Verse 8
The Winnowing Winds • makkah
View Aspects
Important Words:
الحبک (tracks) is the plural of حبیکة (and حباک ) which is derived from حبک. They say حبکه i.e. he tried it, and made it firm; hewore it firmly and well. حبیکة means, the track of the stars, the streak or track in the sky; the path or way. حبک السماء means, the tracks, paths, ways in the heaven. حباک means, the black thread with which are sewn the borders of a cloth: a streak or line; the ripples of sand. حبک الماء means, the ripples of water (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
Tracks or paths of heaven (حبک السماء) are the orbits of planets, comets, and stars with which the vault of heaven is strewn. These celestial bodies float, in their respective orbits performing their allotted tasks regularly, punctually and unerringly, without trespassing on one another’s sphere of action and all united forming a glorious harmony of structure and motion. That the heaven is full of such tracks on which planets and stars travel, was a discovery made to the world by the Quran at a time when it was believed that the heavens were solid in their formation. Does not this fact alone constitute an argument in support of the Quran being the revealed Word of God?
Tracks or paths of heaven are the orbits of planets, comets, and stars with which the vault of heaven is strewn. These celestial bodies float in their respective orbits performing their allotted tasks regularly, punctually and unerringly, without trespassing on one another’s sphere of action and all united forming a glorious harmony of structure and motion. That the heaven is full of such tracks on which planets and stars travel, was a discovery made to the world by the Qur’an, at a time when it was believed that the heavens were solid in their formation.