54.

Sura Qamar (or The Moon)

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

The hour of Judgement comes nearer and nearer and the moon was left
asunder (a miracle of the Prophet). But the unbelievers turn away even this
unsual appearance (Sign). They call it just a miracle and did not pay any heed
to this spiritual lesson. The prevalence of sin and the persecution of truth may
have its day, but it must end at last. The stories of the sins of past generations
have been visited with exemplary punishments were already in their
possession and would have checked them in their mad carrier of sin. O
Prophet, withdraw from them. They will come to know the truth of the things
on the Day when the Summoner summons them into a painful thing. They will
come forth from their graves as if they were locusts spread around. “Hard is
this Day” is what they will be saying. Five of the past stories of people who
rejected their prophets, are told as exemples of ultimate end of the unbelievers.
The People of Noah repulsed Noah and branded him as a “madman”. Noah
was wary of these people and cried to his Lord saying: I am vanquished, so
give help! God heard Noah and opened the gates of heaven with pouring water
and also caused the earth to gush forth springs. So the waters met and rose to
the extent decreed. For Noah and his followers was the Ark which carried
them upon the waters, under the guidance of God, landed them at the safe
place. This was the reward for the people who believed in Noah but were
rejected and dispised by the people. The Ark which brought salvation to the
righteous is mentioned as a Sign for all Peoples. It was a horrible Penalty for
the unbelievers. God now says: Is there any that will receive admonition.
Indeed, We have made the Qur-an easy to understand and remember: Then is
there any that will receive admonition? The tribe of ’Ad also rejected warnings
and repulsed the Truth. We let loose a raging wind on a Day of violent
Disaster. It swept men away as though they were uprooted trunks of palm-
trees. Indeed, how terrible was God’s punishment after due warnings to them.
But We have indeed made the Qur-an easy to understand and remember: Then
is there any that will receive admonition? The tribe of Thamud also rejected
warnings. They said: Is it a mortal man (Salih A.S.) alone among us that we
are to follow? Then indeed we shall fall into error and madness. Nevertheless,
he is a liar and an insolent one. God sent a she-camel as a trial for them and
asked His Prophet to watch them with patience. For, the she-camel was a trial
or test case among selfish people who tried to monopolise water and pasture
against the poor. As per the Divine Orders, all were to have water in due turn.
It was to be shared between her and them. But they called to their companion,
and he took a sword and hamstrung her. They invited on themselves the Wrath
of God. He sent against them a single Mighty Blast, and they became like the
dry stubble used by one who pens cattle. And we have indeed made the Quran
easy to understand and remember: then is there any that will receive
admonition? The people of Lut also rejected his warnings. God sent against
them violent tornado with showers of stones which destroyed them except
Lut’s household who were delievered as a Grace from Us. Thus We reward
those who give thanks. Lut did warn them prior to their Punishment. But they
disputed about the Warning. These people even asked Lut of his guests
(Angels) for an ill purpose. We blinded their eyes and said: Taste now My
Punishment after My Warnings. The Punishment decreed befell them early in
the morning. And We have indeed made the Qur-an easy to understand and
remember: Then is there any that will receive admonition? God sent Warnings
(through Prophet Moses A.S.) to the People of Pharaoh a number of times. But
they rejected all the Signs. Ultimately the One Exalted in Power, able to carry
out His Will, seized them with a terrible Penalty (destruction in the sea). Are
your disbelievers better than those, or have you some immunity in the past
Scriptures or they are sure to defend themselves? They be sure to be routed
out, turn their back and flee. The Hour of Judgement is what they are promised
for their full recompense. That Hour shall be most grevious and bitter for
them. Sure enough, those in sin are the ones straying in mind, and mad. On the
Day they will be dragged through the Fire on their faces. They will be told
then: Feel the touch of Hell. Indeed, God has created everything by measure.
Our Command is but a single act as the twinkling of an eye. Oft in the past:
We have destroyed such people. Then is there any that will receive
admonition? All their deeds – small or great – are duly recorded in the Books.
The righteous shall be in the assembly of Truth (the gathering in which they sit
with their fellows and enjoy the realization of Truth and the dissipation of
falsehoods), and in the midst of Gardens with rivers flowing. They shall be
established in the favour of a Mighty King.