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Shooting Stars in the Quran: Difference between revisions
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Though there are no direct stories of the functions of stars in this way in the bible (or biblical literature), Dr Julien Decharneux notes in his book ''Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background'', which explores the connections between the cosmology of the Qur’ān and various cosmological traditions of Late Antiquity, with a focus on Syriac Christianity,<ref>Julien Decharneux (2023), ''[https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110794083/html Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur’ān and Its Late Antique Background]'', Berlin: De Gruyter.</ref> that there are some general motifs which link to this imagery; such as Talmudic stories of demons listening in to divine councils, and separately fire as weapons from the upper skies. However, there is no direct story for this (yet) found in biblical literature. He notes it is more likely rooted in Iranian mythology:{{Quote|Decharneux, Julien. (2023) Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background (Studies in the History and Culture of the Middle East Book 47) Berlin: De Gruyter. (pp. 316-317).|The image of fallen angels trying to approach the firmament in order to listen to the heavenly council is found in the Talmud. Crone in fact already notes the presence of the motif in the first-century Greek Testament of Solomon. Here however, demons are not chased by fiery missiles, but they themselves look like shooting stars after falling from the sky out of exhaustion. Although a systematic skimming of the sources would probably reveal the presence of the motif of stars chasing demons away from the heavenly council in patristic and Christian apocryphal literature, our sources show that it was still lively in the imagery of the 8th century in the Church of the East. Theodore bar Koni, in his Scolion, discusses the activity of demons: | Though there are no direct stories of the functions of stars in this way in the bible (or biblical literature), Dr Julien Decharneux notes in his book ''Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background'', which explores the connections between the cosmology of the Qur’ān and various cosmological traditions of Late Antiquity, with a focus on Syriac Christianity,<ref>Julien Decharneux (2023), ''[https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110794083/html Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur’ān and Its Late Antique Background]'', Berlin: De Gruyter.</ref> that there are some general motifs which link to this imagery; such as Talmudic stories of demons listening in to divine councils, and separately fire as weapons from the upper skies. However, there is no direct story for this (yet) found in biblical literature. He notes it is more likely rooted in Iranian mythology:{{Quote|Decharneux, Julien. (2023) Creation and Contemplation: The Cosmology of the Qur'ān and Its Late Antique Background (Studies in the History and Culture of the Middle East Book 47) Berlin: De Gruyter. (pp. 316-317).|The image of fallen angels trying to approach the firmament in order to listen to the heavenly council is found in the Talmud. Crone in fact already notes the presence of the motif in the first-century Greek Testament of Solomon. Here however, demons are not chased by fiery missiles, but they themselves look like shooting stars after falling from the sky out of exhaustion. Although a systematic skimming of the sources would probably reveal the presence of the motif of stars chasing demons away from the heavenly council in patristic and Christian apocryphal literature, our sources show that it was still lively in the imagery of the 8th century in the Church of the East. Theodore bar Koni, in his Scolion, discusses the activity of demons: | ||
<i>Can the demons ascend to the place on high anyway? They cannot because they are held back by the power of the one who destroyed them. It is not proper that defiled ones approach the Tent of the Saints […]. The fact that our Lord compared him to a lightning means two things: either that he lasted in his domination for the time of the sight of a lightning, or that when while he was shining as a lightning in glory, he was quenched at once and no traces of his splendour was left.</i> | <i>Can the demons ascend to the place on high anyway? They cannot because they are held back by the power of the one who destroyed them. It is not proper that defiled ones approach the Tent of the Saints […]. The fact that our Lord compared him to a lightning means two things: either that he lasted in his domination for the time of the sight of a lightning, or that when while he was shining as a lightning in glory, he was quenched at once and no traces of his splendour was left.</i> | ||
In fact, the motif of demons chased by flames finds particularly original renderings in the writings of Pseudo-Macarius and that of Syriac mystic authors studied in the second chapter. Building on the motif the inner divine fire that animates the mystic, they hold that it is the flames of this fire that chase away the demons from the heart. All in all, we see that Crone’s hypothesis of an eastern origin and development for the motif is quite likely. The image of fire and flames chasing demons away was not only widespread in Jewish circle as witnessed by the Babylonian Talmud, but it was also quite in use in the Church of the East tradition.}} | In fact, the motif of demons chased by flames finds particularly original renderings in the writings of Pseudo-Macarius and that of Syriac mystic authors studied in the second chapter. Building on the motif the inner divine fire that animates the mystic, they hold that it is the flames of this fire that chase away the demons from the heart. All in all, we see that Crone’s hypothesis of an eastern origin and development for the motif is quite likely. The image of fire and flames chasing demons away was not only widespread in Jewish circle as witnessed by the Babylonian Talmud, but it was also quite in use in the Church of the East tradition.}} | ||
'''Weapons against demons''' | |||
Many cultures had mythology surrounding meteors and meteorites, with some believing they were weapons, such as in ancient Africa and Mesopotamia:{{Quote|Golia, Maria, Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth), Reaktion Books, p. 72|'The indigenous San people of southern Africa also consider meteorites dangerous: ‘They can kill people, and at the times of the meteor showers when many are moving about and falling, the sky is very bad.’ Echoing themes from Mesopotamian and classical antiquity, the San god Koa xa, ‘lord of the animals’, used a meteorite to fight lions that attacked his son.'}} | Many cultures had mythology surrounding meteors and meteorites, with some believing they were weapons, such as in ancient Africa and Mesopotamia:{{Quote|Golia, Maria, Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth), Reaktion Books, p. 72|'The indigenous San people of southern Africa also consider meteorites dangerous: ‘They can kill people, and at the times of the meteor showers when many are moving about and falling, the sky is very bad.’ Echoing themes from Mesopotamian and classical antiquity, the San god Koa xa, ‘lord of the animals’, used a meteorite to fight lions that attacked his son.'}} | ||
And this may have inspired their use much later in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism,] (which was a prominent religion in the Persian (Iranian) empire both before and during the time of the prophet Muhammad/beginning of Islam), where we see the link between stars and meteors as weapons: | And this may have inspired their use much later in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism,] (which was a prominent religion in the Persian (Iranian) empire both before and during the time of the prophet Muhammad/beginning of Islam), where we see the link between stars and meteors as weapons: | ||
{{Quote|Golia, Maria. Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth) Reaktion Books. p. 57|..an understanding of the stars set men apart, as evidenced in the emergence of the prophet Zoroaster around 1100 BC. An early Christian text suggests that Zoroaster, ‘a very great observer of the stars’, used his wisdom to his advantage: ‘wishing to be regarded as a divine being [he] began to elicit sparks from the stars and show them to people’. This brief passage and a story recorded in the first century AD have been interpreted as describing a meteor shower that Zoroaster may have anticipated. The oldest portions of Avestan scripture, thought to record Zoroaster’s words, say the sky is made of ‘hardest stone’ and worn as armour by Ahura Mazda, god of creation and cosmic order. Avestan texts contain many astronomical references, and the word asana means both ‘sky’ and ‘stone’. On one occasion, Zoroaster was said to have defeated demons with ‘a massive stone received from God’...}} | {{Quote|Golia, Maria. Meteorite: Nature and Culture (Earth) Reaktion Books. p. 57|..an understanding of the stars set men apart, as evidenced in the emergence of the prophet Zoroaster around 1100 BC. An early Christian text suggests that Zoroaster, ‘a very great observer of the stars’, used his wisdom to his advantage: ‘wishing to be regarded as a divine being [he] began to elicit sparks from the stars and show them to people’. This brief passage and a story recorded in the first century AD have been interpreted as describing a meteor shower that Zoroaster may have anticipated. The oldest portions of Avestan scripture, thought to record Zoroaster’s words, say the sky is made of ‘hardest stone’ and worn as armour by Ahura Mazda, god of creation and cosmic order. Avestan texts contain many astronomical references, and the word asana means both ‘sky’ and ‘stone’. On one occasion, Zoroaster was said to have defeated demons with ‘a massive stone received from God’...}}Patricia Crone and other Islamic scholars examine these relationships further in the [https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110445909/html?lang=en 2012-13 Qur'an Seminar Commentary] (a series of academic conferences) in pages 305 - 317 and 385 - 398. | ||
==Islamic literature== | ==Islamic literature== | ||
===The Qur'an=== | ===The Qur'an=== | ||
The Qur'an states that stars (kawakib ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ), lamps (masabih مَصَٰبِيحَ) and/or great stars/constellations (burūj بُرُوجًا) adorn the heavens and guard against devils (shayāṭīn شياطين). | The Qur'an states that stars (kawakib ٱلْكَوَاكِبِ), lamps (masabih مَصَٰبِيحَ) and/or great stars/constellations/zodiac signs (burūj بُرُوجًا) adorn the heavens and guard against devils (shayāṭīn شياطين). | ||
The Qur'an further asserts that Allah has made them (the stars/lamps) missiles to ward away devils (who are believed to be [[jinn]] in Islam), who attempt to listen in on heavenly meetings (known as the Exalted Assembly). The Quranic concept has a close parallel in an earlier Jewish development from Zoroastrian mythology. Such myths are best understood as pre-modern attempts to explain the common phenomenon of meteors streaking across the night sky. The relevant verses are below:{{Quote|{{Quran|37| | The Qur'an further asserts that Allah has made them (the stars/lamps) missiles to ward away devils (who are believed to be [[jinn]] in Islam), who attempt to listen in on heavenly meetings (known as the Exalted Assembly). The Quranic concept has a close parallel in an earlier [[Pre-Islamic Arab Religion in Islam#Shooting Stars and Eavesdropping Shaytans|Jewish development from Zoroastrian mythology]]. Such myths are best understood as pre-modern attempts to explain the common phenomenon of meteors streaking across the night sky. The relevant verses are below:{{Quote|{{Quran-range|37|6|10}}|Indeed, We have adorned the nearest heaven [al-samā’a l-dunyā] with an adornment of <b>stars [al-kawākibi],</b> And as protection against every rebellious devil [wa-ḥifẓan min kulli shayṭānin mārida][So] they may not listen to the exalted assembly [of angels] and are pelted from every side, Repelled; and for them is a constant punishment, Except one who snatches [some words] by theft, <b>but they are pursued by a burning flame, piercing [in brightness] [fa-’atbaʿa-hu shihābun thāqibun].</b>}}{{Quote|{{Quran|67|5}}|And we have, (from of old), adorned <b>the lowest heaven [al-samā’a l-dunyā] with lamps [bi-maṣābīḥa], and We have made such (Lamps) (as) missiles to drive away the Evil Ones [wa-jaʿalnā-hā rujūman li-l-shayāṭīni]</b>, and have prepared for them the Penalty of the Blazing Fire.}}{{Quote|{{Quran|15|16-18}}|<b>It is We Who have set out the zodiacal signs in the heavens [laqad jaʿalnā fī l-samā’i burūjan],</b> and have beautified it for the beholders; And (moreover) We have guarded them from every <b>cursed devil [shayṭānin rajīmin]</b>: But any that gains a hearing by stealth, <b>is pursued by a flaming fire, bright (to see) [fa-’atbaʿa-hu shihābun mubīnun].</b>}}{{Quote|{{Quran|72|8-9}}|And we have sought [to reach] the heaven but found it filled with <b>powerful guards [ḥarasan shadīdan]</b> and <b>burning flames [wa-shuhuban].</b> And we used to sit therein in positions for hearing, but whoever listens now will find a burning flame lying in wait for him. [yajidu la-hu shihāban raṣadan].}} | ||
The same Arabic words are used at the start of {{Quran|67|5}} as in {{Quran|37|6}} (زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا), except that in Quran 67:5 the word lamps is used instead of stars. The lamps that 'adorn the heaven' must refer to stars (and perhaps also the 5 visible planets), which are always there. | The same Arabic words are used at the start of {{Quran|67|5}} as in {{Quran|37|6}} (زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا), except that in Quran 67:5 the word lamps is used instead of stars. The lamps that 'adorn the heaven' must refer to stars (and perhaps also the 5 visible planets), which are always there. | ||
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In {{Quran|67|5}}, the word translated "missiles" is rujūman (رُجُومًا), which are things that are thrown, especially stones.<ref>رُجُومًا - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume3/00000214.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 1048]</ref> | In {{Quran|67|5}}, the word translated "missiles" is rujūman (رُجُومًا), which are things that are thrown, especially stones.<ref>رُجُومًا - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume3/00000214.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 1048]</ref> | ||
In {{Quran|15|16}} the phrase translated "zodiacal signs" is [https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=constellations Burūj بُرُوجًا], meaning great stars or constellations; Surah 85 (Al-Burūj) is called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Burooj The Great Star]. | In {{Quran|15|16}} the phrase translated "zodiacal signs" is [https://corpus.quran.com/search.jsp?q=constellations Burūj بُرُوجًا], meaning great stars or constellations; Surah 85 (Al-Burūj) is called [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Burooj The Great Star]. | ||
This term also means towers/forts/castles, which a smaller number of mufassirūn have understood it as (towers on the firmament) in their commentaries on the Quran.<ref>E.g. ''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Abbas/15.16 Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs on verse 15:16.]'' | |||
(Though the tafsir/commentary is attributed to Ibn Abbas, the prophets cousin, it is widely accepted to be at least largely a forgery - however it became a popular medieval commentary).</ref> | |||
{{Quote|[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279378884_Islamic_Folk_Astronomy <i>Islamic Folk Astronomy.</i> Varisco, Daniel. Astronomy Across Cultures, 2000, pp 615 - 650. <i>(pp. 627 - 628)</i> DOI:10.1007/978-94-011-4179-6_21]|The zodiacal constellations were referred to in Arabic as <i>burūj</i>, a term used for fortifications and castles. Quranic usage (15: 16, 25: 61, 85: 1) is in the generic sense of a constellation rather than for the specific twelve zodiacal constellations (Table 5) later recognised in the astronomical texts.}} | |||
Other relevant verses are {{Quran|55|33-35}} (flame of fire and smoke, though a slightly different context): | Other relevant verses are {{Quran|55|33-35}} (flame of fire and smoke, though a slightly different context): | ||
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And [https://quran.com/21?startingVerse=32 Quran 21:32], which many classical commentators have associated with protection against devils: | And [https://quran.com/21?startingVerse=32 Quran 21:32], which many classical commentators have associated with protection against devils: | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|21|32}}|And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.}} | {{Quote|{{Quran|21|32}}|And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away.}}Also separately we see in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At-Tariq Surah At Tariq]: (known as 'the morning star' or 'the nightcomer' - الطارق), in verse 3, using the term (najm/نجم), which also means star,<ref>[https://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume8/00000282.pdf نجم ''(najm) pp 3028''] - Lane's Lexicon Classical Arabic Dictionary.</ref> for piercing star. | ||
{{Quote|{{Quran|86|1-4}}|By the sky and the night comer - And what can make you know what is the night comer? <b>It is the piercing star (najm)</b> - There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.}} | |||
In al-Wahidi's (d. 468AD / 1075CE) famous ''Asbab Al-Nuzul'' (''circumstances of revelation'' - a book/exegesis covering the context each Quranic verse was revealed in), which is the earliest surviving book dealing solely with this subject matter,<ref>''Asbāb al-Nuzūl'' ''By: Alī ibn Ahmad al-Wāhidī'' Translated By: Mokrane Guezzou Edited and with a brief Introduction by Yousef Meri. [https://www.altafsir.com/Books/Asbab%20Al-Nuzul%20by%20Al-Wahidi.pdf ''Introduction: pp iv.''] | |||
''They also note here that some scholars such as Andrew Rippin doubt the existence of earlier 'circumstances of revelation' works mentioned which do not survive - though the translators disagree this is sufficient evidence to reject their existence.''</ref> the circumstances of these few verses are recorded as when Abu Talib (the prophets uncle) saw a shooting star/meteor, with Muhammad/God seemingly confusing the two in this story. | |||
{{Quote|[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Wahidi/86.1 Wahidi - Asbab Al-Nuzul by Al-Wahidi on verse 86:1-3]|(By the heaven and the Morning Star; ah, what will tell thee what the Morning Star is! The piercing Star!) [86:1-3]. This was revealed about Abu Talib. He once went to visit the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, and the latter offered him bread and milk. As Abu Talib was sitting and eating, a meteor fell, filling everything with fire. Abu Talib was scared. He asked: “What on earth can this be?” The Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace, said: “This is a meteor that was thrown and it is one of the signs of Allah”. Abu Talib was amazed, and so Allah, exalted is He, revealed these verses.}} | |||
Though other exegesis admittedly have assign this specific verse (Q86:3) different meanings, such as Ibn Kathir listing two opinions; with Qatadah and 'others' saying it's an illuminating star that only appears during the night (hence is called Tariq in verse Q86:1&2 - named after a visitor unexpectedly turning up at night), and Ibn Abbas (the prophets cousin) saying 'It is illuminating and it burns the Shaytan', perhaps still a confusion of the two phenomena.<ref>''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Kathir/86.1 Tafsir Ibn Kathir on Verse 86:1].'' Ibn Kathir d 1373</ref> Other name it as the constellation Pleiades<ref>''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/86.3 Tafsir Al-Jalalayn on Verse 86.3]''. Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli (d. 864 ah / 1459 ce) and his pupil Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 ah / 1505 ce).</ref>, and others Saturn.<ref>''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Abbas/86.3 Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs on verse 86.3.]'' | |||
''The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanwir_al-Miqbas tafsir is attributed to the prophets cousin Ibn Abbas] - however at least a large part of it (if not all) is considered to be a forgery by an unknown medieval scholar.'' </ref> | |||
And similarly in Q53:1, we are told of the falling/plunging/descending star ((najm/نجم) again). | |||
{{Quote|{{Quran|53|1}}|By the Star when it plunges,}} | |||
With some prominent commentators such as Ibn Kathir linking this to a star hitting devils, noting early Muslim opinions on the matter: ''(By the star when it goes down.) Ibn Abi Najih reported that Mujahid said, "The star refers to Pleiades when it sets at Fajr.<nowiki>''</nowiki> Ad-Dahhak said "When the Shayatin are shot with it.<nowiki>''</nowiki>'' <ref>''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Kathir/53.1 Tafsir Ibn Kathir on verse 53:1.]'' Ibn Kathir d. 1373.</ref> | |||
=== The Hadith === | === The Hadith === | ||
A hadith in Sahih Muslim confirms that the 'pursuant flames / missiles' in the two verses refer to meteors which they saw shooting across the sky. | A hadith collected in Sahih Muslim and Sunan al Tirmidhi confirms that the 'pursuant flames / missiles' in the two verses refer to visible meteors which they saw shooting across the sky. | ||
{{Quote|{{Muslim|26|5538}}|'Abdullah. Ibn 'Abbas reported: A person from the Ansar who was amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (pbuh reported to me: As we were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (pbuh), a meteor shot gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor)? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best (the actual position), but we, however, used to say that that very night a great man had been born and a great man had died, whereupon Allah's Messenger pbuh) said: (These meteors) are shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, issues Command when He decides to do a thing. Then (the Angels) supporting the Throne sing His glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven who are near to them until this glory of God reaches them who are in the heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask these supporters of the Throne: What your Lord has said? And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the heaven of the world. In this process of transmission (the jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friends. And when the Angels see the jinn they attack them with meteors. If they narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it.}} | {{Quote|{{Muslim|26|5538}}|'Abdullah. Ibn 'Abbas reported: A person from the Ansar who was amongst the Companions of Allah's Messenger (pbuh reported to me: As we were sitting during the night with Allah's Messenger (pbuh), a meteor shot gave a dazzling light. Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said: What did you say in the pre-Islamic days when there was such a shot (of meteor)? They said: Allah and His Messenger know best (the actual position), but we, however, used to say that that very night a great man had been born and a great man had died, whereupon Allah's Messenger pbuh) said: (These meteors) are shot neither at the death of anyone nor on the birth of anyone. Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, issues Command when He decides to do a thing. Then (the Angels) supporting the Throne sing His glory, then sing the dwellers of heaven who are near to them until this glory of God reaches them who are in the heaven of this world. Then those who are near the supporters of the Throne ask these supporters of the Throne: What your Lord has said? And they accordingly inform them what He says. Then the dwellers of heaven seek information from them until this information reaches the heaven of the world. In this process of transmission (the jinn snatches) what he manages to overhear and he carries it to his friends. And when the Angels see the jinn they attack them with meteors. If they narrate only which they manage to snatch that is correct but they alloy it with lies and make additions to it.}} | ||
{{Quote|{{Al Tirmidhi||5|44|3224}}|Narrated Ibn 'Abbas: | |||
"We were with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), while he was sitting with a group of his Companions, when they saw a glowing shooting star. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'When you saw the likes of this during Jahiliyyah, what would you say about it?' They said: 'We would say that a great man died, or that a great man has been born.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'It is not shot due to the death of anyone, nor his coming into life. Rather when our Lord [Blessed is His Name and Most High] decrees a matter, He is glorified by the bearers of the Throne. Then He is glorified by the inhabitants who are below them, then those below them, until such glorification reaches this Heaven. Then the inhabitants of the sixth Heaven ask the inhabitants of the seventh Heaven: "What did your Lord say?" He said: 'So they inform them; then the inhabitants of each Heaven seek the information, until the news is conveyed to the inhabitants of the Heavens of the earth. The Shayatin try to overhear so they are shot at, so they cast it down to their friends. Whatever they came with is true, as it is, but they distort it and add to it.'"}} | |||
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||1|1|194}}|The Prophet said: "When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to his decree (with a sound) like a chain beating a rock. Then "When fear is banished from their hearts, they say: 'What is it that your Lord has said?' They say: 'The truth. And He is The Most High, The Most Great." He said: 'Then the eavesdroppers (from among the jinn) listen out for that, one above the other, so (one of them) hears the words and passes it on to the one beneath him. The Shihab (shooting star) may strike him before he can pass it on to the one beneath him and the latter can pass it on to the soothsayer or sorcerer, or it may not strike him until he has passed it on. And he ads one hundred lies to it, and only that word which was overheard from the heavens is true."}}And | These also seem to reinforce the incorrect idea of stars being shooting stars, and give us yet a fourth word for stars. | ||
In both cases we see the word (najm/نجم) is used to describe the shooting star. Literally: رُمِيَ was thrown<ref>رمي - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume3/00000327.pdf Lane's Lexicon page 1161]</ref> بِنَجْمٍ a star<ref>نجم - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume8/00000282.pdf Lane's Lexicon Supplement page 3028]</ref> فَاسْتَنَارَ then it flamed<ref>نار - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume8/00000119.pdf Lane's Lexicon page 2865]</ref> (نار in Arabic form X, derived from نور light). It is sometimes said that a najm (نجم) could refer to any kind of celestial body and not necessarily a star, but it is at least clear that these hadiths refer to what we now understand are visible meteors. | |||
A hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah's collection also conveys the concept, though without clarifying the nature of the shihab (the word translated as "burning flame" in the Quran verses quoted above): | |||
{{Quote|{{Ibn Majah||1|1|194}}|The Prophet said: "When Allah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to his decree (with a sound) like a chain beating a rock. Then "When fear is banished from their hearts, they say: 'What is it that your Lord has said?' They say: 'The truth. And He is The Most High, The Most Great." He said: 'Then the eavesdroppers (from among the jinn) listen out for that, one above the other, so (one of them) hears the words and passes it on to the one beneath him. The Shihab (shooting star) may strike him before he can pass it on to the one beneath him and the latter can pass it on to the soothsayer or sorcerer, or it may not strike him until he has passed it on. And he ads one hundred lies to it, and only that word which was overheard from the heavens is true."}} | |||
And a hadith in Mishkat al-Masabih also confirms that stars (najm/نجم) are missiles for the devils, this time without mentioning the flame: | |||
{{Quote|[https://sunnah.com/mishkat:4602 Mishkat al-Masabih 4602, 4603: Book 23, Hadith 86]|Qatada said God most high created these stars for three purposes; He made them an adornment for the sky, missiles for the devils, and signs by which people find their way. If anyone explains them differently he makes a mistake, squanders what is allotted to him, and occupies himself with something he does not know. | |||
Bukhari transmitted it without a full isnad. | |||
Razln’s version has, “occupies himself with what does not concern him, what he has no knowledge of, and what prophets and angels are incapable of knowing.” | |||
On the authority of ar-Rabi’* there is something to the same effect with the addition, “I swear by God that God has not set in a star anyone’s life, provision, or death. They are only speaking lies against God and attributing causes to the stars.”}} | |||
'''Other companions''' | '''Other companions''' | ||
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{{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Abbas/67.5 | title=Abbas - Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs 67:5}}|(And verily We have beatified the world's heaven) the first heaven (with lamps) with stars, (and We have made them) i.e. the stars (missiles for the devils) such that some of them become bewitched, some are killed while others are burnt, (and for them) for the devils (We have prepared) in the Hereafter (the doom of flame.}} | {{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Abbas/67.5 | title=Abbas - Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs 67:5}}|(And verily We have beatified the world's heaven) the first heaven (with lamps) with stars, (and We have made them) i.e. the stars (missiles for the devils) such that some of them become bewitched, some are killed while others are burnt, (and for them) for the devils (We have prepared) in the Hereafter (the doom of flame.}} | ||
Which even if not from him directly, gives us a more contemporary view of these verses. | Which even if not from him directly, gives us a more contemporary view of these verses. | ||
=== Contemporary Commentaries === | |||
Early more contemporary commentaries also conflated the two, such as Muqatil ibn Sulayman (~80-150AH), believed to be the earliest full authentic tafsir to survive.<ref>John Wansbrough, "The Sectarian Milieu: Content and Composition of Islamic Salvation History" 2006 (Original 1978). Prometheus. 2006. ISBN 10: 1591023785ISBN 13: 9781591023784</ref> | |||
{{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=67&tSoraNo=37&tAyahNo=6&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 | title=Tafsir al-Kabir on Verse 37:6 | author= Muqatil ibn Sulayman }}|<b>{Dhura} means being expelled by meteors from the stars/planets, then the stars/planets return to their places {And for them is a heavy punishment} </b>[verse: 9] meaning permanent for the doubters whoever listens to them, and whoever does not listen is a permanent punishment in the Hereafter, and the stars/planets hurt and do not diminish, their counterpart in Blessed be {And indeed We have adorned the heaven. The world is full of lamps, and We have made it a pit for the devils, and We have prepared for them the torment of the blazing fire.} [Blessed be He: 5]. | |||
{Except for him who is snatched} of the devils {snatching} of the angels {and then a piercing shooting star follows him} [verse: 10] of the angels the stars, meaning by the piercing shooting star, a luminous fire, as Moses said: {Or will I bring to you a shining shooting star? } [An-Naml: 7], meaning With a bright fire, there is an offering.}} | |||
And Al-Tabari (224-310 AH): | |||
{{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=15&tAyahNo=16&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 | title=Al-Tabari Tafsir on Verse 15:16-18}}|...{And indeed We have placed constellations in the sky} He said: Stars/Planets. Bishr told us, he said: Yazid told us, he said: Saeed told us, on the authority of Qatada, his saying: {And We have placed constellations in the sky} <b>and their constellations are their stars.</b> Muhammad bin Abdul-Ala told us, he said: Muhammad bin Thawr told us, on the authority of Muammar, on the authority of Qatada: {zodiac signs} he said: <b>the stars/planets.</b> God Almighty says: And We preserved the lower heaven from every accursed devil whom God had stoned and cursed. {Except he who eavesdrops} He says: But some of the devils may eavesdrop on what is happening in the sky, and then a <b>meteor from the fire</b> follows it clearly, showing its effect on it, either by disturbing it and corrupting it or by burning it.}}See also his commentary on verse [https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=67&tAyahNo=5&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=1 67:5] where he notes that God made stars for three purposes: as decorations for the sky, to stone demons, and as guiding signs (for navigation). | |||
===Muslim Historians=== | ===Muslim Historians=== | ||
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Large increases in meteors occur on a predictable schedule each year as the Earth's orbit passes through the stream of particles and debris left in the wake of a number of comets (or in a few cases, of asteroids). They only burn in Earths atmosphere due to friction from travelling extremely fast in a vacuum which takes no energy, to being compressed by air in the atmosphere, rising the temperature and setting fire where there is oxygen.<ref name=":0">Science. How stuff works. ''[https://science.howstuffworks.com/question308.htm Meteors burn up when they hit the Earth's atmosphere. Why doesn't the space shuttle?]''</ref><ref>NASA Science. Spaceplace. ''[https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mesosphere/en/ Explore Earth and Space. Mesosphere.]''</ref> The most visible is usually the annual [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids Perseid meteor shower] in August, which easily look like stars with flames being used a weapon in the sky. Meteor showers look like stars 'pelting' from every side. | Large increases in meteors occur on a predictable schedule each year as the Earth's orbit passes through the stream of particles and debris left in the wake of a number of comets (or in a few cases, of asteroids). They only burn in Earths atmosphere due to friction from travelling extremely fast in a vacuum which takes no energy, to being compressed by air in the atmosphere, rising the temperature and setting fire where there is oxygen.<ref name=":0">Science. How stuff works. ''[https://science.howstuffworks.com/question308.htm Meteors burn up when they hit the Earth's atmosphere. Why doesn't the space shuttle?]''</ref><ref>NASA Science. Spaceplace. ''[https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/mesosphere/en/ Explore Earth and Space. Mesosphere.]''</ref> The most visible is usually the annual [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perseids Perseid meteor shower] in August, which easily look like stars with flames being used a weapon in the sky. Meteor showers look like stars 'pelting' from every side. | ||
If the flaming missiles mentioned by the Quran are to be identified with meteors burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, this would locate the eavesdropping devils (or jinn) in the upper atmosphere too, which leaves no way for the (extremely distant) stars to serve as guards in this process as outlined in the verses. Also, meteor paths are dictated by physics, so it is unclear how they could pursue a jinn/devil that moved out of it's directed course. | If the flaming missiles mentioned by the Quran are to be identified with meteors burning up in the Earth's atmosphere, this would locate the eavesdropping devils (or jinn) in the upper atmosphere too, which leaves no way for the (extremely distant) stars to serve as guards in this process as outlined in the verses. This would also place the angels inside or very close to the Earths atmosphere, so we would have expected to occasionally see them from Earth. Also, meteor paths are dictated by physics, so it is unclear how they could pursue a jinn/devil that moved out of it's directed course. | ||
Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy.<ref>National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 2021. Jeff Mangum. [https://public.nrao.edu/ask/what-is-the-average-distance-between-stars-in-our-galaxy/ ''What is the Average Distance Between Stars in our Galaxy?'']</ref> For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which is 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres.<ref>NASA. Exoplanet Exploration. FAQs. ''[https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/faq/26/what-is-a-light-year/ What is a light-year?]''</ref> This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | Stars are an average 5 light years away from each other in our galaxy.<ref>National Radio Astronomy Observatory. 2021. Jeff Mangum. [https://public.nrao.edu/ask/what-is-the-average-distance-between-stars-in-our-galaxy/ ''What is the Average Distance Between Stars in our Galaxy?'']</ref> For context, a light year is the distance light travels in one year, which is 5.88 trillion miles/9.46 trillion kilometres.<ref>NASA. Exoplanet Exploration. FAQs. ''[https://exoplanets.nasa.gov/faq/26/what-is-a-light-year/ What is a light-year?]''</ref> This again makes them an odd choice for a protection/guard, with trillions of miles/kilometers of mostly empty space between them. | ||
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===Meteors come from stars=== | ===Meteors come from stars=== | ||
Some apologists, for example, the highly influential [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abul_A'la_Maududi Abul Ala-Maududi] (d. 1979 AD) writing in light of much more modern science in his modern tasfir wrote:{{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://myislam.org/surah-al-mulk/ayat-5/#:~:text=Ala%2DMaududi,9. | title= Tasfir Abul Ala-Maududi 67.5}}|This does not mean that the stars themselves are pelted at the Satans, nor that the meteorites shoot out only to drive away the Satans, <b>but it means that the countless meteorites which originate from the stars and wander in space at tremendous speeds and which also fall to the earth in a continuous shower prevent the Satans of the earth from ascending to the heavens.</b> Even if they try to ascend heavenward these meteorites drive them away. This thing has been mentioned here because the Arabs believed about the soothsayers, and this also was the claim made by the soothsayers themselves, that the Satans were under their control, or that they had a close contact with them, and through them they received news of the unseen, and thus, could foretell the destinies of the people. That is why at several places in the Quran, it has been stated that there is absolutely no possibility for the Satans ascending to the heavens and bringing news of the unseen. For explanation, see (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 16-18) note 9-12, (Surah As-Saaffat, ayat 7-10) note 6,7. As for the truth about meteorites, man’s information in this regard is still without a scientific basis. However, the theory which seems best to account for all the facts known today and the information gathered from the examination of the meteorites fallen on the earth, is that meteorites originate from the disintegration of one or more planets and wander in space and sometimes fall to the earth under its gravitational pull. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. XV, under Meteorites).}} | Some apologists, for example, the highly influential [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abul_A'la_Maududi Abul Ala-Maududi] (d. 1979 AD) writing in light of much more modern science in his modern tasfir wrote:{{Quote|{{cite web| url=https://myislam.org/surah-al-mulk/ayat-5/#:~:text=Ala%2DMaududi,9. | title= Tasfir Abul Ala-Maududi 67.5}}|This does not mean that the stars themselves are pelted at the Satans, nor that the meteorites shoot out only to drive away the Satans, <b>but it means that the countless meteorites which originate from the stars and wander in space at tremendous speeds and which also fall to the earth in a continuous shower prevent the Satans of the earth from ascending to the heavens.</b> Even if they try to ascend heavenward these meteorites drive them away. This thing has been mentioned here because the Arabs believed about the soothsayers, and this also was the claim made by the soothsayers themselves, that the Satans were under their control, or that they had a close contact with them, and through them they received news of the unseen, and thus, could foretell the destinies of the people. That is why at several places in the Quran, it has been stated that there is absolutely no possibility for the Satans ascending to the heavens and bringing news of the unseen. For explanation, see (Surah Al-Hijr, ayat 16-18) note 9-12, (Surah As-Saaffat, ayat 7-10) note 6,7. As for the truth about meteorites, man’s information in this regard is still without a scientific basis. However, the theory which seems best to account for all the facts known today and the information gathered from the examination of the meteorites fallen on the earth, is that meteorites originate from the disintegration of one or more planets and wander in space and sometimes fall to the earth under its gravitational pull. (See Encyclopedia Britannica, vol. XV, under Meteorites).}} | ||
''Note: the claim that meteorites ('Meteorites' are specifically 'space rocks', i.e. the debris that have survived the burning all the way to Earth’s surface from meteors, not meteors themselves which are the burning objects and mostly come from comet debris) come from planets disintegrating is highly misleading and out-of-date. Very few meteors become meteorites (only 5-10%),<ref>Space.com. ''[https://www.space.com/33695-thousands-meteorites-litter-earth-unpredictable-collisions.html How Often do Meteorites Hit the Earth?]'' 2016. Samantha Mathewson. </ref> and of those that do, ~99.8% percent of meteorites are believed to originate from asteroids with the remaining small fraction (~0.2%) of meteorites originating from an asteroid or comet colliding with either the Mars or the Moon (split roughly equally between them), and the debris eventually falling into Earths gravitational pull.<ref>''NASA. [https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/facts/ Meteors and Meteorites: Facts.]''</ref> The moon is never mentioned having this function, and Mars is only one of approximately 700 quintillion planets, with the rest being too far away for this.<ref>''[https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/space-astronomy/astronomy-articles/how-many-planets-universe/ There are over 700 quintillion planets in the universe — but there’s no place like home.]'' ZME Science. 2023. Tibi Puiu.</ref> Planets themselves, just like stars, are not missiles throw to become meteors.'' | ''Note: the claim that meteorites ('Meteorites' are specifically 'space rocks', i.e. the debris that have survived the burning all the way to Earth’s surface from meteors, not meteors themselves which are the burning objects and mostly come from comet debris) come from planets disintegrating is highly misleading and out-of-date. Very few meteors become meteorites (only 5-10%),<ref>Space.com. ''[https://www.space.com/33695-thousands-meteorites-litter-earth-unpredictable-collisions.html How Often do Meteorites Hit the Earth?]'' 2016. Samantha Mathewson. </ref> and of those that do, ~99.8% percent of meteorites are believed to originate from asteroids with the remaining small fraction (~0.2%) of meteorites originating from an asteroid or comet colliding with either the Mars or the Moon (split roughly equally between them), and the debris eventually falling into Earths gravitational pull.<ref>''NASA. [https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/meteors-meteorites/facts/ Meteors and Meteorites: Facts.]''</ref> The moon is never mentioned having this function, and Mars is only one of approximately 700 quintillion planets, with the rest being too far away for this.<ref>''[https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/space-astronomy/astronomy-articles/how-many-planets-universe/ There are over 700 quintillion planets in the universe — but there’s no place like home.]'' ZME Science. 2023. Tibi Puiu.</ref> Planets themselves, just like stars, are not missiles throw to become meteors - so this contradicts the literal meaning of the Quran.'' | ||
'''Objections to this claim''' | '''Objections to this claim''' | ||
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3. In light of the previous point, naming stars/lamps/constellations as a protection is a totally pointless link to make as they have nothing to do with the story, which should focus only on the flames if meteors were what was being mentioned. The stars could have been described as being made for anything else in the universe as they create heavy elements for everything, yet they only are in this context where it is easy for humans to confuse the two. | 3. In light of the previous point, naming stars/lamps/constellations as a protection is a totally pointless link to make as they have nothing to do with the story, which should focus only on the flames if meteors were what was being mentioned. The stars could have been described as being made for anything else in the universe as they create heavy elements for everything, yet they only are in this context where it is easy for humans to confuse the two. | ||
4. If it meant something like the unknown sources of meteors at the time, it easily could have used another of the many | 4. If it meant something like the unknown sources of meteors at the time, it easily could have used another of the many words for objects/things in the heavens rather than those which have a different meaning. Or a generic term such as 'ajrām as-samāwiyya/ الأجرام السماوية' for heavenly bodies, which can be used to cover all things in the sky (and therefore cover the unknown debris), without using words specifically designated to stars. | ||
In other words, this has involved twisting the text into something that isn't there. | In other words, this has involved twisting the text into something that isn't there. | ||
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On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in {{Quran|37|6}}, and {{Quran|67|5}}, there are an estimated minimum c.100 septillion stars<ref>NASA. Universe Exploration. ''[https://universe.nasa.gov/stars/basics/ Basics. Stars.]''</ref> in the known universe, but only a few thousand are actually visible to the naked eye.<ref>[https://lovethenightsky.com/how-many-stars-can-i-see/ ''How many stars can I see at night?''] Astronomy. Lovethenightsky. Tanya C. Forde.</ref> | On a separate note, though stars are described as an ornament or beauty for the sky in {{Quran|37|6}}, and {{Quran|67|5}}, there are an estimated minimum c.100 septillion stars<ref>NASA. Universe Exploration. ''[https://universe.nasa.gov/stars/basics/ Basics. Stars.]''</ref> in the known universe, but only a few thousand are actually visible to the naked eye.<ref>[https://lovethenightsky.com/how-many-stars-can-i-see/ ''How many stars can I see at night?''] Astronomy. Lovethenightsky. Tanya C. Forde.</ref> | ||
There is also nothing said of their function of holding planetary systems together,<ref>NASA Science. Astrophysics. Focus Areas. ''[https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve/ Stars.]''</ref> which could have easily been done by differentiation of fixed stars from moving stars, and shown genuine scientific foreknowledge. | There is also nothing said of their function of holding planetary systems together,<ref>NASA Science. Astrophysics. Focus Areas. ''[https://science.nasa.gov/astrophysics/focus-areas/how-do-stars-form-and-evolve/ Stars.]''</ref> which could have easily been done by the differentiation of fixed stars from moving stars, and shown genuine scientific foreknowledge. | ||
The fact that the Quran labels stars as rujūman (رُجُومًا)<ref>رُجُومًا - [http://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume3/00000214.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 1048]</ref> 'things that are thrown', seemingly by approximately human-sized angels at human-sized jinn. Along with verses {{Quran|81|2}} saying stars will 'fall/dart down' (inkadarat ٱنكَدَرَتْ)<ref>[https://www.studyquran.org/LaneLexicon/Volume7/00000124.pdf Lane's Lexicon p. 2596] - ٱنكَدَرَتْ</ref> on judgement day, which has been taken to mean fall onto Earth by major classical commentators,<ref>''[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Jalal/81.2 Tafsir Al-Jalalayn Verse 81.2.]'' Jalal al-Din al-Mahalli (d. 864 ah / 1459 ce) and his pupil Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti (d. 911 ah / 1505 ce).</ref><ref>[https://quranx.com/Tafsir/Abbas/81.2 ''Tanwîr al-Miqbâs min Tafsîr Ibn ‘Abbâs Verse 81.2''.] Ibn Abbas. Unknown date.</ref> <ref>''[https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=0&tTafsirNo=1&tSoraNo=81&tAyahNo=2&tDisplay=yes&Page=2&Size=1&LanguageId=1 Tafsir of Al-Tabari on verse 81.2]''. Al-Tabari. b ~839 d. 923</ref> heavily implies another scientific error; in that the author thought stars were much smaller than they really are, as they appear from Earth, when in reality they're often millions of kilometres wide.<ref>''[https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-astronomy/chapter/diameters-of-stars/ Diameters of Stars]''. The Stars: A Celestial Census. Astronomy. lumenlearning.com</ref> | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||