Epigraph:

Exalted is He who put constellations in the heavens, a radiant light, and an illuminating moon –– it is He who made the night and day follow each other –– so anyone who wishes may be mindful or show gratitude. (Al Quran 25:61-62)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD, Chief Editor of the Muslim Times

Chapter or Surah 85 of the Quran is named Al Buruj or The Constellations.

Constellations are groups of stars that appear to form a shape in the night sky. They are often named after animals, people, or objects. They are a map of the sky that helps astronomers and navigators locate stars. They have been used for navigation since ancient times. They helped people keep track of the seasons and find their way around at night.

Here are some examples of well-known constellations. 

• Orion: The Great Hunter
• Leo: The Lion
• Taurus: The Bull
• Ursa Major: The Great Bear
• Hercules: A mythological figure
• Delphinus: The Dolphin
• Andromeda: The Princess
• Pegasus: The Winged Horse

Throughout history, civilizations have gazed upon the night sky, weaving tales and myths around the patterns they observed among the stars. These star patterns, known as constellations, often carry rich stories that reflect the cultures and beliefs of those who named them. Here are some of the most renowned constellations and the myths associated with them:

1. Orion (The Hunter):

In Greek mythology, Orion was a mighty hunter, the son of Poseidon. Boasting of his intent to hunt all animals, Gaia, the Earth goddess, sent a scorpion to stop him. After a fierce battle, both were placed among the stars as the constellations Orion and Scorpius. Interestingly, in the sky, these two constellations are positioned opposite each other, symbolizing their eternal chase. theoi.com

2. Ursa Major and Ursa Minor (The Great and Little Bears):

According to Greek legend, Callisto, a nymph of Artemis, caught Zeus’s eye and bore him a son, Arcas. Hera, Zeus’s wife, transformed Callisto into a bear out of jealousy. Years later, Arcas, while hunting, almost killed his mother, not recognizing her. To prevent this tragedy, Zeus placed both in the sky as Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. greekgodsandgoddesses.net

3. Cassiopeia (The Vain Queen):

Queen Cassiopeia of Ethiopia boasted that she and her daughter, Andromeda, were more beautiful than the sea nymphs. Offended, Poseidon sent a sea monster to ravage her kingdom. To appease him, Andromeda was chained as a sacrifice but was saved by Perseus. As punishment for her vanity, Cassiopeia was placed in the sky, doomed to spend half the night upside down. mymodernmet.com

4. Draco (The Dragon):

In one myth, Draco represents Ladon, the dragon that guarded the golden apples in the Garden of the Hesperides. Heracles (Hercules) was tasked with stealing these apples as one of his twelve labors. After slaying Ladon, the dragon was placed among the stars. theoi.com

5. Andromeda (The Chained Princess):

Andromeda, daughter of Cassiopeia and Cepheus, was chained to a rock as a sacrifice to appease Poseidon’s wrath. Perseus, returning from slaying Medusa, rescued her, and they later married. To honor her, Andromeda was placed in the sky as a constellation. mymodernmet.com

These myths not only explain the origins of the constellations but also convey moral lessons and cultural values. They serve as a testament to humanity’s enduring fascination with the cosmos and our desire to find meaning in the stars.

The holy Quran was revealed in seventh-century Arabia, where a very large majority of people were illiterate. The Prophet Muhammad himself could not read or write. Nevertheless, the Glorious Quran does not indulge in any myths. In the verses mentioned in the very beginning, as the epigraph of this article, it claims that God created the constellations and everything else in the universe. In another verse, Allah says:

And We have, indeed, made constellations of stars in the heaven and have adorned it for beholders. (Al Quran 15:16)

Allah has created the stars and the whole universe, and every aspect of His creation glorifies Him, the artist behind the awe-inspiring creativity. Now cosmologists are talking about possibly two trillion galaxies in our universe and searching for possible life in possibly billions of earths out there:

Surely, your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; then He settled Himself on the Throne. He makes the night cover the day, which pursues it swiftly. And He created the sun and the moon and the stars, all made subservient by His command. Indeed, His is the creation and the command. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the worlds. (Al Quran 7:54)

Rather than myth building the Quran wants us to study not only the constellations, but all aspects and phenomena of nature and tells us that in doing so we will be enlightened:

And He has pressed into service for you the night and the day, and the sun and the moon; and the stars too have been pressed into service by His command. Surely, in that are Signs for a people who make use of their reason. (Al Quran 16:12)

The Quran also states the obvious that the night travelers among His first addressees are guided by the constellations during their travel:

And He it is Who has made the stars for you that you may follow the right direction with their help amid the deep darkness of the land and the sea. We have explained the Signs in detail for a people who possess knowledge. (Al Quran 6:97)

It is important to note here that the Prophet Muhammad, may peace be on him, never traveled by sea. However, as the Quran is the literal word of God, it always reflects a divine rather than a limited human perspective and here talks about both sea and land travel. In another Surah, Allah captures the role of stars and constellations in the following words, while highlighting several other blessings:

He has made mountains stand firm on the earth, to prevent it shaking under you, and rivers and paths so that you may find your way, and landmarks and stars to guide people. Can He who creates be compared to one who cannot create? Why do you not take heed? (Al Quran 16:15-17)

Epilogue:

Beyond their practical applications, these references to stars and constellations also invite believers to reflect on the divine wisdom underlying creation. The precise placement and movement of celestial bodies serve as signs for those who contemplate, encouraging a deeper appreciation of the natural world and its Creator.

The Surah that is named after the constellations opens with the following verse:

I swear by the heavens containing the constellations. (Al Quran 85:1)

When Allah swears by any of His creation, He is presenting it as testimony of His truth and the Quran as His final message. Divine claim is that all aspects of His creation, all of cosmology including the constellations glorify Him.

From that perspective, the constellations become a pointer to cosmological, ontological, and teleological arguments for the existence of God. The constellations were a beautiful pointer for the early Arabs, for they were part of their daily life and have evolved into an even more profound signal towards God, given the new far-reaching telescopes that we are now blessed with. And for a fuller discussion of these arguments, I suggest a few prior articles:

The Glorious Quran: A Comprehensive Presentation of the Cosmological Argument

Avicenna’s Ontological Argument for the Existence of God from the Crown Verse

Are the Northern Lights Hinted in the Quran?

The Glorious Quran: ‘Have You Ever Pondered Over the Water, Which You Drink?’

How Fine-Tuning of Our Universe Leads to God

Appendix

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially recognizes 88 constellations, covering the entire celestial sphere. These constellations serve as a celestial map, aiding in the identification and location of stars and other astronomical objects. Below is a comprehensive list of all 88 constellations:

1. Andromeda
2. Antlia
3. Apus
4. Aquarius
5. Aquila
6. Ara
7. Aries
8. Auriga
9. Boötes
10. Caelum
11. Camelopardalis
12. Cancer
13. Canes Venatici
14. Canis Major
15. Canis Minor
16. Capricornus
17. Carina
18. Cassiopeia
19. Centaurus
20. Cepheus
21. Cetus
22. Chamaeleon
23. Circinus
24. Columba
25. Coma Berenices
26. Corona Australis
27. Corona Borealis
28. Corvus
29. Crater
30. Crux
31. Cygnus
32. Delphinus
33. Dorado
34. Draco
35. Equuleus
36. Eridanus
37. Fornax
38. Gemini
39. Grus
40. Hercules
41. Horologium
42. Hydra
43. Hydrus
44. Indus
45. Lacerta
46. Leo
47. Leo Minor
48. Lepus
49. Libra
50. Lupus
51. Lynx
52. Lyra
53. Mensa
54. Microscopium
55. Monoceros
56. Musca
57. Norma
58. Octans
59. Ophiuchus
60. Orion
61. Pavo
62. Pegasus
63. Perseus
64. Phoenix
65. Pictor
66. Pisces
67. Piscis Austrinus
68. Puppis
69. Pyxis
70. Reticulum
71. Sagitta
72. Sagittarius
73. Scorpius
74. Sculptor
75. Scutum
76. Serpens
77. Sextans
78. Taurus
79. Telescopium
80. Triangulum
81. Triangulum Australe
82. Tucana
83. Ursa Major
84. Ursa Minor
85. Vela
86. Virgo
87. Volans
88. Vulpecula