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Audio teaser: The lethal science of perpetual light

The Cosmic Rhythm of Alternation: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Commentary on Quran 28:71-75

Abstract

This research report presents an exhaustive multidisciplinary commentary on verses 71 through 75 of Surah Al-Qasas, examining the “alternation of night and day” as a fundamental prerequisite for biological life and a primary evidence for divine teleology. Through a synthesis of classical Islamic exegesis (Tafsir), modern orbital mechanics, and contemporary chronobiology, the analysis explores the rhetorical scenarios of “perpetual night” and “perpetual day” posed by the Quran. The report integrates detailed geographical data from the high-Arctic regions—specifically Longyearbyen (Svalbard), Dikson (Russia), Utqiagvik (Alaska), and the Geographic Poles—to illustrate the physiological and psychological impacts of extended solar absence and presence. These regions serve as empirical proxies for the “Sarmad” (perpetual) states described in the text, revealing the critical importance of Earth’s $23.44^{\circ}$ axial tilt and 24-hour rotation. Philosophically, the passage is analyzed through the lens of the Anthropic Principle and the teleological argument, suggesting that the precise calibration of Earth’s diurnal cycle points toward a purposeful design. The report concludes with an eschatological examination of the collapse of these rhythms on the Day of Resurrection, positioning the planetary cycle as a temporary mercy intended to foster human gratitude and recognition of the Creator.

The Rhetorical and Historical Context of Surah Al-Qasas

Surah Al-Qasas, “The Stories,” was revealed during a period of significant socio-political tension in Makkah, when the nascent Muslim community faced systematic oppression. The early chapters of the Surah detail the narrative of the Prophet Moses and the tyranny of Pharaoh, establishing a historical parallel between the arrogance of ancient despots and the Quraysh leadership. Within this context, verses 71-75 serve as a pivotal transition from historical narrative to cosmic argumentation. After recounting the rise and fall of earthly powers, the Quran shifts the audience’s attention to the ultimate governance of the universe, using the most visible natural phenomena—day and night—to challenge the claims of polytheism and human self-sufficiency.

The rhetorical structure of these verses utilizes a method of “suppositional inquiry,” asking the listener to imagine the suspension of the natural order. By invoking the possibility of an eternal night or an eternal day, the Quran highlights the fragility of human existence and its absolute dependence on planetary systems that humans neither created nor can influence. This approach is designed to dismantle the elitism of the Makkans by demonstrating that their economic and political dominance is contingent upon a geophysical stability they habitually ignore.

Theological Commentary: The Establishment of Tawhid and the Negation of Shirk

The primary theological objective of this passage is the affirmation of Tawhid (monotheism) through the observation of the “signs” (ayat) in the horizons. Classical exegetes such as Ibn Kathir and Maududi emphasize that the alternation of light and darkness is not a mechanical accident but a managed act of divine mercy (rahmah) and administration (tadbir).

Verse 71: The Challenge of the Eternal Night

The verse begins with the command “Say,” directing the Prophet to pose a fundamental question to the skeptics: “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light? Then will you not hear?”. The Arabic term sarmada denotes that which is perpetual, unceasing, and without end. From a theological perspective, this verse identifies “light” (dhiya) not merely as a physical property but as a source of “relief” and the capacity for perception.

Ibn Kathir notes that if night were made perpetual, it would result in a state of overwhelming psychological stress, boredom, and the eventual cessation of human activity. The rhetorical question “what deity other than Allah?” is a direct challenge to the idols and intermediaries of the time. If these supposed partners of God have no power to restore the sun, they are fundamentally impotent and unworthy of worship. The verse concludes with the phrase afala tasma’un (“will you not then hear?”), suggesting that the absence of light requires the human soul to rely on auditory revelation and internal reflection.

Verse 72: The Challenge of the Eternal Day

The inverse scenario is presented in verse 72: “Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you night wherein you rest? Then will you not see?”. This parallel structure emphasizes the duality of human biological needs. While the day is for movement and labor, the night is essential for “rest” (sukun) and physical recuperation.

Fakhr al-Din al-Razi and other commentators highlight the shift in the concluding sensory appeal. While the night verse appealed to “hearing,” the day verse appeals to “seeing” (afala tubsiron). This reflects the reality that the sun is the most visible sign of divine power, and its constant presence would make the lack of “rest” a visible, tangible disaster for the health of all living beings.

Verse 73: The Synthesis of Planetary Balance

Verse 73 provides the resolution to the rhetorical tension: “It is out of His mercy that He has made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and that you may seek of His bounty—and in order that you may be grateful”. Here, the Quran explicitly links the planetary rotation to the concept of Rahmah (Mercy). The night is characterized by sukun (repose), and the day by ibtigha min fadlihi (seeking of His bounty). This ecological and biological equilibrium is presented as a necessary condition for gratitude (shukr), which is the intended spiritual response of the human observer.

Scientific Commentary: The Geophysical Foundations of the Alternation

The scenarios of perpetual night and day described in Quran 28:71-72 can be analyzed through the framework of modern orbital mechanics and planetary physics. The Earth’s diurnal cycle is a product of two primary factors: the rotation of the planet on its axis and its $23.44^{\circ}$ axial tilt.

Axial Tilt and the Mechanism of the Seasons

The Earth’s axis of rotation is not perpendicular to the ecliptic (the plane of its orbit around the sun). Instead, it leans at an angle of approximately $23.5^{\circ}$. This “obliquity” is widely believed to have originated from a cataclysmic impact early in the Earth’s formation, specifically involving a Mars-sized planetoid named Theia. This tilt is responsible for the distribution of solar energy across latitudes and the varying lengths of day and night throughout the year.

The mathematical boundary for the phenomena of the “midnight sun” and “polar night” is defined by the following relationship:

$$\text{Latitude } (\phi) \geq 90^{\circ} – \epsilon$$

Where $\epsilon$ is the axial tilt. Given Earth’s tilt of $\approx 23.44^{\circ}$, these phenomena are observed primarily poleward of $66.56^{\circ}$ North and South, the Arctic and Antarctic Circles.

If the Earth were not tilted (i.e., if its axis were perpendicular to its orbit), the entire planet would experience 12 hours of light and 12 hours of dark every day, indefinitely. Conversely, if the Earth were “tidally locked” to the sun—meaning its rotation period matched its orbital period—it would manifest exactly the conditions described in the Quranic “what-if” scenarios: one side in perpetual day and the other in perpetual night.

The Catastrophic Consequences of Sarmad States

From a planetary science perspective, the realization of a global Sarmad (perpetual) state would be lethal to life.

1. Thermal Gradients: A perpetual day side would reach extreme temperatures, while a perpetual night side would plummet toward absolute zero, leading to the collapse of the atmosphere as gases freeze into solid ice on the dark side.
2. Photosynthetic Collapse: Perpetual night would halt photosynthesis, leading to the immediate death of primary producers (plants and phytoplankton), causing a total collapse of the food chain.
3. Magnetospheric Loss: The Earth’s rotation creates the “dynamo effect” in its outer core, generating the planetary magnetic field. If the Earth stopped rotating to produce a perpetual night/day, the magnetosphere would vanish, leaving the surface exposed to lethal solar wind and cosmic radiation.

Feature	Perpetual Night (Sarmad)	Perpetual Day (Sarmad)	Alternation (Khilfatan)
Temperature	Extreme Cold / Ice Ages	Extreme Heat / Desiccation	Regulated / Habitable
Biology	Zero Photosynthesis	Heat Stress / Radiation	Circadian Harmony
Atmosphere	Gas Condensation / Snowing	Evaporation / Pressure Loss	Stable Circulation
Human Utility	Permanent Hibernation/Death	Permanent Exhaustion/Death	Rest & Productivity

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High-Arctic Insights: Contemporary Discoveries of Polar Rhythms

The Quranic challenge to consider a perpetual night or day find a modern, empirical embellishment in the study of Earth’s polar regions. In these high latitudes, the “Sarmad” state is not a hypothetical eternity but a seasonal reality that lasts for weeks or months.

Longyearbyen, Svalbard (Norway): The Laboratory of Darkness

Located at $78.2^{\circ}$ North, Longyearbyen is the world’s northernmost perpetually inhabited settlement. Due to its extreme latitude, it experiences nearly four months of polar night (late October to mid-February) and nearly four months of midnight sun (mid-April to late August).

1. The Total Polar Night: From November 14th to January 29th, Longyearbyen enters what is known as the “Civil Polar Night,” where the sun remains more than $6^{\circ}$ below the horizon even at noon. During this 113-day period, no direct sunlight or even meaningful twilight reaches the town, leaving it in a state of 24/7 pitch-black darkness.
2. Human Adaptation: Residents describe this period as an “endless night” that requires a warm and cozy atmosphere to maintain mental stability. The absence of light cues forces the community to create its own artificial rhythm using streetlights and headlamps to navigate the landscape.
3. The Return of the Sun: The end of the polar night in February is celebrated as a major communal event, a “rebirth” that emphasizes the Quranic sentiment that light is a profound blessing for which humanity should be grateful.

Dikson, Russia: The Kingdom of Winter

Dikson, situated at $73.5^{\circ}$ North in the Krasnoyarsk Territory, experiences approximately 80 days of polar night. The darkness begins around November 10th and ends in early February. In this remote settlement, snow falls as early as September and remains until May, creating a “real kingdom of eternal winter”. The extended absence of solar light in Dikson provides a stark example of the “harmful” conditions noted by classical commentators, where the lack of light inhibits movement and socioeconomic development.

Utqiagvik, Alaska (United States): The Top of the World

Utqiagvik, formerly known as Barrow ($71.3^{\circ}$ N), experiences roughly 65 to 68 days of total darkness. The sun sets around November 18th and does not rise until January 23rd. Conversely, in the summer, the town experiences 84 days of continuous daylight without a sunset (May 10th to August 2nd). This extreme fluctuation transforms the tundra from a frozen landscape to a mosaic of ponds, illustrating the “seeking of bounty” that occurs when light returns to the Arctic.

The Geographic Poles: The Six-Month Cycle

At the Geographic North and South Poles ($90^{\circ}$ latitude), the standard concept of a 24-hour day effectively ceases to exist. Instead, the year is divided into roughly 6 months of daylight and 6 months of darkness.

1. North Pole: Experiences the midnight sun for approximately 186 days (March 18th to September 24th) and the polar night for about 179 days.
2. South Pole: Experiences the midnight sun for about 179 days and the polar night for about 186 days.

The Poles represent the closest terrestrial approximation to the Sarmad state mentioned in the Quran. The fact that these regions are fundamentally uninhabitable for human civilization—requiring massive external support for even small research teams—validates the Quranic argument that the “alternation” is a mercy necessary for life.

Location	Latitude	Polar Night Duration	Midnight Sun Duration	Total Dark/Light Cycle
Geographic Poles	$90^{\circ}$ N/S	$\approx 180$ days	$\approx 180$ days	1 Year
Longyearbyen	$78.2^{\circ}$ N	113 days	131 days	Seasonal
Dikson	$73.5^{\circ}$ N	80 days	Unspecified (Extensive)	Seasonal
Utqiagvik	$71.3^{\circ}$ N	65-68 days	82-84 days	Seasonal
Arctic Circle	$66.5^{\circ}$ N	1 day	1 day	Daily/Seasonal

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Biological Commentary: Circadian Rhythms and the “Rest” of the Night

The Quranic assertion in verse 73 that the night is for “rest” and the day for “seeking bounty” is deeply corroborated by modern chronobiology. Human physiology is governed by an internal 24-hour clock that relies on the alternation of light and dark for synchronization.

The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)

The master biological clock is located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus. This region regulates essential functions, including sleep-wake behavior, hormone secretion, and gene expression. The SCN is synchronized primarily by light signals detected by the eyes, specifically by melanopsin-containing cells in the retina.

1. The Role of Melatonin: In the absence of light (night), the SCN signals the pineal gland to release melatonin, which promotes sleep and “rest”.
2. The Role of Serotonin: Daylight stimulates the production of serotonin, a mood stabilizer that promotes alertness and the ability to “seek bounty”.

Disruption in Polar Regions

In regions experiencing the polar night or midnight sun, this biological synchronization is disrupted, leading to significant health challenges.

• Midwinter Insomnia: In the polar night, Arctic residents often report “decrements in sleep efficiency, latency, and quality”. The lack of a strong light-dark “zeitgeber” (time-giver) causes a reduction in melatonin amplitude and “phase shifts,” where the body loses its sense of time.
• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Prolonged darkness is linked to SAD, a form of depression characterized by fatigue, irritability, and social withdrawal. The Quranic term “hear” (tasma’un) in verse 71 is relevant here; when visual “signs” are absent, the psyche becomes more sensitive to its internal state and auditory signals.
• Midnight Sun Insomnia: Conversely, the continuous daylight of the Arctic summer can lead to “sleep onset latency,” where the body struggles to initiate sleep because the sun never sets. This validates the Quranic claim in verse 72 that only God can bring the “night wherein you rest”.

Psychological Impact of Eternal States

Studies from Longyearbyen indicate that the psychological impact of the polar night is profound. The “absence of sunlight can lead to feelings of isolation and melancholy” and a sense of “stagnation”. This stagnation is the biological manifestation of the Sarmad state—a world without change or progress. Adaptation requires artificial interventions, such as light therapy and strict social routines, proving that human nature is not designed for a “perpetual” state but for a “successive” one.

Philosophical Commentary: Teleology and the Anthropic Principle

The argumentation in Quran 28:71-75 is a quintessential example of the teleological argument, or the argument from design (dalil al-itqan). It invites the human intellect to move from the observation of a perfectly calibrated effect to the necessity of an intelligent cause.

Teleology and Purpose

The word “teleological” derives from the Greek telos, meaning “purpose” or “end”. The Quranic inquiry posits that the environment is not a random collection of matter but is “well designed for us”. The fact that Earth’s rotation provides both the light necessary for work and the darkness necessary for sleep suggests a “harmonious assembling of various parts… towards a common goal”—the maintenance of life.

The Anthropic Principle

In modern philosophy of science, this is echoed by the Anthropic Principle, which suggests that the fundamental constants and physical parameters of the universe are precisely set to allow for the emergence of intelligent life.

1. Fine-Tuning of the Rotation: If Earth’s rotation were significantly slower (like Venus, where a day lasts 243 Earth-days), the thermal extremes would be unbearable.
2. Fine-Tuning of the Tilt: As discussed by physicists Brandon Carter and Robert Dicke, if the initial conditions of the Earth’s formation (including the impact that caused the axial tilt) had been slightly different, life as we know it could not have evolved.
3. The prime principle of confirmation: The “continued existence” of humanity on a planet with such complex requirements strongly confirms the hypothesis of an intelligent designer over the “chance twitchings” of a random universe.

Contingency and Necessity

The Quranic “what-if” scenarios highlight the contingency of the natural order. The night and day do not have to alternate; as seen in the polar regions, other states are physically possible. Because the current state is contingent (could be different) yet optimally beneficial, it points to a “Necessary Being” (God) who chose this specific configuration out of an infinite array of non-habitable possibilities.

Eschatological and Sociological Dimensions: Verses 74 and 75

The passage concludes by moving from the cosmic order of the present to the legal and spiritual order of the Day of Judgment.

Verse 74: The Deconstruction of Shirk

“And on the Day (when) He will call them and say: ‘Where are My associates whom you were asserting?’”. This verse links back to the rhetorical questions of verses 71 and 72. The deities that could not bring light or rest in the hypothetical scenarios will be utterly absent when the actual Day of Judgment arrives. The “associates” were a “self-delusion and conceit” of the polytheists, providing them no real utility in the physical world and no salvation in the metaphysical world.

Verse 75: The Witness of Nations

“And We will draw forth from every nation a witness, and say: ‘Bring you your proof!’ Then shall they know that the Truth is Allah’s, and that which they used to forge shall depart from them”.

The “witness” (shahid) is traditionally understood to be the Prophet of each nation. On this Day, the “lies which they had invented”—the belief in intermediaries and idols—will “forsake them”. The Quranic “Truth” (Al-Haqq) is presented as an objective reality that was always there, hidden by the “darkness” of polytheism, just as the sun is hidden by the polar night.

Socio-Political Resonance

For the oppressed Muslims in Makkah, this passage was a “divine guarantee of eventual victory”. Just as the night inevitably gives way to the light of the sun, their state of weakness was temporary. The “Pharaoh” of their time (the Quraysh) was reminded that they had no “choice” in the cosmic order, and their arrogance would eventually be lowered before the Truth of Allah.

Synthesis: The Ecological Mercy of Alternation

The integration of scientific data from polar settlements like Longyearbyen and Utqiagvik into the exegesis of Quran 28:71-75 reveals a profound depth to the text. The Quran does not merely state a fact (day follows night) but invites a deep consideration of the mechanisms and consequences of that fact.

The Limits of Human Ingenuity

The residents of Longyearbyen survive the 113 days of darkness through extreme effort: the intake of Vitamin D supplements, the use of full-spectrum lamps, and the maintenance of rigid social structures to prevent psychological collapse. This high-tech survival strategy serves as an empirical answer to the Quranic question: “what deity other than Allah could bring you light?”. Even with modern technology, humans can only mimic the sun; they cannot replace its biological, psychological, and ecological role.

The Wisdom of the SUCCESSION (Khilfatan)

The Quranic term khilfatan (succession) used in related verses (e.g., 25:62) describes a dynamic state, contrasting with the stagnant Sarmad state. Scientific analysis of the polar regions shows that life is most vibrant where the alternation is most regular. As one moves toward the Poles, the “Sarmad” days and nights become longer, and the biodiversity drops significantly. The Geographic Poles are barren wastelands precisely because they lack the rapid alternation that sustains the “circadian rhythm” of the biosphere.

Thematic Epilogue: The Eternal Alternation

The commentary on Quran 28:71-75 provides more than a theological refutation of polytheism; it offers a foundational understanding of the relationship between the cosmos and the human soul. The “alternation of night and day” is identified as a primary act of Rahmah (Mercy), a calibrated planetary rhythm that enables both the physical “rest” of the body and the economic “seeking” of the intellect.

The later discoveries of the polar regions—the 113 days of darkness in Longyearbyen, the 80 days of ice in Dikson, and the 6 months of unsetting sun at the Poles—serve as a living laboratory for the Quranic “what-if” scenarios. They demonstrate that without the rapid and regular return of the sun, the human psyche enters a state of “melancholy” and “stagnation,” and the body loses its internal sense of time. The biological necessity of the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus to receive light cues for the release of melatonin and serotonin provides a neurochemical verification of the Quranic link between the solar cycle and human well-being.

Philosophically, the passage anchors the human experience in the Anthropic Principle, suggesting that the $23.44^{\circ}$ tilt of the Earth and its 1,000 mph rotation are not random artifacts of a chaotic beginning, but “signs” of a purposeful design. The rhetorical shift between “hearing” in the darkness and “seeing” in the light challenges the human observer to engage all their senses in the recognition of the Divine.

As the report transitions to the eschatological conclusion of the passage, it reminds the reader that the planetary cycle is a “specified term.” The day and night are temporary gifts intended to foster gratitude. When the witnesses are drawn forth from every nation, the “Truth” that will be revealed is the same Truth written into the rotation of the Earth: that there is no deity other than the One who brings the light from the darkness and the rest from the day. The “lies which they had invented” will vanish like the shadows of the polar night when the sun finally rises over the horizon of the Day of Resurrection, leaving only the “Truth” that has always belonged to Allah.