Interpretation of Fortress 91 (The Sun)
I seek refuge in God from the cursed Satan
In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful
1. “Behold the sun and its brightness.”
2. “Then the moon as it follows it (the sun)!”
3. “Behold the day (the rivers of blessings) as He reveals (them).”
4. “Then the Night as it enshrouds (them)!”
5. “Behold the heaven and how He built it.”
6. “Then the earth and how He spread (blessings upon) it!”
7. “Behold the spirit and how He formed it to perfection,”
8. “And inspired it with knowledge of its immorality and its piety.”
9. “Successful are those who purify it;”
10. “And unsuccessful are those who corrupt it!”
11. “(The tribe of) Thamud has denied (their Prophet) in their transgression.”
12. “When the most wicked man advanced (in impiety).”
13. “The Envoy of Allah said to them, ‘It is Al’lah’s she-camel! And (prevent her not from having) her drink!’ “
14. “However, they disbelieved him, and bereaved her. Thus, for their sin, their Provider took away their blood and razed them.”
15. “Does he (the transgressor) has no fear of its consequences?”
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The overall meaning:
In this Fortress, God the Almighty wants to exhort us and warn us not to deny the truth, as He wishes to acquaint us with the punishment of those who deny the truth, and let us know about the intense torment that will afflict those who transgress in this regard.
One of the laws and rules of the spirit is that it will not pay attention to any exhortation – nor will it desist from its error – unless it ascertains the strength and superior power of the one who exhorts it.
The Almighty thus introduced this Fortress with a series of Verses which acquaint the spirit with two things: firstly, the Might of its Creator, and secondly, His Clemency, Compassion, Tenderness and continuous Favor. God says:
Verse no. 1
1. “Behold the Sun and its brightness.”
“Its brightness” refers to its emergence; its daily rise into the sky above us, having left us at sunset on the previous day.
This word also refers to the blessings which the sun brings into existence, and the benefits which come from its heat, light and other qualities, with which it was endowed by God.
This blazing globe, this shining lamp has been supplying the whole world with heat and light for thousands of years, throughout many generations of human life. Even now it continues to burn, with no lessening of its great power.
The properties contained in the rays of the sun are helpful for the life of humans, animals and plants.
The sun’s location in space is at a suitable distance from the earth; there is a positive relationship between the sun and the earth that causes the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter.
The sun has innumerable benefits and advantages. If you study them, you will find that they are endless and limitless.
All this is folded into the Verse “Behold the Sun and its brightness”, and only Allah knows all the signs contained in the sun.
Without the sun no plant can grow, no crops can be harvested, no fruit can ripen, and neither human nor animal can live.
Without the sun no seawater will evaporate, no winds can blow, no clouds will be formed, and neither snow nor rain can fall from the sky.
Without the sun, no seasons will be created and there will be no generation of either night or day.
Oh, Student! Look at the creation and composition of the sun, and then ask yourself:
Where does it derive its heat and light from?
If the earth was to approach the sun – including all of its seas, rivers, plains, mountains, soil, metal and stone – it would all melt away in a single moment; nay, rather it would all evaporate and turn into smoke.
I wonder: where does this sun take its fire from?
What happens inside the sun, making it send forth its rays to you, providing you with such amounts of heat and light?
Reflect on the regulation of its heat, and the continuity of this regulation! There is radiation constantly within its quarterly and annual periodic systems as it passes through the constellations, and there is no increase or decrease in this radiation within its established routine.
Had its heat increased or decreased from its normal temperature, the system of the earth would have become deranged, and life would have been rendered impossible.
Oh, human! Consider the appropriate distance between the sun and the earth: if the earth changes its orbit in any way, so that it is even one mile closer to the sun, the sun’s heat will burn up every human, animal and plant on the globe. Also, during its yearly circulation through the constellations[5] , if the distance between the sun and the earth at the top of its orbit was to increase by so much as a single mile, the surface of the earth would become frozen, and it would no longer be habitable.
I wonder: who has placed it in this appropriate location, and brought it into existence in such a context?
Contemplate gravity, this connection between the sun and the earth without which there would be no circulation and no life; without it you would not have experienced the seasons or night and day; nor would the earth have yielded up its various crops of plants and fruits.
Meditate on the sun’s rays, and their heat and light, and how they cause the legumes to grow and the cereal to mature.
See how they color the fruits and flowers and give them their special smells, tastes and qualities.
Is it not fitting for you to think of all of this and to ask yourself to search for whatever has formed and created this sun?
Who has joined it to the earth and allowed them to move together?
Who continues to supply the sun with so much heat and light?
Who has put it at such a proper distance from the earth?
Is not that Peerless Originator Cognizant and Wise?
Is not that Provider Who supplies it a Mighty One?
Does this sun not guide us to Allah, the Omniscience, and the Omnipotence?
Having drawn our attention to the sun – which is a rich abode for thinking and a wide field for deep looking and consideration – God wanted to point out another sign. He says:
Verse no. 2
2. “Then the Moon as it follows it (the sun)!”
The Almighty wants us to notice the moon which appears and rises over us.
Let us think of this moon, this great body which swims in space, this mass which is thousands of times bigger than the most sizable mountain on earth!
I wonder how does it swim?
What prevents it from falling down?
What keeps it moving in its trajectory, without disorder or disturbance?
Let us ponder on this luminous planet:
What makes it the source of such a gentle light, which is shed over the whole land in the pitch-dark night in such a way that it relieves fear and suffering from people’s hearts, puts the sick at ease, and allays their pain?
Who has made its rays from such subdued lighting, without glow or heat, so as to help people relax when they have their utmost need for rest? Who has made it circle the earth?
Who keeps it joined to the earth without separation?
Who has made it pass through its phases, one after the other, growing gradually moment by moment and day by day?
Who makes it appear like a small, arched crescent in its first days, and then turns it into a full moon in the middle of the month? Who causes it to pass back through its phases until it wanes and goes out of sight?
Who lets it move according to such a regular cycle of movement?
During its course, it does not come either one moment before or after its defined time; nor does it deviate from its orbit even one hair’s breadth.
Then, when it completes its circulations, it turns back into a nascent moon to indicate the coming of a new month, so that we can compute the years and distinguish between the months and the days.
Is not the moon one of the most marvelous signs of God?
Verily, there are uncountable signs in the moon that point to its Grand Creator, Who has made it upon the basis of such finesse, accuracy and perfection.
Self-Activity:
- Memorize Fortress Al-Shams very well with your teacher in your school and cooperate with your friends and family at home trying to memorize it very well and to understand its great interpretation.
- God wants to draw your attention to Surah Al-Shams by mentioning it in the holy Qur’an in order to acquaint you with (Him) your Grand Creator and to attain true belief through your continuous serious contemplation of its Verses, so keep thinking. Also the moon, this luminous planet….which led our master Ibrahim (pth) [6] nearer to God and he believed (by his noble heart) that ''There is no god but Al'lah'' through his deep thinking of the planets, the moon and the sun… all the prophets and the messengers (ptt) [7] did the same, and their companions followed them too, they knew heartedly their Almighty Provider and drew nearer to God throughout this universe, therefore dear student don’t waste your precious time and try to attain this sublime knowledge, because getting knowledge in the age of youth is like carving on a stone, will be steady in heart and last forever.
Questions and Exercises:
1- Explain, what would have happened if the sun had got closer to the Earth by changing its orbit to be one mile nearer to it?
2- Mention some benefits that the human gains from the moon?