Section 1: Verses 1–22
Thematic progression across verses 1–22
ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ 1
Iqtarabatis Saa'atu wsan shaqqal qamar
The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split
وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةࣰ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ 2
Wa iny yaraw aayatany yu'ridoo wa yaqooloo sihrum mustamirr
Yet whenever they see a miracle, they turn away, and say, “Continuous magic.”
وَكَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرࣲ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ 3
Wa kazzaboo wattaba'ooo ahwaaa'ahum; wa kullu amrim mustaqirr
They lied, and followed their opinions, but everything has its time
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ 4
Wa laqad jaaa'ahum minal ambaaa'i maa feehi muzdajar
And there came to them news containing a deterrent
حِكۡمَةُۢ بَٰلِغَةࣱۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ 5
Hikmatum baalighatun famaa tughnin nuzur
Profound wisdom—but warnings are of no avail
فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡۘ يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيۡءࣲ نُّكُرٍ 6
Fatawalla 'anhum; yawma yad'ud daa'i ilaa shai 'in nukur
So turn away from them. On the Day when the Caller calls to something terrible
خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمۡ جَرَادࣱ مُّنتَشِرࣱ 7
khushsha'an absaaruhum yakrujoona minal ajdaasi ka annahum jaraadum muntashir
Their eyes humiliated, they will emerge from the graves, as if they were swarming locusts
مُّهۡطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ يَقُولُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوۡمٌ عَسِرࣱ 8
Muhti'eena ilad daa'i yaqoolul kafiroona haazaa yawmun 'asir
Scrambling towards the Caller, the disbelievers will say, “This is a difficult Day.”
۞كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحࣲ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُواْ مَجۡنُونࣱ وَٱزۡدُجِرَ 9
Kazzabat qablahum qawmu Noohin fakazzaboo 'abdanaa wa qaaloo majnoo nunw wazdujir
Before them the people of Noah disbelieved. They rejected Our servant, and said, “Crazy,” and he was rebuked
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبࣱ فَٱنتَصِرۡ 10
Fada'aa Rabbahooo annee maghloobun fantasir
So he appealed to his Lord, “I am overwhelmed, so help me.”
فَفَتَحۡنَآ أَبۡوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءࣲ مُّنۡهَمِرࣲ 11
Fafatahnaaa abwaabas sa maaa'i bimaa'im munhamir
So We opened the floodgates of heaven with water pouring down
وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُيُونࣰ ا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرࣲ قَدۡ قُدِرَ 12
Wa fajjamal arda 'uyoonan faltaqal maaa'u 'alaaa amrin qad qudir
And We made the earth burst with springs, and the waters met for a purpose already destined
وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَٰحࣲ وَدُسُرࣲ 13
Wa hamalnaahu 'alaa zaati alwaahinw wa dusur
And We carried him on a craft of planks and nails
تَجۡرِي بِأَعۡيُنِنَا جَزَآءࣰ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ 14
Tajree bi a'yuninaa jazaaa 'al liman kaana kufir
Sailing before Our eyes; a reward for him who was rejected
وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَٰهَآ ءَايَةࣰ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 15
Wa laqat taraknaahaad aayatan fahal mim muddakir
And We left it as a sign. Is there anyone who would take heed
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 16
Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur
So how were My punishment and My warnings
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 17
Wa laqad yassamal Quraana liz zikri fahal mimmuddakir
We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn
كَذَّبَتۡ عَادࣱ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 18
Kazzabat 'Aadun fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur
Aad denied the truth. So how were My punishment and My warnings
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحࣰ ا صَرۡصَرࣰ ا فِي يَوۡمِ نَحۡسࣲ مُّسۡتَمِرࣲّ 19
Innaa arsalnaa 'alaihim reehan sarsaran fee Yawmi nahsim mustamirr
We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, on a day of unrelenting misery
تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلࣲ مُّنقَعِرࣲ 20
Tanzi;un naasa ka anna huma'jaazu nakhlim munqa'ir
Plucking the people away, as though they were trunks of uprooted palm-trees
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 21
Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur
So how were My punishment and My warnings
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 22
Wa laqad yassamal Quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
We made the Quran easy to remember. Is there anyone who would remember
Section 2: Verses 23–40
Thematic progression across verses 23–40
كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 23
Kazzabat Samoodu binnuzur
Thamood rejected the warnings
فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرࣰ ا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدࣰ ا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذࣰ ا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلࣲ وَسُعُرٍ 24
Faqaalooo a-basharam minnaa waahidan nattabi'uhooo innaa izal lafee dalaalinw wa su'ur
They said, “Are we to follow one of us, a human being? We would then go astray, and end up in Hell
أَءُلۡقِيَ ٱلذِّكۡرُ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا بَلۡ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرࣱ 25
A-ulqiyaz zikru 'alaihi mim baininaa bal huwa kazzaabun ashir
Was the message given to him, out of all of us? In fact, he is a wicked liar.”
سَيَعۡلَمُونَ غَدࣰ ا مَّنِ ٱلۡكَذَّابُ ٱلۡأَشِرُ 26
Sa-ya'lamoona ghadam manil kazzaabul ashir
They will know tomorrow who the wicked liar is
إِنَّا مُرۡسِلُواْ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتۡنَةࣰ لَّهُمۡ فَٱرۡتَقِبۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ 27
Innaa mursilun naaqati fitnatal lahum fartaqibhum wastabir
We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and be patient
وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَآءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبࣲ مُّحۡتَضَرࣱ 28
Wa nabbi'hum annal maaa'a qismatum bainahum kullu shirbim muhtadar
And inform them that the water is to be shared between them; each share of drink made available
فَنَادَوۡاْ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ 29
Fanaadaw saahibahum fata'aataa fa'aqar
But they called their friend, and he dared, and he slaughtered
فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 30
Fakaifa kaana 'azaabee wa nuzur
So how were My punishment and My warnings
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَيۡحَةࣰ وَٰحِدَةࣰ فَكَانُواْ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِ 31
Innaaa arsalnaa 'alaihim saihatanw waahidatan fakaano kahasheemil muhtazir
We sent against them a single Scream, and they became like crushed hay
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 32
Wa laqad yassarnal quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
We made the Quran easy to understand. Is there anyone who would understand
كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 33
Kazzabat qawmu lootim binnuzur
The people of Lot rejected the warnings
إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطࣲۖ نَّجَّيۡنَٰهُم بِسَحَرࣲ 34
Innaa arsalnaa 'alaihim haasiban illaaa aala Loot najjainaahum bisahar
We unleashed upon them a shower of stones, except for the family of Lot; We rescued them at dawn
نِّعۡمَةࣰ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي مَن شَكَرَ 35
Ni'matam min 'indinaa; kazaalika najzee man shakar
A blessing from Us. Thus We reward the thankful
وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡاْ بِٱلنُّذُرِ 36
Wa laqad anzarahum batshatanaa fatamaaraw binnuzur
He had warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed the warnings
وَلَقَدۡ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَآ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 37
Wa laqad raawadoohu 'andaifee fatamasnaaa a'yunahum fazooqoo 'azaabee wa nuzur
They even lusted for his guest, so We obliterated their eyes. “So taste My punishment and My warnings.”
وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابࣱ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ 38
Wa laqad sabbahahum bukratan 'azaabum mustaqirr
Early morning brought upon them enduring punishment
فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ 39
Fazooqoo 'azaabee wa nuzur
So taste My punishment and My warnings
وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 40
Wa laqad yassarnal Quraana liz zikri fahal mim muddakir
We made the Quran easy to memorize. Is there anyone who would memorize
Section 3: Verses 41–55
Thematic progression across verses 41–55
وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ 41
Wa laqad jaaa'a Aala Fir'awnan nuzur
The warnings also came to the people of Pharaoh
كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِيزࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرٍ 42
Kazzaboo bi Aayaatinaa kullihaa fa akhaznaahum akhza 'azeezim muqtadir
They rejected Our signs, all of them, so We seized them—the seizure of an Almighty Omnipotent
أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنۡ أُوْلَٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةࣱ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ 43
Akuffaarukum khairum min ulaaa'ikum am lakum baraaa'atun fiz Zubur
Are your unbelievers better than all those? Or do you have immunity in the scriptures
أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعࣱ مُّنتَصِرࣱ 44
Am yaqooloona nahnu jamee'um muntasir
Or do they say, “We are united, and we will be victorious”
سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ 45
Sa yuhzamul jam'u wa yuwalloonad dubur
The multitude will be defeated, and they will turn their backs
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ 46
Balis Saa'atu maw'iduhum was Saa'atu adhaa wa amarr
The Hour is their appointed time—the Hour is more disastrous, and most bitter
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَٰلࣲ وَسُعُرࣲ 47
Innal mujrimeena fee dalaalinw wa su'ur
The wicked are in confusion and madness
يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ 48
Yawma yushaboona fin Naari'alaa wujoohimim zooqoo massa saqar
The Day when they are dragged upon their faces into the Fire: “Taste the touch of Saqar.”
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرࣲ 49
Innaa kulla shai'in khalaqnaahu biqadar
Everything We created is precisely measured
وَمَآ أَمۡرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةࣱ كَلَمۡحِۭ بِٱلۡبَصَرِ 50
Wa maaa amrunaaa illaa waahidatun kalamhim bilbasar
And Our command is but once, like the twinkling of an eye
وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَآ أَشۡيَاعَكُمۡ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرࣲ 51
Wa laqad ahlaknaaa ashyaa'akum fahal mim muddakir
We have destroyed your likes. Is there anyone who would ponder
وَكُلُّ شَيۡءࣲ فَعَلُوهُ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ 52
Wa kullu shai'in fa'aloohu fiz Zubur
Everything they have done is in the Books
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرࣲ وَكَبِيرࣲ مُّسۡتَطَرٌ 53
Wa kullu sagheerinw wa kabeerim mustatar
Everything, small or large, is written down
إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّٰتࣲ وَنَهَرࣲ 54
Innal muttaqeena fee jannaatinw wa nahar
The righteous will be amidst gardens and rivers
فِي مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكࣲ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭ 55
Fee maq'adi sidqin 'inda Maleekim Muqtadir
In an assembly of virtue, in the presence of an Omnipotent King
Quran-Anchored Prophetic Context
Authentic narrations in the active corpus that explicitly cite, name, or explain verses in Surah Al-Qamar.
حَدَّثَنَا نَصْرُ بْنُ عَلِيِّ بْنِ نَصْرٍ، أَخْبَرَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ {فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ} مِثْلَ قِرَاءَةِ الْعَامَّةِ.
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) recited the following Verse) in the usual tone: 'Fahal-Min-Muddalkir.' (54.15)
حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَرَأَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم {فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِر }.
The Prophet (ﷺ) recited:-- 'Hal-min-Muddakir' (54.15) (Is there any that will remember) (and avoid evil).
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي إِسْحَاقَ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَرَأَ {فَهَلْ مِنْ مُدَّكِرٍ، ولقد أهلكنا أشياعكم فهل من مُدَّكِرٍ}
The Prophet (ﷺ) recited: 'Fahal-min Muddakir': 'And verily, We have destroyed nations like unto you; then is there any that will receive admonition?' (54.51)
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي يُوسُفُ بْنُ مَاهَكَ، قَالَ إِنِّي عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَتْ لَقَدْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَكَّةَ، وَإِنِّي لَجَارِيَةٌ أَلْعَبُ {بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ}
I was in the house of `Aisha, the mother of the Believers. She said, "This revelation: "Nay, but the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense); and the Hour will be more previous and most bitter." (54.46) was revealed to Muhammad at Mecca while I was a playfull little girl."
حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ مُوسَى، أَخْبَرَنَا هِشَامُ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، أَنَّ ابْنَ جُرَيْجٍ، أَخْبَرَهُمْ قَالَ وَأَخْبَرَنِي يُوسُفُ بْنُ مَاهَكَ، قَالَ إِنِّي عِنْدَ عَائِشَةَ أُمِّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ـ رضى الله عنها ـ إِذْ جَاءَهَا عِرَاقِيٌّ فَقَالَ أَىُّ الْكَفَنِ خَيْرٌ قَالَتْ وَيْحَكَ وَمَا يَضُرُّكَ قَالَ يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَرِينِي مُصْحَفَكِ. قَالَتْ لِمَ قَالَ لَعَلِّي أُوَلِّفُ الْقُرْآنَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّهُ يُقْرَأُ غَيْرَ مُؤَلَّفٍ. قَالَتْ وَمَا يَضُرُّكَ أَيَّهُ قَرَأْتَ قَبْلُ، إِنَّمَا نَزَلَ أَوَّلَ مَا نَزَلَ مِنْهُ سُورَةٌ مِنَ الْمُفَصَّلِ فِيهَا ذِكْرُ الْجَنَّةِ وَالنَّارِ حَتَّى إِذَا ثَابَ النَّاسُ إِلَى الإِسْلاَمِ نَزَلَ الْحَلاَلُ وَالْحَرَامُ، وَلَوْ نَزَلَ أَوَّلَ شَىْءٍ لاَ تَشْرَبُوا الْخَمْرَ. لَقَالُوا لاَ نَدَعُ الْخَمْرَ أَبَدًا. وَلَوْ نَزَلَ. لاَ تَزْنُوا. لَقَالُوا لاَ نَدَعُ الزِّنَا أَبَدًا. لَقَدْ نَزَلَ بِمَكَّةَ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَإِنِّي لَجَارِيَةٌ أَلْعَبُ {بَلِ السَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَى وَأَمَرُّ} وَمَا نَزَلَتْ سُورَةُ الْبَقَرَةِ وَالنِّسَاءِ إِلاَّ وَأَنَا عِنْدَهُ. قَالَ فَأَخْرَجَتْ لَهُ الْمُصْحَفَ فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَيْهِ آىَ السُّوَرِ.
While I was with Aisha, the mother of the Believers, a person from Iraq came and asked, "What type of shroud is the best?" `Aisha said, "May Allah be merciful to you! What does it matter?" He said, "O mother of the Believers! Show me (the copy of) your Qur'an," She said, "Why?" He said, "In order to compile and arrange the Qur'an according to it, for people recite it with its Suras not in proper order." `Aisha said, "What does it matter which part of it you read first? (Be informed) that the first thing that was revealed thereof was a Sura from Al-Mufassal, and in it was mentioned Paradise and the Fire. When the people embraced Islam, the Verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed. If the first thing to be revealed was: 'Do not drink alcoholic drinks.' people would have said, 'We will never leave alcoholic drinks,' and if there had been revealed, 'Do not commit illegal sexual intercourse, 'they would have said, 'We will never give up illegal sexual intercourse.' While I was a young girl of playing age, the following Verse was revealed in Mecca to Muhammad: 'Nay! But the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter.' (54.46) Sura Al-Baqara (The Cow) and Surat An-Nisa (The Women) were revealed while I was with him." Then `Aisha took out the copy of the Qur'an for the man and dictated to him the Verses of the Suras (in their proper order) .
وَعَنْ أَبِي وَاقِدٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ قَالَ: { كَانَ اَلنَّبِيُّ - صلى الله عليه وسلم -يَقْرَأُ فِي اَلْأَضْحَى وَالْفِطْرِ بِـ (ق), وَ (اقْتَرَبَتْ). } أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ 1 .1 - صحيح. رواه مسلم (891).
The Prophet (ﷺ) used to recite on ('Eid) al-Adha and ('Eid) al-Fitr, Surat Qaf (Chapter 50) and Surat Al-Qamar (Chapter 54). .