Surah 54. Al-Qamar

THE LAST HOUR draws near, and the moon split asunder!¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Most of the commentators see in this verse a reference to a phenomenon said to have been witnessed by several of the Prophet's contemporaries. As described in a number of reports going back to some Companions, the moon appeared one night as if split into two distinct parts. While there is no reason to doubt the subjective veracity of these reports, it is possible that what actually happened was an unusual kind of partial lunar eclipse, which produced an equally unusual optical illusion. But whatever the nature of that phenomenon, it is practically certain that the above Qur'an-verse does not refer to it but, rather, to a future event: namely, to what will happen when the Last Hour approaches. (The Qur'an frequently employs the past tense to denote the future, and particularly so in passages which speak of the coming of the Last Hour and of Resurrection Day; this use of the past tense is meant to stress the certainty of the happening to which the verb relates.) Thus, Raghib regards it as fully justifiable to interpret the phrase inshaqqa 'l-qamar ("the moon is split asunder") as bearing on the cosmic cataclysm - the end of the world as we know it - that will occur before the coming of Resurrection Day (see art. shaqq in the Mufradat). As mentioned by Zamakhshari, this interpretation has the support of some of the earlier commentators; and it is, to my mind, particularly convincing in view of the juxtaposition, in the above Qur'an-verse, of the moon's "splitting asunder" and the approach of the Last Hour. (In this connection we must bear in mind the fact that none of the Qur'anic allusions to the "nearness" of the Last Hour and the Day of Resurrection is based on the human concept of "time".)

The Hour of Doom is drawing near, the moon has split asunder; which is a clear proof that the same thing can happen to the earth.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

But if they [who reject all thought of the Last Hour] were to see a sign [of its approach], they would turn aside and say, "An ever-recurring delusion!" -

  - Mohammad Asad

Yet when they see a sign, the unbelievers turn their backs and say: "This is an ingenious magic."

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And if they behold a portent they turn away and say: Prolonged illusion.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

for they are bent on giving it the lie² being always wont to follow their own desires. Yet everything reveals its truth in the end.³

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "they have given [it] the lie": an allusion to the prediction of the Last Hour and the Day of Resurrection. The use of the past tense indicates conscious intent or determination (cf. surah {2}, note [6]). For my rendering of sihr as "delusion", see surah {74}, note [12].

Lit., "everything is settled in its [own] being": i.e., everything has an intrinsic reality (haqiqah) of its own, and is bound to reveal that reality either in this world or in the next (Baghawi on the authority of Al-Kalbi); hence, everything must have a purpose or "goal" of its own (Zamakhshari). These two - mutually complementary - interpretations reflect the repeated Qur'anic statement that everything that exists or happens has a meaning and a purpose: cf. 3:191 , 10:5 and 38:27 (particularlv, see note [11] on 10:5 ). In the present context, the phrase relates both to the truth referred to in the preceeding verses and to its rejection by those who are "wont to follow [but] their own desires".

They deny this and keep on following their own fancies. Ultimately every matter shall be laid to rest.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

They denied (the Truth) and followed their own lusts. Yet everything will come to a decision.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And withal, there has come unto them many a tiding that should have restrained [their arrogance]:⁴

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "in which there was a restraint": i.e., many an indication, in observable nature, of God's creative and re-creative power, as well as many a tiding, through God-inspired prophets, of a continuation of life after bodily death and, therefore, of the fact that a person's attitudes and doings in this world must have definite consequences in the life to come.

There has already come to them the information of former nations containing enough deterrents

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And surely there hath come unto them news whereof the purport should deter,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

far-reaching wisdom [was held out to them]: but [since] all warnings have been of no avail,

  - Mohammad Asad

and profound wisdom to serve as a warning, but warnings are of no use to these people.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Effective wisdom; but warnings avail not.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

turn thou away from them. On the Day when the Summoning Voice will summon [man] unto something that the mind cannot. conceive,⁵

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "something not known (nukur)" - that is, "something that human beings cannot know [i.e., visualize] because they have never met with anything like it" (Zamakhshari).

Therefore, O Prophet, let them be. On the Day when the caller will call them to a terrible event.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) on the day when the Summoner summoneth unto a painful thing.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

they will come forth from their graves, with their eyes downcast, [swarming about] like locusts scattered [by the wind],

  - Mohammad Asad

They shall come out from their graves, like swarming locusts, with downcast eyes,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

With downcast eyes, they come forth from the graves as they were locusts spread abroad,

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

running in confusion towards the Summoning Voice; [and] those who [now] deny the truth will exclaim, "Calamitous is this Day!"

  - Mohammad Asad

rushing towards the caller and the same unbelievers will cry: "This is indeed an awful Day!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Hastening toward the Summoner; the disbelievers say: This is a hard day.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

[LONG] BEFORE those [who now deny resurrection] did Noah's people call it a lie; and they gave the lie to Our servant and said, "Mad is he!" - and he was repulsed.⁶

  - Mohammad Asad

See {11:25-48}, where the story of Noah and the Flood is given in greater detail.

Long before them, the people of Nuh (Noah) disbelieved. They rejected Our servant, called him a madman and drove him out.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

The folk of Noah denied before them, yea, they denied Our slave and said: A madman; and he was repulsed.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Thereupon he called out to his Sustainer, "Verily, I am defeated; come Thou, then, to my succour!"

  - Mohammad Asad

After admonishing the people for 950 years, finally he cried out: "Help me, O Rabb, I have been overcomed!"

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

So he cried unto his Lord, saying: I am vanquished, so give help.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall