Surat Al-Qamar (The Moon)
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Central Theme and Relationship with the Previous Sūrahs This s ū rah begins with the topic the previous s ū rah ended on. The previous s ū rah ends on the words: ﺔ ﻓ ٰﻹۡﻵ ﺖ ﻓ ) ٧ : ٣ ( (what is near has drawn near, (53:57)) and this s ū rah begins with the words: ﺮ ﻤ ﻘۡﻟ ﻖ ﺸۡﻧ و ﺔ ﻋﺎ ﺴﻟ ﺖ ۡﻗ (the hour of punishment is near andthe moon is split asunder). In other words, the brevity found in ﺔ ﻓ ٰﻹۡﻵ ﺖ ﻓ is elaboratedby it. Besides this similarity, there is another very clear apparent similarity betweenthe two s ū rahs. In the previous s ū rah , the rising and setting of stars is presented asevidence over a claim and in this s ū rah this evidence is presented with the moonsplitting asunder.In this s ū rah , the verse ٍ ﺪ ﻣ ۡﻦ ﻣ ۡﻞ ﻬ ﻓ ۡ ﺬﻠ نٰ ۡ ۡﻟ ﺎ ﻧۡ ﻳ ۡﺪ ﻘ ﻟ و is repeated many times. Suchrepetitive verses in asūrah occupy a special significance. It is as if the speaker everynow and then, while presenting arguments, wants to remind his obdurate addresseesand ask them the reason for being so stubborn and the reason why they do not reflecton the reality which is being put forth before them in the light of sound arguments.The addressees of this sūrah are people who, in order to find a proof of the veracityof Qur’ānic warnings, were demanding a sign of this punishment that could convincethem of these warnings. The history of denial by previous nations – which is alluded to in the previous sūrah as well – is recounted before them in relatively more detailand they are asked to learn a lesson from their fate. Why are they insisting that theywill believe only when they see the punishment hovering over their heads? They mustrealize that it is God’s great favour to them that instead of showing a sign of thepunishment, He revealed such a Book to them that had all the necessary features tocomprehensively teach and remind them and remove their doubts. Alas! Instead ofasking for God’s mercy, they were asking for His punishment. Analysis of the DiscourseVerses (1-8): The Prophet (sws) has been assured that he should not pay any heed tothe stubborn and obstinate people who were demanding to see the doom they had beenpromised. The greatest of signs shall not induce them to accept faith because they donot follow sense and reason; instead they are the followers of their whims and desires.The anecdotes about the fate of various earlier nations should be a big lesson for them,but unfortunately they do not have the ability to learn from history. The Prophet (sws)is further consoled that they will not pay heed to his Message; he should leave their matter to the summoner who, on the Day of Judgement shall be summoning them notto the Qur’ ā n but to Hell. They shall respond to his call, emerging from their graveslike locusts scattered about. Verses (9-42): The Quraysh have been directed to learn a lesson from the fate of thepeople of Noah, (sws) the ‘ Ā d, Tham ū d, Lot (sws) and Pharaoh. These people, likethe Quraysh, also rejected their respective prophets, and the Quraysh very well knowwhat happened to them. If the Quraysh also follow in their footsteps, they will meet asimilar fate. They must bear in mind that it is a great blessing of the Almighty that Hehas revealed the Qur’ ā n to warn them of this danger beforehand. He has made it easyfor them so they can seek a lesson from it and be reminded. Instead of acknowledgingthis favour of the Almighty and benefiting from it, it is their extreme misfortune thatthey are asking for punishment. Verses (43-55): The Quraysh have been cautioned that when in the past the Almightyhas never spared the disbelievers, they should not consider themselves an exception tothis rule. Are they of some special and exalted breed that they shall be spared? Dothey reckon that the Almighty has written a directive of acquittal for them in theHereafter in the heavenly scriptures, and do they think that they shall be able todefend themselves against God in the Hereafter? If they have such foolish ideas, theymust remember that the Almighty shall never treat the disbelievers and the righteousequally. He shall punish the disbelievers by throwing them into Hell and reward therighteous with Paradise.
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54: AL-QAMARPeriod of Revelation:The incident of the shaqq-al-Qamar (splitting of the moon) that is mentioned in it, determines its period of revelation precisely. This incident took place at Mina in Makkah five years before the Prophet's migration to Madinah.Major Issues, Divine Laws and Guidance:• The Day of Judgment is drawing near yet the unbelievers are not paying heed to the signs of Allah.• We have made the Qur'an easy to understand the admonition, so is there any who would take the admonition?• The story of Thamud and Lut who called their Prophet liars is related to show how terrible was Allah's scourge, and how clear was His warning.• People of Fir'aun were seized for disbelieving Allah's warning. The same warning has come to you, will you not take admonition? *In this Surah, the disbelievers of Makkah have been warned about their stubbornness towards the message of the Prophet, peace be upon him. The amazing and wonderful phenomenon of the splitting of the Moon was a manifest sign of the truth that the Resurrection, of which the Prophet was giving them the news, could take place. The great sphere of the Moon had split into two distinct parts in front of their very eyes. The two parts had separated and receded so much apart from each other that, to the onlookers, one part had appeared on one side of the mountain and the other on the other side of it. Then, in an instant, the two had rejoined. This was manifest proof of the truth that the system of the Universe was neither eternal nor immortal; it could be disrupted. The disbelievers described it as a magical illusion and persisted in their denial. Such people neither believe in the admonition, nor learn a lesson from it, nor affirm faith after witnessing manifest signs with their own eyes. They would believe only when resurrection has taken place and they will be rushing out of their graves towards the Summoner on that Day. The stories of the people of Nuh (Noah), Ad, Thamud, Lût (lot) and the Fir'aun (Pharaoh) have been related briefly, and they have been reminded of the terrible punishments that these nations suffered when they belied and disregarded the warnings given by the Prophets of Allah.
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اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ
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وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ
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وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ
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وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُم مِّنَ الْأَنبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ
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حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ
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فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ الدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيْءٍ نُّكُرٍ
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خُشَّعًا أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنتَشِرٌ
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مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى الدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ الْكَافِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌ
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كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ فَكَذَّبُوا عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا مَجْنُونٌ وَازْدُجِرَ