“Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud, and he found near it a people.”

Surah Al-Kahf 18:86

Introduction

One of the common criticisms raised by Christian apologists and other skeptics is the claim that the Quran teaches the sun sets in a spring of muddy water, as mentioned in Surah Al-Kahf above.

Critics argue that this description contradicts scientific knowledge of the sun’s nature and movements. However, such claims arise from a fundamental misunderstanding of the Quranic text, its linguistic style, and the context of the narrative. In this article, we will address this misconception and demonstrate that the Quran remains consistent with both observational reality and linguistic norms.

Understanding the Verse in Context

The verse in question describes the travels of Dhul-Qarnayn, a righteous figure mentioned in the Quran, who embarks on a journey to various parts of the earth. The phrase “he found it setting in a spring of dark mud” does not imply a scientific assertion about the sun’s physical behavior but rather describes Dhul-Qarnayn’s perception of the scene.

1. Phenomenological Description: The Quran uses observational language, common in all human discourse. When the verse states, “he found it setting,” it reflects what Dhul-Qarnayn saw as he traveled westward—the sun appearing to sink into the horizon, as it often does when viewed over a body of water. This is no different from how people today describe sunsets as occurring “in the ocean” or “behind the mountains.”
2. Linguistic Nuance: The Arabic term “وجدها” (wajada) translates to “he found” or “he perceived.” This phrasing emphasizes subjective observation rather than an objective claim about the sun’s physical state. It highlights Dhul-Qarnayn’s perspective, not a universal cosmological statement.

Comparison with Common Language

To dismiss the Quran based on this verse is to ignore how observational descriptions permeate human language. Consider these phrases commonly used in both religious and secular contexts:

• “The sun rises in the east and sets in the west.” This is a universal expression, yet scientifically, the sun neither “rises” nor “sets.” The phenomenon is caused by the Earth’s rotation.
• “The horizon swallows the sun.” No one interprets this literally; it is understood as a poetic description of what the observer sees.

Similarly, the Quran’s description aligns with this linguistic and cultural norm of expressing visual experiences.

Comparison Between Perspective with Universal Realities in the Quran:

While Surah Al-Kahf (18:86) describes a personal perspective, other verses in the Quran address universal realities that are scientifically and objectively true for all. Below is the table to demonstrate the point made:

Comparison Table

Type	Verse	Explanation
Perspective	Al-Kahf 18:86 “Until, when he reached the setting of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud.”	Describes Dhul-Qarnayn’s visual experience of the sunset. It is an observational description, not a scientific claim.
Reality	Adh-Dhariyat 51:47 “And the heaven We constructed with strength, and indeed, We are [its] expander.”	Describes the expanding universe, a phenomenon universally confirmed by modern science and not subject to individual perspective.

Consistency with Scientific Understanding

Far from contradicting scientific reality, the Quran makes a bold statement about how the universe came into existence and how the celestial bodies move through space:

1. Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30):
   “Do not those who disbelieve see that the heavens and the earth were joined together as one united piece, then We parted them? And We have made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?”
   
   This verse indicates that the universe started from a single point before eventually separating, which is consistent with an accepted theory of many scientists—the Big Bang. This verse also makes a claim about how every living thing is made of water, an undeniable truth since cells are composed of water.
2. Surah Al-Anbiya (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.”
   
   This verse highlights the orbital movement of celestial bodies, further affirming the Quran’s harmony with scientific principles.

Addressing Biblical Parallels

If Christian apologists insisting on criticize the Quran based on this verse, they must also address similar descriptions in the Bible, which use observational language to describe natural phenomena:

1. Ecclesiastes 1:5 (NIV): “The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.”
2. Psalm 19:6 (NIV): “It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.”

These verses describe the sun’s movement as it appears to human observers, not as a literal cosmological assertion. Applying the same interpretive standards to both texts would eliminate the supposed contradiction in the Quran, just as they defend their own texts as “not literal.”

Conclusion

The claim that the Quran’s description of the sun “setting in a spring of dark mud” contradicts scientific reality stems from a failure to consider the text’s linguistic, cultural, and narrative context. This verse reflects Dhul-Qarnayn’s perception of the sunset, a phenomenon universally described in observational terms.

Moreover, the Quran consistently aligns with scientific understanding of celestial bodies, as evidenced by numerous other verses. Critics must approach such texts with intellectual honesty, applying consistent standards of interpretation. The Quran’s eloquence and depth remain unshaken, even when scrutinized through the lens of modern science.

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