The short answer
Yes. The Quran says "the moon has split", and Companions including Ibn Mas'ud, who saw it, and Anas reported in Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim that it split into two parts in Makkah when the people asked the Prophet ﷺ for a sign. It was a miracle, not a natural event. Viral claims that NASA or modern science confirmed it are false and should not be repeated.
Surah al-Qamar opens: "The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two]", and continues that if the disbelievers see a miracle they turn away and call it "passing magic" 1. Al-Mukhtasar explains that the moon split in the time of the Prophet ﷺ as one of his tangible miracles 2.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said the moon split into two parts during the Prophet's ﷺ lifetime, and the Prophet ﷺ said, "Bear witness" 3. He added that one part was over the mountain and the other beyond it 4. Anas reported that the people of Makkah asked the Prophet ﷺ to show them a miracle, so he showed them the moon split in two, with the mountain of Hira between the halves 5. In Sahih Muslim, Ibn Mas'ud adds that he saw it himself: "We were along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at Mina" when the moon split 6.
Notice the reaction the Quran describes: those who had demanded a sign called it magic 1. Miracles do not force belief; a heart that has decided to reject will explain away anything.
Some people share claims that NASA photographs of a long lunar groove prove the split. This is false. The photo shows Rima Ariadaeus, a long lunar valley of a kind NASA attributes to ordinary geology, and a NASA lunar scientist asked about the claim said there is no scientific evidence that the moon was ever split. A Muslim's belief in this miracle rests on the Quran and the authentic reports of eyewitnesses, which is a far stronger foundation than a misread photograph.
The lesson of the surah is in its first words: "The Hour has come near." The same Lord who split the moon will bring the Day of Judgment. Surah al-Qamar is a good one to read and reflect on this week.
The Hour has come near and the moon has split; the disbelievers called the sign passing magic.
ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَرُ ١ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةࣰ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرࣱ مُّسۡتَمِرࣱّ ٢
1 The Hour has come near, and the moon has split [in two] 2 And if they see a miracle, they turn away and say, "Passing magic
The coming of the Hour is close and the moon split in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him), the splitting of which was one of the tangible miracles of the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Ibn Mas'ud reported the moon split into two parts and the Prophet ﷺ said "Bear witness".
Narrated `Abdullah bin Masud:During the lifetime of the Prophet (ﷺ) the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Bear witness (to this)
حَدَّثَنَا صَدَقَةُ بْنُ الْفَضْلِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَجِيحٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شِقَّتَيْنِ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اشْهَدُوا ".
One part of the moon remained over the mountain and the other went beyond it.
Narrated Ibn Masud:During the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) the moon was split into two parts; one part remained over the mountain, and the other part went beyond the mountain. On that, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Witness this miracle
حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، وَسُفْيَانَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ انْشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِرْقَتَيْنِ، فِرْقَةً فَوْقَ الْجَبَلِ وَفِرْقَةً دُونَهُ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اشْهَدُوا ".
The Makkans asked for a miracle and saw the moon split with Mount Hira between the halves.
Narrated Anas bin Malik:The people of Mecca asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) to show them a miracle. So he showed them the moon split in two halves between which they saw the Hira' mountain
حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْوَهَّابِ، حَدَّثَنَا بِشْرُ بْنُ الْمُفَضَّلِ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي عَرُوبَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ ـ رضى الله عنه أَنَّ أَهْلَ، مَكَّةَ سَأَلُوا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنْ يُرِيَهُمْ آيَةً، فَأَرَاهُمُ الْقَمَرَ شِقَّتَيْنِ، حَتَّى رَأَوْا حِرَاءً بَيْنَهُمَا.
Ibn Mas'ud was with the Prophet ﷺ at Mina when the moon split, and was told "Bear witness".
This hadith has been transmitted on the authority of Abdullah b. Mas'ud (who said):We were along with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) at Mina, that moon was split up into two. One of its parts was behind the mountain and the other one was on this side of the mountain. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upbn him) said to us: Bear witness to this
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ جَمِيعًا عَنْ أَبِي، مُعَاوِيَةَ ح وَحَدَّثَنَا عُمَرُ بْنُ حَفْصِ بْنِ غِيَاثٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي كِلاَهُمَا، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، ح وَحَدَّثَنَا مِنْجَابُ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ التَّمِيمِيُّ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ مُسْهِرٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ أَبِي مَعْمَرٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا نَحْنُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمِنًى إِذَا انْفَلَقَ الْقَمَرُ فِلْقَتَيْنِ فَكَانَتْ فِلْقَةٌ وَرَاءَ الْجَبَلِ وَفِلْقَةٌ دُونَهُ فَقَالَ لَنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " اشْهَدُوا " .
This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-25