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54: The Moon (Al-Qamar)

Revealed at Makkah

The Moon, the title of this chapter taken from the occurrence of this word in the first verse, was a symbol of the power of the Arabs. Its “splitting apart” indicated the overthrow of the power of the Quraish. After warning the Holy Prophet’s opponents, the chapter mentions examples of the people of some previous prophets. Towards the end it contains a prophetical reference to the battle of Badr. It is undoubtedly an early revelation at Makkah.

Section 1 (Verses 54:1–54:22): Judgment to Overtake Opponents

54:1

اِقۡتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَۃُ وَ انۡشَقَّ الۡقَمَرُ ﴿۱﴾

The hour drew near and the moon was split apart.

Note 54:1

The “splitting apart of the moon” in the time of the Holy Prophet is an incident related by a number of his companions; and the reports of this incident are classed as well-known, and are accepted as correct by Bukhari and Muslim. In the whole history of miracles, this is the only miracle of which a contemporaneous record exists. It may have been a particular kind of lunar eclipse, the moon appearing as if it were split into two, a part remaining bright and the other part darkening, or some great commotion might have taken place in the moon or some other unusual phenomenon may have occurred, which might have been made apparent to the naked eye through the strong visionary power of the Holy Prophet. Some commentators are, however, of the opinion that this verse refers to the splitting apart of the moon at the approach of the day of Judgment.

54:2

وَ اِنۡ یَّرَوۡا اٰیَۃً یُّعۡرِضُوۡا وَ یَقُوۡلُوۡا سِحۡرٌ مُّسۡتَمِرٌّ ﴿۲﴾

And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: Strong enchantment!

Note 54:2

By calling it strong enchantment, they meant that it was a strong magical illusion, not an actual occurrence. But the word mustamirr, translated here as strong, may also mean transient, i.e., a thing which has occurred and passed away, or continuous in the sense that such things have been taking place of old.

54:3

وَ کَذَّبُوۡا وَ اتَّبَعُوۡۤا اَہۡوَآءَہُمۡ وَ کُلُّ اَمۡرٍ مُّسۡتَقِرٌّ ﴿۳﴾

And they deny and follow their low desires; and every affair is settled.

Note 54:3

The words may mean that every affair must draw to an end, the reference being to the opposition which was being offered to the Prophet.

54:4

وَ لَقَدۡ جَآءَہُمۡ مِّنَ الۡاَنۡۢبَآءِ مَا فِیۡہِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ ۙ﴿۴﴾

And certainly narratives have come to them, which should deter —

54:5

حِکۡمَۃٌۢ بَالِغَۃٌ فَمَا تُغۡنِ النُّذُرُ ۙ﴿۵﴾

consummate wisdom — but warnings have not availed;

Note 54:5

The fate of the ancients, of whom narratives are recited, should have prevented the opponents of Truth from following in their footsteps.

54:6

فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡہُمۡ ۘ یَوۡمَ یَدۡعُ الدَّاعِ اِلٰی شَیۡءٍ نُّکُرٍ ۙ﴿۶﴾

so turn away from them. On the day when the Inviter invites them to a hard task —

54:7

خُشَّعًا اَبۡصَارُہُمۡ یَخۡرُجُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡاَجۡدَاثِ کَاَنَّہُمۡ جَرَادٌ مُّنۡتَشِرٌ ۙ﴿۷﴾

their eyes cast down, they will go forth from their graves as if they were scattered locusts,

54:8

مُّہۡطِعِیۡنَ اِلَی الدَّاعِ ؕ یَقُوۡلُ الۡکٰفِرُوۡنَ ہٰذَا یَوۡمٌ عَسِرٌ ﴿۸﴾

hastening to the Inviter. The disbelievers will say: This is a hard day!

Note 54:8

The commentators make all verses of this kind apply to the life after death, but comparison with the fate of other people, whose stories are narrated by way of illustration, shows clearly that the punishment of this life is also meant. The hard day of trouble overtakes the opponents of Truth in this life as well, and the Hereafter only brings it in a more palpable, and therefore more terrible, form. The Inviter is the Prophet, who invites them to truth, and the graves as applying to this life may signify their homes because they were spiritually dead.

54:9

کَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَہُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوۡحٍ فَکَذَّبُوۡا عَبۡدَنَا وَ قَالُوۡا مَجۡنُوۡنٌ وَّ ازۡدُجِرَ ﴿۹﴾

Before them the people of Noah rejected — they rejected Our servant and called (him) mad, and he was driven away.