قَالَ فَمَا خَطْبُكُمْ ْ 1299 القمر
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ ﴿۱﴾ وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ ﴿۲﴾
﴾1﴿ Iqtarabatis Saa'atu wan shaqqal qamar
﴾2﴿ Wa iny yaraw aayatany yu'ridoo wa yaqooloo sihrun mustamirr
﴾1﴿ The Hour has drawn very near, and the moon has split
﴾2﴿ And if they see a sign, they turn away and say, This is persistent magic
Relevancy:
This surah and the previous one have several differences.
The first difference is that the previous surah contained reproach regarding the beliefs and reasoning of the polytheists, whereas this surah focuses on warning them about the Hereafter.
The second difference is that the previous surah mentioned how the polytheists follow their desires in matters of belief, whereas this surah states that due to their desires, they also deny miracles.
Claim of this surah:
The warning about the Hereafter (تخویف اخروی) is given by mentioning the approach of the Hour, and the reason for this warning is their denial (تکذیب), which led to punishments upon five nations who rejected the truth.
In this surah, polytheism is refuted in matters of supplication (دعاء) and divine control (تصرف).
In verse 49, belief in divine decree (ایمان بالتقدیر) is mentioned.
In the previous surah, polytheism in seeking blessings (برکات) was refuted, meaning that no one can alter the preordained measures set by Allah, the Most High.
Summary of the surah:
The warning about the Hereafter (تخویف اخروی) is accompanied by a miracle and serves as a reproach (زجر) to the deniers. This is structured in five ways:
Five conditions of the deniers are mentioned.
The warning about the Hereafter is reinforced by describing five terrifying aspects of the Day of Judgment.
Worldly warnings (تخویف دنیوی) are given by mentioning five past nations that were punished.
Another reproach is directed at the deniers by mentioning five of their current states.
The warning about the Hereafter is repeated with five specific events.
The power of Allah is demonstrated in five ways to establish the reality of the Resurrection.
Finally, glad tidings (بشارت) are given in five different ways.
[1] This is a warning about the Hereafter (تخویف اخروی).
The splitting of the moon (انشقاق القمر) is proof of the truthfulness of the Messenger of Allah (pease be upon him).
His arrival in this world is a sign of the nearness of the Hour.
The splitting of the moon is also evidence of Allah’s power, showing that just as He split the moon, He is fully capable of destroying the entire universe.
The splitting of the moon was a miracle that was made visible to the people of Mecca. This event has been recorded with authentic chains of transmission by Imam Bukhari, Imam Muslim, Tirmidhi, Bayhaqi, and many other hadith scholars.
It has been narrated from Anas, Ibn Abbas, Ibn Umar, Ibn Mas'ud, and Jubayr bin Mut'im .
Denying this event is considered a heretical belief innovation (بدعة اعتقادیه).
[2] From here until verse (6), there are warnings (زجرها), and it describes five states of the deniers.
Regarding the word (مُسْتَمِرٌّ), due to differences in its root meanings, there are multiple interpretations:
1. Derived from مِرَّة, meaning very strong and firm.
2. Derived from مرور, meaning something that vanishes and comes to an end.
3. Derived from مرارة, meaning bitterness, implying something with a sharp and intense effect.
4. Derived from استمرار, meaning something continuous and everlasting.
5. It also carries similar meanings to these interpretations.
6. It can also mean passing from the earth to the heavens.