Moon splits, the Prophet is accused of magic

📖Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3289
Jubayr ibn Mu’tim reported: The moon was split in the lifetime of the Prophet ﷺ until it became two separate pieces over this mountain and that mountain. They said, “Muhammad has cast a spell on us!” Some of them said, “If he has bewitched us, he cannot bewitch all of the people.”

This event is known as Shaqq al-Qamar (the splitting of the moon). A group of people asked the Prophet ﷺ for a sign, and Allah showed them this miracle. It was not meant for all humanity at once, but for those present. Those who did not believe accused the Prophet ﷺ of sorcery, while the believers saw it as a sign of truth. The Prophet ﷺ did not split the moon by his own power – rather Allah, the Creator of the system, made it happen. Just as He created the moon, sun, and stars, He can change their state whenever He wills, If you deny God, you will deny even the clearest sign. But if you believe in God, then you know He can split the moon, stop all of time, or even halt humanity in one place.

📖Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 3655, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2802
Anas ibn Malik reported: The people of Mecca asked the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, for a sign, so he showed them the splitting of the moon into two pieces until mount Hira’ could be seen between them.

Quranic Context

📖Quran 54:1-2
The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split, Yet when they see a sign, they turn away and say, “Continuous magic.

What we learn today

• Miracles are granted by Allah, not by human power.
• For those who disbelieve, no sign will ever be enough.
• The natural order of the universe is under Allah’s control.
• Signs are reminders of the Creator’s limitless power.

Modern astronomy tells us that we always see the same side of the moon because of tidal locking. The far side – sometimes called the “dark side” – was hidden from humanity until spacecraft explored it. In fact, it experiences day and night cycles like the near side. Because of libration (a gentle wobble in its orbit), we can actually see about 59% of the moon from Earth at different times.

This shows how human knowledge is limited by perspective. For centuries, people thought the far side was in permanent darkness. Only through exploration did we learn the truth. Likewise, some deny divine miracles because they restrict reality to what their eyes and tools can measure. Yet, the splitting of the moon was a sign that the Creator who designed the system can also alter it whenever He wills.

This great sign was witnessed by the people of Makkah, but it is also reported that some travelers and people in faraway lands saw it too. Since the Earth has different time zones, for some nations it was daytime and for others nighttime. Allah maybe allowed certain people – especially those seeking truth – to be eyewitnesses. Historical sources mention individuals from other regions who later confirmed this and even embraced Islam because of it.

📖Quran 29:69
As for those who strive in Us, We will surely guide them to Our ways. And indeed, Allah is with the doers of good.

This perfectly fits with the splitting of the moon story too – those who sincerely sought the truth were guided by Allah to witness it and believe.

📖Quran 6:110
We will turn their hearts and their eyes away, just as they refused to believe in it the first time. And We will leave them to wander blindly in their defiance.

This matches the splitting of the moon: sincere seekers saw it as a sign.