Shaq ul Qamar: The Miracle of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Shaq ul Qamar meaning, The Splitting of the Moon is one of the miracles of the Prophet Muhammad. It is a miraculous event in Islamic history where Prophet Muhammad reportedly split the moon into two distinct parts and then rejoined those parts at the demand of the polytheists of Makka. Almost all Muslim historians and scholars agree on the occurrence of this event. Moreover, the Qur’an includes verses that references the splitting of the moon.

When did Hazrat Muhammad (SAW) split the moon?

Numerous Ahadith affirm the miracle of Shaqul Qamar, with their authenticity being indisputable. The chains of transmission for these traditions trace back to esteemed companions of the Holy Prophet (SA), including Ibn Abbas, Anas bin Malik, Abdullah bin Masud, and others. Historians have reported that the Prophet split the moon during the early years after God appointed him as a prophet to his people. Specifically, according to some historians this event occurred five years before the Prophet’s migration to Medina, known as the Hijra.

The Incident of Shaq al-Qamar

One Hadith describes the event of Shaq ul Qamar as follows: During the siege in Sha’b Abi Talib, when the people under siege could only leave the cave during the days of Hajj, and the blockade was in its second phase, the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was in Mina with his companions. The moon was at its fullest in the sky.

Abu Jahl, Walid bin Mughira, As bin Wa’il, and others gathered their companions and challenged the Prophet (PBUH), asking him to split the moon if he was truthful. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) asked if they would believe if he did so, to which they agreed.

Moon splitting in half

The Prophet (PBUH) prayed to Allah and pointed to the moon, causing it to split into two halves.
One half of the moon was above Mount Hira, and the other was below it. The Prophet (PBUH) called out to each disbeliever by name, asking them to witness the miracle. The two halves were so far apart that Mount Hira was visible between them. Despite witnessing this, the disbelievers dismissed it as magic.

Verification and Further Inquiry

Abu Jahl suggested further investigation. He claimed that if it was magic, it could only affect those present, not people in other cities or countries. When distant people arrived and were asked about the cracked moon, they all confirmed that they had also seen the moon split into two halves. Among the companions who witnessed this event firsthand were Abdullah bin Masud, Hudhayfah, and Jubair bin Mut’im (RA).

Confirmation of the Shaq al-Qamar Event by Esteemed Companions

The split in the moon into two halves by the blessed hand of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is a real event with no room for doubt or skepticism. This event has been narrated by a large group of reporters, and numerous scholars have transmitted these reports. According to scholars, it is an authentic narration that has reached the level of widespread confirmation.The Ahadith confirming the event of Shaq al-Qamar have been narrated by prominent companions, including Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA), Abdullah ibn Masud (RA), Anas bin Malik (RA), Jubair bin Mut’im (RA), Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), and Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA).