The Moon Split in Two

I said to the Prophet ﷺ:

“O Messenger of Allah, will you not supplicate to Allah on our behalf?”

As soon as he heard my words, he sat upright. His blessed face became red.

Then he said:

“The people of the nations before you had to endure far greater suffering for the sake of their religion. Iron combs were passed over their bodies, tearing away their skin and separating it from their bones, yet even these hardships could not turn them away from their religion.

Saws were placed upon their heads and their bodies were split in two, yet even then they were not prepared to abandon their religion.

Allah Almighty will spread this religion of Islam in such a way that a rider traveling from Sana’a to Hadramaut will fear no one except Allah Almighty. He will even have no fear of wolves for his goats.”

Hazrat Khabbab bin al-Aratt رضي الله عنه says:

“Once a fire was kindled for me. Then the fire was placed against my back and was not removed until it was extinguished by the fat of my back.”

Among such people was also Hazrat ‘Ammar bin Yasir رضي الله عنه.

The polytheists subjected Hazrat ‘Ammar bin Yasir رضي الله عنه to various forms of persecution in an attempt to turn him away from his religion. They tortured him with fire again and again, but he remained steadfast upon his faith.

Allamah Ibn al-Jawzi رحمه الله writes:

“Once, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was passing by that way while Hazrat ‘Ammar رضي الله عنه was being subjected to suffering by being exposed to fire. Because of the burns on his back, white marks resembling leprosy had appeared upon it.

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ placed his blessed hand upon his head and said:

‘O fire, become cool and a means of safety, just as you became for Ibrahim عليه السلام.’

After this supplication, he no longer felt the pain of the fire.”

Hazrat Umm Hani رضي الله عنها says:

“Hazrat ‘Ammar bin Yasir, his father Yasir, his brother ‘Abdullah, and his mother Sumayyah رضي الله عنهم—all of them were subjected to the harshest forms of punishment because they believed in Allah and mentioned His name.

One day, while they were being tortured, the Noble Prophet ﷺ passed by that place.

Seeing their suffering, he said:

‘O Allah, forgive the family of Yasir.’”

His mother, Hazrat Sumayyah رضي الله عنها, was handed over to Abu Jahl by Hudhayfah bin al-Mughirah, the uncle of Abu Jahl.

She was his slave woman.

Abu Jahl attacked her with a spear, and she was martyred as a result.

In this way, she attained the distinction of being the first martyr in Islam.

Eventually, because of these persecutions, Hazrat ‘Ammar’s father, Yasir رضي الله عنه, was also martyred.

Along with these acts of persecution and their worst behavior, these people also continued to demand miracles from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

One day, Abu Jahl came to the Noble Prophet ﷺ along with the other leaders and said:

“O Muhammad! If you are truthful, then show us the moon split into two, in such a way that one part appears over Mount Abu Qubais and the other part appears over Mount Qu‘aiqi‘an.”

Their intention was that the two parts should be far enough apart so that there would be no doubt that the moon had actually been split into two.

It was the fourteenth night of the lunar month. The moon was full.

After hearing this strange demand, the Prophet ﷺ said:

“If I do this, will you believe?”

They all replied together:

“Yes! Certainly! We will believe.”

The Prophet ﷺ supplicated to Allah Almighty that this miracle should occur through him.

The moon immediately split into two.

One part appeared above Mount Abu Qubais, while the other appeared over Mount Qu‘aiqi‘an.

At that time, the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

“Now bear witness.”

But their hearts were sealed.

They said:

“Muhammad has cast magic upon our eyes.”

Some of them said:

“Muhammad has performed magic upon the moon, but the effect of his magic cannot reach all the people of the world.”

By this they meant that people in other places would not have seen the moon split into two.

They then said:

“We will ask people who come from other cities about this.”

Accordingly, when people from other cities entered Makkah, they asked them about the moon.

All those who came replied:

“Yes, yes! We also saw the moon split into two.”

As soon as they heard this, the polytheists exclaimed:

“Then this must simply be widespread magic; its effect has reached everyone.”

Some of them said:

“This is such powerful magic that even the magicians themselves have been affected by it.”

That is, even the magicians had seen the moon split into two.

Regarding this, Allah Almighty revealed the verses of Surah Al-Qamar.

Translation:

“The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split. Yet whenever they see a miracle, they turn away and say, ‘This is magic that will soon disappear.’”

The histories of different nations also establish that the splitting of the moon was not witnessed only in Makkah; it was also observed in other countries.

Similarly, one day the polytheists said:

“If you are truly a Prophet, then remove these mountains that are making our city confined, so that our settlements can expand.

And ask your Lord to cause rivers to flow for us like those in Syria and Iraq.

And bring our forefathers back to life before us.

Among those who are brought back to life, Qusayy bin Kilab must certainly be included, because he was a very wise and intelligent elder.

We will ask him whether what you say is true or false.

If these elders of ours confirm what you say, and if you fulfill these demands of ours, then we will acknowledge your prophethood and know that you have truly been sent by Allah Almighty.

Allah Almighty has sent you to us as a Messenger, just as you claim.”

After hearing these words, the Noble Prophet ﷺ said:

“I have not been sent to you as a Messenger for these matters. Rather, I have been sent for the purpose that you worship the One Allah.”