The Moon
Al-Qamar
القَمَر
Surah Al-Qamar for kids content
LEARNING POINTS
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Judgment Day is coming fast.
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The moon was split in two at the time of the Prophet, as the people of Makkah requested. They still said that this miracle was just magic.
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Those who rejected the signs of Allah and abused His prophets were punished.
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The idol-worshippers should expect to be punished because Allah always supports His prophets.
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The believers are promised a great reward.
BACKGROUND STORY
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The Makkan idol-worshippers challenged the Prophet to split the moon if he ever wanted them to believe in his message. When the moon was actually split in two and they saw it with their own eyes, they rejected this miracle, saying, “Same old magic.” {Recorded by Imam At-Tabari} Earlier deniers did the same thing with the prophets of their time. When Nuh (A.S.) built the Ark, his people said, “Only a crazy man would build a boat in the desert!” When Musa turned his staff into a snake, the people of Pharaoh said, “He is a magician for sure.” When 'Isa walked on water, his enemies said, “He just doesn't know how to swim!”
WORDS OF WISDOM
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Someone may ask, If the prophets mentioned in this surah were good, caring human beings, how come their own people hated and mocked them? The Quran (11:62 and 11:87) tells us that the disbelievers loved and respected their prophets before they became prophets. They loved their honesty, kindness, and goodness. But once those prophets came with messages from Allah, telling people about what is right and what is wrong, their people rejected them and made fun of them. The deniers cared more about making money and living a good life, even if it meant abusing and cheating others. When a prophet came to speak against corruption, abuse, and cheating, the corrupt abusers and cheaters would be the first to challenge and mock him. This is one of the reasons why Islam is attacked in the news. Islam is not just a religion, but a complete way of life—which includes speaking out against evil in society!</highlight>
WARNING TO MAKKAN IDOL-WORSHIPPERS
THE PEOPLE OF NUH
THE PEOPLE OF HUD
THE PEOPLE OF SALIH
THE PEOPLE OF LUT
THE PEOPLE OF PHARAOH
SIDE STORY
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Someone may ask, if Allah has written what evil people are going to do—even before He created them—why does He punish them on Judgment Day? To answer this question, let's think about the following. We read the story of Zayan and Sarhan in Surah Qaf (50). They are twin brothers who go to the same school and share the same desk. Zayan is a very good student, who always studies, does his homework, and respects his teachers. His brother Sarhan doesn't study or do his homework, and always disrespects his teachers. Zayan chooses to be a good student, and Sarhan chooses to be a bad student. Of course, their teachers didn't force any of them to behave this way. Now, it's not hard to figure out who is going to get an A and who is going to get an F even before they take the test at the end of the year.
WORDS OF WISDOM
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According to verse 49 below, Allah has created everything with a perfect plan. This is called qadar—everything that Allah has written and allows to happen. If He has written everything, it doesn't mean that He is forcing anyone to do anything. Human beings have free choice—some choose to do good, others choose to do evil. If the teachers have an idea of who will do well or bad in the final exam, and if I know what my kids will choose if I offer them chocolate and broccoli, Allah has perfect knowledge of everything people are going to do and the choices they are going to make. Therefore, everyone will be rewarded or punished on Judgment Day based on their actions and choices in this life.
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Allama Muhammad Iqbal (Pakistan's great thinker and poet) once said, 'Losers blame their failure on qadar, but smart people see themselves as tools for qadar.' In other words, losers are lazy and don't take responsibility for their failures. When they fail, they say that they have failed because that is what Allah has written for them. But smart people know that Allah has written success for those who work hard, and they do their best to achieve success even if they have to try several times before they can succeed. A loser will say, 'If someone can do it, let them do it. And if no one can do it, then there is no way I can do it.' But a smart person will say, 'If someone can do it, I can do it too. And if no one can do it, then I should try to do it in-sha-Allah.'
