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سُورَةُ القَمَرِ

Surah 54 - Al-Qamar

The Moon

  • 55 verses
  • Juz 27
  • Pages 528 to 531 of the Mushaf

Al-Qamar moves by repetition. One verse comes back four times, at numbers 17, 22, 32 and 40: it bears on the Quran given for remembrance, and ends on a question. That question, on its own, appears twice more, at verses 15 and 51. Another formula joins punishment and warnings, six times - at verses 16, 18, 21, 30, 37 and 39 - four times as a question and twice as an order. Between these repeats come four accounts of uneven length. A fifth case, that of the people of Pharaoh, holds in two verses and receives no repeat at all. The end turns to the measure of every thing and to the record where all is written.

The main parts

  1. The Hour announced, and the day of the caller1-8
  2. The people of Noah, then the refrain for the first time9-17
  3. 'Aad, and the refrain a second time18-22
  4. Thamud, the she-camel, and the refrain a third time23-32
  5. The people of Lot, and the refrain a fourth time33-40
  6. The people of Pharaoh, and the close with no refrain41-55

The text of the surah

  1. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ

    The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].

  2. وَإِن يَرَوْا۟ ءَايَةًۭ يُعْرِضُوا۟ وَيَقُولُوا۟ سِحْرٌۭ مُّسْتَمِرٌّۭ

    And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, "Passing magic."

  3. وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍۢ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ

    And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement.

  4. وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ

    And there has already come to them of information that in which there is deterrence -

  5. حِكْمَةٌۢ بَٰلِغَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ

    Extensive wisdom - but warning does not avail [them].

  6. فَتَوَلَّ عَنْهُمْ ۘ يَوْمَ يَدْعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَىْءٍۢ نُّكُرٍ

    So leave them, [O Muhammad]. The Day the Caller calls to something forbidding,

  7. خُشَّعًا أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌۭ مُّنتَشِرٌۭ

    Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,

  8. مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌۭ

    Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."

  9. ۞ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجْنُونٌۭ وَٱزْدُجِرَ

    The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, "A madman," and he was repelled.

  10. فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَغْلُوبٌۭ فَٱنتَصِرْ

    So he invoked his Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help."

  11. فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍۢ مُّنْهَمِرٍۢ

    Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down

  12. وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًۭا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ قَدْ قُدِرَ

    And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.

  13. وَحَمَلْنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَٰحٍۢ وَدُسُرٍۢ

    And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,

  14. تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءًۭ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ

    Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.

  15. وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةًۭ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?

  16. فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.

  17. وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

  18. كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌۭ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    'Aad denied; and how [severe] were My punishment and warning.

  19. إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا صَرْصَرًۭا فِى يَوْمِ نَحْسٍۢ مُّسْتَمِرٍّۢ

    Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,

  20. تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمْ أَعْجَازُ نَخْلٍۢ مُّنقَعِرٍۢ

    Extracting the people as if they were trunks of palm trees uprooted.

  21. فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.

  22. وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

  23. كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    Thamud denied the warning

  24. فَقَالُوٓا۟ أَبَشَرًۭا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدًۭا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذًۭا لَّفِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ وَسُعُرٍ

    And said, "Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.

  25. أَءُلْقِىَ ٱلذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌۭ

    Has the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar."

  26. سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًۭا مَّنِ ٱلْكَذَّابُ ٱلْأَشِرُ

    They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.

  27. إِنَّا مُرْسِلُوا۟ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتْنَةًۭ لَّهُمْ فَٱرْتَقِبْهُمْ وَٱصْطَبِرْ

    Indeed, We are sending the she-camel as trial for them, so watch them and be patient.

  28. وَنَبِّئْهُمْ أَنَّ ٱلْمَآءَ قِسْمَةٌۢ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ كُلُّ شِرْبٍۢ مُّحْتَضَرٌۭ

    And inform them that the water is shared between them, each [day of] drink attended [by turn].

  29. فَنَادَوْا۟ صَاحِبَهُمْ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ

    But they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung [her].

  30. فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.

  31. إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ

    Indeed, We sent upon them one blast from the sky, and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.

  32. وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

  33. كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    The people of Lot denied the warning.

  34. إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ نَّجَّيْنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٍۢ

    Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot - We saved them before dawn

  35. نِّعْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَن شَكَرَ

    As favor from us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.

  36. وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.

  37. وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."

  38. وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌۭ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ

    And there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.

  39. فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ

    So taste My punishment and warning.

  40. وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

  41. وَلَقَدْ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ

    And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.

  42. كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَٰهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍ

    They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.

  43. أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌۭ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ

    Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scripture?

  44. أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌۭ مُّنتَصِرٌۭ

    Or do they say, "We are an assembly supporting [each other]"?

  45. سَيُهْزَمُ ٱلْجَمْعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ

    [Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].

  46. بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ

    But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.

  47. إِنَّ ٱلْمُجْرِمِينَ فِى ضَلَٰلٍۢ وَسُعُرٍۢ

    Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness.

  48. يَوْمَ يُسْحَبُونَ فِى ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمْ ذُوقُوا۟ مَسَّ سَقَرَ

    The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], "Taste the touch of Saqar."

  49. إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ

    Indeed, all things We created with predestination.

  50. وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌۭ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ

    And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.

  51. وَلَقَدْ أَهْلَكْنَآ أَشْيَاعَكُمْ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?

  52. وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍۢ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ

    And everything they did is in written records.

  53. وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍۢ وَكَبِيرٍۢ مُّسْتَطَرٌ

    And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.

  54. إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَنَهَرٍۢ

    Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers,

  55. فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍۭ

    In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.

Key verses of the surah

  • The opening verse: two statements on a single line, a due term and a sign.

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ

    The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].

  • The first full occurrence of the refrain; it returns unchanged at verses 22, 32 and 40.

    وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ

    And We have certainly made the Qur'an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?

  • A short sentence on the measure given to every created thing.

    إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ

    Indeed, all things We created with predestination.

  • The last verse: a dwelling, and the presence it is set beside, after a surah made of vanished peoples.

    فِى مَقْعَدِ صِدْقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍۭ

    In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.

What is surah Al-Qamar about?

Of peoples who denied and of what came to them, told one after another and cut by the same sentence. It opens on a due term and a sign, and ends on what awaits those who were mindful.

How is surah Al-Qamar built?

Around a refrain. Four accounts, four returns of the same verse, at verses 17, 22, 32 and 40. The fifth case, at verses 41 and 42, receives none: the series stops there, and the text moves on to something else.

Which verse comes back in surah Al-Qamar?

The one that calls the Quran made easy and asks whether anyone is there to take it in. It appears four times in full, and its second half twice over, at verse 15 then at verse 51: six occurrences in fifty-five verses.

How does surah Al-Qamar end?

On two short verses: every thing is created with a measure, and the command holds in one swift word. Then come the records where the small and the great are set down, and a last verse placing the mindful with a Sovereign.

Why is surah Al-Qamar called that?

“Al-Qamar” means “the Moon”. The word is in the first verse, which puts two statements on one line: the Hour drawing near and the moon split. It appears once only in the surah, and nothing takes it up afterwards.

How many verses does surah Al-Qamar have?

Surah Al-Qamar has 55 verses. It stands at number 54 in the order of the Mushaf, which holds 114.

The Arabic text is that of the Mushaf. The summary, the outline and the answers on this page describe the text and how it is built: they are not religious commentary.

Themes that quote this surah

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