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Shooting Stars in the Quran: Difference between revisions
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===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 [[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 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].}} | ||
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{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.}} | {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 | 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.}} | {{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=== | ||