The Splitting of the Moon (Inshiqaq al-Qamar)
In brief
The miracle of the splitting of the moon (Inshiqaq al-Qamar) in Makkah during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime, which the Qur'an explicitly links to the drawing near of the Hour.
Surah al-Qamar opens: 'The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has split' (54:1). Eye-witness Companions including Ibn Mas'ud, Anas, and Ibn Abbas narrated that the moon split into two distinct halves in Makkah—one part seen above Mount Hira and the other below it—and the Prophet ﷺ said, 'Bear witness!'
Occurred in Makkah prior to the Hijrah; scholars also note that the cosmic darkening and folding of the sun and moon will occur at the Hour itself.
Reflect on Surah al-Qamar (54:1–5) and avoid the heedlessness of those who see clear signs yet turn away.
Draft brief, not yet checked by the scholar board. The full texts are in the Sources tab and the scholars' views in their own tab.
Where it sits in the sequence
Phase 1 · Foretold for the early generations
Events the narrations foretold that scholars connect with the first centuries of Islam. No single narration puts them in order.
What scholars have said
Scholars cite it as having appeared
Draft attributions: each must be checked against the named book before publication.
Ibn Kathird. 774 AH
Confirms that the splitting of the moon occurred in Makkah before the Hijrah when the Quraysh demanded a sign, and notes that it is transmitted through mutawatir (mass-transmitted) chains of Companions whom the scholars unanimously accept as one of the realized signs of the Hour's approach.
Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azim, on Surah al-Qamar 54:1-2; al-Bidayah wa'l-Nihayah
No historical or present-day data has been entered for this sign yet. Each figure will carry its source and an as-of date.