Ya Sin, Ya-Seen — Verse 39

Among the Signs of the Might and Power of Allah are the Night and Day, and the Sun and Moon يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا (He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly) (7:54). Allah says here: وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ (And a sign for them is the night. We withdraw therefrom the day,) meaning, `We take it away from it, so it goes away and the night comes.' Allah says: فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ (and behold, they are in darkness.) As it says in the Hadith: «إِذَا أَقْبَلَ اللَّيْلُ مِنْ ههُنَا، وَأَدْبَرَ النَّهَارُ مِنْ ههُنَا، وَغَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ، فَقَدْ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِم» (When the night comes from here, and the day departs from here, and the sun has set, then the fasting person should break his fast.) This is the apparent meaning of the Ayah. Allah's saying: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed). That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing) There are two views over the meaning of the phrase لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (on its fixed course for a term (appointed). ) (The first view) is that it refers to its fixed course of location, which is beneath the Throne, beyond the earth in that direction. Wherever it goes, it is beneath the Throne, it and all of creation, because the Throne is the roof of creation and it is not a sphere as many astronomers claim. Rather it is a dome supported by legs or pillars, carried by the angels, and it is above the universe, above the heads of people. When the sun is at its zenith at noon, it is in its closest position to Throne, and when it runs in its fourth orbit at the opposite point to its zenith, at midnight, it is in its furthest position from the Throne. At that point it prostrates and asks for permission to rise, as mentioned in the Hadiths. Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I was with the Prophet in the Masjid at sunset, and he said: : «يَا أَبَا ذَرَ، أَتَدْرِي أَيْنَ تَغْرُبُ الشَّمْسُ؟» (O Abu Dharr! Do you know where the sun sets) I said, `Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said: «فَإِنَّهَا تَذْهَبُ حَتْى تَسْجُدَ تَحْتَ الْعَرْشِ، فَذَلِكَ قَوْلُهُ تَعَالَى: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ » (It goes and prostrates beneath the Throne, and that is what Allah says: (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.))" It was also reported that Abu Dharr, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "I asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the Ayah: وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. ) He said: «مُسْتَقَرُّهَا تَحْتَ الْعَرْش» (Its fixed course is beneath the Throne.)" (The second view) is that this refers to when the sun's appointed time comes to an end, which will be on the Day of Resurrection, when its fixed course will be abolished, it will come to a halt and it will be rolled up. This world will come to an end, and that will be the end of its appointed time. This is the fixed course of its time. Qatadah said: لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا (on its fixed course for a term (appointed).) means, "It has an appointed time and it will not go beyond that." It was also said that this means, it keeps moving in its summer orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that, then it moves to its winter orbit for a certain time, and it does not exceed that. This was narrated from `Abdullah bin `Amr, may Allah be pleased with him. Ibn Mas`ud and Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them, recited this Ayah as: (وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لَامُسْتَقَرَّ لَهَا) (And the sun runs with no fixed course for a term,) meaning that it has no destination and it does not settle in one place, rather it keeps moving night and day, never slowing down or stopping, as in the Ayah: وَسَخَّر لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَآئِبَينَ (And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you) (14:33). which means, they will never slow down or stop, until the Day of Resurrection. ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ (That is the decree of the Almighty, ) means, which none can oppose or prevent. الْعَلِيمُ (the All-Knowing.) Who knows every movement and every cessation of movement, Who has decreed that and Who has set it in motion following a pattern in which there are no differences or inversions, as Allah says: فَالِقُ الإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ الَّيْلَ سَكَناً وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَاناً ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ ((He is the) Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for resting, and the sun and the moon for reckoning. Such is the measuring of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.) (6:96) And this is how this Ayah ends: ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.) Then Allah says: وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـهُ مَنَازِلَ (And the moon, We have decreed for it stages,) meaning, `We have caused it to run in a different orbit, from which passing of the months can be deduced, just as night and day are known from the sun.' This is like the Ayah: يَسْـَلُونَكَ عَنِ الأَهِلَّةِ قُلْ هِىَ مَوَاقِيتُ لِلنَّاسِ وَالْحَجِّ (They ask you about the crescent moons. Say: "These are signs to mark fixed periods of time for mankind and for the pilgrimage (Hajj). ") (2:189), هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ (It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the moon as a light and measured out for it stages that you might know the number of years and the reckoning) (10:5), and وَجَعَلْنَا الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ءَايَتَيْنِ فَمَحَوْنَآ ءَايَةَ الَّيْلِ وَجَعَلْنَآ ءَايَةَ النَّهَارِ مُبْصِرَةً لِتَبْتَغُواْ فَضْلاً مِّن رَّبِّكُمْ وَلِتَعْلَمُواْ عَدَدَ السِّنِينَ وَالْحِسَابَ وَكُلَّ شَىْءٍ فَصَّلْنَاهُ تَفْصِيلاً (And We have appointed the night and the day as two Ayat (signs). Then, We have obliterated the sign of the night while We have made the sign of the day illuminating, that you may seek bounty from your Lord, and that you may know the number of the years and the reckoning. And We have explained everything with full explanation.) (17:12) So, He has given the sun its own light, and the moon its (reflection of) light, and has given each its own orbit. So the sun rises each day and sets at the end of the day, giving one kind of light all the time, but it moves, rising and setting at different points in the summer and winter, thus making the days and nights longer or shorter alternatively according to the season. Its authority is in the daytime, for it is the heavenly body that dominates the day. As for the moon, Allah has decreed that it should pass through different phases. At the beginning of the month, the moon appears small when it rises. It gives off little light, then on the second night its light increases and it rises to a higher position, and the higher it rises the more light it gives -- even though it is reflected from the sun -- until it becomes full on the fourteenth night of the month. Then it starts to wane until the end of the month, until it appears like the old dried curved date stalk. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "This is the original stem (which connects the bunch of dates to the tree)." The Arabs have a name for each set of three nights in a month, according to the phases of the moon. They call the first three nights Ghurar; the next three nights Nufal; the next three nights Tusa` (nine) -- because the last of them is the ninth. The next three nights are called `Ushar (ten) -- because the first of them is the tenth. The next three nights are called Al-Bid (white) -- because of the light of the moon which shines brightly throughout these three nights. The next three nights are called Dura`, the plural of Dar`a', because on the first of them the night is dark from the moon rising late. Dar`a' refers to the black sheep, i.e., the one whose head is black; the next three nights Zulam; then Hanadis, then Da'adi; then Mihaq, because of the absence of moonlight at the beginning of the month. Abu `Ubayd did not recognize the names Tusa` and `Ushar, in the book Gharib Al-Musannaf. لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ (It is not for the sun to overtake the moon,) Mujahid said, "Each of them has a limit which it does not transgress or fall short of. When the time of one comes, the other goes away, and when the time for one to prevail comes, the time of the other ceases." `Ikrimah said concerning the Ayah, لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ (It is not for the sun to overtake the moon,) this means that each of them has its time when it prevails. So it is not appropriate for the sun to rise at night. وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ (nor does the night outstrip the day.) means, after night has passed, it is not right for another night to come until it has been day. The authority of the sun is during the day and the authority of the moon is at night. Ad-Dahhak said, "The night does not depart from here until the day comes from here -- and he pointed to the east." Mujahid said: وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ (nor does the night outstrip the day.) "They seek one another rapidly." The meaning is that there is no gap between night and day; each of them follows the other with no interval, because they have been subjugated and are both constantly pursuing one another. وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ (They all float, each in an orbit.) means, night and day, the sun and the moon, all of them are floating, i.e., revolving, in their orbits in the heaven. This was the view of Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Al-Hasan, Qatadah and `Ata' Al-Khurasani. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, and others among the Salaf said, "In an orbit like the arc of a spinning wheel."

And the moon — read wa’l-qamaru in the nominative or wa’l-qamara in the accusative; and it may be in the accusative because of a following verb that governs it We have determined it with respect to its course to run in phases — twenty eight phases in twenty eight nights of every month; it becomes concealed for two nights when the month has thirty days and for one night when it has twenty nine days — until it returns during its final phase seeming to the human eye like an aged palm-bough in other words like the stalk with a date cluster when it ages becoming delicate arched and yellowish.

And the moon, We have determined way stations for it, till it returns like the old palm branch. It has been said that the wisdom in the waxing and waning of the moon is that at the beginning of creation, the moon's light was in perfection. It gazed upon itself and self-admiration appeared in it. The Exalted Lord commanded Gabriel to strike the moon's face with his wing, and that took away the light. Ibn ʿAbbās said, “The lines you see on the face of the moon are the mark of Gabriel's wing.” He took away the light, but the imprint stayed in place. It is the imprint of the words of tawḤīd written on the moon's forehead: “There is no god but God; MuḤammad is God's messenger.” When the light was taken from the moon, it was prevented from serving at the Threshold. The moon asked for help from the angels so that they would intercede for it. They said, “Lord God, the moon has become accustomed to serving at the Exalted Threshold. Is there no way for You not to deprive it totally?” The Exalted Lord accepted their intercession and commanded it to prostrate itself once a month on the fourteenth night. Now every night when it comes up and the time of service comes closer, its light increases, until the fourteenth night, the time of prostration, and its light reaches perfection. Then when the fourteenth passes, every night its light diminishes because it is becom- ing farther from the carpet of service. It has also been said, “What is similar to the sun is a servant who is forever in the radiance of recognition. He is the possessor of stability, not undergoing variegation. The sun of his recogni- tion constantly shines from the mansions of his felicity. It is not taken by eclipse, nor curtained by clouds. “What is similar to the moon is a servant whose states are constantly undergoing transition. He is the possessor of variegation. He has an expansion that lifts him up to the boundary of union, and then he is pushed back into lassitude and falls into contraction in the limpidness of his state. Thus he diminishes and returns to deficiency in his affair, until his heart is lifted up from his pres- ent moment. Then the Real is munificent toward him and gives him the success to return from his lassitude, bringing him back from his intoxicatedness. His state continues becoming more limpid until he is near to union and he climbs up to the peak of perfection.” At that point he says with the tongue of his state, “In Your love I descended to a station whose descendedness bewilders the mind.”

And the moon, We have determined way stations for it, till it returns like the old palm branch. It has been said that the wisdom in the waxing and waning of the moon is that at the beginning of creation, the moon's light was in perfection. It gazed upon itself and self-admiration appeared in it. The Exalted Lord commanded Gabriel to strike the moon's face with his wing, and that took away the light. Ibn ʿAbbās said, “The lines you see on the face of the moon are the mark of Gabriel's wing.” He took away the light, but the imprint stayed in place. It is the imprint of the words of tawḤīd written on the moon's forehead: “There is no god but God; MuḤammad is God's messenger.” When the light was taken from the moon, it was prevented from serving at the Threshold. The moon asked for help from the angels so that they would intercede for it. They said, “Lord God, the moon has become accustomed to serving at the Exalted Threshold. Is there no way for You not to deprive it totally?” The Exalted Lord accepted their intercession and commanded it to prostrate itself once a month on the fourteenth night. Now every night when it comes up and the time of service comes closer, its light increases, until the fourteenth night, the time of prostration, and its light reaches perfection. Then when the fourteenth passes, every night its light diminishes because it is becom- ing farther from the carpet of service. It has also been said, “What is similar to the sun is a servant who is forever in the radiance of recognition. He is the possessor of stability, not undergoing variegation. The sun of his recogni- tion constantly shines from the mansions of his felicity. It is not taken by eclipse, nor curtained by clouds. “What is similar to the moon is a servant whose states are constantly undergoing transition. He is the possessor of variegation. He has an expansion that lifts him up to the boundary of union, and then he is pushed back into lassitude and falls into contraction in the limpidness of his state. Thus he diminishes and returns to deficiency in his affair, until his heart is lifted up from his pres- ent moment. Then the Real is munificent toward him and gives him the success to return from his lassitude, bringing him back from his intoxicatedness. His state continues becoming more limpid until he is near to union and he climbs up to the peak of perfection.” At that point he says with the tongue of his state, “In Your love I descended to a station whose descendedness bewilders the mind.”

And the moon, We have determined way stations for it, till it returns like the old palm branch. It has been said that the wisdom in the waxing and waning of the moon is that at the beginning of creation, the moon's light was in perfection. It gazed upon itself and self-admiration appeared in it. The Exalted Lord commanded Gabriel to strike the moon's face with his wing, and that took away the light. Ibn ʿAbbās said, “The lines you see on the face of the moon are the mark of Gabriel's wing.” He took away the light, but the imprint stayed in place. It is the imprint of the words of tawḤīd written on the moon's forehead: “There is no god but God; MuḤammad is God's messenger.” When the light was taken from the moon, it was prevented from serving at the Threshold. The moon asked for help from the angels so that they would intercede for it. They said, “Lord God, the moon has become accustomed to serving at the Exalted Threshold. Is there no way for You not to deprive it totally?” The Exalted Lord accepted their intercession and commanded it to prostrate itself once a month on the fourteenth night. Now every night when it comes up and the time of service comes closer, its light increases, until the fourteenth night, the time of prostration, and its light reaches perfection. Then when the fourteenth passes, every night its light diminishes because it is becom- ing farther from the carpet of service. It has also been said, “What is similar to the sun is a servant who is forever in the radiance of recognition. He is the possessor of stability, not undergoing variegation. The sun of his recogni- tion constantly shines from the mansions of his felicity. It is not taken by eclipse, nor curtained by clouds. “What is similar to the moon is a servant whose states are constantly undergoing transition. He is the possessor of variegation. He has an expansion that lifts him up to the boundary of union, and then he is pushed back into lassitude and falls into contraction in the limpidness of his state. Thus he diminishes and returns to deficiency in his affair, until his heart is lifted up from his pres- ent moment. Then the Real is munificent toward him and gives him the success to return from his lassitude, bringing him back from his intoxicatedness. His state continues becoming more limpid until he is near to union and he climbs up to the peak of perfection.” At that point he says with the tongue of his state, “In Your love I descended to a station whose descendedness bewilders the mind.”

And the moon, We have determined way stations for it, till it returns like the old palm branch. It has been said that the wisdom in the waxing and waning of the moon is that at the beginning of creation, the moon's light was in perfection. It gazed upon itself and self-admiration appeared in it. The Exalted Lord commanded Gabriel to strike the moon's face with his wing, and that took away the light. Ibn ʿAbbās said, “The lines you see on the face of the moon are the mark of Gabriel's wing.” He took away the light, but the imprint stayed in place. It is the imprint of the words of tawḤīd written on the moon's forehead: “There is no god but God; MuḤammad is God's messenger.” When the light was taken from the moon, it was prevented from serving at the Threshold. The moon asked for help from the angels so that they would intercede for it. They said, “Lord God, the moon has become accustomed to serving at the Exalted Threshold. Is there no way for You not to deprive it totally?” The Exalted Lord accepted their intercession and commanded it to prostrate itself once a month on the fourteenth night. Now every night when it comes up and the time of service comes closer, its light increases, until the fourteenth night, the time of prostration, and its light reaches perfection. Then when the fourteenth passes, every night its light diminishes because it is becom- ing farther from the carpet of service. It has also been said, “What is similar to the sun is a servant who is forever in the radiance of recognition. He is the possessor of stability, not undergoing variegation. The sun of his recogni- tion constantly shines from the mansions of his felicity. It is not taken by eclipse, nor curtained by clouds. “What is similar to the moon is a servant whose states are constantly undergoing transition. He is the possessor of variegation. He has an expansion that lifts him up to the boundary of union, and then he is pushed back into lassitude and falls into contraction in the limpidness of his state. Thus he diminishes and returns to deficiency in his affair, until his heart is lifted up from his pres- ent moment. Then the Real is munificent toward him and gives him the success to return from his lassitude, bringing him back from his intoxicatedness. His state continues becoming more limpid until he is near to union and he climbs up to the peak of perfection.” At that point he says with the tongue of his state, “In Your love I descended to a station whose descendedness bewilders the mind.”

And the moon, We have determined way stations for it, till it returns like the old palm branch.It has been said that the wisdom in the waxing and waning of the moon is that at the beginning of creation, the moon's light was in perfection. It gazed upon itself and self-admiration appeared in it. The Exalted Lord commanded Gabriel to strike the moon's face with his wing, and that took away the light. Ibn ʿAbbās said, �The lines you see on the face of the moon are the mark of Gabriel's wing.�He took away the light, but the imprint stayed in place. It is the imprint of the words of tawḤīd written on the moon's forehead: �There is no god but God; MuḤammad is God's messenger.�When the light was taken from the moon, it was prevented from serving at the Threshold. The moon asked for help from the angels so that they would intercede for it. They said, �Lord God, the moon has become accustomed to serving at the Exalted Threshold. Is there no way for You not to deprive it totally?�The Exalted Lord accepted their intercession and commanded it to prostrate itself once a month on the fourteenth night. Now every night when it comes up and the time of service comes closer, its light increases, until the fourteenth night, the time of prostration, and its light reaches perfection. Then when the fourteenth passes, every night its light diminishes because it is becom- ing farther from the carpet of service.It has also been said, �What is similar to the sun is a servant who is forever in the radiance of recognition. He is the possessor of stability, not undergoing variegation. The sun of his recogni- tion constantly shines from the mansions of his felicity. It is not taken by eclipse, nor curtained by clouds.�What is similar to the moon is a servant whose states are constantly undergoing transition. He is the possessor of variegation. He has an expansion that lifts him up to the boundary of union, and then he is pushed back into lassitude and falls into contraction in the limpidness of his state. Thus he diminishes and returns to deficiency in his affair, until his heart is lifted up from his pres- ent moment. Then the Real is munificent toward him and gives him the success to return from his lassitude, bringing him back from his intoxicatedness. His state continues becoming more limpid until he is near to union and he climbs up to the peak of perfection.� At that point he says with the tongue of his state,�In Your love I descended to a stationwhose descendedness bewilders the mind.�

والقمرَ آية في خلقه، قدَّرناه منازل كل ليلة، يبدأ هلالا ضئيلا حتى يكمل قمرًا مستديرًا، ثم يرجع ضئيلا مثل عِذْق النخلة المتقوس في الرقة والانحناء والصفرة؛ لقدمه ويُبْسه.

ثم قال جل وعلا "والقمر قدرناه منازل" أي جعلناه يسير سيرا آخر يستدل به على مضي الشهور كما أن الشمس يعرف بها الليل والنهار كما قال عز وجل "يسألونك عن الأهلة قل هي مواقيت للناس والحج". وقال تعالى: "هو الذي جعل الشمس ضياء والقمر نورا وقدره منازل لتعلموا عدد السنين والحساب" الآية وقال تبارك وتعالى: "وجعلنا الليل والنهار آيتين فمحونا آية الليل وجعلنا آية النهار مبصرة لتبتغوا فضلا من ربكم ولتعلموا عدد السنين والحساب وكل شيء فصلناه تفصيلا" فجعل الشمس لها ضوء يخصها والقمر له نور يخصه وفاوت بين سير هذه وهذا فالشمس تطلع كل يوم وتغرب في آخره على ضوء واحد ولكن تنتقل في مطالعها ومغاربها صيفا وشتاء يطول بسبب ذلك النهار ويقصر الليل ثم يطول الليل ويقصر النهار وجعل سلطانها بالنهار فهي كوكب نهاري وأما القمر فقدره منازل يطلع في أول ليلة من الشهر ضئيلا قليل النور ثم يزداد نورا في الليلة الثانية ويرتفع منزلة ثم كلما ارتفع ازداد ضياء وإن كان مقتبسا من الشمس حتى يتكامل نوره في الليلة الرابعة عشرة ثم يشرع في النقص إلى آخر الشهر حتى يصير كالعرجون القديم. قال ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما عنهما وهو أصل العذق. وقال مجاهد العرجون القديم أي العذق اليابس يعني ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أصل العنقود من الرطب إذا عتق ويبس وانحنى وكذا قال غيرهما ثم بعد هذا يبديه الله تعالى جديدا في أول الشهر الآخر والعرب تسمي كل ثلاث ليال من الشهر باسم باعتبار القمر فيسمون الثلاث الأول غرر واللواتي بعدها نقل واللواتي بعدها تسع لأن أخراهن التاسعة واللواتي بعدها عشر لأن أولاهن العاشرة واللواتي بعدها البيض لأن ضوء القمر فيهن إلى آخرهن واللواتي بعدهن درع جمع درعاء لأن أولهن أسود لتأخر القمر في أولهن منه ومنه الشاة الدرعاء وهي التي رأسها أسود وبعدهن ثلاث ظلم ثم ثلاث حنادس وثلاث دآدي وثلاث محاق لانمحاق القمر أو الشهر فيهن وكان أبو عبيدة رضي الله عنه ينكر التسع والعشر. كذا قال في كتاب غريب المصنف.

ثم ذكر - سبحانه - آية أخرى تتعلق بكمال قدرته فقال : ( والقمر قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ . . )ولفظ القمر قراه جمهور القراء بالنصب على أنه مفعول لفعل محذوف يفسره ما بعده .والمنازل جمع منزل . والمراد بها أماكن سيره فى كل ليلة ، وهى ثمان وعشرون منزلا ، تبدأ من أول ليلة فى الشهر ، إلى الليلة الثامنة والعشرين منه . ثم يستتر القمر ليلتين إن كان الشهر تاما . ويستتر ليلة واحدة إن كان الشهر تسعا وعشرين ليلة .أى : وقدرنا سير القمر فى منازل ، بأن ينزل فى كل ليلة فى منزل لا يتخطاه ولا يتقاصر عنه ، إذا كل شئ عندنا بمقدار . .وقرأ نافع وابن كثير وأبو عمرو ( والقمر ) بالرفع على الابتداء ، وخبره جملة " قدرناه " .قال الآلوسى ما ملخصه . قوله : ( والقمر قَدَّرْنَاهُ ) - بالنصب - أى : وصيرنا سيره ، أى : محله الذى يسيره فيه ( منازل ) فقدَّر بمعنى صيرَّ الناصب لمفعولين . والكلام على حذف مضاف ، والمضاف المحذوف مفعوله الأول ( منازل ) مفعوله الثانى .وقرأ الحرميان وأبو عمرو : ( والقمرُ ) بالرفع ، على الابتداء ، وجملة ( قدرناه ) خبره .والمنازل : جمع منزل ، والمراد به المسافة التى يقطعها القمر فى يوم وليلة .وقوله - سبحانه - : ( حتى عَادَ كالعرجون القديم ) تصوير بديع لحالة القمر وهو فى آخر منازله .والعرجون : هو قنو النخلة ما بين الشماريخ إلى منبته منها ، وهو الذى يحمل ثمار النخلة سواء أكانت تلك الثمار مستوية أم غير مستوية . وسمى عرجونا من الانعراج ، وهو الانعطاف والتقوس ، شبه به القمر فى دقته وتقوسه واصفراره .أى : وصيرنا سير القمر فى منازل لا يتعداها ولا يتقاصر عنها ، فإذا صار فى آخر منازله ، أصبح فى دقته وتقوسه كالعرجون القديم ، أى : العتيق اليابس .قال بعض العلماء : والذى يلاحظ القمر ليلة بعد ليلة . يدرك ظل التعبير القرآنى العجيب ( حتى عَادَ كالعرجون القديم ) وبخاصة ظل ذلك اللفظ ( القديم ) . فالمقر فى لياليه الأولى هلال . وفى لياليه الأخيرة هلال . ولكنه فى لياليه الأولى يبدو وكأن فيه نضارة وقوة . وفى لياليه الأخيرة يطلع وكأنما يغشاه سهوم ووجوم ، ويكون فيه شحوب وذبول . ذبول العرجون القديم ، فليست مصادفة أن يعبر القرآن عنه هذا التعبير الموحى العجيب .

القول في تأويل قوله تعالى : وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ (39)اختلفت القراء في قراءة قوله ( وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ ) فقرأه بعض المكيين وبعض المدنيين وبعض البصريين: (وَالقَمَرُ) رفعا عطفًا بها على الشمس، إذ كانت الشمس معطوفة على الليل، فأتبعوا القمر أيضًا الشمس في الإعراب، لأنه أيضًا من الآيات، كما الليل والنهار آيتان، فعلى هذه القراءة تأويل الكلام: وآية لهم القمرُ قدّرناه منازل. وقرأ ذلك بعض المكيين وبعض المدنيين وبعض البصريين، وعامة قرّاء الكوفة نصبا( وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ ) بمعنى: وقدّرنا القمر منازل، كما فعلنا ذلك بالشمس، فردّوه على الهاء من الشمس في المعنى، لأن الواو التي فيها للفعل المتأخر.والصواب من القول في ذلك عندنا أنهما قراءتان مشهورتان صحيحتا المعنى، فبأيتهما قرأ القارئ فمصيب، فتأويل الكلام: وآية لهم، تقديرنا القمر منازل للنقصان بعد تناهيه وتمامه واستوائه، حتى عاد كالعرجون القديم ؛ والعرجون: من العذق من الموضع النابت في النخلة إلى موضع الشماريخ ؛ وإنما شبهه جل ثناوه بالعرجون القديم، والقديم هو اليابس، لأن ذلك من العِذْق، لا يكاد يوجد إلا متقوّسًا منحنيًا إذا قدم ويبس، ولا يكاد أن يُصاب مستويًا معتدلا كأغصان سائر الأشجار وفروعها، فكذلك القمرُ إذا كان في آخر الشهر قبل استسراره، صار في انحنائه وتقوّسه نظير ذلك العرجون.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني عليّ، قال: ثنا أبو صالح، قال: ثني معاوية، عن عليّ، عن ابن عباس، قوله ( حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) يقول: أصل العِذق العتيق .حدثني محمد بن سعد، قال: ثني أبي، قال: ثني عمي، قال: ثني أبي، عن أبيه، عن ابن عباس، قوله ( حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) يعني بالعُرجون: العذقَ اليابس .حدثني يعقوب بن إبراهيم، قال: ثنا ابن عُلَية، عن أبي رجاء، عن الحسن، في قوله ( وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: كعِذْق النخلة إذا قدُم فانحنى .حدثني أحمد بن إبراهيم الدورقيّ، قال: ثنا أبو يزيد الخرّاز، يعني خالد بن حيان الرقيِّ، عن جعفر بن برقان، عن يزيد بن الأصمّ في قوله ( حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: عذق النخلة إذا قدُم انحنى .حدثنا ابن حميد، قال: ثنا يحيى بن واضح، قال: ثنا عيسى بن عبيد، عن عكرمة، في قوله ( كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: النخلة القديمة .حدثني محمد بن عمارة الأسدي، قال: ثنا عبيد الله بن موسى، قال: أخبرنا إسرائيل، عن أبي يحيى عن مجاهد ( كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: العِذْق اليابس .حدثني محمد بن عمر بن عليّ المقدمي وابن سنان القزّاز، قالا ثنا أبو عاصم والمقدمي، قال: سمعت أبا عاصم يقول: سمعت سليمان التيمي في قوله ( حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: العذْق .حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة ( حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ ) قال: قدّره الله منازل، فجعل ينقص حتى كان مثل عذق النخلة، شبهه بعذق النخلة .

( والقمر قدرناه منازل ) أي : قدرنا له منازل ، قرأ ابن كثير ونافع ، وأهل البصرة : " القمر " برفع الراء لقوله : " وآية لهم الليل نسلخ منه النهار " وقرأ الآخرون بالنصب لقوله : " قدرناه " أي : قدرنا القمر ) ( منازل ) وقد ذكرنا أسامي المنازل في سورة يونس فإذا صار القمر إلى آخر المنازل دق فذلك قوله : ( حتى عاد كالعرجون القديم ) والعرجون : [ عود العذق ] الذي عليه الشماريخ ، فإذا قدم وعتق يبس وتقوس واصفر فشبه القمر في دقته وصفرته في آخر المنازل به .

وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ (39)قرأ نافع وابن كثير وأبو عمرو وروححِ عن يعقوب برفع { والقَمَرُ } فهو إما معطوف على { والشمس تجري } [ يس : 38 ] عطفَ المفردات ، وإما مبتدأ والعطف من عطف الجمل .وجملة { قَدَّرْناهُ } إما حال وإما خبر . وقرأه ابن عامر وعاصم وحمزة والكسائي وأبو جعفر ورويس عن يعقوب وخلَفٌ بنصب { القمرَ } على الاشتغال فهو إذن من عطف الجمل .وتقدّم تفسير منازل القمر عند قوله تعالى : { وقدره منازل لتعلموا عدد السنين والحساب } في سورة يونس } ( 5 ) .والتقدير : يطلق على جعل الأشياء بقدْر ونظام محكم ، ويطلق على تحديد المقدار من شيء تطلب معرفة مقداره مثل تقدير الأوقات وتقدير الكميات من الموزونات والمعدودات ، وكلا الإِطلاقين مراد هنا . فإن الله قدّر للشمس والقمر نظامَ سيرهما وقدّر بذلك حساب الفصول السنوية والأشهر والأيام والليالي .وعُدّي فعل { قَدَّرْناهُ } إلى ضمير { القمر } الذي هو عبارة عن ذاته وإنما التقدير لسيره ولكن عدي التقدير إلى اسم ذاته دون ذكر المضاف مبالغة في لزوم السَّير له من وقت خَلقه حتى كأنَّ تقدير سيره تقدير لذاته .وانتصب { مَنَازِلَ } على الظرفية المكانية مثل : سرت أميالاً ، أي قدرنا سيره في منازل ينتقل بسيره فيها منزلة بعد أخرى .و { حتى } ابتدائية ، أي ليست حرف جر فإن ما بعدها جملة . ومعنى الغاية لا يفارق { حتى } فآذن ما فيها من معنى الغاية بمغيّا محذوف فالغاية تستلزم ابتداء شيء . والتقدير : فابتدأ ضوؤه وأخذ في الازدياد ليلة قليلة ثم أخذ في التناقص حتى عاد ، أي صار كالعرجون القديم ، أي شبيهاً به . وعبر عنه بهذا التشبيه إذ ليس لضوء القمر في أواخر لياليه اسم يعرف به بخلاف أول أجزاء ضوئه المسمّى هلالاً ، ولأن هذا التشبيه يماثل حالة استهلاله كما يماثل حالة انتهائه .و { عَادَ } بمعنى صار شكله للرائي كالعرجون . والعرجون : العود الذي تخرجه النخلة فيكون الثمر في منتهاه وهو الذي يبقى متصلاً بالنخلة بعد قطع الكَبَاسَة منه وهي مجتمع أعواد التمر .و { القديم } : هو البالي لأنه إذا انقطع الثمر تَقوس واصفَارّ وتضاءل فأشبه صورة ما يواجه الأرض من ضوء القمر في آخر ليالي الشهر وفي أول ليلة منه ، وتركيب { عَادَ كالعُرجُوننِ القَدِيمِ } صالح لصورة القمر في الليلة الأخيرة وهي التي يعقبها المحاق ولصورته في الليلة الأولى من الشهر هو الهلال . وقد بُسط لهم بيان سير القمر ومنازله لأنهم كانوا يتقنون علمه بخلاف سير الشمس .

قوله تعالى : والقمر قدرناه منازل حتى عاد كالعرجون القديم .فيه ثلاث مسائل : والقمر يكون تقديره : وآية لهم القمر . ويجوز أن يكون " والقمر " مرفوعا بالابتداء . وقرأ الكوفيون " والقمر " بالنصب على إضمار فعل ، وهو اختيار أبي عبيد . قال : لأن قبله فعلا وبعده فعلا ، قبله " نسلخ " وبعده " قدرناه " . النحاس : وأهل العربية جميعا فيما علمت على خلاف ما قال : منهم الفراء قال : الرفع أعجب إلي ، وإنما كان الرفع عندهم أولى ; لأنه معطوف على ما قبله ومعناه : وآية لهم القمر . وقوله : إن قبله " نسلخ " فقبله ما هو أقرب منه وهو " تجري " وقبله " والشمس " بالرفع . والذي ذكره بعده وهو " قدرناه " قد عمل في الهاء . قال أبو حاتم : الرفع أولى ، لأنك شغلت الفعل عنه بالضمير فرفعته بالابتداء . ويقال : القمر ليس هو المنازل ، فكيف قال : " قدرناه منازل " ففي هذا جوابان : أحدهما قدرناه إذا منازل ، مثل : واسأل القرية . والتقدير الآخر : قدرنا له منازل ، ثم حذفت اللام ، وكان حذفها حسنا لتعدي الفعل إلى مفعولين ، مثل واختار موسى قومه سبعين رجلا . والمنازل ثمانية وعشرون منزلا ، ينزل القمر كل ليلة منها بمنزل ، وهي : الشرطان ، البطين ، الثريا ، الدبران ، الهقعة ، الهنعة ، الذراع . النثرة ، الطرف ، الجبهة ، الخراتان ، الصرفة ، العواء ، السماك ، الغفر ، الزبانيان ، الإكليل ، القلب ، الشولة ، النعائم ، البلدة ، سعد الذابح ، سعد بلع ، سعد السعود ، سعد الأخبية ، الفرغ المقدم ، الفرغ المؤجر ، بطن الحوت . فإذا صار القمر في آخرها عاد إلى أولها ، فيقطع الفلك في ثمان وعشرين ليلة ، ثم يستسر ثم يطلع هلالا ، فيعود في قطع الفلك على المنازل ، وهي منقسمة على البروج ، لكل برج منزلان وثلث . فللحمل الشرطان والبطين وثلث الثريا ، وللثور ثلثا الثريا والدبران وثلثا الهقعة ، ثم كذلك إلى سائرها .وقد مضى في [ الحجر ] تسمية البروج والحمد لله . وقيل : إن الله تعالى خلق الشمس والقمر من نار ثم كسيا النور عند الطلوع ، فأما نور الشمس فمن نور العرش ، وأما نور القمر فمن نور الكرسي ، فذلك أصل الخلقة وهذه الكسوة . فأما الشمس فتركت كسوتها على حالها لتشعشع وتشرق ، وأما القمر فأمر الروح الأمين جناحه على وجهه فمحا ضوءه بسلطان الجناح ، وذلك أنه روح ، والروح سلطانه غالب على الأشياء . فبقي ذلك [ ص: 30 ] المحو على ما يراه الخلق ، ثم جعل في غلاف من ماء ، ثم جعل له مجرى ، فكل ليلة يبدو للخلق من ذلك الغلاف قمرا بمقدار ما يقمر لهم حتى ينتهي بدؤه ، ويراه الخلق بكماله واستدارته ، ثم لا يزال يعود إلى الغلاف كل ليلة شيء منه فينقص من الرؤية والإقمار بمقدار ما زاد في البدء ، ويبتدئ في النقصان من الناحية التي لا تراه الشمس ، وهي ناحية الغروب حتى يعود كالعرجون القديم ، وهو العذق المتقوس ليبسه ودقته . وإنما قيل القمر ; لأنه يقمر أي : يبيض الجو ببياضه إلى أن يستسر .الثانية : حتى عاد كالعرجون القديم قال الزجاج : هو عود العذق الذي عليه الشماريخ ، وهو فعلون من الانعراج وهو الانعطاف ، أي : سار في منازله ، فإذا كان في آخرها دق واستقوس وضاق حتى صار كالعرجون . وعلى هذا فالنون زائدة . وقال قتادة : هو العذق اليابس المنحني من النخلة . ثعلب : " كالعرجون القديم " قال : العرجون الذي يبقى من الكباسة في النخلة إذا قطعت ، و " القديم " البالي . الخليل : في باب الرباعي : العرجون أصل العذق ، وهو أصفر عريض ، يشبه به الهلال إذا انحنى . الجوهري : العرجون أصل العذق الذي يعوج وتقطع منه الشماريخ فيبقى على النخل يابسا ، وعرجنه : ضربه بالعرجون . فالنون على قول هؤلاء أصلية ، ومنه شعر أعشى بني قيس :شرق المسك والعبير بها فهي صفراء كعرجون القمرفالعرجون إذا عتق ويبس وتقوس شبه القمر في دقته وصفرته به . ويقال له أيضا : الإهان والكباسة والقنو ، وأهل مصر يسمونه : الإسباطة . وقرئ : " العرجون " بوزن الفرجون ، وهما لغتان كالبزيون والبزيون ، ذكره الزمخشري وقال : هو عود العذق ما بين شماريخه إلى منبته من النخلة . واعلم أن السنة منقسمة على أربعة فصول ، لكل فصل سبعة منازل : فأولها الربيع ، وأوله خمسة عشر يوما من آذار ، وعدد أيامه اثنان وتسعون يوما ، تقطع فيه الشمس ثلاثة بروج : الحمل ، والثور ، والجوزاء ، وسبعة منازل : الشرطان ، والبطين ، والثريا ، والدبران ، والهقعة ، والهنعة ، والذراع . ثم يدخل فصل الصيف في خمسة عشر يوما من حزيران ، وعدد أيامه اثنان وتسعون يوما ، تقطع الشمس فيه ثلاثة بروج : الشرطان ، والأسد ، والسنبلة ، وسبعة منازل : وهي النثرة ، والطرف ، والجبهة ، والخراتان ، والصرفة ، والعواء ، والسماك . ثم يدخل فصل الخريف في خمسة عشر يوما من أيلول ، وعدد أيامه أحد وتسعون يوما ، تقطع فيه الشمس ثلاثة بروج ، وهي الميزان ، والعقرب ، والقوس ، وسبعة منازل : الغفر ، والزبانان ، والإكليل ، [ ص: 31 ] والقلب ، والشولة ، والنعائم ، والبلدة . ثم يدخل فصل الشتاء في خمسة عشر يوما من كانون الأول ، وعدد أيامه تسعون يوما ، وربما كان أحدا وتسعين يوما ، تقطع فيه الشمس ثلاثة بروج : وهي الجدي والدلو والحوت ، وسبعة منازل : سعد الذابح وسعد بلع وسعد السعود وسعد الأخبية والفرغ المقدم ، والفرغ المؤخر وبطن الحوت . وهذه قسمة السريانيين لشهورها : تشرين الأول ، تشرين الثاني ، كانون الأول ، كانون الثاني ، أشباط ، آذار ، نيسان ، أيار ، حزيران ، تموز ، آب ، أيلول ، وكلها أحد وثلاثون إلا تشرين الثاني ونيسان وحزيران وأيلول ، فهي ثلاثون ، وأشباط ثمانية وعشرون يوما وربع يوم . وإنما أردنا بهذا أن تنظر في قدرة الله تعالى : فذلك قوله تعالى : والقمر قدرناه منازل فإذا كانت الشمس في منزل أهل الهلال بالمنزل الذي بعده ، وكان الفجر بمنزلتين من قبله . فإذا كانت الشمس بالثريا في خمسة وعشرين يوما من نيسان ، كان الفجر بالشرطين ، وأهل الهلال بالدبران ، ثم يكون له في كل ليلة منزلة حتى يقطع في ثمان وعشرين ليلة ثمانيا وعشرين منزلة . وقد قطعت الشمس منزلتين فيقطعهما ، ثم يطلع في المنزلة التي بعد منزلة الشمس ف ذلك تقدير العزيز العليم . الثالثة : قوله تعالى : القديم قال الزمخشري : القديم المحول ، وإذا قدم دق وانحنى واصفر ، فشبه القمر به من ثلاثة أوجه . وقيل : أقل عدة الموصوف بالقديم الحول ، فلو أن رجلا قال : كل مملوك لي قديم فهو حر ، أو كتب ذلك في وصيته عتق من مضى له حول أو أكثر .قلت : قد مضى في [ البقرة ] ما يترتب على الأهلة من الأحكام والحمد لله .

The earth, the moon and the sun have their fixed orbits, in which they move with the utmost precision, and due to which different celestial phenomena take place: for instance, the occurrence of day and night on the earth and the waxing and waning of the moon, serve as a heavenly calendar. This system has been in existence for millions of years now, and there is still no deviation of any kind in it. This observation is purely an introduction to the fathomless and unlimited powers of God. If man learns lessons from these phenomena, the majesty of the One God will prevail over his mind to such an extent that all other impressions of greatness will be automatically erased from it.

The text now turns to: وَالْقَمَرَ‌ قَدَّرْ‌نَاهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْ‌جُونِ الْقَدِيمِ (And for the moon, We have appointed measured phases, until it turned [ pale, curved and fine ] like an old branch of date-palm.- 36:39). The dried bough of a date tree that gets bent like a bow is called: عُرْ‌جُونِ (` urjun). The stages of the moon The word: مَنَازِلَ (manazil) is the plural of: مَنزِل (manzil) and denotes the place one arrives at. Allah Ta` la has bound the movement of the sun and the moon both with particular points, each of which is known as a Manzil or stage. Since the moon completes its orbit in one month, therefore, it has thirty or twenty-nine stages. But, as the moon disappears at least for a day during every month, therefore, its stages are generally taken to be twenty-eight. Astronomers have given these stages particular names in congruence with the stars that are found in the frontal proximity of these stages. Even during the days of Arabs of Jahiliyyah, stages were determined by these very names. The Holy Qur'an is far above these technical names. What it means to communicate are only the distances the moon traverses during particular days. Relevant details have appeared in the commentary on Surah Yunus. It can be seen in Ma’ ariful-Qur'an, English, Volume IV, pages: 515-520. In this verse of Surah Yunus 10:5, the stages of the sun and the moon both have been mentioned: جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَالْقَمَرَ‌ نُورً‌ا وَقَدَّرَ‌هُ مَنَازِلَ "[ He is the One who ] has made the sun a glow and the moon a light, and determined for it the stages - 10:5". The only difference is that the stages of the moon are identified through observation, while the stages of the sun are calculated mathematically. By saying: حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْ‌جُونِ الْقَدِيمِ - (until it turned [ pale, curved and fine ] like an old branch of date-palm.- 36:39), described there is the state of the moon towards the end of the month when it recedes from the stage of the full moon to the extent that it transforms into the shape of a dried old bough bent like a bow. It is in consonance with the Arab surrounding that it has been likened to a dried bough of the date tree that assumes the shape of a crescent.

(And for the moon We have appointed mansions) like the mansions of the sun: it increases and decreases (till she return like an old shrivelled palm leaf.