The Phenomenon of "Idza Ash-Syamsu Kuwwirat" in Star Evolution Perspective

Abstract

This study examines the meaning of the phrase "idza asy-syamsu kuwwirat" in QS. At-Takwîr [81]:1 through the integration of classical–contemporary interpretations and modern astronomical findings regarding the evolution of the Sun. An analysis of the tafsir literature shows that mufasir such as Ibn Kathir, Al-Qurthubi, and Ar-Razi interpreted kuwwirat as the loss of light, the folding of shape, and the end of the Sun's cosmic function. Modern figures interpret the verse as a symbol of the death of the Sun's role and the collapse of the order of nature. Eschatological hadiths, such as the rising of the Sun from the west, are also understood as an indication of the disruption of the celestial system before the Apocalypse. From an astronomical point of view, the Sun is estimated to be 4.6 billion years old and will reach the end of its life in about 5 billion years. Models of stellar evolution show that after the hydrogen core is depleted, the Sun enters the red giant phase, shedding its outer layer as a planetary nebula, and leaving behind a white dwarf core. The results show a conceptual correspondence between the meaning of kuwwirat and the final physical processes of the Sun, although the two operate in different epistemological domains. Thus, integrating interpretation and astronomy provides a comprehensive understanding of cosmic dynamics while affirming the potential for harmonizing revelation and science in the study of Islamic cosmology