Seerah / Early Makkah
The splitting of the moon
- Date
- Makkan period · approximate
- Location
- Mina / Makkah
When the people of Makkah asked for a sign, the moon was split in two — narrated by Anas and Ibn Mas'ud (RA) in Sahih al-Bukhari, and referred to in Surat al-Qamar (54:1).
As it was narrated
The story, in the words of those who were there
Read slowly. These are the Companions' own words, from the verified hadith collections.
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ أَهْلَ، مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُرِيَهُمْ آيَةً، فَأَرَاهُمُ الْقَمَرَ شِقَّتَيْنِ، حَتَّى رَأَوْا حِرَاءً بَيْنَهُمَا.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:The people of Mecca asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hira' mountain
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدَانُ، عَنْ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ وَنَحْنُ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِنًى فَقَالَ " اشْهَدُوا ". وَذَهَبَتْ فِرْقَةٌ نَحْوَ الْجَبَلِ وَقَالَ أَبُو الضُّحَى عَنْ مَسْرُوقٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ انْشَقَّ بِمَكَّةَ. وَتَابَعَهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيح…
Narrated `Abdullah:The moon was split ( into two pieces ) while we were with the Prophet (ﷺ) in Mina. He said, "Be witnesses." Then a Piece of the moon went towards the mountain
What Allah revealed
ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ
The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two]
Lessons
- Signs alone do not guarantee faith; the heart must be willing.
Lessons are editorial reflections drawn from the event and its sources.
Pause for a moment
Which moment of your own life does this remind you of? Sit with it for a minute, then send salawat on the one who lived it ﷺ.
Send salawat ﷺBibliography
- Sahih al-Bukhari 3868–3869 · primary source
- Ibn Hisham, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (further reading)
- Ibn Kathir, al-Sirah al-Nabawiyyah (further reading)
- Safiur Rahman Mubarakpuri, Ar-Raheeq al-Makhtum (further reading)