Were the orbits mentioned in verse 33 of the chapter of al Anbiya known before Islam?

- It is stated in verse 33 of the chapter of al Anbiya in the Quran that the sun and the moon have orbits; it is stated to be a miracle of the Quran. Atheists say there is no miracle in the verse. Is it true? 

- Is that verse not a miracle of the Quran?

Dear Brother / Sister,

- This claim of atheists is a big lie.

- The solar system started to be accepted as a geocentric system beginning from the Greek mathematician and astronomer Ptolemy (85-165 AD). 

- Copernic (1473-1543 AD) said for the first time that there was a heliocentric system instead of the geocentric system put forward by Ptolemy.

- The Quran indicated about fifteen centuries ago that there was a heliocentric system:

 “And the sun runs his course (orbit) for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.” (Yasin, 36/38)

The German mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler (1572-1630 AD), who explained orbit scientifically, died in the first half of the 17^th century. The three laws known as Kepler’s laws of planetary motion are as follows:    

The First Law: All planets move about the sun in elliptical orbits, having the Sun as one of the foci.

The Second Law: A line joining the sun and a planet sweeps out equal areas in equal times.

The Third Law: The square of a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the cube of the semi-major axis of its orbit.

Thus, the scientific explanation of orbit was made only in the 17^th century.  

However, orbit was mentioned in the Quran about fifteen centuries ago in several verses especially in verse 5 of the chapter of ar-Rahman: “The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed”. It is interesting that the word translated as “computed” is “husban”. That the word "husban" is used without a definite article indicates that the calculation is subtle and cannot be understood by the human mind. 

According to what Mujahid states, the axle that enables the millstone turn is called "husbanur-raha" in Arabic. In today’s scientific understanding, "husban" means “axle and orbit”. According to this view, the preposition "bi" before the word husband is in the sense of "fi", functioning as an adverb. (see Tabari, XIII/116, Alusi, XXVII/99) 

This meaning is important in terms of our astronomical knowledge today. One of the reasons why the Quran prefers the word husban instead of "hisab" probably aims to express both meanings.  

"It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up the Moon, nor can the Night outstrip the Day: Each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law)." (Yasin, 36/40)

The verse above states that it is not possible for the sun, the moon and the other planets in the Solar System to leave the orbits assigned to them. (see Niyazi Beki, the interpretation of the chapter of ar-Rahman, the verse in question)

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