Is the interpretation closest to reality for the verses "By the sun and its brightness; {1} And [by] the moon when it follows it; {2} And [by] the day when it displays it; {3} And [by] the night when it covers it; {4}" that "And [by] the moon when it follows it" indicates a solar eclipse, "And [by] the day when it displays it" indicates a mirage, and "And [by] the night when it covers it" indicates a lunar eclipse, rather than merely the succession of day and night?

Departing from the interpretation of the Salaf (early Muslims) has no justification except with a text (from the Quran or Sunnah), a linguistic indication, or reality, and none of these are present. The word "talā" (تلا) means "followed" and does not indicate the sun's immobility. The word "jallāhā" (جلاها) means "revealed it" or "made it apparent," and the pronoun refers to the sun, not to the mirage, as the mirage is not always apparent. The primary concern should be the reality of purifying the soul mentioned in the Surah, and not to force the Quran to bear interpretations for which there is no evidence.