Splitting of the Moon

Sura 54 of the Quran is entitled Al-Qamar, The Moon, الـقمـر, and the opening verse of this Sura states:

[54:1] The Hour has come closer, and the moon has split.

 اقتَرَبَتِ السّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ القَمَرُ

If we consult traditional sources regarding the meaning of this verse, we see that according to Hadith it is claimed that prophet Muhammad split the moon in two. This not only lacks any evidence it also contradicts the Quran. This is because Muhammad did not have a physical miracle like the prophets and messengers in the past but instead had only the Quran, whose miracle is slowly being unlocked each day as these prophecies are being fulfilled, our scientific understanding increases, and our understanding of this scripture is amplified.

[10:20] They say, “How come no miracle came down to him from his Lord?” Say, “The future belongs to GOD; so wait, and I am waiting along with you.”

 وَيَقُولُونَ لَوْلَا أُنْزِلَ عَلَيْهِ آيَةٌ مِنْ رَبِّهِ فَقُلْ إِنَّمَا الْغَيْبُ لِلَّهِ فَانْتَظِرُوا إِنِّي مَعَكُمْ مِنَ الْمُنْتَظِرِينَ

Even historically, this verse came after Sura 54, as Sura 10 is believed to be the 51st revelation, while Sura 54 was the 37th.

We see a similar correspondence in 29:50, and the Quran responds that the only miracle the prophet received was the Quran alone. It is worth noting that Sura 29 was the 85 revelation. So, this late in the revelation, we see that the prophet still did not have a physical miracle.

[29:50] They said, “If only miracles could come down to him from his Lord!” Say, “All miracles come only from GOD; I am no more than a manifest warner.”

 وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَآ أُنزِلَ عَلَيْهِ ءَايَـٰتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِۦ قُلْ إِنَّمَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتُ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ وَإِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ

[29:51] Is it not enough of a miracle* that we sent down to you this book, being recited to them? This is indeed a mercy and a reminder for people who believe.

 أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِهِمْ أَنَّآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْكَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبَ يُتْلَىٰ عَلَيْهِمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَرَحْمَةً وَذِكْرَىٰ لِقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

Prophecy of Splitting of the Moon

On July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong became the first person to step foot on the moon. Two days later, at exactly 1:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time on July 21, 1969, the Apollo lunar module lifted off from the surface of the moon carrying 21.55 kilograms (47.51 lbs) of lunar rock to be brought back to Earth, so it could be analyzed.

Notice that this is Sura 54 verse 1, which is the exact minute that Apollo 11 lifted off from the surface of the moon with 21.55 kilograms (47.51 lbs) of lunar rock, just as the prophecy in the Quran specified this would happen.

However, some may argue that based on where a person was in the world, the hour of departure would be represented differently. If we go with EDT time as per the Kennedy Space Center located on Merritt Island, Florida, which was mission control for Apollo 11, we see that the time was 1:54p.m.

But if alternatively, we use the time from Houston, Texas, where the capsule communicator (CAPCOM) team was located, which was the only person who communicated directly with the flight crew, we see that it was 12:54 p.m.

And if we go with UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), which is the primary time standard by which the world regulates clocks and time, we see that the time was 5:54p.m. or 17:54 when represented in military time.

So, the common factor across the whole world was that this event occurred exactly at 54 minutes, which corresponds with Sura 54. But NASA kept very detailed logs of the mission to the second. So can we see the exact second that the lunar lift occurred?

If we look at the mission logs we see that Lunar liftoff occurred exactly at 54 minutes and 1 second.

It is also worth noting that 1969 corresponds with the Hijri year of 1389 AH. This is interesting because after 54:1 there are 1389 verses till the end of the Quran.

Sura Number	Sura Name	Number of Verses
54	Al-Qamar	54*
55	Ar-Rahman	78
56	Al-Waqia	96
57	Al-Hadid	29
58	Al-Mujadila	22
59	Al-Hashr	24
60	Al-Mumtahanah	13
61	As-Saff	14
62	Al-Jumu’a	11
63	Al-Munafiqun	11
64	At-Taghabun	18
65	At-Talaq	12
66	At-Tahrim	12
67	Al-Mulk	30
68	Al-Qalam	52
69	Al-Haqqah	52
70	Al-Ma’arij	44
71	Nuh	28
72	Al-Jinn	28
73	Al-Muzzammil	20
74	Al-Muddaththir	56
75	Al-Qiyamah	40
76	Al-Insan	31
77	Al-Mursalat	50
78	An-Naba	40
79	An-Nazi’at	46
80	Abasa	42
81	At-Takwir	29
82	Al-Infitar	19
83	Al-Mutaffifin	36
84	Al-Inshiqaq	25
85	Al-Buruj	22
86	At-Tariq	17
87	Al-A’la	19
88	Al-Ghashiyah	26
89	Al-Fajr	30
90	Al-Balad	20
91	Ash-Shams	15
92	Al-Layl	21
93	Ad-Duha	11
94	Ash-Sharh	8
95	At-Tin	8
96	Al-‘Alaq	19
97	Al-Qadr	5
98	Al-Bayyina	8
99	Az-Zalzala	8
100	Al-Adiyat	11
101	Al-Qari’a	11
102	At-Takathur	8
103	Al-Asr	3
104	Al-Humaza	9
105	Al-Fil	5
106	Quraish	4
107	Al-Ma’un	7
108	Al-Kawthar	3
109	Al-Kafiroon	6
110	An-Nasr	3
111	Al-Masad	5
112	Al-Ikhlas	4
113	Al-Falaq	5
114	An-Nas	6
	TOTAL	1389

The Response

What is the response from the people when they are faced with this information? Do they turn reverent? Do they accept the Quran as the irrefutable word of God? Or do they simply write this off as a mere coincidence?

The Second Miracle

[54:2] Then they saw a miracle; but they turned away and said, “Old magic.”

 وَإِنْ يَرَوْا آيَةً يُعْرِضُوا وَيَقُولُوا سِحْرٌ مُسْتَمِرٌّ

[54:3] They disbelieved, followed their opinions, and adhered to their old traditions.

 وَكَذَّبُوا وَاتَّبَعُوا أَهْوَاءَهُمْ وَكُلُّ أَمْرٍ مُسْتَقِرٌّ

[54:4] Sufficient warnings have been delivered to alert them.

 وَلَقَدْ جَاءَهُمْ مِنَ الْأَنْبَاءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزْدَجَرٌ

[54:5] Great wisdom; but all the warnings have been in vain.

 حِكْمَةٌ بَالِغَةٌ فَمَا تُغْنِ النُّذُرُ