ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ 1
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].
Al-Qamar
The Moon
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah Al-Qamar, meaning "The Moon," is the 54th chapter of the Quran and consists of 55 verses revealed in Mecca during a period when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) faced intense opposition and denial from the Quraysh. The surah opens with a striking reference to a momentous event — the splitting of the moon — which is understood by Muslim scholars as one of the miracles granted to the Prophet, witnessed by the people of Mecca, yet dismissed by the disbelievers as mere sorcery. This dramatic opening sets the tone for the entire surah, which is fundamentally concerned with the consequences of rejecting divine truth and the warnings that God sends to humanity through His messengers. The recurring refrain, "And We have certainly made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?" appears four times throughout the surah, serving as both an invitation and a gentle admonition, emphasizing that God's guidance is accessible to all who sincerely seek it and that the Quran is not meant to be an obscure or inaccessible text but a clear reminder for humankind. The surah derives much of its rhetorical power from a series of vivid historical narratives recounting the fates of earlier nations that rejected their prophets. It tells in swift, powerful strokes the stories of the people of Noah, who denied their messenger and were drowned in the great flood; the people of 'Ad, who rejected the Prophet Hud and were destroyed by a furious, unrelenting wind that raged for days; the people of Thamud, who denied the Prophet Salih and hamstrung the miraculous she-camel, only to be annihilated by a single devastating blast; the people of Lot, whose moral corruption led to their destruction by a rain of stones; and finally the people of Pharaoh, who rejected Moses and Aaron despite being shown clear signs, and who were ultimately drowned in the sea. Each account is presented concisely yet with striking imagery, and each concludes with a reflection on how easy God has made the Quran to understand and take heed from. The cumulative effect of these narratives is to establish a clear pattern in sacred history: every nation that arrogantly rejected divine guidance was met with a decisive punishment, and the disbelievers of Mecca are warned that they are not exempt from this universal principle. The spiritual lessons of Surah Al-Qamar are profound and multilayered. At its core, the surah calls upon human beings to reflect on the signs of God — both in the natural world and in the historical record — and to humble themselves before divine truth rather than persisting in arrogance and denial.
ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ 1
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].
وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ ءَايَةً يُعْرِضُوا۟ وَيَقُولُوا۟ سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ 2
And if they see a sign [i.e., miracle], they turn away and say, "Passing magic."
وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ 3
And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement.
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ 4
And there has already come to them of information that in which there is deterrence.
حِكْمَةٌۢ بَـٰلِغَةٌ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ 5
Extensive wisdom - but warning does not avail [them].
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَىْءٍ نُّكُرٍ 6
So leave them, [O Muḥammad]. The Day the Caller calls to something forbidding,
خُشَّعًا أَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌ مُّنتَشِرٌ 7
Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,
مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ هَـٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌ 8
Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."
۞ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجْنُونٌ وَٱزْدُجِرَ 9
The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, "A madman," and he was repelled.
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَغْلُوبٌ فَٱنتَصِرْ 10
So he invoked his Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help."
فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍ مُّنْهَمِرٍ 11
Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down
وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍ قَدْ قُدِرَ 12
And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.
وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَٰحٍ وَدُسُرٍ 13
And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,
تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءً لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ 14
Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.
وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَـٰهَآ ءَايَةً فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 15
And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 16
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 17
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 18
ʿAad denied; and how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا صَرْصَرًا فِى يَوْمِ نَحْسٍ مُّسْتَمِرٍّ 19
Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,
تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍ مُّنقَعِرٍ 20
Extracting the people as if they were trunks of palm trees uprooted.
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 21
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 22
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 23
Thamūd denied the warning.
فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَبَشَرًا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدًا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًا لَّفِى ضَلَـٰلٍ وَسُعُرٍ 24
And said, "Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.
أَءُلْقِىَ ٱلذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌ 25
Has the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar."
سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًا مَّنِ ٱلْكَذَّابُ ٱلْأَشِرُ 26
They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.
إِنَّا مُرْسِلُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةً لَّهُمْ فَٱرْتَقِبْهُمْ وَٱصْطَبِرْ 27
Indeed, We are sending the she-camel as trial for them, so watch them and be patient.
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلْمَآءَ قِسْمَةٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلُّ شِرْبٍ مُّحْتَضَرٌ 28
And inform them that the water is shared between them, each [day of] drink attended [by turn].
فَنَادَوْا۟ صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ 29
But they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung [her].
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 30
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةً وَٰحِدَةً فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ 31
Indeed, We sent upon them one shriek [i.e., blast from the sky], and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 32
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 33
The people of Lot denied the warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍ ۖ نَّجَّيْنَـٰهُم بِسَحَرٍ 34
Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot - We saved them before dawn.
نِّعْمَةً مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَن شَكَرَ 35
As favor from Us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.
وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 36
And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.
وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 37
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ 38
And there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.
فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ 39
So taste My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 40
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ 41
And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.
كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَـٰهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍ 42
They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌ مِّنْ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ 43
Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scriptures?
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌ مُّنتَصِرٌ 44
Or do they say, "We are an assembly supporting [each other]"?
سَيُهْزَمُ ٱلْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ 45
[Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ 46
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ وَسُعُرٍ 47
Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness..
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ 48
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَـٰهُ بِقَدَرٍ 49
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.
وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ 50
And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍ 51
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?
وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ 52
And everything they did is in written records.
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍ وَكَبِيرٍ مُّسْتَطَرٌ 53
And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّـٰتٍ وَنَهَرٍ 54
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers,
فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍ مُّقْتَدِرٍۭ 55
In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.
Practice memorizing Surah Al-Qamar. Choose how much of the Arabic text to hide, then tap each ayah to reveal it.