The Life & Character of the Seal of Prophets (sa) - Volume I — Page 235
VII - Days of Struggle 235 take up this issue here in the form of a debate, the mere allusion of the above mentioned narrations will suffice. However, it is necessary to present a brief explanatory note regarding this issue, in order to present the actual truth behind this miracle. Did the moon in fact split into two pieces or were the eyes of spectators supernaturally overpowered such as the moon appeared to them split in two? Moreover, what was the purpose behind this miracle? Hence, on this subject, it should be known that before the power of God, nothing is impossible. One who believes that this entire universe came into being by the hand of God can not show reluctance in believing, even for a moment, that if God wills, he can annihilate the whole of it by a single command. However, as far as this occurrence is concerned, the established belief is that the moon did not actually split into two pieces; rather, it appeared to spectators as if it had been rent asunder, by the power of God. This is not surprising, because if a trained individual can project a visible object in an unreal state, through mental power i. e. , by hypnotism, then before the power of God and the spiritual power of His messenger, it is not impossible that at that time, the eyes of the spectators were overpowered by a supernatural power, and they saw the moon split into two pieces. In any case, to us, the definite reality is that the moon did not actually break into two, but only appeared to spectators as breaking into two pieces. If one ponders closely, the words of Ḥadīth also allude to this actuality, that this was the divine influence of God, which was impressed upon the sight of spectators. Most research scholars have accepted this explanation as true. However, if hypothetically, we accept this miracle in its physical sense, even then there is no room for objection. The powers of God are infinite, and human sights cannot comprehend even its simplest dimensions. Just recently in 1928, an occurrence took place in South America in the country of Le Plata, where a star was seen splitting into two pieces. The name of this star was the Nova Pictoris, and the largest observatory in southern Africa, situated in Johannesburg, also confirms this occurrence. Scientists assert the possibility that in the past perhaps other heavenly bodies have also broken into two. 1 Therefore, it is not surprising if in the era of the Holy Prophet sa , by the supernatural power of God, a piece of the moon broke off, or if the moon was broken into two pieces and then joined together. No scientist can object to this. However, the truth of the matter is that which has been mentioned above. ُ وَاللّٰه ُ اَعْلَم 1 Refer to Hindustān Times Delhi dated April 29, 1928