Isn't this hadith about sunset unscientific?
The hadith in question, where the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentions that the sun goes and prostrates under the Throne of Allah, is indeed a metaphorical description of the sun's setting. In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated: He said, 'It goes and prostrates under the Throne.' This is the meaning of the verse: 'And the sun runs to a place of rest. That is the decree of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.'
Sahih al-Bukhari 65:324.
In Islamic tradition, such descriptions are often understood in a metaphorical context rather than a literal scientific explanation. The intention behind such narrations is to convey spiritual truths and the majesty of Allah's creation, rather than to provide scientific details about celestial mechanics.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir also emphasizes that while the sun appears to set, it does not actually cease to exist or move in a manner that contradicts scientific understanding. The sun and moon have their orbits and appointed terms, as stated in the Qur'an: Hast thou not seen how Allah causeth the night to pass into the day and causeth the day to pass into the night, and hath subdued the sun and the moon (to do their work)...
31:29.
Thus, the essence of the hadith and these verses can be appreciated as part of the broader Islamic worldview, where both spiritual insights and scientific understanding can coexist without necessarily being in conflict.
Sources
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31:29 · Luqman
31:29 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّۭ يَجْرِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍۢ مُّسَمًّۭى وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌۭ
Hast thou not seen how Allah causeth the night to pass into the day and causeth the day to pass into the night, and hath subdued the sun and the moon (to do their work), each running unto an appointed term; and that Allah is Informed of what ye do?
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Sahih al-Bukhari 65:324
Sahih al-Bukhari · Book 65, Hadith 324 · Narrated by Abi Dharr
I was with the Prophet (ﷺ) in the mosque at sunset. He said, 'O Abu Dharr, do you know where the sun sets?' I said, 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said, 'It goes and prostrates under the Throne.' This is the meaning of the verse: 'And the sun runs to a place of rest. That is the decree of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.'
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