Question:
Some people object that the noble hadith states:
“Do not pray at sunrise because the sun rises between the two horns of Satan” ((فإنها تلطع بين قرنى الشيطان.))
According to them, this statement contradicts scientific observations, because the times of sunrise and sunset vary in different countries, for example, in Pakistan the sun rises and sets 2 to 2.5 hours earlier than in Arab countries. Then these people raise the question:
“Does the same Satan allow the sun to rise and set between his horns everywhere in the world?”
Thinking this, they try to declare the hadith false.
Answer:
Before answering such objections, a fundamental point must be clarified:
- The essential requirement of Islam is that a believer has complete faith and certainty in every authentic and reliable statement of Allah Almighty and His Messenger ﷺ.
- If a person does not believe in the authentic and reliable statements of the Quran and Sunnah, then he is outside Islam.
Allah Almighty says: ﴿وَٱلَّذِينَ جَـٰهَدُوا۟ فِينَا لَنَهْدِيَنَّهُمْ سُبُلَنَا﴾
“Whoever strives in Our way, We surely guide them to Our paths.”
❖ The Inner Bias of Objectors
- Those who harbor malice in their hearts have the lens of prejudice over their eyes.
- Such individuals do not see the truth and reality because it is not their eyes but their hearts that have become blind.
The Quran states: ﴿فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ﴾
“Indeed, eyes do not become blind, but hearts within the chests become blind.”
❖ The Meaning of Satan: Not Iblis, but Every Misleading Creature
- The objection is based on the fact that the word “Satan” appears in the hadith, and they assume it means “Iblis,” which is a wrong interpretation.
- The meaning of “Satan” is every rebellious creature that is a source of misguidance, whether human or jinn.
In the Holy Quran it is stated: ﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا﴾
“We have appointed for every prophet an enemy, devils from mankind and jinn, teaching each other charming speech to deceive.”
Further it is said: ﴿وَإِذَا خَلَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ شَيَـٰطِينِهِمْ قَالُوٓا۟ إِنَّا مَعَكُمْ﴾
“When they are alone with their devils (i.e., disbelieving friends), they say: We are with you.”
Explanation of the Hadith of the Century of Satan
The blessed hadith contains these words:
((فإنها تلطع بين قرنى الشيطان))“Because the sun rises between the two horns of Satan.”
Most people here interpret “Satan” to mean Iblis, whereas here “Satan” means a common rebellious devil, who is assigned by Iblis to cause mischief in specific regions.
The word “الشیطان” with the definite article “ال” (Alif Lam) is also specific, meaning that particular Satan appointed by Iblis for each country or region.
❖ Satan is not only Iblis
- It is understandable that Iblis has a large army.
- Just as humans have one father (Prophet Adam, peace be upon him), similarly, the father of the jinn is Iblis, but after him, countless jinn and devils came into existence.
The Holy Quran states:
“And the Day when Allah will gather them all together (He will say): O company of jinn! You have taken many humans as followers.”
Further He said: ﴿إِنَّهُۥ يَرَىٰكُمْ هُوَ وَقَبِيلُهُۥ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَرَوْنَهُمْ﴾
“He (Iblis) and his tribe watch you from a place where you cannot see them.”
❖ The system of Iblis and his agents
- It is mentioned in an authentic hadith that Iblis spreads his throne over water, and his followers come daily to report their deeds:
Someone says: “I caused such and such person to commit adultery”
- Someone says: “I caused such and such person to be murdered”
- But Iblis does not give special importance to anyone until one comes and says: “I caused such and such husband and wife to get divorced”
- Upon this, Iblis embraces him and praises him
This is clear evidence that Iblis himself does not go everywhere, rather he has appointed his subordinate devils in various places who act on his orders.
❖ Meaning of the Hadith and the Background of Sun Worship
- A separate devil is appointed for every country or region, who stands at sunrise and sunset in such a way that from a distance it appears as if the sun is slowly rising or setting between his two shoulders.
- This devil stands before those who worship the sun so that it seems as if people are prostrating to him.
This is the resemblance on the basis of which the Prophet ﷺ forbade praying at the time of sunrise and sunset.
❖ Summary of the objection: Can one devil be present everywhere?
Some deniers of Hadith or naive people object to this Hadith by saying:
“If the sun rises at different times in different places, then can one devil be present in all parts of the world at the same time and allow the sun to rise and set between his horns?”
This objection is actually based on lack of knowledge, misunderstanding, and prejudice, because:
- The hadith does not say that there is only one devil everywhere.
- Rather, different devils are appointed for each country and place, and each one is a representative of Iblis.
❖ Meaning of rising between the horns
- In the hadith, the meaning of the sun rising or setting between the devil’s horns is that the devil stands in front of the sun, and since those who worship the sun pray at that time, it is as if they are prostrating to the devil.
- The purpose of the hadith is to distinguish prayer from idolatrous worship, so that Muslims do not resemble sun worshippers.
❖ What is meant by horns?
- “Horns” here can be literal or metaphorical.
- According to some commentators, the devil’s shoulders appear like horns from a distance, and the sun appears to rise or set between them.
📌 Meaning that:
- The sun appearing between the horns is a description of the apparent scene, explained in the context of satanic effects and polytheistic acts.
- In reality, the sun is a great celestial body, but to the eyes, it appears like a plate, which is why it seems to come between the horns from a distance.
❖ The Intellectual Treachery of Objectors
- Hadith deniers always twist the words of hadith according to their limited understanding.
- They interpret “Satan” everywhere as Iblis, and when they cannot understand the meaning, they outright deny it.
- This behavior is not intellectual honesty but treachery.
As it is said: “One who has no eyes went to see the moon!”
❖ Objecting to the Hadith of the Holy Prophet ﷺ?
- It is extremely regrettable that inactive, dull-witted people today have started objecting to the sayings of the Holy Prophet ﷺ.
- Such people neither understand the reality of the hadith nor want to understand it, and only target the sacred words out of enmity and stubbornness.
The Quran says: ﴿فَإِنَّهَا لَا تَعْمَى الْأَبْصَارُ وَلَـٰكِن تَعْمَى الْقُلُوبُ الَّتِي فِي الصُّدُورِ﴾
“Indeed, the eyes do not become blind, but the hearts within the chests become blind.”
📌 And we pray: “اللهم أعذنا من عمى القلوب” (O Allah! Protect us from the blindness of the heart)
Summary and Clear Conclusion
From the above explanation, it has become clear that:
- The meaning of the blessed Hadith is by no means that a single devil raises the sun between horns all over the world.
- Rather, Iblis has appointed specific devils for every country and region who are present at a specific place during sunrise and sunset.
The main purpose of this Hadith is:
- To save Muslims from resembling sun worshippers.
- And to distinguish prayer from polytheistic acts of worship.
❖ There is no contradiction between Hadith and observation
- Some people object that the sun rises and sets at different times in different countries, so the Hadith contradicts observation.
- But this claim is baseless because:
✅ The sun indeed rises at different times in different countries, ✅ but in every place, there is a separate representative of Iblis, a devil, ✅ who misguides those who worship the sun at their respective locations.
📌 In this way, there is no conflict between science, observation, and Hadith.
❖ Objection to Hadith: Intellectual Treachery
- Those who object to Hadith actually:
❌ neither understand the Quran, ❌ nor are familiar with the symbols of Hadith, ❌ nor do they have any Shariah or scholarly basis. - Rejecting Hadith solely based on blind opinion and lack of understanding is actually enmity towards the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
As Allah Almighty said in Surah Al-An’am: ﴿وَكَذَٰلِكَ جَعَلْنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِيٍّ عَدُوًّا شَيَاطِينَ الْإِنسِ وَالْجِنِّ يُوحِي بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَىٰ بَعْضٍ زُخْرُفَ الْقَوْلِ غُرُورًا﴾
“We have appointed for every prophet enemies from among mankind and jinn, who teach each other deceptive words.”
❖ Conclusion
- The Hadith of the Century of Satan is completely authentic and clear.
- There is no contradiction, conflict, or statement against scientific observation in it.
- Those who object to it are actually victims of intellectual betrayal, ignorance, and prejudice.
- Such individuals should first acquire knowledge, then engage in discussion.
