The evidences in the Qur’an and the Sunnah show that the celestial bodies can change by Allah’s command. One prophet prayed and the sun stood still; and when the idolaters asked Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—to show them a sign proving his truthfulness, he pointed to the moon and it split into two halves before their very eyes, one half over al-Safa and the other over al-Marwah.

About this Allah says: “The Hour has drawn near and the moon has split. Yet if they see a sign, they turn away and say, ‘Persistent sorcery.’” (Al-Qamar 54:1–2).

They claimed, “Muhammad has bewitched us; the moon has not split. He has merely cast a spell that has corrupted our sight.” The disbeliever—Allah’s refuge is sought—upon whom the word of Allah has become binding will not believe, as Allah says: “Indeed, those upon whom the decree of your Lord has fallen will never believe, even if every sign should come to them” (Yunus 10:96–97). We ask Allah to keep us and you safe and to guide our hearts.

Hearts lie between two fingers of the Most Merciful; He turns them as He wills and directs them as He pleases. Whoever has been destined for punishment will never believe, even if you brought him every sign. That is why they asked the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—for a sign, and he showed them this astounding miracle that no one else could have produced. Yet they said, “Persistent sorcery,” denied the truth, and followed their whims, while every matter shall reach its appointed end (Al-Qamar 54:2–3).

One of the benefits of this ḥadīth is that it highlights Allah’s favor upon this ummah: He made lawful for it the war-booty it seizes from the disbelievers—booty that had been forbidden to those before us. These spoils contain great benefit for the Muslim community, helping and supporting it in jihād.