Moon & Sun
The miraculous splitting of the moon and the delaying of the setting of the sun
In 2006 the BBC -British Broadcasting Company – transmitted news of scientific evidence revealed in reports received from NASA that astronauts saw signs of a crack going across the moon. This important discovery was recorded and reported by David Pidcock, President of the Muslim British Party.
The Qur’an narrates the miraculous event of the splitting of the moon saying,
“The Last Day came near, and the moon split apart.”
“And when they see a sign, they turn away and say, “Just a customary magic!”[1]
The first verse was revealed at the time of the miracle.
Sayyidina ibn Masood and others shed further light upon this miraculous event saying, “During the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ the moon was split into two. One part was seen above the mountain (Mount Hira) whilst the other was seen below and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called upon the people to witness. Sayyidina Masood Al Aswad confirmed, “I saw the mountain between the two halves of the moon…”[2]
This miraculous event occurred in Makkah when the Prophet ﷺ was walking with some of his Companions one night and were met by a party of unbelievers who issued the challenge. However, despite seeing it with their own eyes, the unbelievers declared, “The son of Abu Kabsha has bewitched you!” (Abu Kabsha was the husband of the Prophet’s ﷺ foster mother Sayyida Halima). Another declared, “If Muhammad ﷺ has bewitched the moon, then his magic will not have reached all places of the earth. Ask those who come from other cities whether or not they saw it.” When they were asked about the occurrence they too confirmed that they had witnessed its splitting.[3]
Abu Jahl, the arch-enemy of the Prophet ﷺ exclaimed, “This is magic, send word to the people living in remote areas and ask whether they saw it or not.” They too confirmed that they had seen the miraculous event, but the unbelievers remained in their arrogance saying, “This is but a continuation of magic.”[4]
This miraculous sign was clearly evident despite its objectors. It would not have been hidden from anyone although its news has not been reported by other nations of the earth. However, one must be aware that the moon rises and sets at different times according to the hemispheres of the earth, also clouds and mountains are another factor that could block its sighting. One is no doubt aware that eclipses can occur in one country but only a partial eclipse is viewed elsewhere, and as Allah tells us, “this is a command of the Almighty, the All Knower.[5]
Incident 2
Sayyida Asma, Umayshs daughter relates an incident that occurred during the encounter at Khybar. It was afternoon and the Prophet ﷺ was resting in Sayyidina Ali’s tent when he received a Revelation and had not prayed the Asr prayer. He asked Sayyidina Ali if he had prayed whereupon Sayyidina Ali told him that he had not done so. Upon hearing this he supplicated saying, “O Allah, if it is in Your obedience and the obedience of Your Messenger ﷺ return the sun from its setting to him!”, so that he might pray the afternoon prayer on time. Sayyida Asma said that she had seen the sun set and then saw it rise again, and that it stopped between the mountain and the earth.[6]
Saayidina Ahmad Salih’s son stressed the importance of this transmission saying, “Whosoever seeks the path of knowledge must not neglect the learning of this narration from Sayyida Asma, because it is among the signs of Prophethood.”[7]
Incident 3
The sun was prevented from setting upon another occasion. Sayyidina Ishaaq’s son tells us, that upon the return from the Night Journey, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ informed his people that a caravan in which there was a sign was approaching Makkah. When he was asked what day it would arrive, the Prophet ﷺ told his inquirer, “Wednesday”.
The days passed and when Wednesday came the Quraysh curiously looked for the caravan. The day was about to pass, and the caravan had not arrived, so the Prophet ﷺ supplicated to Allah asking Him to increase the day by an hour, and the sun was withheld from setting and the caravan arrived.[8]
[1] Surah No:54. Verse No:1-2
[2] Ibn Hanbal. Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P156.
[3] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P156.
[4] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P156.
[5] Surah No:36. Verse No:38
[6] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P157-8.
[7] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P158.
[8] Ash-Shifa, Part One, Chapter Four, Miracles of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam), section 12. P158.