THE CONSTELLATIONS

      The Arabs among the opposition group of our prophet who had no spiritual light and insight, could not understand the full significance of Allah's Attributes, and in particular of, ``AL-RAHMÄN = THE MERCIFUL''. They could not see why is He the Most Gracious, and how has He infinite and unbounded Mercy and Grace!:ِ

      ``So when it was said to them prostarte yourselves before Rahmän, they said:;ِ ``And what AL-RAHMÄN = the Merciful is !?''

      The next verse is to answer their question by alluding to some of the Merciful's wonders of creation:ِ

      ``Blessed is He who set the constellations in the sky.''

      The Arabic ``BORJ'' or in its plural form, ``BORUJ'' literally means appearance, a connotation of which is the towers that are more apparent in the defensive walls of a town. (ancient cities) Arabs call them BORJ. It also refers to high palaces. But in the above verse (NO.61), the immediate reference is to the constellations, which are the configuration of stars, consisting of a number of arbitrary groups of fixed stars. This verse implies the minute order and the fixed system of rule, which govern the heavens and earth, and are controlling the movements of the sun and the moon, and all the celestial bodies. It is this regular movement that makes the night and day, and the season and time. This regular system has held its control over universe for millions of years without any change or variation in speed, state, position, or other vital measures.

MORE ABOUT CONSTELLATIONS

      The sky overhead has been divided to 88 or more star groups, or as the groups are called, the constellations. Each group of star or constellation has its own name and definite boundaries. The most conspicuous ones were named by star gazers several thousand years ago.

      Some of them too, have taken their names in comparatively modern times. For the constellations to show the picture of the lion, hercules, and lady in chair, and etc., one must have a good imagination. However, as one becomes more familiar with the stars, they fall into easily recognized patterns.

      Some of the brighter stars have been given names such as Sirius, Gall-bladder and Alder-baren. Many of them have been designated by letters of Greek Alphabet, followed by the generative of the Latin, or Latinized name of the constellation. For example we may say; SIRIUS is the brightest of stars in the constellation, Canis Magor = the greater dog. And the brightest star in the whole sky is also known as the Alpha= a

      Most probably the immediate reference in this verse (NO.61) is to the 12 constellations that fall in the imaginary belt in the heavens 16ْ broad; in middle of which is the ecliptic, or sun's path. The said belt also includes the paths of the moon and all the principle planets. This belt is also called the ZODIAC, which is a Greek word that means, ``THE CIRCLE OF ANIMALS''. ZODIAC is divided to 12 divisions or signs, according to the apparent shapes of 12 star groups or constellations that can be seen in the belt. These are as follows:ِ

      1- Ram. 2- Bull. 3- Twins. 4- Crab. 5- Lion. 6- Virgin. 7- Balance. 8- Scorpion. 9- Archer. 10- Goat. 11- Water Bearer. 12- Fish.

      These are the names of the 12 constellations through which the sun moves in one solar year. It will be noted that eleven of the above twelve names refer to members of the animal kingdom.

      The very existence and the creation of the said groups of stars is amazing and of great importance if one has a good understanding and insight.

      Of course, the ZODIAC as explained above has no particular significance in astronomy.

QUOTED FROM THE BOOK OF

POPULAR SCIENCEِVOLUME-ONE

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE