Surah Qamar Tafsir The Moon |
Written by Nuraz |
Salaam (WRWB). Surah Qamar is one of the most beautiful surahs in the Quran. From Prophet stories, to tribal stories, to then a hidden reminder of the Day of Judgement. But before we go into all that context, here is some background about this Surah.
Surah Qamar is the 54th Chapter of the Quran, revealed in Mecca, particularly to the disbelievers. Moreover, the Surah also expands on the incident of the splitting of the moon into the two infamous pieces. This Surah has 55 Ayats and is located in the 27th Juz, right before Surah Rahman and right after Surah Najm.
In my opinion the 27th Juz has some of the most beautiful meaning in the entire Quran, which doesn’t contribute to just Surah Rahman, though it has an amazing meaning. Note that because there are 55 ayats, I can’t exactly talk about 55 ayats and put them down, because not only will it take me actual years to make it, it will also be a hassle to read and grasp through.
Now that we know the Surah’s basic information, let us go over the Surah now in full detail.
Tafsir
ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ
Meaning - The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two]. (54:1)
وَكَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرٖ مُّسۡتَقِرّٞ.”
Meaning - And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, “Passing magic.” (54:2)
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ
Meaning - And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement. (54:3)
To expand on these 3 ayats, each of them talking about a group of people, the disbelievers. Throughout the Quran you must remember there are many examples of those who had been punished for their actions, back up to the ancient times. Take the people of Nuh (AS), when Nuh (AS)’s own family had not listened to him to take the ark, or take the people of Lut (AS) where the homosexuals hadn't followed his messages. Even his wife was a common disbeliever in his own messages. Then the people not taking him seriously, Allah (SWT) would then take justice.
What would then happen to those people? For the people who hadn’t gone to the ark of Nuh (AS), had been hit with a heavy flood. And for the people who hadn’t listened to Lut (AS)’s message and warning, their city was hit with a violent earthquake and their city was flipped upside down. Keep in mind they are yet to receive any punishment in their afterlife. May Allah (SWT) protect us from both punishments in the dunya and the akhirah.
These 3 ayats hold a resemblance towards that, briefly talking about how the disbelievers are rejecting the truthful message and resorting to their own belief, hence where the “passing magic” comes from. In this case the disbelievers of Mecca. And the “settlement” refers to nothing but the Day of Judgement.
This story of the disbelievers goes until Ayat 8, where it closes off with,
مُّهۡطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ يَقُولُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوۡمٌ عَسِرٞ
Meaning - Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, “This is a difficult Day.” (54:8)
To briefly summarize the other ayats I had skipped. It talks about how the people will respond to their own decisions by seeing the punishment of the grave. As they had been humbled, with the sights of the grave, only blaming themselves. A warning they had once called, a “passing magic.” But keep in mind just because I had skipped some ayats, does not mean they are not important, so you should still read the meaning for those ayats as well.
Then come to Ayat 8, where it talks about “The Caller”, which is Allah (SWT), the disbelievers are emphasized to race ahead on a “difficult” day. Which goes to show the consequences, and the trials to us on the Day of Judgement. For all we can know, we may end up like them. As these ayats practically summarize their entire lives.
Now you might be like, Nuraz this literally makes no sense. How does a disbeliever from the 6th or 7th century tie to us? These foreshadow their reality, it could be one of us, for all we know. To those around us who taunt the message and revert back to their belief. An example of which,
We invest in this dunya, with our own belief. We invest money, to crazy cool cars, to massive mega mansions, but skip the message being told, that is the Quran. And if we don’t follow them we will end up like those same disbelievers. It’s not a drill, it’s reality.
After Ayat 8, comes another example, the people of Nuh (AS). The disbelievers at his time to then meet a punishment.
كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُواْ مَجۡنُونٞ
وَٱزۡدُجِرَ
Meaning - The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, “A madman,” and he was repelled. (54:9)
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبٞ فَٱنتَصِرۡ
Meaning - So he (Nuh) invoked his Lord, “Indeed, I am overpowered, so help.” (54:10)
These two ayats discuss the warning sent, and then the rejection of Nuh (AS). He was considered a “madman”, and repelled of his land because he was not like the rest of them. So then Nuh (AS) called to his lord for support, “invoked”, meaning an appeal for help or justice.
The next ayats tell you the justice served, just as how the disbelievers will be served in the last ayats.
فَفَتَحۡنَآ أَبۡوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٖ مُّنۡهَمِرٖ
Meaning - Then We opened the gates of the Heaven with rain pouring down. (54:11)
وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُيُونٗا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرٖ قَدۡ قُدِرَ
Meaning - And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined. (54:12)
وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَٰحٖ وَدُسُرٖ
Meaning - And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails. (54:13)
تَجۡرِي بِأَعۡيُنِنَا جَزَآءٗ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ
Meaning - Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied. (54:14)
I just cannot skip any ayat here. Wow, a lot of things are mentioned, with deep meanings and understandings. Ayats 10-14, basically talk about the graphic punishment of the flood, further giving these waters adjectives and power with the word choices of, “predestined”, “burst”, and “pouring down.” Going to show exactly how graphic our punishment will be if we do not comply with the warnings given to us.
It also splits up the endings for the disbelievers, that was mentioned in the previous paragraph, and also the fate of the believers. The fate of the believers was well saving their lives, onto the infamous ark of Nuh (AS). They listened. 80 people had followed the message while the rest were to suffer from the gruesome punishment. The surah then ties back to us, a reminder for us. The word best used, “remember,” going onto the next Ayats.
وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَٰهَآ ءَايَةٗ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ
Meaning - And We left it as a sign, so is there anyone who will remember? (54:15)
The signs are to refer us to the stories of the past (People of Nuh, and disbelievers here). Anyone who will remember, being the believers, questioning them, or you can say questioning us, will we “remember.” Will we remember the message, or forget it like the rest of them? It’s a deep question, and that’s why this surah is so clinical. The next two ayats practically being the mainline, the staple of this surah repeating 4 times. Each of the 4 times after an example.
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
Meaning - And how [severe] were My punishment and warnings? (54:16)
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ
Meaning - And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember? (54:17)
The Quran is to us, like I said, a reminder to the past. The surah repeats itself basically another 3 times. Talking about the warnings of Prophet Lut (AS)’s people, Prophet (Musa)’s people, and the people of Aad and Thamud, closing off with those same two ayats. For more explanation, I’ll split it off into another article regarding those punishments to not take away from the meaning. Those still talk about Surah Qamar.
To summarize each of the other stories in brief detail, again check out the article if you want the depth to the other stories.
2) The People of Aad - (54:18-20)
Punishment - The People of Aad being blown to bits after hesitation and arrogance to the message.
3) The People of Thamud - (54:23-29)
Punishment - The People of Thamud’s she camel is killed as a sign, and then they would then be blown into bits by an ever-shredding earthquake sending their town only into a rubble of bits.
4) The People of Lut - (54:33-38)
Punishment - The People of Lut (AS), were to have their city flipped upside down, and their population being wiped because of they had practiced homosexuality
5) The People of The Pharaoh - (54:41-42)
In similarity to all messages being taught, we can derive that those who were believers of the message were spared, and those who didn’t follow the message greatly suffered, even up to populations being completely eliminated.
What begins to be interesting though, is the ending of the surah. Where the “remember” ayat is written differently.
فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ
Meaning - So taste My punishment and warning. (54:39)
So you might be asking now, what will happen to these disbelievers? It’s now answered with this bitter and angry tone from Allah (SWT) in a harsh manner to describe their fate on the Day of Judgement.
Imagine this in your head and try to connect it to whatever I am saying. The ending now comes to talk about the disbelievers, expanding on their fate and how they will respond on the Day of Judgement. Allah (SWT) even asks them questions, like how they will approach him. Whether it's in one, or in units. Even mocking their belief in idols granting “immunity.” And guaranteeing their defeat and failure of which.
أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ مِّنۡ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٞ فِي ٱلزُّبُ
Meaning - Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or do you have immunity in the scripture? (54:43)
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعٞ مُّنتَصِرٞ
Meaning - Or do they say, “We are an assembly supporting [each other]”? (54:44)
سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ
Meaning - Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat]. (54:45)
This goes deeper into the fate of those who do not follow the message or warning, those who believe it is “passing magic.” And moreover their attitude in the Day of Judgement, where “criminals will be in madness.” (54:47). It also explains everything will happen at a blink and how the judgement is “predestined,” already made.
يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ
Meaning - The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], “Taste the touch of Saqar.” (54:48)
The touch of Saqar, really is something Muslims strive for, to try and avoid. As these are penalties for the disbelievers, for well disbelieving and avoiding the message pridefully. Further expanding this scenario. I’ll skip to the last 2 ayats, but quickly let me recap the ayats I will skip. The Surah then goes on to explain the documentary of our books that are written by our left and right shoulder angels. Reporting every small and big deed like a record and will base our judgement.
Then at last to conclude the Surah, the last 2 ayats foreshadows the believers fate. Giving a contrast in comparison to the ayats mentioned before it.
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَنَهَرٖ
Meaning - Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers. (54:54)
فِي مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٖ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭ
Meaning - In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability. (54:55)
These ayats give you a little light into the massive amount of darkness mentioned in this Surah. As the righteous will be rested peacefully in the gardens and rivers and also under the throne of Allah (SWT). “Perfect in Ability”, representing Allah (SWT).
In conclusion to this huge article of the Surah. Surah Qamar is a Surah that many Surahs talk about. It reminds me of the definition of Surah Haqqah. (Surah 69). This Surah is fermented with a serious tone, and how the believers and disbelievers' fate and justice differs from each other, as the Surah talks 95% about the disbelievers, and the 5% on believers, even giving a glimpse of the stories to each.
This Surah also talks about the divine power of Allah (SWT), showing you the punishments of the stories in which the disbelievers had faced.
So we should remind ourselves when we recite Surah Qamar, to follow the message and to “remember.” Or we will taste the punishments of the Hereafter. May Allah (SWT) protect us from the disbelievers and make us go on with the Straight Path, and handle the Day of Judgement with ease. Until another Surah Tafsir article, you can check out some of the other amazing articles made. Salaam (WRWB).