Darknesses

The Quran speaks of 'darknesses' (plural) for some unknown reason. I dare say that it probably sounds as odd in Arabic as it does in English.

S 2:17 Their likeness is as the likeness of the one who has kindled a fire then when what was around him illuminated Allah took their light and left them in darknesses, not seeing.

There's a further oddity in this verse in that the author begins with the singular "the one", "him" but ends with the plural "their", "them". From an Answering Islam article:

Here the author of the Qur'an is talking about people who have gone astray and gives a parable of someone (singular) "الذِي" who lit a fire (also in the singular) "اسْتَوْقَد" and it lit all that was around him (singular) "حَوْلَهُ". Then Allah removed this light from around THEM "بِنُورِهِم". Here, the author of the Qur'an is still in the parable but uses the term THEM to describe HIM. (Bold, italic and underline emphasis ours) Revisiting Muhammad's Idolatry

S 2:19 Or as a rainstorm from the sky wherein are darknesses and thunder and lightning. They put their fingers in their ears on account of the thunderbolts in apprehension of death. And Allah encompasses the kafirun.

Who puts his fingers in his ears when hearing thunder? A child? They're expecting death?

S 6:59 And he has the keys of the ghayb; none knows them but him. And he knows what is in the land and the sea. And no leaf falls but he knows it. And not a grain in the darknesses of the Earth nor wet nor dry but it is in a clear book.

So a wet dog gets a mention in some book? Regarding ghayb: https://philhoraia.wixsite.com/website/post/the-ghayb

S 6:63 Say: Who saves you from the darknesses of the land and the sea? You invoke him in obtestation and surreptitiously. If he has saved us from this we shall be of the grateful.

Surreptitiously?

S 6:97 And he is the one who made for you the stars to be guided by in the darknesses of the land and the sea. We have detailed the signs for people who know.

S 24:40 Or like darknesses in a deep sea. A wave above it, a wave above it covers it, a cloud, darknesses. Some of them above others. When he has taken his hand out he has barely seen it. And he whom Allah has not made light for has no light.

S 27:63 Or he who guides you in the darknesses of the land and the sea and he who sends the winds as good news in front of his mercy? Is there a god with Allah? Exalted be Allah above what they associate!

S 39:6 He created you from one soul. Then he made from it its husband. And he sent down for you of the cattle eight pairs. He creates you in the bellies of your mothers, a creation after a creation, in three darknesses. That is Allah your lord. His is the rule. There is no god but him. So how are you turned away?

Three darknesses?