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Surah Al-Qamar

القمر

Surah Al-Qamar is a Meccan surah of 55 verses that opens with the splitting of the moon and retells five stories of warning, each followed by the refrain that the Quran has been made easy to remember.

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Meaning
The Moon
Surah
54 of 114
Verses
55
Revealed in
Mecca
Found in
Juz 27

What Surah Al-Qamar is about

Surah Al-Qamar is the 54th surah of the Quran, a Meccan surah of 55 verses. Its name, "The Moon", comes from verse 1, which says the Hour has drawn near and the moon has split. Reports in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim describe the moon splitting in two in Mecca during the Prophet ﷺ's lifetime, as a sign the Quraysh had asked for. The surah notes that whenever they saw a sign they turned away and called it continuing magic (54:2).

After a short picture of people emerging from their graves like scattered locusts and rushing toward the caller (54:6-8), the surah tells five brief stories. Noah's people call him mad, and he prays that he has been overcome and asks for help; the sky's gates open, the earth bursts with springs, and he is carried on a vessel of planks and nails (54:9-15). Aad are struck by a furious wind that uproots them like palm trunks (54:18-21). Thamud reject their prophet and kill the she-camel sent as a test, and a single blast leaves them like dry stubble (54:23-31).

Lot's people reject the warnings, and stones rain down on them while Lot's family is saved before dawn (54:33-39). Pharaoh's people reject all of Allah's signs and are seized (54:41-42). Each story is punctuated by a question asking how Allah's punishment and warnings were, and by a refrain that appears four times: that Allah has made the Quran easy for remembrance, so is there anyone who will take heed (54:17, 22, 32 and 40).

The final verses ask the Meccans whether they are better than these nations or have some exemption in the scriptures (54:43), and foretell that their gathered forces will be defeated and turn their backs (54:45). The surah ends by stating that Allah created everything in due measure, that His command is a single word like the blink of an eye, that every deed, small or large, is recorded, and that the righteous will be among gardens and rivers in a seat of truth near a powerful King (54:49-55).

Main themes

  1. The moon has split

    The surah opens with the Hour drawing near and the moon splitting. Those who saw it called it magic and followed their own desires, even though clear warnings had reached them.

    Verses 1–8

  2. Noah and the flood

    Noah's people call him mad and drive him away, and he prays for help as one overpowered. Water pours from the sky and springs burst from the earth, and he is carried safely on a vessel that is left as a sign.

    Verses 9–17

  3. Aad and Thamud

    Aad are destroyed by a howling wind on a day of continuous misfortune. Thamud refuse to follow a human messenger from among them, kill the she-camel, and are destroyed by a single cry.

    Verses 18–32

  4. Lot's people and Pharaoh

    Lot warns his people, but they dispute the warnings and even seek to abuse his guests. Stones rain down on them while his family is rescued. Pharaoh's people reject every sign and are seized by the Almighty.

    Verses 33–42

  5. Made easy to remember

    Four times the surah repeats that the Quran has been made easy for remembrance and asks whether anyone will take heed. The refrain turns each story of destruction into an invitation.

    Verse 40

  6. Everything in measure

    The surah ends with Allah's precise measure in creation, His command carried out in an instant, a complete record of every act, and the righteous honored near a powerful King.

    Verses 49–55

Verses to know

ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ ﴿١﴾ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةٗ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ ﴿٢﴾

1The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. 2Yet whenever they see a miracle, they turn away, and say, “Continuous magic.”
Al-Qamar 54:1–2

These verses mention the splitting of the moon, an event described in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, and the Quraysh's dismissal of it as magic.

فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبࣱ فَٱنتَصِرۡ ﴿١٠﴾

So he appealed to his Lord, “I am overwhelmed, so help me.”
Al-Qamar 54:10

Noah's short prayer that he is overcome and needs help is often repeated by believers who feel overwhelmed.

وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ ﴿١٧﴾

We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn?
Al-Qamar 54:17

The first appearance of the refrain that the Quran has been made easy to remember, an encouragement for anyone learning or memorizing it.

إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٖ ﴿٤٩﴾

Everything We created is precisely measured.
Al-Qamar 54:49

A brief statement that Allah created everything in precise measure, often cited in discussions of divine decree (qadar).

When Surah Al-Qamar is recited

Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Al-Qamar together with Surah Qaf in the Eid prayers. Beyond that, the surah is especially loved by people memorizing the Quran because of its repeated reminder that the Quran has been made easy to remember.

Surah Al-Qamar in Arabic and English

All 55 verses, with the Arabic, a transliteration to help you read it aloud, and the English translation by Talal Itani.

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  1. 1

    ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ

    Iqtarabati alssaAAatu wainshaqqa alqamaru

    The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split.

  2. 2

    وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةٗ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ

    Wain yaraw ayatan yuAAridoo wayaqooloo sihrun mustamirrun

    Yet whenever they see a miracle, they turn away, and say, “Continuous magic.”

  3. 3

    وَكَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡۚ وَكُلُّ أَمۡرٖ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ

    Wakaththaboo waittabaAAoo ahwaahum wakullu amrin mustaqirrun

    They lied, and followed their opinions, but everything has its time.

  4. 4

    وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ

    Walaqad jaahum mina alanbai ma feehi muzdajarun

    And there came to them news containing a deterrent.

  5. 5

    حِكۡمَةُۢ بَٰلِغَةࣱۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ

    Hikmatun balighatun fama tughnee alnnuthuru

    Profound wisdom—but warnings are of no avail.

  6. 6

    فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡۘ يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَيۡءٖ نُّكُرٍ

    Fatawalla AAanhum yawma yadAAu alddaAAi ila shayin nukurin

    So turn away from them. On the Day when the Caller calls to something terrible.

  7. 7

    خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَٰرُهُمۡ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّهُمۡ جَرَادࣱ مُّنتَشِرࣱ

    KhushshaAAan absaruhum yakhrujoona mina alajdathi kaannahum jaradun muntashirun

    Their eyes humiliated, they will emerge from the graves, as if they were swarming locusts.

  8. 8

    مُّهۡطِعِينَ إِلَى ٱلدَّاعِۖ يَقُولُ ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ هَٰذَا يَوۡمٌ عَسِرࣱ

    MuhtiAAeena ila alddaAAi yaqoolu alkafiroona hatha yawmun AAasirun

    Scrambling towards the Caller, the disbelievers will say, “This is a difficult Day.”

  9. 9

    ۞كَذَّبَتۡ قَبۡلَهُمۡ قَوۡمُ نُوحٖ فَكَذَّبُواْ عَبۡدَنَا وَقَالُواْ مَجۡنُونࣱ وَٱزۡدُجِرَ

    Kaththabat qablahum qawmu noohin fakaththaboo AAabdana waqaloo majnoonun waizdujira

    Before them the people of Noah disbelieved. They rejected Our servant, and said, “Crazy,” and he was rebuked.

  10. 10

    فَدَعَا رَبَّهُۥٓ أَنِّي مَغۡلُوبࣱ فَٱنتَصِرۡ

    FadaAAa rabbahu annee maghloobun faintasir

    So he appealed to his Lord, “I am overwhelmed, so help me.”

  11. 11

    فَفَتَحۡنَآ أَبۡوَٰبَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ بِمَآءٖ مُّنۡهَمِرٖ

    Fafatahna abwaba alssamai bimain munhamirin

    So We opened the floodgates of heaven with water pouring down.

  12. 12

    وَفَجَّرۡنَا ٱلۡأَرۡضَ عُيُونٗا فَٱلۡتَقَى ٱلۡمَآءُ عَلَىٰٓ أَمۡرٖ قَدۡ قُدِرَ

    Wafajjarna alarda AAuyoonan failtaqa almao AAala amrin qad qudira

    And We made the earth burst with springs, and the waters met for a purpose already destined.

  13. 13

    وَحَمَلۡنَٰهُ عَلَىٰ ذَاتِ أَلۡوَٰحٖ وَدُسُرٖ

    Wahamalnahu AAala thati alwahin wadusurin

    And We carried him on a craft of planks and nails.

  14. 14

    تَجۡرِي بِأَعۡيُنِنَا جَزَآءٗ لِّمَن كَانَ كُفِرَ

    Tajree biaAAyunina jazaan liman kana kufira

    Sailing before Our eyes; a reward for him who was rejected.

  15. 15

    وَلَقَد تَّرَكۡنَٰهَآ ءَايَةٗ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad taraknaha ayatan fahal min muddakirin

    And We left it as a sign. Is there anyone who would take heed?

  16. 16

    فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri

    So how were My punishment and My warnings?

  17. 17

    وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad yassarna alqurana lilththikri fahal min muddakirin

    We made the Quran easy to learn. Is there anyone who would learn?

  18. 18

    كَذَّبَتۡ عَادࣱ فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Kaththabat AAadun fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri

    Aad denied the truth. So how were My punishment and My warnings?

  19. 19

    إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ رِيحٗا صَرۡصَرٗا فِي يَوۡمِ نَحۡسٖ مُّسۡتَمِرّٖ

    Inna arsalna AAalayhim reehan sarsaran fee yawmi nahsin mustamirrin

    We unleashed upon them a screaming wind, on a day of unrelenting misery.

  20. 20

    تَنزِعُ ٱلنَّاسَ كَأَنَّهُمۡ أَعۡجَازُ نَخۡلٖ مُّنقَعِرٖ

    TanziAAu alnnasa kaannahum aAAjazu nakhlin munqaAAirin

    Plucking the people away, as though they were trunks of uprooted palm-trees.

  21. 21

    فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri

    So how were My punishment and My warnings?

  22. 22

    وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad yassarna alqurana lilththikri fahal min muddakirin

    We made the Quran easy to remember. Is there anyone who would remember?

  23. 23

    كَذَّبَتۡ ثَمُودُ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    Kaththabat thamoodu bialnnuthuri

    Thamood rejected the warnings.

  24. 24

    فَقَالُوٓاْ أَبَشَرٗا مِّنَّا وَٰحِدٗا نَّتَّبِعُهُۥٓ إِنَّآ إِذٗا لَّفِي ضَلَٰلٖ وَسُعُرٍ

    Faqaloo abasharan minna wahidan nattabiAAuhu inna ithan lafee dalalin wasuAAurin

    They said, “Are we to follow one of us, a human being? We would then go astray, and end up in Hell.

  25. 25

    أَءُلۡقِيَ ٱلذِّكۡرُ عَلَيۡهِ مِنۢ بَيۡنِنَا بَلۡ هُوَ كَذَّابٌ أَشِرࣱ

    Aolqiya alththikru AAalayhi min baynina bal huwa kaththabun ashirun

    Was the message given to him, out of all of us? In fact, he is a wicked liar.”

  26. 26

    سَيَعۡلَمُونَ غَدٗا مَّنِ ٱلۡكَذَّابُ ٱلۡأَشِرُ

    SayaAAlamoona ghadan mani alkaththabu alashiru

    They will know tomorrow who the wicked liar is.

  27. 27

    إِنَّا مُرۡسِلُواْ ٱلنَّاقَةِ فِتۡنَةٗ لَّهُمۡ فَٱرۡتَقِبۡهُمۡ وَٱصۡطَبِرۡ

    Inna mursiloo alnnaqati fitnatan lahum fairtaqibhum waistabir

    We are sending the she-camel as a test for them; so watch them and be patient.

  28. 28

    وَنَبِّئۡهُمۡ أَنَّ ٱلۡمَآءَ قِسۡمَةُۢ بَيۡنَهُمۡۖ كُلُّ شِرۡبٖ مُّحۡتَضَرࣱ

    Wanabbihum anna almaa qismatun baynahum kullu shirbin muhtadarun

    And inform them that the water is to be shared between them; each share of drink made available.

  29. 29

    فَنَادَوۡاْ صَاحِبَهُمۡ فَتَعَاطَىٰ فَعَقَرَ

    Fanadaw sahibahum fataAAata faAAaqara

    But they called their friend, and he dared, and he slaughtered.

  30. 30

    فَكَيۡفَ كَانَ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Fakayfa kana AAathabee wanuthuri

    So how were My punishment and My warnings?

  31. 31

    إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ صَيۡحَةٗ وَٰحِدَةٗ فَكَانُواْ كَهَشِيمِ ٱلۡمُحۡتَظِرِ

    Inna arsalna AAalayhim sayhatan wahidatan fakanoo kahasheemi almuhtathiri

    We sent against them a single Scream, and they became like crushed hay.

  32. 32

    وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad yassarna alqurana lilththikri fahal min muddakirin

    We made the Quran easy to understand. Is there anyone who would understand?

  33. 33

    كَذَّبَتۡ قَوۡمُ لُوطِۭ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    Kaththabat qawmu lootin bialnnuthuri

    The people of Lot rejected the warnings.

  34. 34

    إِنَّآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ حَاصِبًا إِلَّآ ءَالَ لُوطٖۖ نَّجَّيۡنَٰهُم بِسَحَرٖ

    Inna arsalna AAalayhim hasiban illa ala lootin najjaynahum bisaharin

    We unleashed upon them a shower of stones, except for the family of Lot; We rescued them at dawn.

  35. 35

    نِّعۡمَةٗ مِّنۡ عِندِنَاۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي مَن شَكَرَ

    NiAAmatan min AAindina kathalika najzee man shakara

    A blessing from Us. Thus We reward the thankful.

  36. 36

    وَلَقَدۡ أَنذَرَهُم بَطۡشَتَنَا فَتَمَارَوۡاْ بِٱلنُّذُرِ

    Walaqad antharahum batshatana fatamaraw bialnnuthuri

    He had warned them of Our onslaught, but they dismissed the warnings.

  37. 37

    وَلَقَدۡ رَٰوَدُوهُ عَن ضَيۡفِهِۦ فَطَمَسۡنَآ أَعۡيُنَهُمۡ فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Walaqad rawadoohu AAan dayfihi fatamasna aAAyunahum fathooqoo AAathabee wanuthuri

    They even lusted for his guest, so We obliterated their eyes. “So taste My punishment and My warnings.”

  38. 38

    وَلَقَدۡ صَبَّحَهُم بُكۡرَةً عَذَابࣱ مُّسۡتَقِرࣱّ

    Walaqad sabbahahum bukratan AAathabun mustaqirrun

    Early morning brought upon them enduring punishment.

  39. 39

    فَذُوقُواْ عَذَابِي وَنُذُرِ

    Fathooqoo AAathabee wanuthuri

    “So taste My punishment and My warnings.”

  40. 40

    وَلَقَدۡ يَسَّرۡنَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ لِلذِّكۡرِ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad yassarna alqurana lilththikri fahal min muddakirin

    We made the Quran easy to memorize. Is there anyone who would memorize?

  41. 41

    وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَ ءَالَ فِرۡعَوۡنَ ٱلنُّذُرُ

    Walaqad jaa ala firAAawna alnnuthuru

    The warnings also came to the people of Pharaoh.

  42. 42

    كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا كُلِّهَا فَأَخَذۡنَٰهُمۡ أَخۡذَ عَزِيزٖ مُّقۡتَدِرٍ

    Kaththaboo biayatina kulliha faakhathnahum akhtha AAazeezin muqtadirin

    They rejected Our signs, all of them, so We seized them—the seizure of an Almighty Omnipotent.

  43. 43

    أَكُفَّارُكُمۡ خَيۡرࣱ مِّنۡ أُوْلَـٰٓئِكُمۡ أَمۡ لَكُم بَرَآءَةࣱ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ

    Akuffarukum khayrun min olaikum am lakum baraatun fee alzzuburi

    Are your unbelievers better than all those? Or do you have immunity in the scriptures?

  44. 44

    أَمۡ يَقُولُونَ نَحۡنُ جَمِيعࣱ مُّنتَصِرࣱ

    Am yaqooloona nahnu jameeAAun muntasirun

    Or do they say, “We are united, and we will be victorious”?

  45. 45

    سَيُهۡزَمُ ٱلۡجَمۡعُ وَيُوَلُّونَ ٱلدُّبُرَ

    Sayuhzamu aljamAAu wayuwalloona alddubura

    The multitude will be defeated, and they will turn their backs.

  46. 46

    بَلِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ مَوۡعِدُهُمۡ وَٱلسَّاعَةُ أَدۡهَىٰ وَأَمَرُّ

    Bali alssaAAatu mawAAiduhum waalssaAAatu adha waamarru

    The Hour is their appointed time—the Hour is more disastrous, and most bitter.

  47. 47

    إِنَّ ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ فِي ضَلَٰلٖ وَسُعُرٖ

    Inna almujrimeena fee dalalin wasuAAurin

    The wicked are in confusion and madness.

  48. 48

    يَوۡمَ يُسۡحَبُونَ فِي ٱلنَّارِ عَلَىٰ وُجُوهِهِمۡ ذُوقُواْ مَسَّ سَقَرَ

    Yawma yushaboona fee alnnari AAala wujoohihim thooqoo massa saqara

    The Day when they are dragged upon their faces into the Fire: “Taste the touch of Saqar.”

  49. 49

    إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيۡءٍ خَلَقۡنَٰهُ بِقَدَرٖ

    Inna kulla shayin khalaqnahu biqadarin

    Everything We created is precisely measured.

  50. 50

    وَمَآ أَمۡرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةࣱ كَلَمۡحِۭ بِٱلۡبَصَرِ

    Wama amruna illa wahidatun kalamhin bialbasari

    And Our command is but once, like the twinkling of an eye.

  51. 51

    وَلَقَدۡ أَهۡلَكۡنَآ أَشۡيَاعَكُمۡ فَهَلۡ مِن مُّدَّكِرٖ

    Walaqad ahlakna ashyaAAakum fahal min muddakirin

    We have destroyed your likes. Is there anyone who would ponder?

  52. 52

    وَكُلُّ شَيۡءٖ فَعَلُوهُ فِي ٱلزُّبُرِ

    Wakullu shayin faAAaloohu fee alzzuburi

    Everything they have done is in the Books.

  53. 53

    وَكُلُّ صَغِيرٖ وَكَبِيرٖ مُّسۡتَطَرٌ

    Wakullu sagheerin wakabeerin mustatarun

    Everything, small or large, is written down.

  54. 54

    إِنَّ ٱلۡمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّـٰتٖ وَنَهَرٖ

    Inna almuttaqeena fee jannatin wanaharin

    The righteous will be amidst gardens and rivers.

  55. 55

    فِي مَقۡعَدِ صِدۡقٍ عِندَ مَلِيكٖ مُّقۡتَدِرِۭ

    Fee maqAAadi sidqin AAinda maleekin muqtadirin

    In an assembly of virtue, in the presence of an Omnipotent King.

Surah Al-Qamar PDF

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Questions about Surah Al-Qamar

How many verses are in Surah Al-Qamar?

Surah Al-Qamar has 55 verses. It is the 54th surah of the Quran and was revealed in Mecca.

Which surah mentions the splitting of the moon?

Surah Al-Qamar, in its first verse (54:1). The event itself is described in narrations in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

How many times does 'We have made the Quran easy' repeat in Surah Qamar?

Four times, in verses 17, 22, 32 and 40. Each time it asks whether there is anyone who will take heed.

Which prophets are mentioned in Surah Al-Qamar?

Noah and Lot are named, and the surah also tells of the nations of Aad and Thamud and of Pharaoh's people, whose messengers were Hud, Salih and Moses.