Zaytūn) to the Commander of the Faithful, according to his saying in his sermon: "I am the Fig, I am the Olive."

Similarly, the names "the Sun and the Moon" are applied to silver and gold, to idols crafted from gold and silver, and to Abu Bakr and Umar, based on the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying to them: "Welcome to the suns and moons of the lands."

It was asked of him: "O Messenger of God, who are the suns and moons of the lands?"

He replied to them: "Abu Bakr is the sun of this nation, and Umar is its moon."

Furthermore, the celestial Sun and Moon are Muhammad and Ali, as narrated in the book Stories of the Prophets (Qiṣaṣ al-Anbiyā’), titled ‘Arā’is al-Majālis—which is one of the exoteric books—on the authority of the Prophet (PBUH) that he said: "O people, whoever loses the sun, let him hold fast to the moon; whoever loses the moon, let him hold fast to Venus (al-Zuhara); and whoever loses Venus, let him hold fast to the two bright stars (al-Farqadayn)." It was asked of him: "O Messenger of God, what is the Sun, the Moon, Venus, and the two bright stars?" He said: "I am the Sun, and Ali is the Moon..." etc.

Similar to this is what was narrated in Tafsir al-Safi regarding the meaning of His Almighty’s saying: {By the sun and its brightness, and the moon when it follows it} (Ash-Shams: 1-2). He said: "The Sun is the Messenger of God through whom God clarified for the people their