The phenomenon of Rayleigh scattering explains why the sky appears blue during the day and why sunsets look reddish. This is due to the scattering of shorter blue wavelengths by air molecules and particles in the atmosphere more effectively than longer red wavelengths. However, from space, the sky is black, and the Sun appears white, as there is no atmosphere to scatter sunlight. The Bible, on the other hand insists the sky is blue in Exodus 24:10.
Scientific Explanation- Rayleigh Scattering: Blue light (shorter wavelength) is scattered in all directions more than red light (longer wavelength), making the sky appear blue during the day. At sunrise and sunset, the Sun’s rays travel through a greater thickness of the atmosphere, scattering more blue light and leaving the red hues more prominent. - Sky’s True Color: The sky appears black when viewed from space because there is no atmosphere to scatter light. The Sun also appears white, as all wavelengths of light from the Sun reach the observer without scattering.
Quranic Verse and InterpretationOn that Day the sky will be like molten brass70:8
InterpretationThe Arabic term muhl (مُهْلِ) is translated as "tar," which is black in color. Some interpret this to refer to the true blackness of the sky when atmospheric scattering is absent or in apocalyptic terms when the sky loses its current appearance.
Alignment with Modern Understanding- Black Sky: The Quranic description aligns with the scientific understanding that the sky is fundamentally black, with its blue appearance being a result of atmospheric scattering. - Tar-like Appearance: The analogy to tar can metaphorically describe the dark, thick appearance of the sky without scattered sunlight.
Broader ContextThe mention in the Quran is open to interpretation, but some view it as consistent with modern scientific insights about the sky's actual color. It also serves as a reminder of the vastness and complexity of the universe, blending faith with natural phenomena. Whilst these verses might not necessarily reference the scientific findings mentioned here, they showcase how, even the most hard to imagine realities explained by the Quran, can be shown to be permissible with modern scientific discoveries.
