كَلَّا وَٱلْقَمَرِ 32
Translations
No! By the moon.
Transliteration
Kalla wal-qamar
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah begins with 'Kalla' (Nay/No), which is an emphatic refutation of the disbelievers' claims, followed by an oath sworn by the moon. According to classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir, Allah swears by the moon as a sign of His power and creation to emphasize the certainty of the message being conveyed. The oath serves to reinforce the seriousness and truth of the Quranic message that precedes it, dismissing the doubts and objections of those who reject the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-Muddaththir, which was revealed early in the Meccan period. The surah addresses those who rejected the Prophet's message and disputed his prophethood. This particular verse uses divine oaths to emphasize the certainty and gravity of the Quranic guidance against the background of Meccan disbelief and resistance.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly interprets this specific ayah, Surah Al-Muddaththir is famously associated with the initial revelation to the Prophet Muhammad. Abu Salama reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said this surah was among the first revelations he received. (Sahih Bukhari, The Book of Virtues of the Qur'an)
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah swears by His creation to emphasize the truth of His message, reminding us that the Quranic guidance is absolutely certain and worthy of our full acceptance and adherence, regardless of external skepticism or opposition.