Tafsir of Ya seen 36:39

Surah Ya-Sin (36): Verse 39

وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَاهُ مَنَازِلَ

Al-Zamakhshari said: It is necessary to posit a word to complete the meaning of the statement, because the Moon itself was not made into stations (manāzil). Thus, the meaning is: "We ordained its course to be stations."

Based on what he mentioned, it is also possible to say that the intended meaning is: "And the Moon, We ordained it as possessing stations" (dhā manāzil), because possessing something (dhā) is close in meaning to the thing itself. This is why it is permissible to say, "a satisfactory life" (ʿayshah rāḍiyah), because the possessor of the quality is like the one embodying the quality, so they used the word of description.

حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَالْعُرْجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ

...until it returns like the old, dried-up date stalk.

This means it reverts in thinness to the state it was in before. The word ʿurjūn (date stalk) comes from inʿirāj (bending/curving). Al-qadīm (the old) refers to that which has passed a long time.

It is said that something that has passed a year is considered qadīm. However, the correct view is that this specific duration (one year) is not a prerequisite for applying the term qadīm. Rather, custom (al-ʿādah) is what matters.

For instance, one would not call a building completed a year or two ago "an old construction" (binā’un qadīm) or "old" (qadīmah). Yet, some things are called qadīm even if they have not existed for a full year. This is why it is permissible to say "an old house" (baytun qadīm) or "old construction," because the attribute of being old is established by the passage of time and years upon them.

However, applying the term qadīm to the Universe is not customary except among those who believe it has no beginning and nothing preceded it.

لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِي لَهَا أَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ

The Sun should not overtake the Moon, nor may the night outstrip the day. Each (celestial body) swims in its own orbit.