Surah al-Qamar (The Moon ) 54 : 1

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ

Translations

 
 Muhsin Khan
 Pickthall
 Yusuf Ali
Quran Project
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].

1. Lessons/Guidance/Reflections/Gems

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Explanatory Note

This is a highly inspiring opening, speaking of a momentous event in the wide universe that heralds an immeasurably greater event: "The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder.” 

What a piece of news! They saw the first event with their own eyes, and they can only anticipate the greater one. The splitting of the moon, witnessed by the Arabs, is confirmed in numerous reports; all agree that this took place, though they differ in their general and detailed descriptions of how it occurred. Here, we will give a few of these reports:

Anas ibn Malik reports: "The people of Makkah asked the Prophet to show them a miracle, and the moon was split in Makkah twice. He read: ' The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder.' [Related by Malik.] The same report by Anas is given in another version stating the people's request for a miracle, then saying: "He showed them the moon split in two halves, and they could see Mount Hira' in between." [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

Ibn 'Abbas is quoted by various transmitters as having said: "The moon was once split during the Prophet's lifetime." [Related by alBukhari and Muslim.] Other versions add: "This took place before the Prophet's migration to Madinah. They could see its two halves." Yet another version related by al-Tabarani with a different chain of transmitters quotes Ibn `Abbas as saying: "The moon was eclipsed during the Prophet's time. The unbelievers said, 'A spell is cast on the moon. A Qur'anic revelation was bestowed from on high stating: The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder'.

The Qur'an clearly stated this event to the unbelievers at the time, but there is no report to suggest that they ever denied it. It must, then, have happened in a way that makes denial practically impossible. Had there been a way to deny it, they would have done so, if only for the sake of meaningless argument. All that has been reported of their reactions are their statements that the Prophet had cast a magic spell on them. Yet they too directly witnessed the event and so knew for themselves that this was no magic. Had the Prophet been able to cast a spell on them, he could not have done the same to the travellers in the desert. Such travellers, let us recall, confirmed that they had witnessed this extraordinary event.

The splitting of the moon, then, was a clear sign to which the Qur'an draws people's attention, just like it draws attention to other signs available in the universe around us. It wonders at the unbeliever's attitude to all these signs, including the splitting of the moon.

2. Linguistic Analysis

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The word Qamar [moon] appears in the Qur'an 27 times and the Moon orbits the Earth every 27 or so days.



Frequency of Root words in this Ayat used in this Surah *


3. Surah Overview

4. Miscellaneous Information

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The Moon is the Earth’s only natural satellite. The average distance from the Moon to the Earth is 384403 kilometres (238857 miles). The Moon is in synchronous rotation with Earth, always showing the same face, with its near side marked by dark volcanic maria that fill the spaces between the bright ancient crustal highlands and the prominent impact craters. As seen from the Earth, it is the second-brightest regularly visible celestial object in Earth's sky, after the Sun. Its surface is actually dark, although compared to the night sky it appears very bright, with a reflectance just slightly higher than that of worn asphalt. Its gravitational influence produces the ocean tides, body tides, and the slight lengthening of the day.

5. Connected/Related Ayat

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6. Frequency of the word

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7. Period of Revelation

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The incident of the ‘splitting of the moon’ (shaqq-al-Qamar) that has been mentioned in this Surah, determines its period of revelation precisely. The traditionists and commentators are agreed that this incident took place at Mina in Makkah about five years before the Prophet’s migration (Hijra) to Madīnah.

8. Reasons for Revelation

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9. Relevant Hadith

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10. Wiki Forum

Comments in this section are statements made by general users – these are not necessarily explanations of the Ayah – rather a place to share personal thoughts and stories…

11. Tafsir Zone

 

Overview (Verses 1)

The Splitting of the Moon

This is a highly inspiring opening, speaking of a momentous event in the wide universe that heralds an immeasurably greater event: "The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder.” (Verse 1) What a piece of news! They saw the first event with their own eyes, and they can only anticipate the greater one. The splitting of the moon, witnessed by the Arabs, is confirmed in numerous reports; all agree that this took place, though they differ in their general and detailed descriptions of how it occurred. Here, we will give a few of these reports:

Anas ibn Malik reports: "The people of Makkah asked the Prophet to show them a miracle, and the moon was split in Makkah twice. He read: ' The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder.' [Related by Malik.] The same report by Anas is given in another version stating the people's request for a miracle, then saying: "He showed them the moon split in two halves, and they could see Mount Hira' in between." [Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

Jubayr ibn Mut cim reports: "The moon was split during the Prophet's lifetime and it was seen in two halves, one over each mountain. People said: 'Muhammad has cast a magic spell on us.' Then they said: 'If he could cast a spell on us, he cannot do that to all people.'" [Related by Ahmad, and also by al-Tabari and al-Bayhaqi with different chains of transmission.]

Ibn 'Abbas is quoted by various transmitters as having said: "The moon was once split during the Prophet's lifetime." [Related by al¬Bukhari and Muslim.] Other versions add: "This took place before the Prophet's migration to Madinah. They could see its two halves." Yet another version related by al-Tabarani with a different chain of transmitters quotes Ibn `Abbas as saying: "The moon was eclipsed during the Prophet's time. The unbelievers said, 'A spell is cast on the moon. A Qur'anic revelation was bestowed from on high stating: The Last Hour draws near, and the moon is split asunder'.

(Abdullah ibn (Umar said: "The moon was split in two halves during the Prophet's time in Makkah, with one half seen at the near side of the mountain and the other at the far side. The Prophet said: 'My Lord! Be my witness." [Related by Muslim and al-Tirmidhi.]

(Abdullah ibn Masuad reports: "During the Prophet's time, the moon was split in two and people could see it. The Prophet said: 'Look at it and be witnesses." [Related by Ahmad, al-Bukhari and Muslim.] Al-Bukhari adds another version of this report with a different chain of transmitters quoting Ibn Mas 'ad: "When the moon was split, the Quraysh said: 'This is a magic spell cast by Ibn Abi Kabshah [a derogatory nickname they gave to the Prophet]. Wait until some travellers arrive, for Muhammad cannot cast his spell on all people.' When travelers came they confirmed the splitting of the moon."

The Qur'an clearly stated this event to the unbelievers at the time, but there is no report to suggest that they ever denied it. It must, then, have happened in a way that makes denial practically impossible. Had there been a way to deny it, they would have done so, if only for the sake of meaningless argument. All that has been reported of their reactions are their statements that the Prophet had cast a magic spell on them. Yet they too directly witnessed the event and so knew for themselves that this was no magic. Had the Prophet been able to cast a spell on them, he could not have done the same to the travellers in the desert. Such travellers, let us recall, confirmed that they had witnessed this extraordinary event.

A Miracle in Support?

We need to add here a word about the report that the unbelievers asked the Prophet for a miracle and in response the moon was split in two showing them what they had asked for. This report is in conflict with a clear Qur'anic statement that stipulates that the Prophet was not supported by any miracle of the type given to earlier messengers. The reason is explained in the following verse: "Nothing hinders Us from sending miraculous signs except that the people of firmer times treated them as false." (17: 59) This statement makes clear that, in His infinite wisdom, God decided not to show unbelievers miraculous signs in support of His message, because earlier communities had rejected them as false.

On every occasion the unbelievers asked the Prophet for a miracle, his reply was that this was outside his remit: he was no more than a human messenger. He always referred them to the Qur'an, declaring that it was the only sign to confirm the veracity of his message. "Say, 'If all mankind and the jinn were to gather together for the purpose of producing the like of this Qur'an, they would not produce anything like it, even though they helped one another as best they could,' Indeed We have explained to mankind, in this Qur'an, every kind of lesson. Yet most people refuse to accept anything other than unbelief. They say: 'We shall not believe in you till you cause a spring to gush forth for us from the earth, or you have a garden of date palms and vines, and you cause rivers to flow through it, or you cause the sky to fall upon us in pieces, as you have threatened, or you bring God and the angels face to face before us, or you have a house of gold, or you ascend to heaven. Indeed we shall not believe in your ascent to heaven until you bring us a book for us to read' Safi 'Limitless in His glory is my Lord. Surely I am only a man and a Messenger.'" (17: 88-93)

Therefore, the claim that this splitting of the moon was in response to the unbelievers' demand for a miracle is contrary to clear Qur'anic texts. It is also contrary to the strategy adopted by this final divine message in addressing the human mind only by the Qur'an and its miraculous nature. It is the Qur'an that directs people's minds to reflect on the signs available in the universe and in their own constitutions, as well as in historical events. The actual miracles that were given to the Prophet and confirmed by many authentic reports were merely aspects of God's grace which He extended to His Messenger. They did not constitute proofs of His message.

We, therefore, confirm that the splitting of the moon was indeed a reality, as stated in the Qur'an and in many authentic reports indicating its place, time and appearance. We do not, however, endorse the causes stated in some of these reports, but we will highlight the combination of the Qur'anic confirmation of its happening with the reference to the Last Hour drawing near. This is intended to awaken the human mind so that it responds to the divine message.

The splitting of the moon, then, was a clear sign to which the Qur'an draws people's attention, just like it draws attention to other signs available in the universe around us. It wonders at the unbeliever's attitude to all these signs, including the splitting of the moon.

Physical miracles may appear amazing to the human mind prior to its maturity; that is prior to its ability to contemplate the permanent signs already available in the universe and being influenced by what these signs clearly prove. All the physical miracles that messengers were given before mankind had attained maturity were not as great as others already available in the world around us. Yet these do not excite man's instinctive reactions like those unfamiliar miracles.
 
Even if we consider the splitting of the moon on this occasion to be a physical miracle, the fact remains that the moon itself is a greater miracle. Its size, position, shape, nature, ever-changing stages, cycle, bearing on life on earth and how it stays in space without support make the moon a great miracle that people can see with their eyes and contemplate with their minds. It testifies to man's heart and mind as a witness to God's creation. It cannot be denied except by one who is a stubborn unbeliever.

The Qur'an puts the human mind face to face with the universe and what it contains of God's signs. This is far better than providing an unfamiliar sign lasting only for a brief period and seen by only one generation of people in one particular place. The entire universe then is a great sign; here everything small or large is a sign of God's immeasurable ability. The human mind is invited at every moment to look at these permanent signs and to listen to their testimony, which is always lucid and decisive. It is also invited to enjoy all the marvelous aspects of creation, which combine beauty with perfection and excite a feeling of amazement to strengthen conviction. The present surah opens with a reference to the fact that the Last Hour is drawing near and to the splitting of the moon. It thus delivers a shock to the human mind, which then anticipates the Last Hour that is soon to happen, made all the more apparent by virtue of the great event that has just taken place. It can now stretch imagination to the events that will accompany the Last Hour.

How close is the Last Hour? The Prophet is quoted as saying: "I have been given my message as close to the Last Hour as these two", pointing with his index and middle finger. [Related by Ahmad, al-Bukhari and Muslim.]


12. External Links

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