The Moon (Al-Qamar)

In the name of Allah, Gracious, Merciful.

¹The hour is nigh and the moon is cleft asunder.

²And if they see a sign, they turn away and say, “This is transient magic.”

³They reject the warning and follow their own lusts but every matter has its appointed time.

^4There have already come to them recitals wherein there is enough to check them.

⁵Mature wisdom but the preaching of warners, profits them not.

⁶Therefore turn away from them. The day that the caller will call them to a terrible affair.

⁷They will come forth, their eyes humbled from their graves like locusts scattered abroad.

Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim

¹Iqtarabati saatu wansyaq qal qamar

²Wa iyarau ayata yuridu wa yaqulu sihrum mustamir

³Wa ka zabu wa tabau ahwa ahum wa kullu amrim mustaqir

⁴Wa laqad ja ahuminal anbai ma fihi muzajar

⁵Hikmatun baligatun fama tugnin nuzur

⁶Fatawal la anhum yauma yadud dai ila syaiin nukur

⁷Kusyaan absaruhum yakrujuna minal ajdasi ka annahum jaradum muntasir

[Commentary continues below.]

⁸Hastening with eyes transfixed towards the caller! “Hard is this day!” the unbelievers will say.

⁹Before them the people of Noah rejected their apostle: they rejected Our servant and said “Here is one possessed!” and he was driven out.¹

¹⁰Then he called on his Lord: “I am one overcome: do then help me!”

¹¹So We opened the gates of heaven with water pouring forth.

¹²And We caused the earth to gush forth with springs so the waters met to the extent decreed.

¹³And We bore him on an Ark made of broad planks and caulked with palm fibre:²

¹⁴She floats under Our eyes: a recompense to one who had been rejected!

¹⁵And We have left this as a sign: then is there any that will receive admonition?

¹⁶But how was My penalty and My warning?

⁸Muhtiina ilada yaqulul kafiruna haza yaumun qasir

⁹Kazabat qablahum qaumu Nuhin fakazabu abdana wa qalu majnunuw waz dujir

¹⁰Fadaa rabbahu ani maglubun fantasir

¹¹Fafatahna abwaba samai bima im munhamir

¹²Wa fajarnal arda uyunan faltaqal mau ala amrin qad qudir

¹³Wa hamalnahu ala zati alwahi wa dusur

¹⁴Tajri bi ayunina jaza alliman kana kufir

¹⁵Wa laqad taraknaha ayatan fahal mim mudakir

¹⁶Fakaifa kana azabi wa nuzur

1. The Bible story of Noah does not have any record of him being driven out, the Qur’an has added that to give drama to the story, as if it lacked such.

2. For the story of Noah’s Ark, the Bible describes how it was built, the length, breadth, height and the components of the Ark. The Qur’an has assumed that its readers would understand what it is talking about so it does not go into any detail of it. Genesis 6:13-22 gives the details:

And God said to Noah, "I have determined to make an end of all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ark of gopher wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and out with pitch. This is how you are to make it: the length of the ark 300 cubits, its breadth 50 cubits, and its height 30 cubits. Make a roof for the ark, and finish it to a cubit above, and set the door of the ark in its side. Make it with lower, second, and third decks. For behold, I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven. Everything that is on the earth shall die.

"But I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons' wives with you. And of every living thing of all flesh, you shall bring two of every sort into the ark to keep them alive with you. They shall be male and female. Of the birds according to their kinds, and of the animals according to their kinds, of every creeping thing of the ground, according to its kind, two of every sort shall come in to you to keep them alive. Also take with you every sort of food that is eaten, and store it up. It shall serve as food for you and for them."

Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.

¹⁷And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

¹⁸The Ad rejected truth: then how terrible was my penalty and my warning!

¹⁹For We sent against them a furious wind on a day of violent disaster

²⁰Plucking out men as if they were roots of palm trees torn up.

²¹Yea, how terrible was my penalty and my warning!

²²But We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

²³The Thamud rejected their warners.

²⁴For they said: “What! A man! a solitary one from among ourselves! shall we follow such a one? Truly should we then be straying in mind and mad!

²⁵“Is it that the message is sent to him of all people amongst us? No, he is a liar, an insolent one!”

¹⁷Wa laqad yas sarnal qurana lizikri fahal mim mudakir

¹⁸Kazabat adun fakaifa kana azabi wa nuzur

¹⁹Inna arsalna alaihim rihan sarsaran fi yaumi nafsim mustamir

²⁰Tanziun nasa ka annahum ajazu naklim munqair

²¹Fakaifa kana azabi wa nuzur

²²Wa laqad yasarnal qurana lizikri fahal mim mudakir

²³Kazabat Samudu bin nuzur

²⁴Faqalu abasyaram minna wahidan natabiuhu inna azal lafi dalaliw wa suur

²⁵A ulqiyazikru alaihim inbainina bal huwa kazabun asyir

[Commentary continues below.]

²⁶Ah! they will know on the morrow which is the liar, the insolent one!

²⁷For We will send the she camel by way of trial for them. So watch them and possess yourself in patience!³

²⁸And tell them that the water is to be divided between them: each one’s right to drink being brought forward.

²⁹But they called to their companion and he took a sword in hand and hamstrung her.

³⁰Ah! how was My penalty and My warning!

³¹For We sent against them a single mighty blast and they became like the dry stubble used by one who pens cattle.

³²And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

³³The people of Lut rejected his warning.

²⁶Sayalamuna gadam manil kazabul asyir

²⁷Inna mursilun naqati fitnatal lahum far taqibum was tabir

²⁸Wa nabbihum annal maa qismatun bainahum kullu sirbim muhtadar

²⁹Fanadau sahibahum fataata faaqar

³⁰Fakaifa kana azabi wa nuzur

³¹Inna arsalna alaihim saihata wahidatan fakanu kahasimil muhtazir

³²Wa laqad yasarnal qurana lizikri fahal mimudakir

³³Kazabat qaumu Lutin binuzur

3. The she camel according to Sale was a very extraordinary one which frightened all the other cattle from their pasture. That was the trial for the people.

[Commentary continues below.]

³⁴We sent against them a violent tornado with showers of stones except Lut’s household: We delivered them by early dawn

³⁵As a grace from Us: Thus do We reward those who give thanks.

³⁶And he did warn them of Our punishment but they disputed about the warning.

³⁷And they even sought to snatch away his guests from him but We blinded their eyes. “Now taste My wrath and My warning.”

³⁸Early on the morrow an abiding punishment seized them:

³⁹“So taste My wrath and My warning.”

⁴⁰And We have indeed made the Qur’an easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive admonition?

⁴¹To the people of Pharaoh too came warners from Allah.

³⁴Inna arsalna alaihim hasiban illa ala Lut najainahum bisahar

³⁵Nimatam minindina kazalika najzi man sakar

³⁶Wa laqad anzarahum batsatana fatamarau binuzur

³⁷Wa laqad rawaduhu andaifihi fatamasna ayunahum fazuqu azabi wa nuzur

³⁸Wa laqad sabahahum bukratan azabum mustaqir

³⁹Fazuqu azabi wa nuzur

⁴⁰Wa laqad yasarnal qurana lizikri fahal mimudakir

⁴¹Wa laqad jaa ala Firaunan nuzur

⁴²The people rejected all Our signs; but We seized them with such penalty from one exalted in power able to carry out His will.

⁴³Are your unbelievers better than they? or have you an immunity in the sacred books?

⁴⁴Or do they say: “We acting together can defend ourselves”?

⁴⁵Soon will their multitude be put to flight and they will show their backs.

⁴⁶No, the hour is the time promised them: And that hour will be most grievous and most bitter.

⁴⁷Truly those in sin are the ones straying in mind and mad.

⁴⁸The day they will be dragged through the fire on their faces, they will hear “Taste the touch of hell!”

⁴⁹Verily, all things have We created in proportion and measure.

⁵⁰And Our command is but a single act like the twinkling of an eye.

⁴²Kazabu bi ayatina kulliha fa akhaznahum akza azizim muqtadir

⁴³Akufarukum kairum min ulaikum am lakum bara atun fizubur

⁴⁴Am yaquluna nahnu jamium mun tasir

⁴⁵Sayuhzamul jamu wa yuwa lunadubur

⁴⁶Balisaatu mauiduhum was saatu adha wa amar

⁴⁷Innal mujrimina fi dalali wasuur

⁴⁸Yauma yus habuna finnari ala wujuhihim zuqu mas sa saqar

⁴⁹Inna kulla saiin halaqnahu biqadar

⁵⁰Wa ma amruna illa wahidatun kalamhin bil basar

⁵¹And in the past have We destroyed gangs like unto you: Then is there any that will receive admonition?

⁵²And all that they do is noted in books:

⁵³And every matter small and great is on record.

⁵⁴As to the righteous they will be in the midst of gardens and rivers.

⁵⁵In an assembly of truth in the presence of a sovereign omnipotent.

⁵¹Wa laqad ahlakna asyaakum fahal mimuddakir

⁵²Wa kullu saiin faaluhu fiz zubur

⁵³Wa kullu sagiriw wa kabirim mustatar

⁵⁴Innal mutaqina fi jannati wa nahar

⁵⁵Fi maqadi sidqin inda malikim muqtadir