Surah 54 · Meccan · 55 Verses
القمر
SURAH AL-QAMAR
The Moon
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
وَكَذَّبُوا۟ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓا۟ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍۢ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ
And they denied and followed their inclinations. But for every matter is a [time of] settlement.
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلْأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ
And there has already come to them of information that in which there is deterrence.
حِكْمَةٌۢ بَٰلِغَةٌۭ ۖ فَمَا تُغْنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ
Extensive wisdom - but warning does not avail [them].
خُشَّعًا أَبْصَٰرُهُمْ يَخْرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلْأَجْدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمْ جَرَادٌۭ مُّنتَشِرٌۭ
Their eyes humbled, they will emerge from the graves as if they were locusts spreading,
مُّهْطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِ ۖ يَقُولُ ٱلْكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ عَسِرٌۭ
Racing ahead toward the Caller. The disbelievers will say, "This is a difficult Day."
۞ كَذَّبَتْ قَبْلَهُمْ قَوْمُ نُوحٍۢ فَكَذَّبُوا۟ عَبْدَنَا وَقَالُوا۟ مَجْنُونٌۭ وَٱزْدُجِرَ
The people of Noah denied before them, and they denied Our servant and said, "A madman," and he was repelled.
فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّى مَغْلُوبٌۭ فَٱنتَصِرْ
So he invoked his Lord, "Indeed, I am overpowered, so help."
فَفَتَحْنَآ أَبْوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٍۢ مُّنْهَمِرٍۢ
Then We opened the gates of the heaven with rain pouring down
وَفَجَّرْنَا ٱلْأَرْضَ عُيُونًۭا فَٱلْتَقَى ٱلْمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمْرٍۢ قَدْ قُدِرَ
And caused the earth to burst with springs, and the waters met for a matter already predestined.
وَحَمَلْنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلْوَٰحٍۢ وَدُسُرٍۢ
And We carried him on a [construction of] planks and nails,
تَجْرِى بِأَعْيُنِنَا جَزَآءًۭ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ
Sailing under Our observation as reward for he who had been denied.
وَلَقَد تَّرَكْنَٰهَآ ءَايَةًۭ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We left it as a sign, so is there any who will remember?
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ عَادٌۭ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
ʿAad denied; and how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًۭا صَرْصَرًۭا فِى يَوْمِ نَحْسٍۢ مُّسْتَمِرٍّۢ
Indeed, We sent upon them a screaming wind on a day of continuous misfortune,
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
Thamūd denied the warning.
أَءُلْقِىَ ٱلذِّكْرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنۢ بَيْنِنَا بَلْ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرٌۭ
Has the message been sent down upon him from among us? Rather, he is an insolent liar."
سَيَعْلَمُونَ غَدًۭا مَّنِ ٱلْكَذَّابُ ٱلْأَشِرُ
They will know tomorrow who is the insolent liar.
فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
And how [severe] were My punishment and warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ صَيْحَةًۭ وَٰحِدَةًۭ فَكَانُوا۟ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلْمُحْتَظِرِ
Indeed, We sent upon them one shriek [i.e., blast from the sky], and they became like the dry twig fragments of an [animal] pen.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
كَذَّبَتْ قَوْمُ لُوطٍۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
The people of Lot denied the warning.
إِنَّآ أَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٍۢ ۖ نَّجَّيْنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٍۢ
Indeed, We sent upon them a storm of stones, except the family of Lot - We saved them before dawn.
نِّعْمَةًۭ مِّنْ عِندِنَا ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى مَن شَكَرَ
As favor from Us. Thus do We reward he who is grateful.
وَلَقَدْ أَنذَرَهُم بَطْشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوْا۟ بِٱلنُّذُرِ
And he had already warned them of Our assault, but they disputed the warning.
وَلَقَدْ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيْفِهِۦ فَطَمَسْنَآ أَعْيُنَهُمْ فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
And they had demanded from him his guests, but We obliterated their eyes, [saying], "Taste My punishment and warning."
وَلَقَدْ صَبَّحَهُم بُكْرَةً عَذَابٌۭ مُّسْتَقِرٌّۭ
And there came upon them by morning an abiding punishment.
فَذُوقُوا۟ عَذَابِى وَنُذُرِ
So taste My punishment and warning.
وَلَقَدْ يَسَّرْنَا ٱلْقُرْءَانَ لِلذِّكْرِ فَهَلْ مِن مُّدَّكِرٍۢ
And We have certainly made the Qur’ān easy for remembrance, so is there any who will remember?
وَلَقَدْ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرْعَوْنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ
And there certainly came to the people of Pharaoh warning.
كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذْنَٰهُمْ أَخْذَ عَزِيزٍۢ مُّقْتَدِرٍ
They denied Our signs, all of them, so We seized them with a seizure of one Exalted in Might and Perfect in Ability.
أَكُفَّارُكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ مِّنْ أُو۟لَٰٓئِكُمْ أَمْ لَكُم بَرَآءَةٌۭ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ
Are your disbelievers better than those [former ones], or have you immunity in the scriptures?
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ نَحْنُ جَمِيعٌۭ مُّنتَصِرٌۭ
Or do they say, "We are an assembly supporting [each other]"?
بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوْعِدُهُمْ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدْهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ
But the Hour is their appointment [for due punishment], and the Hour is more disastrous and more bitter.
إِنَّا كُلَّ شَىْءٍ خَلَقْنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٍۢ
Indeed, all things We created with predestination.
وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌۭ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ
And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.
وَكُلُّ شَىْءٍۢ فَعَلُوهُ فِى ٱلزُّبُرِ
And everything they did is in written records.
وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٍۢ وَكَبِيرٍۢ مُّسْتَطَرٌ
And every small and great [thing] is inscribed.
إِنَّ ٱلْمُتَّقِينَ فِى جَنَّٰتٍۢ وَنَهَرٍۢ
Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and rivers,
About This Surah
Surah Al-Qamar warns that the Hour has drawn near and refers to a sign involving the moon. It recounts Noah, ‘Ad, Thamud, Lot and Pharaoh’s people through a repeated pattern: warning is rejected, consequence follows and the Quran is described as made accessible for remembrance. The repetition asks each audience whether it will learn.
The opening refers to the moon being split or a sign involving its splitting, and opponents dismiss it as ongoing magic. Hadith and tafsir sources are important for explaining how the passage has been understood. This page does not make modern astronomical claims or circulate fabricated scientific evidence.
The judgment scene is concise and vivid. People emerge from graves and move toward the caller. Unseen details should remain bounded.
Noah’s narrative describes prolonged rejection, a prayer for help, opened gates of water and the ark carried under divine care. The story of ‘Ad follows, with a furious wind and people compared to uprooted palm trunks.
Thamud reject warning delivered through one human messenger and face a test involving the she-camel. Lot’s people attempt wrongdoing toward guests and are struck before the morning consequence. Pharaoh’s people also reject signs.
After each major section comes the repeated question about punishment and warning, followed by the statement that the Quran has been made accessible for remembrance. Accessibility does not mean every interpretation is simple or that translation replaces scholarship; it emphasizes invitation to take heed.
The closing asks whether current rejecters are better than earlier people and affirms that every matter is recorded. The mindful are in gardens near a sovereign of perfect ability.
The opening moon sign should be presented as the Quranic claim and not marketed through fabricated photographs, unsupported scientific assertions, or modern conspiracy material.
Repeated accounts of Noah, Ad, Thamud, Lot, and Pharaoh emphasize warning and consequence.
Their refrain that the Quran has been made accessible for remembrance invites engagement, not a promise that every interpretive difficulty disappears or that recitation at a fixed count guarantees rescue.
Core Themes
- Signs can be dismissed without moral openness.
- Historical warning follows repeated patterns.
- Revelation is made accessible for remembrance.
- Community power does not prevent accountability.
- Events remain measured and recorded.
- The final outcome contrasts panic with secure nearness.
Structure
Verses 1-8: Moon sign and resurrection — 1-8
Verses 9-17: Noah — 9-17
Verses 18-22: ‘Ad — 18-22
Verses 23-32: Thamud — 23-32
Verses 33-40: Lot — 33-40
Verses 41-48: Pharaoh and final warning — 41-48
Verses 49-55: Measure, record and final security — 49-55
Reading Guide
Reading step 1
Use verified hadith/tafsir for the moon sign.
Reading step 2
Avoid fabricated science claims.
Reading step 3
Compare the repeated structure across communities.
Reading step 4
Do not apply punishment stories to modern disasters.
Key Passages
Moon sign and rejection — 1-5
The opening places the nearness of the Hour and the moon sign beside a reaction that dismisses signs as magic. The following references to information and wisdom show that the problem is not only whether a sign is seen, but how a settled inclination receives warning.
Resurrection — 6-8
The image of people emerging like spreading locusts moves from dispersed graves to a common summons. Their lowered eyes contrast with the earlier dismissal of warning. The scene makes the denied gathering immediate through movement and speech, without giving a date for its occurrence.
Noah and refrain — 9-17
Noah's rejected appeal is answered through rain, bursting springs and a vessel described by its materials. The narrative then turns into questions about remembering, punishment and warning. The repeated invitation concerning the Quran links attention to the story with the listener's present opportunity to respond.
‘Ad and refrain — 18-22
The wind and uprooted palm-trunk image make the fall of ‘Ad's confidence vivid in a compressed account. The same questions and invitation heard after Noah return. Repetition gives the differing event a shared purpose: remembrance before warning becomes an experienced outcome.
Thamud — 23-32
Thamud's rejection centers on the objection that one human among them should receive the message. The camel and the sharing of water then make the trial concrete. Calling the man who attacks the animal leads into judgment and the recurring invitation to remember.
Lot — 33-40
The account connects rejection of warning with the threat against Lot's guests, while distinguishing the household rescued before dawn. The repeated references to warning culminate again in the invitation to remember. Its particular judgment must not become a pretext for violence against people today.
Pharaoh and warning — 41-48
Pharaoh's brief example becomes a direct question to later opponents: what makes them think they possess immunity or an invincible group? The passage then looks beyond a group's defeat to the Hour. Numerical strength is exposed as an inadequate answer to warning and accountability.
Measure and final place — 49-55
Creation by measure and the ease of the divine command are followed by records containing small and great actions. The closing picture of the righteous near a powerful Sovereign contrasts with the prior downfall narratives. Comprehensive knowledge and judgment lead into an image of security and honor.
Recitation Note
No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah Al-Qamar. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, marriage, political success, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and carefully limited wording.
Interpretation Limits
- The moon passage must not be supported by invented external evidence.
- No end-time date can be calculated.
- Historical punishments do not authorize condemnation of current groups.
- “Made easy” does not make every legal/theological interpretation self-evident.
- Unseen resurrection imagery should not be sensationalized.
- The moon sign must not be supported with fabricated images or unsupported scientific claims.
- Punishment narratives do not authorize violence, collective blame, or disaster declarations against modern communities.
- Accessibility for remembrance does not eliminate linguistic, legal, or interpretive complexity.