AM and sunset at 7:PM, why dont' you write a letter the the editors of the newspapers that "you are unscientific".

They only provide this information to let us understand likewise Qur'an uses Human terminology to make us understand the context.

Answer 6

There are tasfirs and a hadith that confirm that it does set into a muddy spring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVwizsojd1Y

and

Narrated Abu Dharr:
I was sitting behind the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) who was riding a donkey while the sun was setting. He asked: Do you know where this sets ? I replied: Allah and his Apostle know best. He said: It sets in a spring of warm water (Hamiyah).

Grade : Sahih in chain (Al-Albani) صحيح الإسناد (الألباني) حكم :
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 4002
In-book reference : Book 32, Hadith 34
English translation : Book 31, Hadith 3991

Answer 7

Some people say it is poetric. Howeber, all old interpretions for the Quran agree that the sun sets in muddy pond.

Answer 8

It may be metaphorical but an Islamic scholar is the person who is capable and knowledgeable enough to answer this. I wouldn't want to throw out possibilities.

Answer 9

You are totally quoting that out of context, its part of a journey done By Dhul Qarnain, its to describe the time and place during his journey.

Answer 10

Most Muslims are out of their fricking minds.