We believe that Allah created the sun and the moon. He says: {It is He Who created the night and the day, the sun and the moon – each floating in its orbit.} [Surat al-Anbiyā’: 33]
And we believe that the sun and the moon are running, as revealed by Allah Almighty, Who says: {The sun is running to its determined course. That is the design of the All-Mighty, All-Knowing. As for the moon, We have determined phases for it, until it becomes like an old palm stalk. It is not for the sun to catch up with the moon, nor for the night to outstrip the day. Each is floating in its own orbit.} [Surat Yāsīn: 38-40] Blessed be Allah, the Best of all creators.
Out of Allah's mercy toward His servants, He has subjected the sun and the moon by His command to achieve benefits for people. In the Qur'an, He says: {He has made the sun and the moon for your service, both constant in their courses, and has made for you the night and the day.} [Surat Ibrāhīm: 33] And He says: {He made the sun, the moon, and the stars – all subservient to His command.} [Surat al-A‘rāf: 54]
Allah Almighty created the sun and the moon for great wise purposes not fully grasped by us. One of these occurs in the verse that says: {It is He Who cleaves the daybreak, and made the night for rest, and the sun and the moon with a precise measurement; that is the design of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.} [Surat al-An‘ām: 96] Ibn ‘Abbās (may Allah be pleased with him) said: {And the sun and the moon with a precise measurement} [Surat al-An‘ām: 96]: that's the number of days, months, and years. [Tafsīr At-Tabari (11/558)] Highlighting some of the purposes behind the creation of the sun and the moon, Allah Almighty also says: {It is He Who made the sun a radiant light and the moon a reflected light, and precisely determined its phases, so that you may know the number of years and the reckoning. Allah has not created all of this except for a true purpose. He makes the signs clear for people who know.} [Surat Yūnus: 5]
We believe that Allah made them two of His great signs that point to His lordship that entail His divinity. He says: {If you ask them who created the heavens and earth and subjected the sun and moon, they will surely say: 'Allah.' How are they then deluded?} [Surat al-‘Ankabūt: 61] He also says: {Among His signs are the night and the day, the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or to the moon, but prostrate to Allah Who created them, if you truly worship Him.} [Surat Fussilat: 37] And the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, the sun and the moon are two of Allah's signs. They do not become eclipsed for the death or birth of anyone. Rather, Allah strikes fear in His servants through them." [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (1048) and An-Nasā’i (1459)]
We believe that the sun and the moon prostrate themselves to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, and so does the rest of all creation. Allah, Exalted be He, says: {Do you not see that to Allah prostrate all those who are in the heavens and all those on earth: the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures, and many humans? But there are many on whom the punishment has become due. Whoever Allah disgraces, none can honor him. Allah surely does what He wills.} [Surat al-Hajj: 18]
We believe that the sun prostrates underneath the Throne every day, as informed by the truthful Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him). Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said to me when the sun had set: "Do you know where it goes?" I said: "Allah and His Messenger know best." He said: "It goes till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne, and then it seeks permission and it is given to it. Then, a time will soon come when it prostrates, and this will not be accepted from it, and it seeks permission and it will not be given to it. It will be said: 'Return from where you came.' So, it will rise from the west. This is the meaning of the verse: {The sun is running to its determined course. That is the design of the All-Mighty, All-Knowing.} [Surat Yāsīn: 38] [Narrated by Al-Bukhāri (3199), Muslim (159), Abu Dāwūd (4002), and At-Tirmidhi (2186, 3227)]