SURAH 54 — Al-Qamar — القمر — “The Moon”

• Revelation Order: 37
• Event Anchor: Mid-Meccan escalation of miraculous signs and warnings (c. 614–618 CE)

Explanation:
Al-Qamar responds to Meccan demands for miraculous proof, referencing the reported splitting of the moon and invoking past destroyed nations—‘Ād, Thamūd, Lot’s people, and Pharaoh—to illustrate the consequences of persistent denial. Its urgent tone and rapid narrative pace reflect the mid-Meccan phase when opposition was intensifying and Quraysh increasingly mocked or challenged the prophetic message. The surah emphasizes that signs, no matter how grand, will not sway hardened hearts, a truth the Prophet confronted repeatedly during this period.

Verse	Verse #	Meccan v Medinan	General Index
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two].	1	Meccan	4847
And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, “Passing magic.”	2	Meccan	4848
And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement.	3	Meccan	4849
And there has already come to them of information that in which there is deterrence –	4	Meccan	4850
Extensive wisdom – but warning does not avail [them].	5	Meccan	4851
So leave them, [O Muhammad]. The Day the Caller calls to something forbidding,	6	Meccan	4852
Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,	7	Meccan	4853
Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, “This is a difficult Day.”	8	Meccan	4854
The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, “A madman,” and he was repelled.	9	Meccan	4855
So he invoked his Lord, “Indeed, I am overpowered, so help.”	10	Meccan	4856
Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down	11	Meccan	4857
And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.	12	Meccan	4858
And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,	13	Meccan	4859
Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.	14	Meccan	4860
And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?	15	Meccan	4861
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.	16	Meccan	4862
And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?	17	Meccan	4863
‘Aad denied; and how [severe] were My punishment and warning.	18	Meccan	4864
Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,	19	Meccan	4865
Extracting the people as if they were trunks of palm trees uprooted.	20	Meccan	4866
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.	21	Meccan	4867
And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?	22	Meccan	4868
Thamud denied the warning	23	Meccan	4869
And said, “Is it one human being among us that we should follow? Indeed, we would then be in error and madness.	24	Meccan	4870
Has the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar.”	25	Meccan	4871
They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.	26	Meccan	4872
Indeed, We are sending the she-camel as trial for them, so watch them and be patient.	27	Meccan	4873
And inform them that the water is shared between them, each [day of] drink attended [by turn].	28	Meccan	4874
But they called their companion, and he dared and hamstrung [her].	29	Meccan	4875
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.	30	Meccan	4876
Indeed, We sent upon them one blast from the sky, and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.	31	Meccan	4877
And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?	32	Meccan	4878
The people of Lot denied the warning.	33	Meccan	4879
Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot – We saved them before dawn	34	Meccan	4880
As favor from us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.	35	Meccan	4881
And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.	36	Meccan	4882
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], “Taste My punishment and warning.”	37	Meccan	4883
And there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.	38	Meccan	4884
So taste My punishment and warning.	39	Meccan	4885
And We have certainly made the Qur’an easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?	40	Meccan	4886
And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.	41	Meccan	4887
They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.	42	Meccan	4888
Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scripture?	43	Meccan	4889
Or do they say, “We are an assembly supporting [each other]”?	44	Meccan	4890
[Their] assembly will be defeated, and they will turn their backs [in retreat].	45	Meccan	4891
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.	46	Meccan	4892
Indeed, the criminals are in error and madness.	47	Meccan	4893
The Day they are dragged into the Fire on their faces [it will be said], “Taste the touch of Saqar.”	48	Meccan	4894
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.	49	Meccan	4895
And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.	50	Meccan	4896
And We have already destroyed your kinds, so is there any who will remember?	51	Meccan	4897
And everything they did is in written records.	52	Meccan	4898
And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.	53	Meccan	4899
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers,	54	Meccan	4900
In a seat of honor near a Sovereign, Perfect in Ability.	55	Meccan	4901