Is it possible that the Hadith of the sun prostrating itself, found in Sahih Al-Bukhari, reached us in a form different from its original wording as spoken by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, rendering its meaning unclear? And can it be deemed weak, just as the Hadith about the creation of the heavens and the earth in Sahih Muslim was weakened due to its contradiction with the explicit text of the Qur’an?

A sound Hadith, even if it is an Ahad (solitary) narration, is accepted by the Muhaddithun (Hadith scholars) because they are specialists in this field. The Muhaddithun have agreed on accepting Ahad narrations if they are sound, and on the authenticity of what is narrated in Al-Bukhari. This particular Hadith was narrated by Al-Bukhari and others with a sound chain of transmission from Abu Dharr, and they did not differ on affirming the prostration of the sun beneath the Throne. Therefore, it is not permissible to reject what has been authentically transmitted on the claim that it contradicts reason. Rather, it is minds that may fall short in understanding, for what has been authentically transmitted does not contradict sound reason.