Transliteration:( Wa Huwal lazee khalaqal laila wannahaara washshamsa wal qamara kullun fee falakiny yasbahoon )
"And it is He Who created the night and the day [49] and the sun and the moon. Each one is floating in a circumference [50]."
This verse reminds us of Allah’s perfect design in the creation of night and day.
The night is meant for rest, while the day is for work and striving.
It also hints at a subtle legal and spiritual principle:
Islamic rulings—like the start of a new day in the lunar calendar—begin after sunset, not sunrise, because darkness precedes light.
This divine system ensures both physical wellbeing and spiritual order, and aligns worldly timekeeping with Shari'ah wisdom.
The phrase “floating in a circumference” highlights that the sun, moon, and celestial bodies move in fixed orbits, without crashing or deviating—a sign of divine precision.
This motion is described as like floating in water, suggesting fluidity, grace, and balance, not chaos or collision.
The sky is described as a fluid-like space, not a solid ceiling—hinting at a reality in which objects like stars, planets, and even space probes move smoothly.
This verse does not contradict the reality of space travel or the Mi'raj (ascension) of the Prophet ﷺ.
Rather, it affirms that the heavens are navigable, and that all things move by Allah’s will in divinely fixed paths.
It also refutes ancient mythologies and reminds us that both ancient and modern claims must align with the truths revealed by Allah, not speculative theories.
The tafsir of Surah Anbiya verse 33 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Anbiya ayat 30 which provides the complete commentary from verse 30 through 33.
(21:33) It is He Who created the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Each of them is floating in its orbit.[35]
35. The use of the words kullun (all) and yasbahun (float) in the plural (for more than two) indicates that not only the sun and the moon but all the heavenly bodies are floating in their own separate orbits and none of them is fixed or stationary. These (Surah Al-Anbiya, ayat 30-33) are capable of being interpreted in the modern scientific terms in accordance with the present day conceptions of Physics, Biology and Astronomy.
Here it should also be noted that (Surah Al-Anbiya, ayat 19-23) refute shirk while verses 30-33 present positive proofs of Tauhid. They imply that the creation and regular functioning of the universe clearly show that it is the work of One All- Powerful Creator, and no sensible person can say that it has been created as a mere pastime for the sake of fun. When the fact is this and you see proofs of the doctrine of Tauhid all around you, in the earth and heavens, why do you reject the message of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and demand other signs from him.
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