وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ﴿۳۹﴾ لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ ﴿۴۰﴾ وَآيَةٌ لَهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِي الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ ﴿۴۱﴾ وَخَلَقْنَا لَهُمْ مِنْ مِثْلِهِ مَا يَرْكَبُونَ ﴿۴۲﴾ وَإِنْ نَشَأْ نُغْرِقْهُمْ فَلَا صَرِيخَ لَهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يُنْقَذُونَ ﴿۴۳﴾ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً مِنَّا وَمَتَاعًا إِلَى حِينٍ ﴿۴۴﴾

﴾39﴿ Walqamara qaddarnaahu manaazila hattaa 'aada kal'ur joonil qadeem
﴾40﴿ Lash shamsu yambaghee lahaaa an tudrikal qamara walal lailu saabiqun nahaar; wa kullun fee falaki yasbahoon
﴾41﴿ Wa Aayatul lahum annaa hamalnaa zurriyatahum fil fulkil mashhoon
﴾42﴿ Wa khalaqnaa lahum mim-mislihee maa yarkaboon
﴾43﴿ Wa in nashaa nughriqhum falaa sareekha lahum wa laa hum yunqazoon
﴾44﴿ Illaa rahmatam minnaa wa mataa'an ilaa heen

﴾39﴿ And for the moon, We have determined phases until it returns like the old, curved stalk of a date palm
﴾40﴿ It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outpace the day. Each floats in its own orbit
﴾41﴿ And a great sign of Tawhid (monothysm) for them is that We carry their offspring in a fully laden ship
﴾42﴿ And We created for them the likes of it, on which they ride
﴾43﴿ And if we will, we can drown them nor will they be saved
﴾44﴿ Except as a mercy from Us and a provision for a time

[39] This is another rational proof.
"مَنَازِلَ" refers to the phases of the moon—each night when the moon appears in a different position, it is called a manzil (station), and there are twenty-eight such stations.
If the lunar month is thirty days, then the moon remains hidden for two nights, and if it is twenty-nine days, it is hidden for one night.
"حَتَّى عَادَ"—meaning, it begins from the first night, reaches fullness on the fourteenth night, and then gradually begins to wane, until in the end it returns to its initial shape.
"كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ"—this is a simile: the old, dried palm stalk becomes thin, curved, and yellow, and similarly, the crescent moon in its final phase also appears bent and faded, just like that.
[40] This is another rational proof.
The meaning is that the system of night and day, the sun, and the moon does not change or overlap—each follows its own set pattern.
The word "فَلَكٍ" refers to the orbit or path in which they move, and it is beneath the heavens.
In the verses where it says "فِي السَّمَاءِ" (in the sky), the intended meaning is that the sun and moon appear toward the sky, not that they are inside the heavens themselves.
A similar explanation is found in Surah Al-Anbiyā’ (21:33).
[41,42] This is another rational proof, where the blessings of the seas are mentioned after those of the land.
"ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ" refers to the entire human race—whether elders or children, male or female.
One interpretation is that it refers specifically to Nūḥ (peace be upon him) and his descendants who were saved in the Ark during the flood.
"مِثْلِهِ" then refers to ships, boats, and other water vessels provided for later generations.
Alternatively, "ذُرِّيَّة" may refer to all people, and "الفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُون" (the loaded ship) refers to any type of ship.
In that case, "مِثْلِهِ" includes all means of transport, whether on land or sea, that fulfill a similar function.
[43,44] The purpose of this verse is to refute false intercession (شفاعت شرکیه).
"صَرِيخَ" means a rescuer or one who responds to a cry for help—a savior, helper, or deliverer.
The verse emphasizes that no one besides Allah can respond or rescue in times of true distress.