The scientific truth behind the rising of the sun from the west
Fatwa No: 92288

Question

heard about sun rise at the west on the day of qyiamat. what may be the scientific truth behind it?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. We ask Allaah to exalt his mention as well as that of his family and all his companions.

 

We have already clarified in Fataawa 82276 and 87474 that the rising of the sun from the west is one of the major sings of the Day of Judgement, so please refer to them. You, undoubtedly, know that the One Who causes the sun to rise from the west is Allaah, the Most Exalted. Allaah Says on the tongue of Ibraaheem (what means): {Verily! Allaah causes the sun to rise from the east.}[Quran 2:258]. But when the time of the Hour comes nearer, which is a time that no one knows but Allaah Who has power over all that He wills, He will order the sun to rise from where it came from, which means from the West. The Prophet made this crystal clear; Abu Tharr narrated:  "The Prophet asked me: "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied: "Allaah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates underneath the Throne (of Allaah) and then takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted, and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its usual course but it will not be permitted, rather it will be ordered to return from where it has come and so it will rise from the west. That is the interpretation of the Saying of Allaah (which means): {And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the Decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.}[Quran 36:38]” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] Ibn 'Ashoor said: 'The place where its course finishes refers to ‘under the throne’, which is a specific description of a place that is beyond people’s knowledge and that represents the end of its daily course; and it is also the place where it stops to rise from the east and rises from the west instead.'

Allaah Knows best.

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