The Quran, in verse 71:16, makes a claim about the moon that has sparked debate due to its apparent conflict with modern science. The verse states:
Arabic Text:
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًۭا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًۭا
Translation:
“And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp?”
This verse explicitly describes the moon as a “light” using the Arabic word نُورً (nur). The problem? The moon does not produce its own light—it reflects the sun’s light. This is a basic fact of astronomy, and the Quran’s wording suggests otherwise, presenting a clear scientific error. Let’s break it down without mincing words.
The Meaning of “نُورً” (Nur)
The word نُورً (nur) is central to this discussion. According to the reputable Almaany Arabic-English dictionary (available at https://www.almaany.com/en/dict/ar-en/نور/), its meanings include:
- To illuminate
- Light up
- Blaze
- Blink
- Flash
- Glimmer
- Glitter
- Highlight
- Illumine
Notice what’s missing: “to reflect light.” The standard definition of نُورً implies a source of illumination, not a reflective surface. The Quran says the moon is “a light therein” (نُورًۭا فِيهِنَّ), suggesting it has light within itself or is inherently luminous. This directly contradicts science—the moon is a passive reflector, not a light source.
Compare this to the sun, which the verse calls a سِرَاجًۭا (siraj), meaning “lamp.” A lamp generates its own light, and this fits the sun perfectly. The distinction in wording reinforces the idea that the Quran treats the moon as a self-illuminating body, not a reflector. If the intent was to describe reflected light, Arabic has words like انعكاس (in‘ikās, reflection) that could have been used—but they aren’t.
The Scientific Reality
The moon does not have “light therein.” It’s a rocky body that shines only because it reflects sunlight. This has been understood since at least the time of early modern astronomers, and today it’s elementary science. The Quran’s claim that the moon is a “light” aligns with the pre-scientific worldview of 7th-century Arabia, where celestial bodies were often seen as inherently luminous. That’s not surprising for a text of its time—but it’s undeniably wrong by today’s standards.
The Apologists’ Defense: A Miracle?
Some Muslim apologists argue that Quran 71:16 is a “miracle” of scientific foreknowledge. They reinterpret نُورً as “reflected light,” suggesting the verse subtly distinguishes the moon’s light from the sun’s. Their version might read:
“And made the moon therein a [reflected] light and made the sun a burning lamp?”
There’s a glaring problem: نُورً doesn’t mean “reflected light” in Arabic. This interpretation is a modern invention, unsupported by classical Arabic dictionaries or the text itself. It’s a desperate attempt to reconcile the verse with science, requiring a redefinition of words that no unbiased linguist would accept. The apologists’ claim doesn’t hold up—it’s not a miracle; it’s a stretch.
Conclusion
Quran 71:16 states:
وَجَعَلَ ٱلْقَمَرَ فِيهِنَّ نُورًۭا وَجَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ سِرَاجًۭا
“And has made the moon a light therein, and made the sun a lamp?”
The moon is not a light. It reflects the sun’s light. The Arabic نُورً means illumination, not reflection, and no amount of reinterpretation changes that. This is a scientific error, plain and simple—not a miracle, not a mystery, just a mistake rooted in the knowledge of its era. Readers can decide what that means for the Quran’s broader claims, but on this point, the text is unambiguously wrong.