Miracale of Our prophet Muhammad S.A.W
Shaqq-ul-Qamar(Splitting of Moon)
Al-Qamar, meaning "moon" in Arabic, is an important title for sura 54. The first verse is traditionally thought to refer to a miracle performed by the Prophet Muhammad in the Meccan phase of his career, in which he showed the moon split in two in response to a challenge from his opponents. The disbelieving response is then recorded in the second verse "But if they see a sign they turn away and say 'Continuous sorcery!'" A number of reports concerning this incident are contained in canonical hadith books, traced back to various Companions. According to those who downplay the miraculous, on the other hand, it foreshadows the inevitable Day of Judgment that will divide those who believe from those who disbelieve—those who are destined to Paradise and those who are destined to Hell. Because this Meccan sura’s primary theme centers around the fate of those who disbelieve, the symbolic use of the moon is meant to warn the disbelievers of their impending fate in the first verse, as “the hour draws near; the moon is split”.Additionally, the crescent moon acts as a vital symbol of Islam and thus, in this instance, may denote the importance of the emerging religion, as lunar cycles determine the structure of the Islamic calendar.
- The Quran and Islamic Tradition
- The Quran and Islamic Tradition
Verses 54:1-2 of the Qutan reads:
Early traditions and stories explain this verse as a miracle performed by Muhammad, following requests of some members of the Qurayash.Most early and medieval Muslim commentators accepted the authenticity of those traditions, which allude to the moon-splitting as a historical event.The following verse 54:2, "But if they see a Sign, they turn away, and say, 'This is (but) transient magic'" is taken in the support of this view.The classical commentator provides a list of the early traditions mentioning the incident: A tradition transmitted on the authority of Anas bin Malik states that Muhammad split the moon after the pagan Meccans asked for a miracle. Another tradition from Malik transmitted through other chains of narrations, mentions that the Mount Nur was visible between the two parts of the moon (Mount Nur is located in Hijaz. Muslims believe that Muhammad received his first revelations from God in a cave on this mountain, Cave Hira '). A tradition narrated on the authority of Jubayr ibn Mut'im with a single chain of transmission says that the two parts of the moon stood on two mountains. This tradition further states that the Meccan responded by saying "Muhammad has taken us by his magic... If he was able to take us by magic, he will not be able to do so with all people." Traditions transmitted on the authority of Ibn Abbas briefly mention the incident and do not provide much details.Traditions transmitted on the authority of Abdullah bin Masud describe the incident as follows:
The narrative was used by some later Muslims to convince others of the prophet hood of Muhammad.Annemarie Schimmel for example quotes the following from Muslim scholar Qadi lyad who worked in the 12th century:
- Shaqq-ul-Qamar and King Of Malabar (India)
The incident relating to King Chakrawati Farmas is documented in an old manuscript in the India Office Library, London. It is quoted in the book “Muhammad Rasulullah,” by M. Hamidullah:
“There is a very old tradition in Malabar, South-West Coast of India, that Chakrawati Farmas, one of their kings, had observed the splitting of the moon, the celebrated miracle of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) at Mecca, and learning on inquiry that there was a prediction of the coming of a Messenger of God from Arabia, he appointed his son as regent and set out to meet him. He embraced Islam at the hand of the Prophet, and when returning home, at the direction of the Prophet, died at the port of Zafar, Yemen, where the tomb of the “Indian king” was piously visited for many centuries.”The old manuscript in the 'India Office Library' contains several other details about King Chakrawati Farmas and his travel.
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