DO MUSLIMS LITERALLY BELIEVE that the sun sets in a muddy spring or do all consider this metaphoric?

Question

STOP. DONT LOOK BELOW THIS PARAGRAPH. 1st, ask yourself, if you really believed that the sun actually set right into the earth itself, as many people used to, how would you express this in writing. OK, NOW LOOK BELOW and see if your answer differs from the Quran.

Quran 18:86 “(Zul-qarnain TRAVELLED till) when he reached the setting of the sun, he FOUND IT set IN A SPRING of murky water: NEAR IT (sun in spring) he found a People” http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/quran/018.qmt.html#018.086

Notice, its doesnt say "Zul Qarnain mispercieved the sun setting into the earth, Allah however knowtheth otherwise". NO, this is not just suspect, but crystal letter perfect clear. The Quran wants you to know he wasnt stationary and watching from a distance, NO...HE "TRAVELLED" and then "FOUND" the sun "IN"...right IN...and yes, the translations all use these words, they only differ on "muddy spring" or "black ocean", thats it, its still ON EARTH.

You might still say "Ok, well, Muslims probably dont take this literally".

FIRST, the very uniqueness of Islam is defined by its mainstream literalism, saying that "a muslim doesnt take it literally" is like saying that a fish doesnt swim in water!

However, theres always som exceptions, bit DO ME THIS FAVOR, TEST THIS YOURSELF, I WONT OFFER A CONCLUSION, JUST ASK MUSLIMS THIS EXACT QUESTION:

"DO YOU AGREE THAT THE SUN CAN NEVER BE FOUND IN A MUDDY SPRING?" it must be that exact question. See how many answer straight foward "I agree, of course".

Answer 1

Good Question!

When we say the terms 'sun-rise' and 'sun-set'. DOES THE SUNA CTUALLY 'RISE' OR 'SET'???

No, its just human terms that are said by us (humans) to convey the point to another Human.

Here you are right and you quoted << setting of the sun, he FOUND IT >>

Now is it NOT 'he FOUND it' . DOes it NOT indicate zul Qarnain's perception???

And therefore ALLAH said, it was Zul Qarnain's perception that the sun was setting in a spring of murky water. It does NOT mean that Almighty GOD also believes the same way as Zul Qarnain...

Peace Be with You.

Answer 2

it says he saw the sun set IN a muddy spring! it says it sets IN one, in what? a muddy spring! There is no interpretation available of this other then it being literal. People can talk about it being symbolic or a metaphor but what are they exactly? It states some guy followed the sun to its setting place, it then says he saw it set, but where? into a MUDDY spring! this is what it says. Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it [as if] setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people. Allah said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, either you punish [them] or else adopt among them [a way of] goodness." you will note the words in brackets (as if are in brackets only because they are not in the Arabic. it is necessary however to put in the brackets because it would be embarrassing. without it, it embarrassingly reads " he found it setting in a spring of dark mud!" or muddy spring or muddy pool ect ect ect. what is it metaphorical for? please someone tell me? it does not mean the direction of the sun either since it plainly gives its the suns direction, which was DOWN! Down where? Into a muddy spring! red the verse where did it go? we are talking about a man following the sun, reaching its setting place, then finding it going into a muddy spring. The sun is trillions of times bigger then the earth. Does that sound like it is possible? use your brains!

Answer 3

Let's remember first, that any holy book, from any organized religion, is subject to interpretation. Religion itself is subject to a person's own perception.
Personally, it sounds metaphoric to me; of course we all know the earth is round now... Being that they didn't believe this fact when the Quran was published, it still could have been meant to be metaphoric - so that it was applicable in many situations. The same way a horoscope is written; deliberately vague so that it applies to just about anyone. The point of the message is still to inspire faith, and to pass on knowledge or ideas.
Also, if you're reading a translated version, there may be something literally lost in the translation. :D
Enjoy your reading!

Answer 4

You're right, a literal interpretation of the Qur'an is ridiculous, and to suggest certain aspects can be arbitrarily defined as metaphorical is also ridiculous. The same can be said of virtually all religious texts.

Answer 5

Allegorical.

[3:7] He sent down to you this scripture, containing straightforward verses - which constitute the essence of the scripture - as well as multiple-meaning or allegorical verses. Those who harbor doubts in their hearts will pursue the multiple-meaning verses to create confusion, and to extricate a certain meaning. None knows the true meaning thereof except GOD and those well founded in knowledge. They say, "We believe in this - all of it comes from our Lord." Only those who possess intelligence will take heed

Answer 6

All religions have things like this. Its how christians squirm out of verses about bats being bird and rabbits having cuds.

Answer 7

It is metaphoric. It implies direction of the sun at that time.

Answer 8

I guess is just as stupid as thinking that God made the universe in six days.

Answer 9

someone just posted basically the same question.

and yes its metaphoric

no one takes it literally

Answer 10

this verse means SUN-Set. this picture explains what this verse mean. peace:
http://gallery.cannonbeachchurch.org/landscape/images/full/06SunGoesDown.jpg