📖Quran 71:16
And made the moon therein a light and made the sun a burning lamp.”
But in Arabic, the moon is described as “nūr” (نُور) – which does not mean a source of light. It means reflected, borrowed, or gentle light.
Now read this:
📖Quran 10:5
It is He who made the sun a shining light (ḍiyāʼan) and the moon a reflected light (nūran)…”
Here Allah uses two different words:
- Ḍiyāʼ (ضياء) for the sun – self-generated, intense light.
- Nūr (نور) for the moon – reflected light.
Reference: Why Does the Moon Shine
When the Qur’an says the moon is a light (nūr),
it’s describing what it becomes after reflection, not what it is by itself.
If the Qur’an wanted to say the moon gives off its own light, it would have called it ḍiyāʼ or sirāj like the sun. But it never does.
So yes, the Qur’an calls the moon a light, but it also explains how it becomes light, by reflecting the sun’s radiance, This distinction matches modern science perfectly, The sun emits light, and the moon reflects it, exactly what the Qur’an said 1400 years ago, long before telescopes and astronomy textbooks.
- The Qur’an doesn’t say the moon is inherently a source of light.
It says that after reflecting the sun’s radiance, the moon becomes visible as light.
That’s why the word nūr is used – light that’s not coming from within, but appearing due to reflection.
And since the moon is able to produce visible light after reflecting sunlight, if the Qur’an didn’t call it “light,” that would actually be incorrect. - The Qur’an used the right word – not for the source, but for the result.
This precision in language shows that the Qur’an described the moon’s reality long before science did.
Additional Information
The Qur’an is not primarily a scientific textbook, but it provides signs and guidance that point to the wonders of the universe and creation. Its core purpose is to offer a comprehensive framework for how to live a righteous and purposeful life, guiding humanity in understanding why we are here and how to fulfill our role in this world. While the Qur’an speaks about the natural world and the universe, it does not delve deeply into scientific explanations. Instead, it encourages humans to observe, reflect, and explore the world around them. As the Qur’an mentions, humanity is urged to “Say, ‘Travel through the land and observe how He originated creation. Then Allah will produce the final creation. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent. (Surah Ankabut, 29:20)” and contemplate the creation of the heavens and the earth, the cycles of nature, and the intricate balance of life. These reflections are meant to inspire curiosity and deepen our understanding of the world, leaving space for human discovery and scientific exploration. The Qur’an acknowledges the human capacity for knowledge and exploration, guiding us to seek wisdom through our own efforts and observation, with faith and reverence for the Creator.