Tafsir of Luqman 31:29

The Might and Power of Allah Allah tells us that He Allah says:

ألم تر أن الله يولج الليل في النهار

ويولج النهار في الليل

See you not that Allah merges the night into the day, and merges the day into the night, meaning, He takes from the night and adds to the day, so that the day becomes longer and the night shorter, which is what happens in summer when the days are longest; then the day starts to become shorter and the night longer, which is what happens in winter.

وسخر الشمس والقمر كل يجري إلى أجل مسمى

and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for a term appointed; It was said that this means, each runs within its set limits, or it means until the Day of Resurrection; both meanings are correct. The first view is supported by the Hadith of Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, in the Two Sahihs, according to which the Messenger of Allah said:

يا أبا ذر أتدري أين تذهب هذه الشمس

O Abu Dharr! Do you know where this sun goes? I (Abu Dharr) said: "Allah and His Messenger know best.'' He said:

فٳنها تذهب فتسجد تحت العرش ثم تستٲذن ربها فيوشك أن يقال لها ارجعي من حيث جيت

It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne, then it seeks permission from its Lord, and soon it will be said: "Go back from whence you came.'' Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that Ibn Abbas said, "The sun is like flowing water, running in its course in the sky during the day. When it sets, it travels in its course beneath the earth until it rises in the east.'' He said, "The same is true in the case of the moon.'' Its chain of narration is Sahih.

وأن الله بما تعملون خبير

and that Allah is All-Aware of what you do. This is like the Ayah,

ألم تعلم أن الله يعلم ما فى السماء واﻻرض

Know you not that Allah knows all that is in the heaven and the earth. (22:70) The meaning is that Allah is the Creator Who knows all things, as He says:

الله الذى خلق سبع سموت ومن اﻻرض مثلهن

It is Allah Who has created seven heavens and of the earth the like thereof. (65:12)