54. Surah Al-Qamar

1. Iqtarabatis Saa'atu wan shaqqal qamar

اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ

The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder.
2. Wa iny yaraw aayatany yu'ridoo wa yaqooloo sihrun mustamirr

وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ

But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, "This is (but) transient magic."
3. Wa kazzaboo wattaba'ooo ahwaaa'ahum; wa kullu amrin mustaqirr

وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُسْتَقِرٌّ

They reject (the warning) and follow their (own) lusts but every matter has its appointed time.
4. Wa laqad jaaa'ahum minal anbaaa'i maa feehi muzdajar

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ

There have already come to them Recitals wherein there is (enough) to check (them),
5. Hikmatun baalighatun famaa tughnin nuzur

حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ

Mature wisdom;- but (the preaching of) Warners profits them not.
6. Fatawalla 'anhum; yawma yad'ud daa'i ilaa shai 'in nukur

فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ الدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيْءٍ نُكُرٍ

Therefore, (O Prophet,) turn away from them. The Day that the Caller will call (them) to a terrible affair,
7. Khushsha'an absaaruhum yakhrujoona minal ajdaasi ka annahum jaraadum muntashir

خُشَّعًا أَبْصَارُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ الْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُنْتَشِرٌ

They will come forth,- their eyes humbled - from (their) graves, (torpid) like locusts scattered abroad,
8. Muhti'eena ilad daa'i yaqoolul kaafiroona haazaa yawmun 'asir

مُهْطِعِينَ إِلَى الدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ الْكَافِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌ

Hastening, with eyes transfixed, towards the Caller!- "Hard is this Day!", the Unbelievers will say.
9. Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohin fakazzaboo 'abdanaa wa qaaloo majnoonunw wazdujir

كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ فَكَذَّبُوا عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا مَجْنُونٌ وَازْدُجِرَ

Before them the People of Noah rejected (their messenger): they rejected Our servant, and said, "Here is one possessed!", and he was driven out.
10. Fada'aa Rabbahooo annee maghloobun fantasir

فَدَعَا رَبَّهُ أَنِّي مَغْلُوبٌ فَانْتَصِرْ

Then he called on his Lord: "I am one overcome: do Thou then help (me)!"
11. Fafatahnaaa abwaabas samaaa'i bi maaa'in munhamir

فَفَتَحْنَا أَبْوَابَ السَّمَاءِ بِمَاءٍ مُنْهَمِرٍ

So We opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring forth.
12. Wa fajjarnal arda 'uyoonan faltaqal maaa'u 'alaaa amrin qad qudir

وَفَجَّرْنَا الْأَرْضَ عُيُونًا فَالْتَقَى الْمَاءُ عَلَىٰ أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ

And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs, so the waters met (and rose) to the extent decreed.
13. Wa hamalnaahu 'alaa zaati alwaahinw wa dusur

وَحَمَلْنَاهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَاحٍ وَدُسُرٍ

But We bore him on an (Ark) made of broad planks and caulked with palm-fibre:
14. Tajree bi a'yuninaa jazaaa'an liman kaana kufir

تَجْرِي بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَاءً لِمَنْ كَانَ كُفِرَ

She floats under our eyes (and care): a recompense to one who had been rejected (with scorn)!
15. Wa laqat taraknaahaa aayatan fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ تَرَكْنَاهَا آيَةً فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

And We have left this as a Sign (for all time): then is there any that will receive admonition?
16. Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur

فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

But how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning?
17. Wa laqad yassarnal Qur'aana liz zikri fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

And We have indeed made the Qur´an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
18. Kazzabat 'Aadun fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur

كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

The ´Ad (people) (too) rejected (Truth): then how terrible was My Penalty and My Warning?
19. Innaa arsalnaa 'alaihim reehan sarsaran fee Yawmi nahsin mustamirr

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِي يَوْمِ نَحْسٍ مُسْتَمِرٍّ

For We sent against them a furious wind, on a Day of violent Disaster,
20. Tanzi'un naasa ka annahum a'jaazu nakhlin munqa'ir

تَنْزِعُ النَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ مُنْقَعِرٍ

Plucking out men as if they were roots of palm-trees torn up (from the ground).
21. Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur

فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

Yea, how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning!
22. Wa laqad yassarnal Qur'aana liz zikri fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

But We have indeed made the Qur´an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
23. Kazzabat Samoodu binnuzur

كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِالنُّذُرِ

The Thamud (also) rejected (their) Warners.
24. Faqaalooo a' basharan minnaa waahidan nattabi'uhooo innaa izal lafee dalaalinw wa su'ur

فَقَالُوا أَبَشَرًا مِنَّا وَاحِدًا نَتَّبِعُهُ إِنَّا إِذًا لَفِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ

For they said: "What! a man! a Solitary one from among ourselves! shall we follow such a one? Truly should we then be straying in mind, and mad!
25. 'A ulqiyaz zikru 'alaihi min baininaa bal huwa kazzaabun ashir

أَأُلْقِيَ الذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنْ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ

"Is it that the Message is sent to him, of all people amongst us? Nay, he is a liar, an insolent one!"
26. Sa-ya'lamoona ghadan manil kazzaabul ashir

سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًا مَنِ الْكَذَّابُ الْأَشِرُ

Ah! they will know on the morrow, which is the liar, the insolent one!
27. Innaa mursilun naaqati fitnatan lahum fartaqibhum wastabir

إِنَّا مُرْسِلُو النَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةً لَهُمْ فَارْتَقِبْهُمْ وَاصْطَبِرْ

For We will send the she-camel by way of trial for them. So watch them, (O Salih), and possess thyself in patience!
28. Wa nabbi'hum annal maaa'a qismatun bainahum kullu shirbin muhtadar

وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ الْمَاءَ قِسْمَةٌ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُحْتَضَرٌ

And tell them that the water is to be divided between them: Each one´s right to drink being brought forward (by suitable turns).
29. Fa naadaw saahibahum fa ta'aataa fa 'aqar

فَنَادَوْا صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ

But they called to their companion, and he took a sword in hand, and hamstrung (her).
30. Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur

فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

Ah! how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning!
31. Innaaa arsalnaa 'alaihim saihatanw waahidatan fakaanoo kahasheemil muhtazir

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَاحِدَةً فَكَانُوا كَهَشِيمِ الْمُحْتَظِرِ

For We sent against them a single Mighty Blast, and they became like the dry stubble used by one who pens cattle.
32. Wa laqad yassarnal Qur'aana liz zikri fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

And We have indeed made the Qur´an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
33. Kazzabat qawmu lootin binnuzur

كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍ بِالنُّذُرِ

The people of Lut rejected (his) warning.
34. Innaa arsalnaa 'alaihim haasiban illaaa aala Lootin najjainaahum bisahar

إِنَّا أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّا آلَ لُوطٍ ۖ نَجَّيْنَاهُمْ بِسَحَرٍ

We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut´s household: them We delivered by early Dawn,-
35. Ni'matan min 'indinaa; kazaalika najzee man shakar

نِعْمَةً مِنْ عِنْدِنَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِي مَنْ شَكَرَ

As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks.
36. Wa laqad anzarahum batshatanaa fatamaaraw binnuzur

وَلَقَدْ أَنْذَرَهُمْ بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا بِالنُّذُرِ

And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning.
37. Wa laqad raawadoohu 'andaifeehee fatamasnaaa a'yunahum fazooqoo 'azaabee wa nuzur

وَلَقَدْ رَاوَدُوهُ عَنْ ضَيْفِهِ فَطَمَسْنَا أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him, but We blinded their eyes. (They heard:) "Now taste ye My Wrath and My Warning."
38. Wa laqad sabbahahum bukratan 'azaabun mustaqirr

وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُمْ بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُسْتَقِرٌّ

Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them:
39. Fazooqoo 'azaabee wa nuzur

فَذُوقُوا عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

"So taste ye My Wrath and My Warning."
40. Wa laqad yassarnal Qur'aana liz zikri fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا الْقُرْآنَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

And We have indeed made the Qur´an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
41. Wa laqad jaaa'a Aala Fir'awnan nuzur

وَلَقَدْ جَاءَ آلَ فِرْعَوْنَ النُّذُرُ

To the People of Pharaoh, too, aforetime, came Warners (from Allah).
42. Kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa kullihaa fa akhaznaahum akhza 'azeezim muqtadir

كَذَّبُوا بِآيَاتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَاهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُقْتَدِرٍ

The (people) rejected all Our Signs; but We seized them with such Penalty (as comes) from One Exalted in Power, able to carry out His Will.
43. 'A kuffaarukum khairun min ulaaa'ikum am lakum baraaa'atun fiz Zubur

أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أُولَٰئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُمْ بَرَاءَةٌ فِي الزُّبُرِ

Are your Unbelievers, (O Quraish), better than they? Or have ye an immunity in the Sacred Books?
44. Am yaqooloona nahnu jamee'un muntasir

أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌ مُنْتَصِرٌ

Or do they say: "We acting together can defend ourselves"?
45. Sa yuhzamul jam'u wa yuwalloonad dubur

سَيُهْزَمُ الْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ الدُّبُرَ

Soon will their multitude be put to flight, and they will show their backs.
46. Balis Saa'atu maw'iduhum was Saa'atu adhaa wa amarr

بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ

Nay, the Hour (of Judgment) is the time promised them (for their full recompense): And that Hour will be most grievous and most bitter.
47. Innal mujrimeena fee dalaalinw wa su'ur

إِنَّ الْمُجْرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَالٍ وَسُعُرٍ

Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad.
48. Yawma yus-haboona fin Naari 'alaa wujoohihim zooqoo massa saqar

يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِي النَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا مَسَّ سَقَرَ

The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, (they will hear:) "Taste ye the touch of Hell!"
49. Innaa kulla shai'in khalaqnaahu bi qadar

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ

Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.
50. Wa maaa amrunaaa illaa waahidatun ka lamhin bil basar

وَمَا أَمْرُنَا إِلَّا وَاحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍ بِالْبَصَرِ

And Our Command is but a single (Act),- like the twinkling of an eye.
51. Wa laqad ahlaknaaa ashyaa'akum fahal min muddakir

وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَا أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ

And (oft) in the past, have We destroyed gangs like unto you: then is there any that will receive admonition?
52. Wa kullu shai'in fa'aloohu fiz Zubur

وَكُلُّ شَيْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِي الزُّبُرِ

All that they do is noted in (their) Books (of Deeds):
53. Wa kullu sagheerinw wa kabeerin mustatar

وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُسْتَطَرٌ

Every matter, small and great, is on record.
54. Innal muttaqeena fee jannaatinw wa nahar

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَنَهَرٍ

As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers,
55. Fee maq'adi sidqin 'inda Maleekin Muqtadir

فِي مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِنْدَ مَلِيكٍ مُقْتَدِرٍ

In an Assembly of Truth, in the Presence of a Sovereign Omnipotent.
Audio: English
Audio: Arabic & English

Recitation by Mishary Al-Alfasy

Tafseer


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.