Tafsir of Al-Qamar 54:3

Surah Al-Qamar (The Moon): Verse 3

{And they denied and followed their desires...}

This verse bears two possible interpretations:

1. They denied Muhammad (PBUH): They rejected the Prophet who informed them about the approaching Hour (the Day of Judgment).
   • In this case, their statement {and followed their desires} means they abandoned the clear proof (the truth) and offered interpretations for the signs (miracles). They claimed he was:
     • Mad, possessed by Jinn.
     • A soothsayer who spoke based on the stars and chose auspicious times for actions.
     • A sorcerer.
   • These claims constitute their "desires" (ahwā').

2. They denied the Sign (The Splitting of the Moon): They rejected the miracle of the moon splitting.
   • In this case, their statement {and followed their desires} means they claimed the splitting was mere magic, or that it was an eclipse, asserting that the moon itself remained untouched.
   • This applies similarly to their interpretation of every other sign presented to them.

{And every matter is established/settled.}

This statement has several meanings:

1. Establishment of Truth: Every matter settles upon the path of truth; what is true is confirmed, and falsehood perishes.
   • If this is the meaning, it serves as a threat to them and consolation for the Prophet (PBUH). It is like the verse: {Then to your Lord is your return, and He will inform you} (Az-Zumar: 7), meaning He will inform them of the truth.

2. Establishment in God's Knowledge: Every matter is established and fixed within the knowledge of God; nothing is hidden from Him.
   • They denied and followed their desires, while the Prophets spoke the truth and delivered what was revealed to them. This aligns with the verse: {Nothing is hidden from Allah of them} (Ghafir: 16), and what is mentioned later in this Surah: {And everything they have done is in the records. And every small and great thing is recorded} (Al-Qamar: 52-53).

3. Rebuttal to their Claim: It is a response to their assertion that the miracle was {continuous magic} (referring to the previous verse's context, though not explicitly quoted here).
   • The response is: The matter (the miracle/the truth) is not fleeting or temporary; rather, every affair of God is established and permanent.

{And certainly, there has come to them of the news that contains a sufficient warning/deterrent...}