هُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ ٱلشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَٱلْقَمَرَ نُورًا وَقَدَّرَهُۥ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوا۟ عَدَدَ ٱلسِّنِينَ وَٱلْحِسَابَ ۚ مَا خَلَقَ ٱللَّهُ ذَٰلِكَ إِلَّا بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 5
Translations
It is He who made the sun a shining light and the moon a derived light and determined for it phases - that you may know the number of years and account [of time]. Allāh has not created this except in truth. He details the signs for a people who know.
Transliteration
Huwa alladhī jaʿala al-shamsa diyāʾan wa-al-qamara nūran wa-qaddara-hu manāzila li-taʿlamū ʿadada al-sinīna wa-al-ḥisāb. Mā khalaqa Allāhu dhālika illā bi-al-ḥaqq. Yufa**ṣṣilu al-āyāti li-qawmin yaʿlamūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes how Allah created the sun as a source of bright light (diyāʾ) and the moon as reflected light (nūr), and ordained the moon's phases (manāzil) to enable humans to track time and calculate years. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this distinction between diyāʾ (self-luminous light) and nūr (reflected light) reflects the actual astronomical reality known even in the 7th century. The ayah concludes by affirming that Allah's creation is based on truth and wisdom, with these signs clearly explained for those who possess knowledge.
Revelation Context
Surah Yunus is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when the Quran frequently addressed polytheists by directing their attention to the natural world as evidence of Allah's oneness and perfect design. This ayah appears in a passage (10:3-5) where Allah is described as the sole creator and sustainer of the universe, serving as a powerful argument against idolatry and for monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: 'The sun and moon are two signs among the signs of Allah; they do not eclipse because of the death or life of anyone. When you see them, invoke Allah and pray.' (Sahih Bukhari 1043). Additionally, the Quran itself emphasizes in Surah As-Sajdah 32:5 that Allah governs all affairs over a period of a thousand years as we count them, reinforcing the theme of time-keeping.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize the celestial bodies not merely as physical phenomena but as deliberate divine signs that demonstrate Allah's perfect wisdom and care for humanity's practical needs. By reflecting on how the moon's phases regulate our calendar and seasons, we can develop deeper gratitude for Allah's providence and cultivate the intellectual contemplation (tafakkur) necessary for genuine faith.