Saturday, December 20, 2025

ALLAH MADE A GREAT SCIENTIFIC AND GEOGRAPHICAL ERROR ABOUT THE SETTING OF THE SUN

Dear reader,

Zul-Qarnain and the Setting of the Sun in Surah 18:85–86

Is it true that the sun sets in a spring of muddy or dark water, or is the Qur’an mistaken, or is there another explanation? First, we will examine the plain meaning of Surah 18:85–86, and then look at the explanations and responses from various Muslims about this matter.

Qur’an 18:85–86 (Full Quotation)

Arabic:
فَأَتْبَعَ سَبَبًا • حَتّىٰ إِذَا بَلَغَ مَغْرِبَ الشَّمْسِ وَجَدَهَا تَغْرُبُ فِي عَيْنٍ حَمِئَةٍ وَوَجَدَ عِندَهَا قَوْمًا ۗ قُلْنَا يَا ذَا الْقَرْنَيْنِ إِمَّا أَنْ تُعَذِّبَ وَإِمَّا أَنْ تَتَّخِذَ فِيهِمْ حُسْنًا

Transliteration:
Fa’ittabaʿa sababā.
Hattā idhā balagha maghriba ash-shamsi wajadahā taghrubu fī ʿaynin ḥami’atin wa wajada ʿindahā qawman.
Qulnā yā Dhā al-Qarnayn immā an tuʿaddhiba wa immā an tattakhidha fīhim ḥusnā.

Literal English Translation:
"So he followed a way, until when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of muddy (dark) water, and he found near it a people. We said, ‘O Dhul-Qarnayn, you may punish them or treat them with kindness.’"

This is the verse your article analyzes and challenges.

A Little Astronomy

It may not be widely known that the Muslim Abbasid, Arab, and Persian rulers were advanced in astronomy. They named many stars, and even corrected parts of Ptolemy’s astronomical tables. However, the sun is many times larger than the earth, and the earth travels around the sun. The sun does not set in a spring of muddy water.

Who is Zul-Qarnain?

We have no evidence that Muhammad ever told anyone exactly who Zul-Qarnain was. Muslims hold four primary views:

1. Alexander the Great (Most Common Muslim View)

Zul-Qarnain means “the one with two horns.” A legendary myth claimed Alexander the Great was a god and had two ram horns growing from his head. Although untrue (and inconvenient for designing a battle helmet), the myth was well known. Many Muslims believe Allah in Surah 18 was referring to Alexander.

2. Cyrus I of Persia

His empire combined two peoples—Medes and Persians—which some try to connect to “two horns.” Beyond that, nothing links him reliably.

3. A Yemeni King Who Wore a Two-Horned Helmet

Some Muslims hold this view.

4. An Unknown Figure

A minority view, but difficult because no one can clearly explain who this unknown man was.

Conclusion

It does not matter who Zul-Qarnain was. If he believed the sun sets in a muddy spring, and the sun does not set in a muddy spring, then the story is false regardless of the identity of the character Muhammad referenced.

Surah 18 Interpretations and Responses

Idea 1: The Sun Literally Sets in a Muddy Spring

Early Muslims believed the Qur’an taught this literally.
Islamic historian al-Tabari (vol. 1, p. 234) affirms this understanding.
Another example:
“[Dhu al-Qarnaiyn] witnessed the setting of the sun in its resting place in a black, stinking mud spring.”
(al-Tabari vol. 5, pp. 173–174; also vol. 1, p. 371)

Another related belief: the world sits on a giant fish (al-Tabari vol. 1, p. 220, 839–923 A.D.).

Idea 2: The Sun Appeared to Alexander to Set in Lake Ithaca in Macedonia

This view assumes:
• Zul-Qarnain = Alexander
• Alexander was a good Muslim (contradicted by his pagan temple)
• Alexander traveled west far enough for such an illusion (he did not)

Worse: Greek settlements existed hundreds of miles west of Ithaca (Spain, Sicily, etc.) centuries before Alexander. No Greek would believe the sun literally set in a Macedonian lake while Greek ships sailed far beyond it.

Tertullian (Treatise on the Soul, ch. 49, p. 227) notes Aristotle also referenced western explorers—contradicting the idea entirely.

Idea 3: The “Muddy Spring” Is the Atlantic Ocean

Problems:
• The Atlantic is not muddy.
• It is not black.
• It is not a spring.
• The sun does not set in the ocean.
• Alexander, Cyrus, and the Yemeni kings never reached the Atlantic.
• Surah 18 says Zul-Qarnain saw the sun setting in it.

Idea 4: The “Muddy Spring” Is the Black Sea Viewed by Cyrus I

Even if Cyrus reached the eastern coast, the sun would not appear to set in the Black Sea if he traveled south and east of it.
No evidence exists Cyrus traveled to modern Georgia, Armenia, or Azerbaijan.

Idea 5: The “Muddy Spring” Is the Aegean Sea

Persians knew Greeks and Spartans well. They knew no nation lived “beyond the sun” on the other side of an ocean.

Idea 6: The “Muddy Spring” Is the Red Sea

Yemenis knew Abyssinia well. They would not believe the sun set into the Red Sea.

Idea 7: The Phrase Is Metaphorical

If metaphorical, the Qur’an failed to indicate that clearly, misleading early Muslims.
All early Muslims took it literally.
Nothing in the Qur’an suggests metaphoric language.
Therefore, Muslims closest to Muhammad misunderstood—meaning the Qur’an misled them.

Idea 8: Muhammad Was Recounting a Dream

This view collapses because:
• Surah 18 presents Zul-Qarnain as a real historical figure.
• Dreams cannot teach objective truth unless explained as dreams.
• A prophet must not confuse dreaming with revelation.

If millions believed Muhammad’s dream was historical fact, the error lies in failing to clarify the nature of the story.

Conclusion

Regardless of who Zul-Qarnain was—Alexander or another figure—the Qur’an presents as objective truth that the sun sets in a spring of muddy water.
Ancient people 1,000 years before Muhammad already knew the sun did not set beyond Spain.
No early Muslim treated the verse as metaphor.
All early Muslims believed the Qur’an never misleads.

Yet Surah 18 teaches an impossible astronomical event.

List of Qur’an Translations

Arberry, Arthur J. The Koran Interpreted. Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc. 1955.
Dawood, N.J. The Koran. Penguin Books. 1956–1999.
Malik, Farooq-i-Azam. English Translation of the Meaning of AL-QUR’AN: The Guidance for Mankind. 1997.
Pickthall, Mohammed Marmaduke. The Meaning of the Glorious Koran.
Rodwell, J.M. The Koran. Ivy Books. 1993.
Shakir, M.H. The Qur’an. 12th U.S. Edition, 2001.
Sher Ali, Maulawi. The Holy Qur’an. Islam International Publications (Ahmadiyya), 1997.
Yusuf Ali, Abdullah. The Holy Qur-an: Translation and Commentary. King Fahd Complex.

Other Reference Books

• Encyclopaedia Britannica, 1958
• The History of al-Tabari, SUNY Press

God bless you greatly.

I am Dr. Max Shimba,
Servant of Jesus Christ, our Great God and Savior (Titus 2:13)

Saturday, December 20, 2025