The first and second verses of Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon) in Quran say:
The Hour of Resurrection has drawn near and the moon has split ˹in two˺. Yet, whenever they see a sign, they turn away, saying, “Same old magic!”
Islamic Historic Background In Hadith:
Narrated By Abdullah Bin Masud:
During the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad P.B.U.H, the moon was split into two parts and on that the Prophet P.B.U.H said, "Bear witness to (thus)".
Science and The Splitting Of Moon:
Although science denies the fact that moon was split into two (or more) parts and then reassembled at any point in the past but according to scientists a crack in the moon does indeed exists. The Moon's surface is totally cracked. Analysis of the lunar surface reveals that it's far more fractured than once thought. The damage goes far deeper than that, with cracks extending to depths of 12 miles (20 kilometers).
Previous Studies, Lunar Lobate Scraps And Grabens:
Scientists have found recent geological activity in the moon and discovered lobate scarps which are "fault structures" and "grabens" which are small alleys on the surface of the moon.
What are Lobate Scarps?
Lobate Scarps are fault structures on the surface of the moon. Scientists say, that something has actually caused the moon to contract or shrink or the crustal material of the moon was pushed together which has created these fault structures.
Age Of The Lobate Scarps:
The estimated age of the moon is 4.53 billion years, where as the lobate scarps on the surface of the moon are estimated to be much younger than that. The age of lobate scarps can not be estimated accurately but it could be a few million years or younger than that. This means that moon has been active at some point long after it's creation and something caused the moon's crust to be pushed together creating fault structures.
Scientific Explanation Of Lobate Scarps On Moon:
According to scientist, the most likely reason for the formation of the lobate scarps is global contraction caused by interior cooling of moon. The loss of heat from the Moon’s interior results in contraction. Although the lobate scarps indicate contraction, the Moon has not contracted by much in the recent past. The total radial contraction or decrease in the Moon’s radius is estimated to be only about 100 meters which is very little, considering the total age of the moon.
What are Grabens?
Two years after the scientists reported that the moon is shrinking, the scientists found the evidence that the moon is also being pulled apart at some places, forming features called Graben. Finding these young grabens was a real surprise for the scientists because the Lobate scarps were telling them that the moon is shrinking but the discovery of Grabens tell a different story. How does it fit together?
Scientists now believe that moon has not been shrinking everywhere but rather it is also expanding at some places forming small alleys on the surface of the moon. High-resolution images obtained by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC) provide evidence that these valleys are very young, suggesting the moon has experienced relatively recent geologic activity.
Could The Moon Have Been Split In The Past?
The recent study and appearance of fault structures does actually hint at some sort of recent activity on the moon which has caused the moon's crust to be pushed together.
Since, the lunar contraction has happened much after the creation of moon, it can be a one time activity as the moon has not been actively contracting much recently. Also taking into consideration that fact that during the total age of the moon i.e 4.53 billion years, the moon's total radius has decreased by only 100 meters. If it was actively contracting from time to time, it should have been much more decrease in the lunar radius. Such a small decrease in the lunar radius in a larger span of time indicates an unusual activity that could have formed the fault structures and caused a decrease in moon's radius.
The appearance of young Graben also hint that the moon was pulled apart in much recent times. Scientifically it can't be proven yet that the moon was split and then re-united. But the young age of both, the fault structures and the alleys on the moon does not rule out the possibility that the crustal surface of the moon could be pulled apart and pushed together in the same times.
Islamic Miracle: The miracle of the splitting of the moon occurred before the migration to Medina upon the demands of the polytheists with the permission of God and it was shown by the prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) as narrated by many of his companions.
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.
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