BİRİNCİ FEN · ÜÇÜNCÜ BÂB · DOKUZUNCU FASIL · Beşinci Madde
Newly Established Astronomical Rules
It is reported that the newly established astronomical rules are based on firm foundations and are authoritative.
O esteemed one! Know that the new astronomers have said:
The fixed stars, which are aligned with the Earth’s annual orbit – for example, the “be,” “jim” point or the “dal,” “ye” point – appear as a point due to their great distance from us. Consequently, according to this, no matter where the Earth's axis is located in its annual orbit, the fixed stars always appear to be turned towards the same point on the sphere of the heavens. It has been observed that the elevation of the Earth’s pole is always directed toward one side, and that what is above our heads is oriented toward a star. Although, in reality, the Earth approaches sometimes this star, sometimes that star, [98/a], sometimes the south, and sometimes the north to a great extent within the sphere of the signs, due to its annual movement along its annual orbit, the Earth’s annual orbit appears as merely a point in proportion to the sphere of the fixed stars. In this situation, it becomes indistinguishable whether the Earth is near or far from the sphere of the fixed stars.
According to those who dare to limit the power and might of Allah, the matter mentioned (the issue of determination) is exceedingly difficult and arduous. However, if one looks with a careful gaze and thoroughly considers the importance of the matter, it is not impossible to make such determinations regarding the movements of celestial bodies. To give an idea to those who reject the movement of the Earth due to the systematic nature of this new astronomy, it should be remembered that those in the older astronomical conception deemed even more things improbable than these. One of the things they considered improbable was the first mover (muharrik-i evvel), namely the greatest sphere, with its vastness, magnitude, and astonishing speed, which is known to complete a revolution from east to west every day.
Another thing that the ancients considered improbable was the movement within the greatest sphere in twenty-four hours of the spheres and their speeds in those movements. It has been stated that each of these moves contrary to the greatest sphere, moving from west to east according to its own nature, while still conforming to the greatest sphere, completing a revolution from east to west once every day. However, the speed of the projectile fired from a gun is three hundred thousand times less than the velocity of the first mover in its journey during that time, which would be necessary for it to complete a revolution. Therefore, it is easier and more understandable to accept that the tiny Earth, capable of movement due to being spherical, revolves around the great sun once a year, owing to the movements of the large spheres located within the greatest sphere, whose body is vast and whose surface shape is still unknown, and that these spheres revolve around it in proportion to their own size. This acceptance is closer to truth, consistent with the nature of the matter, and akin to what the sound intellect can accept.
The statement, “As long as the Earth moves in its annual orbit, it maintains its axis – as mentioned above in its equality,” does not mean that the Earth’s axis cannot change its position at any time or in any way. For the Earth's axis rotates with a very slow, unique movement, apart from these, and completes this rotation in twenty-five thousand eight hundred sixteen solar years, tracing a circle around the sphere of the signs.
As a result of this movement of the Earth, the points where the belt of the signs intersects the equator – which are known as the points of equal day and night – move from east to west contrary to the direction of the movement of the signs. For this reason, this movement is called the precession of the equinoxes. Therefore, it is known that the appearance of the fixed stars moving along the path of the signs’ movement, namely from west to east, and their increasing distance from the point of equal day and night towards the east, originates from this movement of the Earth. It is known that the movement of the Earth is not orderly but chaotic. For it has been observed that the movements of these fixed stars in relation to the path of the signs are sometimes one degree every hundred years, sometimes every seventy years, and sometimes every sixty years. In this situation, it is known that the Earth’s axis moves only a quarter of an hour from north to south and from south to north. Thus, it has been thought and assumed that the end of the Earth's axis is bent and forms a twisted circle with a winding movement.
Only Allah, exalted be He, knows best.