Title: Alleged Scientific Inconsistencies in the Qur'an Question: A Christian has said to me that there are Scientific Inconsistencies in Qur'an. Could you please help me to answer his doubts? The points that he has mentioned are: Sura 18:86 Does the sun set in the black sea? Sura 22:65 How does heaven fall? Sura 21:33 Does the sun have an orbit (rounded course)? Answer: Each of the three referred verses is explained below. You are requested to take a close look at these verses and then decide for yourself whether or not they entail a scientific error. As for the explanation of the first verse, you are requested to kindly refer to one of my earlier responses to a question titled " Regarding Al-Kahaf 18: 86 - A Scientific Error ?" As for the second verse, it is reproduced below: أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ وَالْفُلْكَ تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَاء أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ (الحج 22: 65 ) Do you not see that God has put in your service whatever is in the earth; and ships run in seas, by His command; and He holds back the skies from falling upon the earth, except by His permission. Indeed God is Loving, Merciful. This verse points out towards some of the apparent signs of God's wisdom, mercy and providence, which should be sufficient for a clear mind to recognize Him. All these signs relate to the natural physical laws of God, which has allowed for the existence and the sustenance of life on earth. Among these signs is the observation of man of the magnificent arrangement of the skies in such a manner that extremely huge celestial bodies continually float in it and yet do not fall down upon the earth. It is only the unblemished arrangement of these bodies and their being subjected to God's laws of nature that hold these bodies back from colliding with each other. If ever He allows these bodies free of these laws, no one would be able to hold these bodies back from falling upon each other. وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ (الأنبياء 21: 33 ) And the sun and the moon, each floating in the skies. The verse only says that the sun and the moon continue to float in the skies. The Arabic word "يسبحون" is not specifically used for going around in orbits. On the contrary, it is used for floating generally. I hope this helps. Moiz Amjad October 1, 2004