Does the Hadith of the Angels at Sunrise and Sunset Support a Flat Earth?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
A report in Musnad Ahmad states that two angels descend on either side of the sun at sunset and again at sunrise, calling out to people.
If sunrise and sunset are one phenomenon, why a separate pair of angels for each?
And does the report’s framing only work if sunrise and sunset are single, globally simultaneous events — which would seem to imply a flat earth?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Merciful.
This report does not require us to believe in a flat earth or a single, simultaneous event for all people.
Two matters clarify this: first, the actual wording of the hadith; and second, the established understanding that the Quran and Sunna were not revealed to teach us cosmology.
What the report actually says. The sound wording comes from Abu al-Darda’ (Allah be pleased with him), who reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “No sun rises but that on its two sides are two angels calling out, making all of creation hear except the two heavy ones — humans and jinn: ‘O people, come to your Lord! What is little and sufficient is better than what is abundant and distracts.’” The sunset wording carries the supplication of the two angels: “O Allah, give the spender a replacement,” and “O Allah, give the withholder ruin.” [Ahmad; graded rigorously authentic (sahih) by al-Albani]
Notice the matn itself: the call is heard by all creation except humans and jinn. The report explicitly does not describe something humans witness at a single global instant — so the premise that it requires a single simultaneous worldwide moment does not hold.
And the sunrise and sunset calls are simply different in content — one a summons to turn to Allah, the other a supplication over spending and withholding — which is reason enough for them to be two distinct stations.
What “sunrise” and “sunset” mean. These are local to each horizon. The angels’ descent at the rising or setting of the sun need not be one global event; it accompanies the sun’s passage as each place meets it. That alone dissolves the simultaneity premise on which the objection rests.
What the Quran teaches about the sun’s course. Allah says, “Each is floating in an orbit (falak)” [Quran 21:33], and, “It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outrun the day; each is floating in an orbit” [Quran 36:40].
The exegetes read this as ordered, independent motion. Ibn Ashur notes that “orbit” is left general after “each,” so that “each of them has its own orbit — they are many orbits — each resting in an orbit that does not collide with the orbit of another.” [Ibn Ashur, al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir]
Alusi adds that “the apparent meaning is that each of the two luminaries is in an orbit — a course particular to it — and this the senses bear witness to” [Alusi, Ruh al-Maani]. Far from a flat, static earth, the imagery is of measured celestial motion, each body keeping to its own appointed path.
The point of the report. Its purpose is pastoral and turned toward the next life: a call to wake from heedlessness and turn to Allah, and a lesson on generosity over hoarding. It is not a claim about the shape of the Earth.
The sound principle, long applied by the scholars, is that texts touching on the cosmos are read in harmony with what is established by sound knowledge — the Earth’s shape and the celestial orbits were treated by Muslim scholars centuries ago without any sense of conflict with revelation.
Let the hadith do its work on the heart, and let it deepen rather than unsettle your trust in the words of the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related SeekersGuidance Answers
- Could You Please Refute the Ambiguity Surrounding the Geocentric Model of Ptolemy? — On reading Sura Yasin’s verses on the sun and moon without a flat or geocentric premise.
- How Can Apparent Differences Between Authentic Hadith and Scientific Findings Be Reconciled? — The method for harmonizing a sound report with established scientific fact.
- Is It True That Islam Says That the Earth Is on the Back of a Whale? — How to weigh Israelite reports and folk cosmology against the actual sources.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
