The sun and moon are therefore among the blessings that Allah has graciously bestowed upon His servants. He—Glorified is He—has made them move ceaselessly—that is, continuously and without pause—serving human interests by enabling the reckoning of time and benefiting human bodies, animals, crops, and fruits. He—Glorified is He—has made them proceed according to a precise calculation and an ordained measure from which they never depart, whether by rising or descending, veering right or left, or advancing or falling behind. As He—Glorified is He—says: “The sun and the moon follow a precise calculation.” 1. He Most High also says: “The sun travels toward its appointed course. That is the determination of the Almighty, the All-Knowing. And for the moon We have ordained phases, until it returns like an old, curved palm stalk. The sun cannot overtake the moon, nor can the night outstrip the day. Each floats in an orbit.” 2.

Moreover, the sun and moon are two of Allah’s signs and two of His creations. They shine forth by His command and are eclipsed by His command. When Allah Most High wills to warn His servants of the consequences of their sins and acts of disobedience, He eclipses them by causing all or part of their light to disappear—as a warning and reminder to His servants, so that they may return, repent, and turn back to Him, fulfilling what their Lord has commanded them and abandoning what He has forbidden them. As He Most High says: “We send the signs only as a warning.” 3. This demonstrates the perfection of Allah’s power: He—Glorified is He—is able to transform things, alter circumstances, and direct creation however He wills. One manifestation of this is His changing the condition of the sun and moon from light and radiance to blackness and darkness. Allah has power over all things.