Revealed in Makkah, Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon) begins with the famous miracle of the moon splitting, warning that the Day of Judgment is close. It reviews the destruction of past nations—such as the peoples of Noah, 'Ad, Thamud, Lot, and Pharaoh—repeating the powerful refrain that the Quran has been made easy for remembrance, and asking if there is anyone who will reflect. It concludes by promising the righteous a seat of honor in the presence of the Sovereign Creator.
Transliteration
Iqtarabati alssaAAatu wainshaqqa alqamaru
Translation
The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split
Transliteration
Wain yaraw ayatan yuAAridoo wayaqooloo sihrun mustamirrun
Translation
Yet whenever they see a miracle, they turn away, and say, “Continuous magic.”
Transliteration
Wakaththaboo waittabaAAoo ahwaahum wakullu amrin mustaqirrun
Translation
They lied, and followed their opinions, but everything has its time
Transliteration
Walaqad jaahum mina alanbai ma feehi muzdajarun
Translation
And there came to them news containing a deterrent
Transliteration
Hikmatun balighatun fama tughnee alnnuthuru
Translation
Profound wisdom—but warnings are of no avail
Transliteration
Fatawalla AAanhum yawma yadAAu alddaAAi ila shayin nukurin
Translation
So turn away from them. On the Day when the Caller calls to something terrible
Transliteration
KhushshaAAan absaruhum yakhrujoona mina alajdathi kaannahum jaradun muntashirun
Translation
Their eyes humiliated, they will emerge from the graves, as if they were swarming locusts
Transliteration
MuhtiAAeena ila alddaAAi yaqoolu alkafiroona hatha yawmun AAasirun
Translation
Scrambling towards the Caller, the disbelievers will say, “This is a difficult Day.”
Transliteration
Kaththabat qablahum qawmu noohin fakaththaboo AAabdana waqaloo majnoonun waizdujira
Translation
Before them the people of Noah disbelieved. They rejected Our servant, and said, “Crazy,” and he was rebuked
Transliteration
FadaAAa rabbahu annee maghloobun faintasir
Translation
So he appealed to his Lord, “I am overwhelmed, so help me.”
Transliteration
Fafatahna abwaba alssamai bimain munhamirin
Translation
So We opened the floodgates of heaven with water pouring down
Transliteration
Wafajjarna alarda AAuyoonan failtaqa almao AAala amrin qad qudira
Translation
And We made the earth burst with springs, and the waters met for a purpose already destined
Transliteration
Wahamalnahu AAala thati alwahin wadusurin
Translation
And We carried him on a craft of planks and nails
Transliteration
Tajree biaAAyunina jazaan liman kana kufira
Translation
Sailing before Our eyes; a reward for him who was rejected
Transliteration
Walaqad taraknaha ayatan fahal min muddakirin
Translation
And We left it as a sign. Is there anyone who would take heed
Transliteration
Fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri
Translation
So how were My punishment and My warnings
Transliteration
Walaqad yassarna alqurana lilththikri fahal min muddakirin
Translation
We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn
Transliteration
Kaththabat AAadun fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri
Translation
Aad denied the truth. So how were My punishment and My warnings
Transliteration
Inna arsalna AAalayhim reehan sarsaran fee yawmi nahsin mustamirrin
Translation
We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, on a day of unrelenting misery
Transliteration
TanziAAu alnnasa kaannahum aAAjazu nakhlin munqaAAirin
Translation
Plucking the people away, as though they were trunks of uprooted palm-trees