Author: Dr. Raza Abdullah Pasha (ḥafiẓahullāh)
Was the splitting of the moon a result of magic?
Allah ﷻ says:
وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ ﴿٢﴾
“And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: ‘This is ongoing magic.’” [al-Qamar: 2]
Before the Hijrah, the moon was split into two. The polytheists began saying: “Muḥammad ﷺ has performed magic on the moon, just as he casts spells upon you.”
This verse illustrates the stubbornness of the polytheists, who denied even the greatest of miracles by labeling it as magic, despite witnessing it with their own eyes.
Question:
Was the splitting of the moon a result of magic?
Answer:
Allah ﷻ says:
وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ ﴿٢﴾
“And if they see a sign, they turn away and say: ‘This is ongoing magic.’” [al-Qamar: 2]
Before the Hijrah, the moon was split into two. The polytheists began saying: “Muḥammad ﷺ has performed magic on the moon, just as he casts spells upon you.”
- وَإِن يَرَوْا آيَةً — Meaning: if they were to witness any proof, evidence, or clear sign.
- يُعْرِضُوا — They would not submit before it, but instead turn away in denial, casting it behind their backs.
- وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُّسْتَمِرٌّ — They said: “This thing we have witnessed is part of the magic he has cast upon us.” The word مستمر here means fading, transient, or invalid, i.e., something with no permanence.
This verse illustrates the stubbornness of the polytheists, who denied even the greatest of miracles by labeling it as magic, despite witnessing it with their own eyes.