The Moon — Verse 5

wisdom hikmatun is the predicate of an omitted subject or a substitution for mā ‘such as’ or for muzdajar ‘deterrent’ that is far-reaching complete; but warnings nudhur is the plural of nadhīr functioning in the agent sense of mundhir ‘a warner’ that is to say ‘those matters which warn them’; mā is either for negation or it is an interrogative of denial in which case it stands as a preceding direct object are of no avail warnings are of no use with them.

هذا القرآن الذي جاءهم حكمة عظيمة بالغة غايتها، فأي شيء تغني النذر عن قوم أعرضوا وكذَّبوا بها؟

أي في هدايته تعالى لمن هداه وإضلاله لمن أضله "فما تغني النذر" يعني أي شيء تغني النذر عمن كتب الله عليه الشقاوة وختم على قلبه؟ فمن الذي يهديه من بعد الله؟ وهذه الآية كقوله تعالى "قل فالله الحجة البالغة فلو شاء لهداكم أجمعين" وكذا قوله تعالى" وما تغني الآيات والنذر عن قوم لا يؤمنون".

وقوله - تعالى - : ( حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ ) بدل من " ما " أو خبر لمبتدأ محذوف .والحكمة : العلم النافع الذى يترتب عليه تحرى الصواب فى القول والفعل .أى : هذا الذى جاءهم من أنباء الماضين ، ومن أخبار السابقين فيه ما فيه عن الحكم البليغة ، والعظات الواضحة التى لا خلل فيها ولا اضطراب .و " ما " فى قوله : ( فَمَا تُغْنِ النذر ) نافية ، والنذُر : جمع نذير بمعنى مُنذِر .أى : لقد جاء إلى هؤلاء المشركين من الأخبار ومن الحكم البليغة ما يزجرهم عن ارتكاب الشرور ، وما فيه إنذار لهم بسوء العاقبة إذا ما استمروا فى غيهم ، ولكن كل ذلك لا غناء فيه ، ولا نفع من ورائه لهؤلاء الجاحدين المعاندين الذين عمو وصموا . . .ويصح أن تكون " ما " هنا ، للاستفهام الإنكارى . أى : ما الذى تغنيه النذر بالنسبة لهؤلاء المصرين على الكفر؟ إنها لا تغنى شيئا ما داموا لم يفتحوا قلوبهم للحق :

وقوله ( حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ ) يعني بالحكمة البالغة: هذا القرآن, ورُفعت الحكمةُ ردّا على " ما " التي في قوله ( وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنَ الأنْبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ ) .وتأويل الكلام: ولقد جاءهم من الأنباء النبأ الذي فيه مزدَجَر, حكمة بالغة. ولو رُفعت الحكمة على الاستئناف كان جائزا, فيكون معنى الكلام حينئذ: ولقد جاءهم من الأنباء النبأ الذي فيه مزدجر, ذلك حكمة بالغة, أو هو حكمة بالغة فتكون الحكمة كالتفسير لها.وقوله ( فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ ) وفي " ما " التي في قوله ( فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ ) وجهان: أحدهما أن تكون بمعنى الجحد, فيكون إذا وجهت إلى ذلك معنى الكلام, فليست تغني عنهم النذر ولا ينتفعون بها, لإعراضهم عنها وتكذيبهم بها. والآخر: أن تكون بمعنى: أنى, فيكون معنى الكلام إذا وجهت إلى ذلك: فأي شيء تُغني عنهم النُّذر. والنُّذر: جمع نذير, كالجُدُد: جمع جديد, والحُصُر: جمع حَصير.

( حكمة بالغة ) يعني : القرآن حكمة تامة قد بلغت الغاية ( فما تغن النذر ) يجوز أن تكون " ما " نفيا على معنى : فليست تغني النذر ، ويجوز أن يكون استفهاما والمعنى : فأي شيء تغني النذر إذا خالفوهم وكذبوهم ؟ كقوله : " وما تغني الآيات والنذر عن قوم لا يؤمنون " ( يونس - 101 ) و " النذر " : جمع نذير .

حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ (5(و { حكمة بالغة } بدل من { مَا } ، أي جاءهم حكمةٌ بالغة .والحكمة : إتقان الفهم وإصابة العقل . والمراد هنا الكلام الذي تضمن الحكمة ويفيد سامعه حكمة ، فوصْفُ الكلام بالحكمة مجاز عقلي كثير الاستعمال ، وتقدم في سورة البقرة ( 269 ( ، { ومن يؤت الحكمة فقد أوتي خيراً كثيراً } والبالغة : الواصلة ، أي واصلة إلى المقصود مفيدة لصاحبها .وفرع عليه قوله : { فما تغن النذر } ، أي جاءهم ما فيه مزدجر فلم يُغن ذلك ، أي لم يحصل فيه الإقلاع عن ضلالهم .و { ما } تحتمل النفي ، أي لا تغني عنهم النذر بعد ذلك . وهذا تمهيد لقوله : { فتول عنهم } [ القمر : 6 ] ، فالمضارع للحال والاستقبال ، أي ما هي مغنية ، ويفيد بالفحوى أن تلك الأنباء لم تغن عنهم فيما مضى بطريق الأحرى ، لأنه إذا كان ما جاءهم من الأنباء لا يغني عنهم من الانزجار شيئاً في الحال والاستقبال فهو لم يغن عنهم فيما مضى إذ لو أغنى عنهم لارتفع اللوم عليهم .ويحتمل أن تكون { مَا } استفهامية للإِنكار ، أي ماذا تفيد النذر في أمثالهم المكابرين المصرين ، أي لا غناء لهم في تلك الأنباء ، ف { ما } على هذا في محل نصب على المفعول المطلق ل { تغن } ، وحذف ما أضيفت إليه { ما } . والتقدير : فأي غناء تغني النذر وهو المخبر بما يسوء ، فإن الأنباء تتضمن إرسال الرسل من الله منذرين لقومهم فما أغنوهم ولم ينتفعوا بهم ولأن الأنباء فيها الموعظة والتحذير من مثل صنيعهم فيكون المراد ب { النذر } آيات القرآن ، جعلت كل آية كالنذير : وجمعت على نُذُر ، ويجوز أن يكون جمع نذير بمعنى الإِنذار اسم مصدر ، وتقدم عند قوله تعالى : { هذا نذير من النذر الأولى } في آخر سورة النجم ( 56 ( .

{ حِكْمَةٌ } منه تعالى { بَالِغَةٌ } أي: لتقوم حجته على المخالفين ولا يبقى لأحد على الله حجة بعد الرسل، { فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ } كقوله تعالى: { وَلَوْ جَاءَتْهُمْ كُلُّ آيَةٍ لا يؤمنوا حَتَّى يَرَوُا الْعَذَابَ الْأَلِيمَ }

[ ص: 119 ] حكمة بالغة يعني القرآن وهو بدل من " ما " من قوله : ما فيه مزدجر ويجوز أن يكون خبر ابتداء محذوف ; أي هو حكمة .فما تغن النذر إذا كذبوا وخالفوا كما قال الله تعالى : وما تغني الآيات والنذر عن قوم لا يؤمنون ف " ما " نفي أي : ليست تغني عنهم النذر . ويجوز أن يكون استفهاما بمعنى التوبيخ ; أي : فأي شيء تغني النذر عنهم وهم معرضون عنها ، و " النذر " يجوز أن تكون بمعنى الإنذار ، ويجوز أن تكون جمع نذير .

God causes such events to take place in the present world as make the occurrence of Doomsday understandable in advance. An event of this type occurred in the days of the Prophet Muhammad a few years before the Hijrah, when people saw that the moon was ‘cleft in two.’ At that time, the Prophet told the people that just as the moon had broken into pieces, the world would also break into pieces and then a new world would be built. Undoubtedly, there is a lesson to be learned from such events. But this is possible only when a man applies his mind to it. Those who are slaves to their own desires, will look at such events and simply say, ‘This is magic’. They will interpret such events as they please and treat them as inapplicable to themselves. For such people even the most cogent reasoning is meaningless. They will come to their senses only when the blast of Doomsday bursts on them and deprives them of the opportunity to reform.

وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ‌ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ‌ (...while every matter has to be settled....54:3). The literal meaning of the word istiqrar is to settle. The verse means that everything must ultimately reach its end and the matter must become clear. If a veil is fabricated and cast over the truth or reality, eventually [ in its designated time ] the false veil will be removed and the truth and falsehood will be clearly distinguished.

(Effective) is the (wisdom) of the Qur'an; it is wisdom from Allah which they were conveyed on behalf of Allah; (but warnings) i.e. the messengers (avail not) the people who disbelieve in Allah as it is in His preeternal knowledge.

Which was revealed in Makkah The Hadith of Abu Waqid preceded, in which it is mentioned that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would recite Surah Qaf (chapter 53) and Iqtarabat As-Sa`ah (Al-Qamar, chapter 54), during (the `Id Prayers of) Al-Adha and Al-Fitr. The Prophet used to recite these two Surahs during major gatherings and occasions because they contain Allah's promises and warnings, and information about the origin of creation, Resurrection, Tawhid, the affirmation of prophethood, and so forth among the great objectives. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Hour draws near; the cleaving of the Moon Allah informs about the approach of the Last Hour and the imminent end and demise of the world, أَتَى أَمْرُ اللَّهِ فَلاَ تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ (The Event ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it.)(16:1), اقْتَرَبَ لِلنَّاسِ حِسَـبُهُمْ وَهُمْ فِى غَفْلَةٍ مُّعْرِضُونَ (Draws near for mankind their reckoning, while they turn away in heedlessness.)(21:1) Hadiths about the Last Hour There are several Hadiths with this meaning. Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bazzar recorded that Anas said that one day, when the sun was about to set, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ gave a speech to his Companions, saying, «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا بَقِيَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْهَا إِلَّا كَمَا بَقِيَ مِنْ يَوْمِكُمْ هذَا فِيمَا مَضَى مِنْه» (By He in Whose Hand is my soul! Not much of this world is left compared to what has already passed of it, except as much as what is left in this day of yours compared to what has already passed of it.) Anas said, "We could only see a small part of the setting sun at the time." Another Hadith that supports and explains the above Hadith is recorded by Imam Ahmad that `Abdullah bin `Umar said, "We were sitting with the Prophet while the sun was rising above Qu`ayqa`an, after `Asr. He said, «مَا أَعْمَارُكُمْ فِي أَعْمَارِ مَنْ مَضَى إِلَّا كَمَا بَقِيَ مِنَ النَّهَارِ فِيمَا مَضَى» (What remains of your time, compared to what has passed, is as long as what remains of this day compared to what has passed of it.)" Imam Ahmad recorded that Sahl bin Sa`d said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ هكَذَا» (I was sent like this with the Last Hour.) and he pointed with his middle and index finger. The Two Sahihs also recorded this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Wahb As-Suwa'i said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «بُعِثْتُ أَنَا وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهذِهِ مِنْ هذِهِ، إِنْ كَادَتْ لَتَسْبِقُنِي» (I was sent just before the Last Hour, like the distance between this and this; the latter almost overtook the former.) Al-A`mash joined between his index and middle fingers while narrating this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded that Al-Awza`i said that Isma`il bin `Ubaydullah said, "Anas bin Malik went to Al-Walid bin `Abdul-Malik who asked him about what he heard from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the Last Hour. Anas said, `I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «أَنْتُمْ وَالسَّاعَةُ كَهَاتَيْن» (You and the Last Hour are as close as these two (fingers).)"' Only Imam Ahmad collected this Hadith. There is proof to support these Hadiths in the Sahih listing, Al-Hashir (literally the Gatherer), among the names of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ ; he is the first to be gathered, and all people will be gathered thereafter (for the Day of Judgement). Allah's statement, وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ (and the moon has been cleft asunder.) It occurred during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, according to the authentic Mutawatir Hadiths the scholars agree that the moon was cleft asunder during the lifetime of the Prophet, and it was among the clear miracles that Allah gave him. Hadiths mentioning that the Moon was split The Narration of Anas bin Malik Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas bin Malik said, "The people of Makkah asked the Prophet for a miracle and the moon was split into two parts in Makkah. Allah said, اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ (The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder.)" Muslim also collected this Hadith. Al-Bukhari recorded that Anas bin Malik said, "The people of Makkah asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to produce a miracle, and he showed them the splitting of the moon into two parts, until they saw (the mount of) Hira' between them." This Hadith is recorded in the Two Sahihs with various chains of narration. The Narration of Jubayr bin Mut`im Imam Ahmad recorded that Jubayr bin Mut`im said, "The moon was split into two pieces during the time of Allah's Prophet ; a part of the moon was over one mountain and another part over another mountain. So they said, `Muhammad has taken us by his magic.' They then said, `If he was able to take us by magic, he will not be able to do so with all people."' Only Imam Ahmad recorded this Hadith with this chain of narration. Al-Bayhaqi used another chain of narration in a similar Hadith he collected in Ad-Dala'il. The Narration of `Abdullah bin `Abbas Al-Bukhari recorded that Ibn `Abbas said, "The moon was split during the time of the Prophet ." Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith. Ibn Jarir recorded that Ibn `Abbas commented on Allah's saying: اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ - وَإِن يَرَوْاْ ءَايَةً يُعْرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ (The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder. And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: "This is magic, Mustamir.") "This occurred before the Hijrah; the moon was split and they saw it in two parts." The Narration of `Abdullah bin `Umar Al-Hafiz Abu Bakr Al-Bayhaqi recorded that `Abdullah bin `Umar commented on Allah's statement: اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ (The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been cleft asunder.) "This occurred during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ; the moon was split in two parts. A part of it was before the mount and a part on the other side. The Prophet said, «اللْهُمَّ اشْهَد» (O Allah! Be witness.)" This is the narration that Muslim and At-Tirmidhi collected. At-Tirmidhi said, "Hasan Sahih." The Narration of `Abdullah bin Mas`ud Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Mas`ud said, "The moon was split in two parts during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ, and they saw its two parts. Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, «اشْهَدُوا» (Be witnesses.)" Al-Bukhari and Muslim collected this Hadith. Ibn Jarir recorded that `Abdullah (Ibn Mas`ud) said, "I saw the mountain between the two parts of the moon when it was split." Imam Ahmad recorded that `Abdullah said, "The moon was split during the time of Allah's Messenger ﷺ and I saw the mount between its two parts. The Stubbornness of the idolators Allah said, وَإِن يَرَوْاْ ءَايَةً (And if they see an Ayah), if they see proof, evidence and a sign, يُعْرِضُواْ (they turn away), they do not believe in it. Rather, they turn away from it, abandoning it behind their backs, وَيَقُولُواْ سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ (and say: "This is magic, Mustamir.") They say, `the sign that we saw was magic, which was cast on us.' Mustamir, means, `will soon go away', according to Mujahid, Qatadah and several others. The Quraysh said that the cleaving of the moon was false and will soon diminish and fade away, وَكَذَّبُواْ وَاتَّبَعُواْ أَهْوَآءَهُمْ (They denied and followed their own lusts.), they rejected the truth when it came to them, following the ignorance and foolishness that their lusts and desires called them to. Allah's statement, وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ (And every matter will be settled.) means, the good deeds will take their doers to all that is good and righteous, and similarly evil deeds will take their doers to all that is evil, according to Qatadah, while Ibn Jurayj said, "will settle according to its people." Mujahid commented on the meaning of, وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُّسْتَقِرٌّ (And every matter will be settled.) by saying, "On the Day of Resurrection." Allah's statement, وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْبَاءِ (And indeed there has come to them news); in this Qur'an, there has come to them the news of the earlier nations that disbelieved in their Messengers and the torment, punishment and affliction that befell them, مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ (wherein there is Muzdajar), wherein there are warnings and lessons to stop them from idolatry and persisting in denial, حِكْمَةٌ بَـلِغَةٌ (Perfect wisdom,) in that Allah guides whomever He wills and misguides whomever He wills, فَمَا تُغْنِـى النُّذُرُ (but warners benefit them not.) but the preaching of warnings does not benefit those upon whom Allah has written misery and sealed their hearts. Who can guide such people after Allah This Ayah is similar to Allah's statements, قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ الْحُجَّةُ الْبَـلِغَةُ فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَاكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ (Say: "With Allah is the perfect proof and argument; had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all.")(6:149) and, وَمَا تُغْنِى الآيَـتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لاَّ يُؤْمِنُونَ (But neither Ayat nor warners benefit those who believe not.)(10:101)