The Star, the Moon and the Sun

This is a true story from the Quran. It is about Prophet Ibrahim عليه السلام, who lived long, long ago. Allah chose him as His close friend.

In the land where he lived, the people worshipped idols: statues they had carved with their own hands. Even his own father worshipped them. And the people looked up at the shining lights in the sky — the stars, the moon and the sun — and they worshipped those too.

But Ibrahim عليه السلام knew the truth, because Allah had guided him. A statue cannot hear or see. Only Allah, who made everything, deserves to be worshipped. Ibrahim عليه السلام wanted his people to see this too. So, with the wisdom Allah had given him, he found a way to make them think.

One night, the darkness came down and covered everything. The air was still. High above, he saw a bright star shining.

"This is my lord," he said.

Now, Ibrahim عليه السلام knew very well that a star could not be anyone's Lord. He was saying out loud what his people believed, to help them think about whether it was really true.

The night went on. Slowly, slowly, the star sank lower and lower, until it set and was gone.

Then he said, "I do not like things that set."

Something that slips away in the night cannot look after anyone. The real Lord never stops looking after us.

Later, he saw the moon rising, silver and glowing.

"This is my lord," he said.

But the moon set too, and it was gone.

"If my Lord had not guided me," he said, "I would have been among those who lost their way."

The moon could not guide anyone. Only Allah shows us the right way.

Then he saw the sun rising, golden and warm, pouring light across the whole sky. It looked bigger and brighter than the star and the moon.

"This is my lord," he said. "This is greater!"

All day the sun blazed. But in the evening it sank down, down, down, and it set too.

Then Ibrahim عليه السلام said, "O my people, I want nothing to do with the things you worship besides Allah. I have turned my face, as a true believer, to the One who created the heavens and the earth. I am not one of those who worship others besides Him."

He meant that he gave all his worship to Allah alone.

His people argued with him. But he said, "Do you argue with me about Allah, when He has guided me?" Allah tells us in the Quran that it was He who gave Ibrahim عليه السلام this proof to use with his people.

The star, the moon and the sun are beautiful. But they did not make themselves. Allah made them, and they rise and set because He commands them to. They shine for a while, and then they disappear.

But Allah is not like the star, or the moon, or the sun. He is the Ever-Living. He never fades away, and He never sleeps.

So tonight, if you peep through your curtains and see a star twinkling, or the moon glowing softly, you can whisper, "SubhanAllah! Allah made that." And like Ibrahim عليه السلام, you can turn your heart to the One who made it all.

Then snuggle down and close your eyes. The star will set, and the moon will set, and in the morning the sun will rise again, just as Allah commands. And you, cosy and warm, will be in Allah's care the whole night through.