القمر
Al-Qamar
About this surah
Name
The Surah takes its name from the very first verse Wan shaqq al-Qamar, thereby implying that it is a Surah in which the word al-Qamar has occurred.
Period of Revelation
The incident of the shaqq-al-Qamar (splitting of the moon) that has been mentioned in it, 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 Holy Prophet's hijrah to Madinah.
Theme and Subject Matter
In this Surah the disbelievers of Makkah have been warned for their stubbornness which they had adopted against the invitation of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah 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 Holy Prophet was giving them the news, could take place and that it had approached near at hand. 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 on-lookers 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 a manifest proof of the truth that the system of the Universe was neither eternal nor immortal, it could be disrupted. Huge stars and Planets could split asunder, disintegrate, collide with each other, and everything that had been depicted in the Quran In connection with the description of the details of Resurrection, could happen. Not only this : it was also a portent that the disintegration of the system of the Universe had begun and the time was near when Resurrection would take place. The Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) invited the people's attention to this event only with this object in view and asked them to mark it and be a witness to it. But the disbelievers described it as a magical illusion add persisted in their denial. For this stubbornness they have been reproached in this Surah.
At the outset it has been said: "These people neither believe in the admonition, nor learn a lesson from history, nor affirm faith after witnessing manifest signs with their eyes. Now they would believe only when Resurrection has taken place and they would be rushing out of their graves towards the Summoner on that Day."
Then, the stories of the people of Noah and of 'Ad and Thamud and of the peoples of Lot and the 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 God. After the narration of each story the refrain that has been provided is : "This Qur'an is an easy means of admonition, which if a nation takes to heart and thereby takes the Right Way, the torment that descended on the former nations could be avoided. But it would indeed be a folly if instead of heeding the admonition through this easy means, one persisted in heedlessness and disbelieved until one was overtaken by the torment itself."
Likewise, after citing admonitory precedents from the history of the former nations, the disbelievers of Makkah have been addressed and warned to this effect: "If you too adopt the same attitude and conduct for which the other nations have already been punished, why will you not be punished for it?Are you in any way a superior people that you should be treated differently from others? Or, have you received a deed of amnesty that you will not be punished for the crime for which others have been punished?And if you feel elated at your great numbers, you will soon see that these very numbers of yours are put to rout (on the battlefield) and on the Day of Resurrection you will be dealt with even more severely."
In the end, the disbelievers have been told that Allah does not need to make lengthy preparations to bring about Resurrection. No sooner does He give a simple command for it than it will take place immediately. Like everything else the Universe and mankind also have a destiny. According to this destiny everything happens at its own appointed time. It cannot be so that whenever somebody gives a challenge, Resurrection is brought about in order to convince him. If you adopt rebellion because you do not see it coming, you will only be adding to your own distress and misfortune. For your record which is being prepared by Divine agents, has not left any misdeed of yours, great or small, unrecorded.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
- 54:1ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُThe Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].
- 54:2وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةٗ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرٞ مُّسۡتَمِرّٞAnd if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, "Passing magic."
- 54:3وَكَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرٖ مُّسۡتَقِرّٞAnd they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement.
- 54:4وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌAnd there has already come to them of information that in which there is deterrence -
- 54:5حِكۡمَةُۢ بَٰلِغَةٞۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُExtensive wisdom - but warning does not avail [them].
- 54:6فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡۘ يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ نُّكُرٍSo leave them, [O Muhammad]. The Day the Caller calls to something forbidding,
- 54:7خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمۡ جَرَادٞ مُّنتَشِرٞTheir eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,
- 54:8مُّهۡطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ يَقُولُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوۡمٌ عَسِرٞRacing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."
- 54:9۞كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُواْ مَجۡنُونٞ وَٱزۡدُجِرَThe people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, "A madman," and he was repelled.
- 54:10فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبٞ فَٱنتَصِرۡSo he invoked his Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help."
- 54:11فَفَتَحۡنَآ أَبۡوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٖ مُّنۡهَمِرٖThen We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down
- 54:12وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُيُونٗا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرٖ قَدۡ قُدِرَAnd caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.
- 54:13وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَٰحٖ وَدُسُرٖAnd We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,
- 54:14تَجۡرِي بِأَعۡيُنِنَا جَزَآءٗ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَSailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.
- 54:15وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَٰهَآ ءَايَةٗ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:16فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِAnd how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
- 54:17وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:18كَذَّبَتۡ عَادٞ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ'Aad denied; and how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
- 54:19إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحٗا صَرۡصَرٗا فِي يَوۡمِ نَحۡسٖ مُّسۡتَمِرّٖIndeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,
- 54:20تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلٖ مُّنقَعِرٖExtracting the people as if they were trunks of palm trees uprooted.
- 54:21فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِAnd how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
- 54:22وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:23كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِThamud denied the warning
- 54:24فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرٗا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدٗا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذٗا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلٖ وَسُعُرٍAnd said, "Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.
- 54:25أَءُلۡقِيَ ٱلذِّكۡرُ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا بَلۡ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٞHas the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar."
- 54:26سَيَعۡلَمُونَ غَدٗا مَّنِ ٱلۡكَذَّابُ ٱلۡأَشِرُThey will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.
- 54:27إِنَّا مُرۡسِلُواْ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتۡنَةٗ لَّهُمۡ فَٱرۡتَقِبۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡIndeed, We are sending the she-camel as trial for them, so watch them and be patient.
- 54:28وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَآءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبٖ مُّحۡتَضَرٞAnd inform them that the water is shared between them, each [day of] drink attended [by turn].
- 54:29فَنَادَوۡاْ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَBut they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung [her].
- 54:30فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِAnd how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
- 54:31إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَيۡحَةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ فَكَانُواْ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِIndeed, We sent upon them one blast from the sky, and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.
- 54:32وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:33كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِThe people of Lot denied the warning.
- 54:34إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٖۖ نَّجَّيۡنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٖIndeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot - We saved them before dawn
- 54:35نِّعۡمَةٗ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي مَن شَكَرَAs favor from us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.
- 54:36وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡاْ بِٱلنُّذُرِAnd he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.
- 54:37وَلَقَدۡ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَآ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِAnd they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
- 54:38وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابٞ مُّسۡتَقِرّٞAnd there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.
- 54:39فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِSo taste My punishment and warning.
- 54:40وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:41وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُAnd there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.
- 54:42كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِيزٖ مُّقۡتَدِرٍThey denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
- 54:43أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٞ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِAre your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scripture?
- 54:44أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعٞ مُّنتَصِرٞOr do they say, "We are an assembly supporting [each other]"?
- 54:45سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ[Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].
- 54:46بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّBut the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.
- 54:47إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ وَسُعُرٖIndeed, the criminals are in error and madness.
- 54:48يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَThe Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."
- 54:49إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٖIndeed, all things We created with predestination.
- 54:50وَمَآ أَمۡرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٞ كَلَمۡحِۭ بِٱلۡبَصَرِAnd Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.
- 54:51وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَآ أَشۡيَاعَكُمۡ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖAnd We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
- 54:52وَكُلُّ شَيۡءٖ فَعَلُوهُ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِAnd everything they did is in written records.
- 54:53وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٖ وَكَبِيرٖ مُّسۡتَطَرٌAnd every small and great [thing] is inscribed.
- 54:54إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَنَهَرٖIndeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers,
- 54:55فِي مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٖ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭIn a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.