Mazhar I have not read Sorensen Seeing Dark Things but from the title it seems to explore shadows in a philosophical way. That actually connects well to what the Quran itself asks us to do i.e. I quote "Have you not considered your Lord how He extends the shadow… then made the Sun its guide" (2545–46).
This is not just about casually looking but about using both reason and intuition. And if we really consider the shadow fully, we see two things
• it changes in length during the day,
• it also shifts east to west.
That daily pattern is only explained by Earths rotation. If someone notices only half of this sign then they have not really fulfilled what the verse commands i.e. to reflect completely on it.
Since you must have read it, appreciate your insights.
Many use philosophy and science interchangeably.
- (vi) Unique and amazing attribute of the Accomplisher of exalted Galaxy سِرَاجٙا مُّنِيـرٙا
(a) Shadow is per see created entity - fellow-being. Had he this fellow?
Allah the Exalted has attributed another unique attribute as Circumstantial Adverb in the address to the Dignified and Exalted Sincere Allegiant
وَسِرَاجٙا مُّنِيـرٙا .٤٦
And as a Figure of Unique Prominence characteristically Reflector of Visible Light illuminator and Sustainer of the Life.
The circumstantial adverb (حال) is an Adjectival Phrase comprising of a noun and active participle rendering it a descriptive term. It can be interpreted both literally and figuratively. It seems this attributive descriptive phrase in litereral meaning does support the reports that exalted Messenger did not cast a shadow. In physics, a Shadow is a dark area where light from a light source is blocked by an opaque object. It occupies all of the three-dimensional volume behind an object with light in front of it. It is however merely an explanation or cause for the observation of "shadow". What exactly is shadow? In fact it is per se an Entity created
وَلِلَّهِ يَسْجُدُ مَن فِـى ٱلسَّمَٟوَٟتِ وَٱلۡأَرْضِ طَوْعٙا وَكَرْهٙا
Be aware; whoever is living-exists in the Skies and the Earth submits humbly in surrender; and will acknowledge and submit humbly in surrender for Allah the Exalted; in states arising on wilful acceptance-acknowledgement with reverence, and will do so under compulsion of coercive circumstances.
وَظِلٟلُـهُـم بِٱلْغُدُوِّ وَٱلْءَاصَالِ۩ .١٥
However, their Shadows do prostrate - lie stretched out on the ground in reverence and submission for Allah the Exalted, at occasion of the mornings and the evenings.
One of the subject of indicative mood imperfect verb are the "shadows" of all those living - existing in the Skies and the Earth. Thus they are per se entities. Their performing the act of (يَسْجُدُ) lying stretched out on the ground with face downwards is restricted to two timings of the day. The tacit importance of this fact is emphasised by rhetorical questioning
أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَـىٰ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ مِن شَـىْءٛ
Have they not seen-given a thought towards that; which Allah the Exalted has created, in non-tangible to touch-state-entity in their own right derivatively from matter-a tangible thing?
يَتَفَيَّؤُا۟ ظِلَٟلُهُۥ عَنِ ٱلْيَـمِيـنِ وَٱلْشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدٙا لِّلَّهِ وَهُـمْ دَٟخِرُونَ .٤٨
The characteristic feature is that its shadows keep self shifting from the rights and the lefts in the state like of those who prostrate for Allah the Exalted. Those shadows are in a state of submissive and humble natured.
Rhetorical question is a device used to persuade and subtly influence the audience. It is a question not asked for the answer, but for the effect. It is used to emphasize a point or just to get the audience thinking. It is a very powerful persuasive and thought provoking tool. The question is about having seen the shadows, an everyday perceptual experience, receiving non-epistemic response, without noticing or recognizing their cause of existence and properties. Obviously people have been seeing the shadows of things but perhaps never thought they are but created entities of Allah the Exalted, made to originate form everything created. Exactly the manner of creation and rendition of woman as fellow-being from the First Person, the creation and rendition of fellow-being of creatures Shadow is mentioned
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