Al-Habib Abu Bakr Al-Adniy bin Ali Al-Masyhur mentions the Splitting of the Moon in the section “Inshiqaq Al-Qamar fi Nisfi Shahri Sha’aban” or “The Splitting of the Moon on the Half of the Month of Sha’ban” in his ode to the month of Sha’ban, the Sha’baniyyah:

The Splitting of the Moon on the Half of the Month of Sha’ban

On (the night of) Half of Sha’ban whilst the Full Moon stood at the horizon

The (disbelieving) Quraysh spoke to the Messenger ﷺ in Makkah, requesting for a confirmation (of prophethood)

He ﷺ called them to the truth so that they would be purged from wastefully (engaging) in evil shirk

They conditioned (a miracle) that they see with their eyes the full moon split and so it split

A miracle to the Chosen One ﷺ from amongst his people – it came with it a sign so read it! (Read it) so that you may rejoice!

Habib Abu Bakr’s Nisfu Sha’ban Message

Habib Abu Bakr mentions a number of valuable lessons to be learnt from the story of the Splitting of the Moon.

• Disbelievers are the ones who ask for proofs

The asbabul-wurud (reason for occurrence) of the Splitting of the Moon was a number of disbelieving Quraysh nobles asking the Prophet ﷺ for a miracle demonstrating his prophethood. The Prophet ﷺ acceded to this request and pointed to the moon, which duly split by the will of Allah, and one half of it was brought forth, hovering over Jabal Abi Qubays. The disbelievers were the only ones who had asked the Prophet ﷺ to demonstrate prophethood and despite prophethood being made apparent to them through the Splitting of the Moon, they continued to disbelieve, calling the incident a sihr mustamir or a continuous black magic.

• Hikmah Balighah (Manifested Wisdom) has no bearing on the heedless

The disbelievers used to mock at Rasulullah ﷺ and Allah referred to the Splitting of the Moon as a hikmah balighah (manifested wisdom) in Surah Al-Qamar because it is as an isharah (indication) to us that, like sign of the Splitting of the Moon, many other Signs of the Hour will also come as wisdom and manifest but it will be of no use when brought forth to many of the people of our times.

• The Splitting of Moon is a Sign of the Hour and an indicator of what is needed for the ummah in our times

Al-Habib Abu Bakr Al-Masyhur encourages teaching of knowledge of the Signs of the Hour to children and students alike, as they would be taught other core Islamic subjects, as indeed it is from amongst the core sciences of the Deen.

The words above are based on the words of Allah the Most High in Surah Al-Qamar:

١ ٱقۡتَرَبَتِ ٱلسَّاعَةُ وَٱنشَقَّ ٱلۡقَمَر

1. The Hour has drawn near, and the moon has been split.

٢ وَإِن يَرَوۡاْ ءَايَةً۬ يُعۡرِضُواْ وَيَقُولُواْ سِحۡرٌ۬ مُّسۡتَمِرٌّ

 2. And if they see a sign, they turn away, and say: “This is continuous magic.”

٣ وَڪَذَّبُواْ وَٱتَّبَعُوٓاْ أَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ‌ۚ وَڪُلُّ أَمۡرٍ۬ مُّسۡتَقِرٌّ۬ 

3. They mocked and followed their own lusts. And every matter will be settled.

٤ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَهُم مِّنَ ٱلۡأَنۢبَآءِ مَا فِيهِ مُزۡدَجَرٌ

4. And indeed there has come to them news wherein there is (enough warning) to check.

٥ حِڪۡمَةُۢ بَـٰلِغَةٌ۬‌ۖ فَمَا تُغۡنِ ٱلنُّذُرُ

 5. Manifested wisdom but warners benefit them not.

٦ فَتَوَلَّ عَنۡهُمۡ‌ۘ يَوۡمَ يَدۡعُ ٱلدَّاعِ إِلَىٰ شَىۡءٍ۬ نُّڪُرٍ

 6. So withdraw from them. The Day that the caller will call (them) to a terrible thing.

The above is a paraphrased extract of Habib Abu Bakr Al-Adniy bin Ali Al-Masyhur’s Nisfu Sha’ban address to the congregation at Masjid An-Nahdhah, Singapore, on the eve of Nisfu Sha’ban 1436 corresponding with 1 June 2015.