القَمَرِ
- Meccan
- 55 verses
- Surah 54 of 114
Introduction to Surah Al-Qamar
Fifty-five verses, Meccan, fifty-fourth in the written order. Short verses, hard rhyme, and a refrain that returns four times.
The opening
The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder. But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, “This is (but) transient magic.” (54:1–2)
The hadith literature reports it as an event witnessed in the Prophet’s lifetime: Ibn Mas’ud describes the moon splitting in two, one part behind the mountain and one above it (Sahih al-Bukhari 3636, Sahih al-Bukhari 4864), and Anas places it at Mecca, after the Meccans demanded a sign (Sahih Muslim 2802a). Commentators have also read the verb as describing something still to come on the last day, and a few have read it as figurative. The readings are old and they coexist; the surah’s own interest is in the second verse rather than the first — in what people do when a sign arrives.
The refrain
And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition? (54:17)
It recurs at verses 17, 22, 32 and 40, each time after one of the accounts of a people destroyed — Noah, Ad, Thamud, Lot. The structure is deliberate: a community is warned, refuses, and ends; and then, instead of drawing a moral, the surah observes that the warning itself has been made easy to carry.
The accounts are compressed almost to nothing. Ad gets a roaring wind on a day of continuous calamity, plucking people up as though they were uprooted palm stumps. Thamud gets a single mighty blast, after which they became like the dry stubble used by the one who pens cattle. There is no dialogue and no detail beyond what the destruction looked like.
What it is doing
The surah is short and it is in a hurry, and that is its argument. The Meccans had been asking for a sign of a kind that would settle everything at once. The surah’s reply is that such signs have been given repeatedly, that they settled nothing, and that the thing actually in front of these listeners is a text light enough to be carried in the memory.
It ends on two lines about those who guard against evil, in gardens and rivers, in an assembly of truth, in the presence of a sovereign omnipotent — and stops there, without elaboration.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ
Iqtarabatis Saa’atu wsan shaqqal qamar
The Hour (of Judgment) is nigh, and the moon is cleft asunder.
The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain.
وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ ءَايَةًۭ يُعْرِضُوا۟ وَيَقُولُوا۟ سِحْرٌۭ مُّسْتَمِرٌّۭ
Wa iny yaraw aayatany yu’ridoo wa yaqooloo sihrum mustamirr
But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, “This is (but) transient magic.”
And if they behold a portent they turn away and say: Prolonged illusion.
وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍۢ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ
Wa kazzaboo wattaba’ooo ahwaaa’ahum; wa kullu amrim mustaqirr
They reject (the warning) and follow their (own) lusts but every matter has its appointed time.
They denied (the Truth) and followed their own lusts. Yet everything will come to a decision
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ
Wa laqad jaaa’ahum minal ambaaa’i maa feehi muzdajar
There have already come to them Recitals wherein there is (enough) to check (them),
And surely there hath come unto them news whereof the purport should deter,
حِكْمَةٌۢ بَٰلِغَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ
Hikmatum baalighatun famaa tughnin nuzur
Mature wisdom;- but (the preaching of) Warners profits them not.
Effective wisdom; but warnings avail not.
فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ نُّكُرٍ
Fatawalla ‘anhum; yawma yad’ud daa’i ilaa shai ‘in nukur
Therefore, (O Prophet,) turn away from them. The Day that the Caller will call (them) to a terrible affair,
So withdraw from them (O Muhammad) on the day when the Summoner summoneth unto a painful thing.
خُشَّعًا أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌۭ مُّنتَشِرٌۭ
khushsha’an absaaruhum yakrujoona minal ajdaasi ka annahum jaraadum muntashir
They will come forth,- their eyes humbled – from (their) graves, (torpid) like locusts scattered abroad,
With downcast eyes, they come forth from the graves as they were locusts spread abroad,
مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌۭ
Muhti’eena ilad daa’i yaqoolul kafiroona haazaa yawmun ‘asir
Hastening, with eyes transfixed, towards the Caller!- “Hard is this Day!”, the Unbelievers will say.
Hastening toward the summoner; the disbelievers say: This is a hard day.
۞ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجْنُونٌۭ وَٱزْدُجِرَ
Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohin fakazzaboo ‘abdanaa wa qaaloo majnoo nunw wazdujir
Before them the People of Noah rejected (their messenger): they rejected Our servant, and said, “Here is one possessed!”, and he was driven out.
The folk of Noah denied before them, yea, they denied Our slave and said: A madman; and he was repulsed.
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَغْلُوبٌۭ فَٱنتَصِرْ
Fada’aa Rabbahooo annee maghloobun fantasir
Then he called on his Lord: “I am one overcome: do Thou then help (me)!”
So he cried unto his Lord, saying: I am vanquished, so give help.
فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍۢ مُّنْهَمِرٍۢ
Fafatahnaaa abwaabas sa maaa’i bimaa’im munhamir
So We opened the gates of heaven, with water pouring forth.
Then opened We the gates of heaven with pouring water
وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًۭا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ قَدْ قُدِرَ
Wa fajjamal arda ‘uyoonan faltaqal maaa’u ‘alaaa amrin qad qudir
And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs, so the waters met (and rose) to the extent decreed.
And caused the earth to gush forth springs, so that the waters met for a predestined purpose.
وَحَمَلْنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَٰحٍۢ وَدُسُرٍۢ
Wa hamalnaahu ‘alaa zaati alwaahinw wa dusur
But We bore him on an (Ark) made of broad planks and caulked with palm-fibre:
And We carried him upon a thing of planks and nails,
تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءًۭ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ
Tajree bi a’yuninaa jazaaa ‘al liman kaana kufir
She floats under our eyes (and care): a recompense to one who had been rejected (with scorn)!
That ran (upon the waters) in Our sight, as a reward for him who was rejected.
وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةًۭ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqat taraknaahaad aayatan fahal mim muddakir
And We have left this as a Sign (for all time): then is there any that will receive admonition?
And verily We left it as a token; but is there any that remembereth?
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
Fakaifa kaana ‘azaabee wa nuzur
But how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning?
Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqad yassamal Quraana liz zikri fahal mimmuddakir
And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And in truth We have made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌۭ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
Kazzabat ‘Aadun fakaifa kaana ‘azaabee wa nuzur
The ‘Ad (people) (too) rejected (Truth): then how terrible was My Penalty and My Warning?
(The tribe of) A’ad rejected warnings. Then how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا صَرْصَرًۭا فِى يَوْمِ نَحْسٍۢ مُّسْتَمِرٍّۢ
Innaa arsalnaa ‘alaihim reehan sarsaran fee Yawmi nahsim mustamirr
For We sent against them a furious wind, on a Day of violent Disaster,
Lo! We let loose on them a raging wind on a day of constant calamity,
تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍۢ مُّنقَعِرٍۢ
Tanzi;un naasa ka anna huma’jaazu nakhlim munqa’ir
Plucking out men as if they were roots of palm-trees torn up (from the ground).
Sweeping men away as though they were uprooted trunks of palm-trees.
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
‘Fakaifa kaana ‘azaabee wa nuzur
Yea, how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning!
Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqad yassamal Quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
But We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And in truth We have made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
Kazzabat Samoodu binnuzur
The Thamud (also) rejected (their) Warners.
(The tribe of) Thamud rejected warnings
فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَبَشَرًۭا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدًۭا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّفِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ وَسُعُرٍ
Faqaalooo a-basharam minnaa waahidan nattabi’uhooo innaa izal lafee dalaalinw wa su’ur
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!
For they said; Is it a mortal man, alone among us, that we are to follow? Then indeed we should fall into error and madness.
أَءُلْقِىَ ٱلذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌۭ
‘A-ulqiyaz zikru ‘alaihi mim baininaa bal huwa kazzaabun ashir
“Is it that the Message is sent to him, of all people amongst us? Nay, he is a liar, an insolent one!”
Hath the remembrance been given unto him alone among us? Nay, but he is a rash liar.
سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًۭا مَّنِ ٱلْكَذَّابُ ٱلْأَشِرُ
Sa-ya’lamoona ghadam manil kazzaabul ashir
Ah! they will know on the morrow, which is the liar, the insolent one!
(Unto their warner it was said): To-morrow they will know who is the rash liar.
إِنَّا مُرْسِلُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةًۭ لَّهُمْ فَٱرْتَقِبْهُمْ وَٱصْطَبِرْ
Innaa mursilun naaqati fitnatal lahum fartaqibhum wastabir
For We will send the she-camel by way of trial for them. So watch them, (O Salih), and possess thyself in patience!
Lo! We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and have patience;
وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلْمَآءَ قِسْمَةٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلُّ شِرْبٍۢ مُّحْتَضَرٌۭ
Wa nabbi’hum annal maaa’a qismatum bainahum kullu shirbim muhtadar
And tell them that the water is to be divided between them: Each one’s right to drink being brought forward (by suitable turns).
And inform them that the water is to be shared between (her and) them. Every drinking will be witnessed.
فَنَادَوْا۟ صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ
Fanaadaw saahibahum fata’aataa fa’aqar
But they called to their companion, and he took a sword in hand, and hamstrung (her).
But they call their comrade and he took and hamstrung (her).
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
Fakaifa kaana ‘azaabee wa nuzur
Ah! how (terrible) was My Penalty and My Warning!
Then see how (dreadful) was My punishment after My warnings!
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ
Innaaa arsalnaa ‘alaihim saihatanw waahidatan fakaano kahasheemil muhtazir
For We sent against them a single Mighty Blast, and they became like the dry stubble used by one who pens cattle.
Lo! We sent upon them one Shout, and they became as the dry twigs (rejected by) the builder of a cattle-fold.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqad yassarnal quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And in truth We have made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
Kazzabat qawmu lootim binnuzur
The people of Lut rejected (his) warning.
The folk of Lot rejected warnings.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ نَّجَّيْنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٍۢ
Innaa arsalnaa ‘alaihim haasiban illaaa aala Loot najjainaahum bisahar
We sent against them a violent Tornado with showers of stones, (which destroyed them), except Lut’s household: them We delivered by early Dawn,-
Lo! We sent a storm of stones upon them (all) save the family of Lot, whom We rescued in the last watch of the night,
نِّعْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَن شَكَرَ
Ni’matam min ‘indinaa; kazaalika najzee man shakar
As a Grace from Us: thus do We reward those who give thanks.
As grace from Us. Thus We reward him who giveth thanks.
وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
Wa laqad anzarahum batshatanaa fatamaaraw binnuzur
And (Lut) did warn them of Our Punishment, but they disputed about the Warning.
And he indeed had warned them of Our blow, but they did doubt the warnings.
وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
Wa laqad raawadoohu ‘andaifee fatamasnaaa a’yunahum fazooqoo ‘azaabee wa nuzur
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.”
They even asked of him his guests for an ill purpose. Then We blinded their eyes (and said): Taste now My punishment after My warnings!
وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌۭ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ
Wa laqad sabbahahum bukratan ‘azaabum mustaqirr
Early on the morrow an abiding Punishment seized them:
And in truth the punishment decreed befell them early in the morning.
فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
Fazooqoo ‘azaabee wa nuzur
“So taste ye My Wrath and My Warning.”
Now taste My punishment after My warnings!
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqad yassarnal Quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And in truth We have made the Qur’an easy to remember; but is there any that remembereth?
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ
Wa laqad jaaa’a Aala Fir’awnan nuzur
To the People of Pharaoh, too, aforetime, came Warners (from Allah).
And warnings came in truth unto the house of Pharaoh
كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَٰهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
Kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa kullihaa fa akhaznaahum akhza ‘azeezim muqtadir
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.
Who denied Our revelations, every one. Therefore We grasped them with the grasp of the Mighty, the Powerful.
أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌۭ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ
Akuffaarukum khairum min ulaaa’ikum am lakum baraaa’atun fiz Zubur
Are your Unbelievers, (O Quraish), better than they? Or have ye an immunity in the Sacred Books?
Are your disbelievers better than those, or have ye some immunity in the scriptures?
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌۭ مُّنتَصِرٌۭ
Am yaqooloona nahnu jamee’um muntasir
Or do they say: “We acting together can defend ourselves”?
Or say they: We are a host victorious?
سَيُهْزَمُ ٱلْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ
Sa yuhzamul jam’u wa yuwalloonad dubur
Soon will their multitude be put to flight, and they will show their backs.
The hosts will all be routed and will turn and flee.
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ
Balis Saa’atu maw’iduhum was Saa’atu adhaa wa amarr
Nay, the Hour (of Judgment) is the time promised them (for their full recompense): And that Hour will be most grievous and most bitter.
Nay, but the Hour (of doom) is their appointed tryst, and the Hour will be more wretched and more bitter (than their earthly failure).
إِنَّ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ وَسُعُرٍۢ
Innal mujrimeena fee dalaalinw wa su’ur
Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad.
Lo! the guilty are in error and madness.
يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ
Yawma yushaboona fin Naari’alaa wujoohimim zooqoo massa saqar
The Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces, (they will hear:) “Taste ye the touch of Hell!”
On the day when they are dragged into the Fire upon their faces (it is said unto them): Feel the touch of hell.
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ
Innaa kulla shai’in khalaqnaahu biqadar
Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.
Lo! We have created every thing by measure.
وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌۭ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ
Wa maaa amrunaaa illaa waahidatun kalamhim bilbasar
And Our Command is but a single (Act),- like the twinkling of an eye.
And Our commandment is but one (commandment), as the twinkling of an eye.
وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
Wa laqad ahlaknaaa ashyaa’akum fahal mim muddakir
And (oft) in the past, have We destroyed gangs like unto you: then is there any that will receive admonition?
And verily We have destroyed your fellows; but is there any that remembereth?
وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍۢ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ
Wa kullu shai’in fa’aloohu fiz Zubur
All that they do is noted in (their) Books (of Deeds):
And every thing they did is in the scriptures,
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍۢ وَكَبِيرٍۢ مُّسْتَطَرٌ
Wa kullu sagheerinw wa kabeerim mustatar
Every matter, small and great, is on record.
And every small and great thing is recorded.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَنَهَرٍۢ
Innal muttaqeena fee jannaatinw wa nahar
As to the Righteous, they will be in the midst of Gardens and Rivers,
Lo! the righteous will dwell among gardens and rivers,
فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍۭ
Fee maq’adi sidqin ‘inda Maleekim Muqtadir
In an Assembly of Truth, in the Presence of a Sovereign Omnipotent.
Firmly established in the favour of a Mighty King.
Sources. Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani edition. Translations: Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original edition, 1934–1938) and Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), both in the public domain. Any introduction above is original writing and is not part of any translation.