“He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a reflected light, with precisely ordained phases, so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Allah did not create all this except for a purpose. He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.” (Qur’an 10:5)
“Indeed, in the alternation of the night and the day and [in] what Allāh has created in the heavens and the earth are signs for a people who fear Allāh.” (Qur’an 10:6)
(Ramaḍan is the month (shahru) in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority.” (Qur’an 2:185)
Say, “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light? Then will you not hear?
Say, “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?” (Qur’an 28:71-72)
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Subhan’Allah!
“And He is the One Who spread out the earth and placed firm mountains and rivers upon it, and created fruits of every kind in pairs. He covers the day with night. Surely these are signs for those who reflect.” (Qur’an 13:3)
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of day and night, there are signs for people of reason.” (Qur’an 3: 190)
“Will they then not reflect on the Qur’an, or are there locks on the hearts?” (Qur’an 47:24)
If you are a teacher, you can easily give your student the answer to a question. However, it is much more fulfilling, not necessarily for the teacher but for the student to give the student the tools needed to find the answer.
We often expect that we can open the Qur’an, this chapter of that verse and find the answer. However, Allah (swt) has asked us to ponder upon the Qur’an. Simultaneously, Allah (swt) has asked us to ponder upon natural phenomena.
When is the last time any of us have reflected upon time? When is the last time anyone of us has reflected upon the calendar? The nature of the calendar. Who invented the calendar? What purpose does the calendar serve? Why is there a solar calendar and a lunar calendar? What is the difference between the two?
Please take some time to research this.
Now, we want to propose a thought experiment. Let us suppose that we are a people who live in the circumpolar arctic. All we know is 6 months of darkness and then 6 months of light.
Between a solar calendar and a lunar calendar, which of the two are we most likely to invent on our own based upon observable phenomena? We will give you a huge clue. The question is a trick question.
If today you were to travel to the circumpolar arctic and ask the people what day it is today. They would say that today is 4/4/2024 on the Julian calendar (a solar calendar).
If we ran into any Muslims they would say 24 of Ramadan 1445 (a lunar calendar).
Yet if we pressed them on this: Where did you get this information from? The most obvious answer would be the calendar. Yes, but where did they get this information from?
In other words, the concept of time that we find in the circumpolar arctic is not intrinsic to the people of that region. We have searched and not found any archeological evidence of the people of that region developing a calendar or a system independent of the solar or lunar calendars that are used by people the world over. You could say in a sense (forgive the pun) they are frozen in time. Though we know that this is not the case.
The point is that their concept of a month is not intrinsic to that region. Their reality is taken from the people nearest to them. Those who they had contact with. Those who migrated to those regions with this concept of time.
“And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread at dawn . Then complete the fast until the night. And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the masjid.These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not exceed them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses to the people that they may become righteous.” (Qur’an 2:187)
There are a few interesting highlights from this verse.
A) Eat and drink until the white thread/black thread becomes clear at fajr (dawn).
B) Then complete the fast at night (al-layli) (not maghrib) — this is because maghrib in Arabic is a euphemism for “sunset” and or “west”. It, too, can be used to describe heavy, thick darkness (Qur’an 35:27) (al-layli encompasses maghrib), which is because layl begins at sunset.
“Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] (wagharabibu) extremely black.” (Qur’an 35:27)
C) Those are Allah’s limits: keep well within them.
D) Allah makes clear his ayat (verses/signs) to people.
(Ramaḍân is the month (shahru) in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority.” (Qur’an 2:185)
So, what is a shahr? A month is 29/30 days according to lunar calculations.
“He is the One Who made the sun a radiant source and the moon a reflected light, with precisely ordained phases, so that you may know the number of years and calculation ˹of time˺. Allah did not create all this except for a purpose. He makes the signs clear for people of knowledge.” (Qur’an 10:5)
This verse also proves to us that time is not absolute. However, to have a functioning society, Allah (swt) has given us time relative to celestial bodies.
“And We have made the night and day two signs, and We erased the sign of the night and made the sign of the day visible so that you may seek bounty from your Lord and may know the number of years and the account [of time]. And everything We have set out in detail.” (Qur’an 17:12)
Months are used to calculate many aspects of Islamic law.
“Indeed, the number of months with Allah is twelve months in the register of Allah(kitabi-l-lahi), the day He created the heavens and the earth; of these, four are sacred. That is the correct religion, so do not wrong yourselves during them. And fight against the disbelievers collectively as they fight against you collectively. And know that Allah is with the righteous.” (Qur’an 9:36)
What is very interesting is that we have a template given to us by Allah (swt). This template is used for many aspects of Islamic law.
“And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind – for their wives is a bequest: maintenance for one year without turning them out. But if they leave , then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable way. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 2:240)
” And those who are taken in death among you and leave wives behind – they, [the wives, shall] wait four months and ten days. And when they have fulfilled their term, then there is no blame upon you for what they do with themselves in an acceptable manner. And Allah is Acquainted with what you do.” (Qur’an 2:234)
“It is not lawful for a believer to kill another except by mistake. And whoever kills a believer unintentionally must free a believing slave and pay blood-money to the victim’s family—unless they waive it charitably. But if the victim is a believer from a hostile people, then a believing slave must be freed. And if the victim is from a people bound with you in a treaty, then blood-money must be paid to the family along with freeing a believing slave. Those who are unable, let them fast two consecutive months—as a means of repentance to Allah. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise” (Qur’an 4:92)
This same template can be used anywhere on Earth as well as anywhere we travel in the stars. For example, let us say, for the sake of discussion, that it is feasible to live on Venus.
A day on Venus lasts for 243 Earth days or 5,832 hours! However, if we traveled to Venus we would travel with the flow of time relative to us. We would take our conceptual model of time with us.
So, for example: let us say that we left Earth on the 4th of April 2024. Let us say it takes 30 ‘earth days’ as that would be the unit of measure. When we arrive, it will be the 4th of May 2024. In all of our logs and journals we will record events relative to Earth UT (Universal time).
Of course, all the variables, via the science of mathematics, can be worked out with regard to method and mode of travel, the speed at which one was traveling and so forth.
The important point is that we have a template!
(Ramaḍân is the month (shahru) in which the Quran was revealed as a guide for humanity with clear proofs of guidance and the decisive authority.” (Qur’an 2:185)
“Believers! Fasting is enjoined upon you, as it was enjoined upon those before you, that you become righteous. Fasting is for a fixed number of days, and if one of you be sick, or if one of you be on a journey, you will fast the same number of other days later on. For those who are capable of fasting there is a redemption: feeding a needy man for each day missed. Whoever voluntarily does more good than is required, will find it better for him; and that you should fast is better for you, if you only know. During the month of Ramadan the Qur’an was sent down as a guidance to the people with Clear Signs of the true guidance and as the Criterion (between right and wrong). So those of you who live to see that month should fast it, and whoever is sick or on a journey should fast the same number of other days instead. Allah wants ease and not hardship for you so that you may complete the number of days required, magnify Allah for what He has guided you to, and give thanks to Him.) (Qur’an 2:183-185)
- Fasting is enjoined us.
- Those who live to see that month (Ramadan) should fast.
- Complete the number of days
- If sick or on a journey fast the same number on other days.
- Fasting is for a fixed number of days.
“And eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct to you from the black thread at of dawn . Then complete the fast until the night . And do not have relations with them as long as you are staying for worship in the masjid. These are the limits [set by] Allah, so do not exceed them. Thus does Allāh make clear His verses to the people that they may become righteous.” (Qur’an 2:187)
- We can eat and drink until the white thread becomes distinct from the black thread at dawn.
- We complete the fast at night, which begins at sunset.
- We know those are the limits (template) set by Allah.
- Allah makes his signs/verses clear.
We know that the concept of time that we find in the circumpolar arctic is not intrinsic to the people of that region. That they (those 10 million souls) in the circumpolar arctic follow the template of time to those near to them. It makes logical sense that they follow the template of fasting to those nearest to them with a true ‘sunrise’ and true ‘sunset’.
Just as a blind person would be dependent upon the one who can see to navigate for them. Thus, Allah (swt) creates relationships both dependent and inter-dependent.
It is actually a template that could theoretically be brought to other planets and/or star systems.
The other point we found fascinating is this. Everything is relative to our perception of things. As mentioned in another article if the Qur’an wording things differently we would have been accused of being flat earthers.
Please see the following article:
https://primaquran.com/2022/10/04/the-quran-and-the-setting-of-the-sun-in-a-murky-spring
May Allah (swt) guide us to what is beloved to Allah.
May Allah (swt) guide the Ummah. May Allah (swt) forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 