Rational Response to the Hadith: “The Sun Rises Between the Horns of Satan” ❖ Summary of the Objection by Hadith Deniers
Hadith deniers frequently present a narration from Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī with a biased translation and personal interpretation in order to mock it. The translation they spread is as follows:
"Ibn ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrates that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Do not pray at the time of sunrise and sunset because the sun rises and sets between the horns of Satan."
(Bukhārī, Vol. 2, Pg. 134)
They then raise the following objections:
① How can such a massive sun (which they claim is 32.5 billion miles in diameter) fit between the horns of Satan?
② If the sun is always rising or setting somewhere on Earth, does that mean prayer is never allowed?
❖ Analysis of the Objections
The objections raised by Hadith deniers can be categorized as follows:
◈ They assume the Hadith literally means that the sun is physically trapped between Satan’s horns.
◈ They argue that a large object (the sun) cannot fit into something small (Satan’s horns).
◈ Due to the Earth being round, the sun is always rising or setting somewhere, so they claim prayer should always be forbidden.
❖ Correct Meaning and Context of the Hadith
✦ Reason for Prohibition of Prayer at Sunrise and Sunset
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade praying at sunrise and sunset because these are the specific times when polytheists worship the sun. Even today, many communities bow before the sun during these moments, considering it the ruler of the universe. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited his Ummah from resembling such acts of polytheists.
Reference: (Sunan al-Nasā’ī)
❖ "The Sun Rises Between the Horns of Satan" – Clarified Meaning
The phrase "بين قرني الشيطان" in this Hadith does not imply that the sun is literally caught between the horns of Satan. In Arabic idiomatic expression and customary speech, such language is commonly used.
Examples:
◈ People say, "The sun rose between the mountains" or "between the trees", without implying that the sun is physically entangled in them.
◈ Similarly, "between the horns of Satan" implies that Satan is present in that direction, urging the polytheists to engage in sun worship at that time.
❖ Literal and Linguistic Explanation of “Qarn” (Horn)
The Arabic word "Qarn" can mean "horn", but it also refers to the edge or side of the head.
Reference: (Tāj al-ʿArūs, Pg. 21)
Commentators of Hadith such as Imām Nawawī رحمه الله clarified that in this Hadith, “qarn” refers to the sides or corners of Satan’s head.
Reference: (Nawawī Sharḥ Muslim, Vol. 1, Pg. 275)
❖ Understanding Idioms and Figurative Language
◈ The problem with Hadith deniers is their failure to understand idiomatic and metaphorical language.
◈ For example, if someone says “the sun rose between the trees”, no sensible person assumes the sun got tangled in the trees.
◈ The same linguistic principle applies to this Hadith.
❖ Misrepresentation by Hadith Deniers
The idea that “the sun is trapped between the horns of Satan” is entirely fabricated by the Hadith deniers themselves. The Hadith does not use the word “trapped”. They created this interpretation to raise objections that are not present in the original text.
❖ Objection: A Large Object Cannot Fit into a Smaller One
According to the objectors, the massive size of the sun makes it impossible for it to fit between Satan's horns. However, this objection is flawed because:
◈ The sun, though enormous in reality, is perceived by the human eye—a small organ—as a tiny object in the sky.
◈ The human eye "contains" the sun in its sight, even though the sun is many times larger than the Earth.
❖ Example from the Qur'an
The Qur'an states regarding Dhul-Qarnayn:
"Until, when he reached the setting place of the sun, he found it setting in a spring of dark mud..."
(Sūrah al-Kahf: 86)
This does not mean the sun literally sinks into a muddy spring, but rather it appeared to Dhul-Qarnayn that way. If taken literally, this verse would also be susceptible to objection, which the deniers would hesitate to raise.
❖ Objection: The Sun Is Always Rising Somewhere
Hadith deniers argue that since the sun is always rising or setting somewhere, one can never pray. This is a misunderstanding of Islamic jurisprudence:
◈ Muslims determine prayer timings based on their local horizon.
◈ For people in Kolkata, the sunrise and sunset times differ from those in Kabul.
◈ Similarly, the times for fasting during Ramadan vary by location.
❖ Flawed Logic of the Hadith Deniers
If their logic were to be accepted, then Suḥūr and Iftār in Ramadan would also become invalid, because it's always daytime or nighttime somewhere on Earth. This shows their objections are baseless and irrational.
❖ Conclusion
① Understanding Hadith requires contextual and linguistic comprehension, especially the idiomatic style of Arabic.② The objections raised by Hadith deniers are based on personal interpretation and intellectual fabrications.
③ The Prophet ﷺ forbade prayer at sunrise and sunset to prevent resemblance with the practices of polytheists—a command rooted in wisdom and clarity.
