The Moon Reflects the Sun’s Light

Islamists claim that the moon reflects the sun’s light—by the way, I have always wondered whether they think people are ignorant—relying primarily on this verse: “It is He who made the sun a radiance and the moon a light […]” (Surah Yunus, verse 5).

Let’s take a closer look at this verse, which Muslim preachers present as proof of their claim. “The sun is a radiance, and the moon is a light.” It takes an extraordinary level of deception from an Islamist to discover a “miracle” in the use of two different words to describe two celestial bodies that shine in different ways.

Maurice Bucaille reminds us that “the moon, which does not shine by itself, merely reflects the light it receives from the sun and is a passive celestial body.” But the question remains: where in this verse does Muhammad mention the reflection of sunlight by the moon?

Do you see any miracle here? Perhaps you will discover a detail that sheds light on the matter.

Incidentally, in verse 35 of Surah An-Nur, Muhammad describes Allah using the same word used for the moon (“light”):
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth!”
Based on the preacher’s interpretation of the moon, wouldn’t this mean that Allah “does not shine by Himself, but merely reflects light” from some unknown deity that Muslims are unaware of?

There seems to be no objection to this bold interpretation.

Let us also remember that, unfortunately, the Quran was not the first text to discuss the moon and the sun. Anaxagoras preceded the Quran in the fifth century BCE and was condemned for blasphemy because he claimed that the sun was a hot stone and that the moon was made of earth. Likewise, the Old Testament mentions the moon, and here are some verses that appear clearer than the Quran:

“Indeed, the moon itself does not shine, and the stars are not pure in His sight.” (Job 25:5)
“And let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so.” (Genesis 1:15)
“And God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night, and also the stars.” (Genesis 1:16)
“And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:17)
“To rule over the day and the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:18)

The Quran did not introduce anything new; it merely borrowed from earlier sources. We may understand the stance of simple people who believe in such claims, but what about modern-day Muslims who continue to repeat the same words and propagate the same ignorance? Have they closed their minds to such an extent?

“Do you not see how Allah created seven heavens in layers and made the moon a light therein and the sun a lamp?” (Surah Nuh, verses 15 and 16).

You can also read: The Importance of Money in Gnosticism