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Shooting Stars in the Quran: Difference between revisions
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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 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. | 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. | ||
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{{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."}} | {{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''' | ||