﴿ بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱقْتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلْقَمَرُ ﴾

“THE LAST HOUR draws near, and the moon is split asunder!”

(The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain) [54:1]. Abu Hakim �Aqil ibn Muhammad al-Jurjani informed us (through verbal authorisation)> Abu�l-Faraj al-Qadi> Muhammad ibn Jarir> al-Husayn ibn Abi Yahya al-Maqdisi> Yahya ibn Hammad> Abu �Awanah> al-Mughirah> Abu�l-Duha> Masruq> �Abd Allah who said: �The moon was split at the time of the Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, so the Quraysh said: �This is an act of sorcery from the son of Abu Kabshah; he has cast a spell on you. Ask, therefore, the travellers whether they saw the moon split�. They asked some travellers and they confirmed it. Allah, exalted is He, then revealed (The hour drew nigh and the moon was rent in twain. And if they behold a portent they turn away and say: Prolonged illusion) [54:1-2]�.