The Sun is a shining glory (diya') and the Moon a light (nur).

The Sun is a shining glory (diya') and the Moon a light (nur). This translation would appear to be more correct than those given by others, where the two terms are inverted. In fact there is little difference in meaning since diya' belongs to a root (dw') which, according to Kazimirski's authoritative Arabic/French dictionary, means 'to be bright, to shine' (e.g. like a fire). The same author attributes to the substantive in question the meaning of 'light'.

The difference between Sun and Moon will be made clearer by further quotes from the Qur'an. --sura 25, verse 61: "Blessed is the One Who placed the constellations in heaven and placed therein a lamp and a moon giving light." --sura 71, 15-16: "Did you see how God created seven heavens one above an other and made the moon a light therein and made the sun a lamp?" --sura 78, verses 12-