The Moon’s Phases

The Moon plays a vital role in Earth’s environment and timekeeping. The Quran describes the Moon’s changing shapes, or phases, using a simple but powerful analogy: an old date stalk (a curved, thin, and dried palm branch).

This description closely matches what modern science explains about the lunar cycle and how the Moon’s shape appears to change over time.

1. The 28 Lunar Mansions (Manazil)

The Quran mentions:

• "Manazil" (مَنَازِلَ) - literally "stations" or "phases"
• Ancient Arab astronomers recognized 28 lunar mansions
• Matches the moon's 27.3-day sidereal period (time to orbit Earth)

Modern science confirms:

• The moon passes through 13-14 constellations annually
• Each "station" represents about 1 day of the moon's journey
• Islamic calendar is based on this precise lunar cycle

2. The Crescent Moon Analogy

The verse describes:

• "Old curved date stalk" (العُرْجُونِ ٱلْقَدِيمِ)
• Perfect depiction of the waning crescent moon
• Resembles the thin, curved shape of a dried palm branch

Scientific observations show:

• The crescent appears when <5% of moon is illuminated
• Its curvature matches the sun-moon-Earth angle
• The "old" description refers to the end of lunar cycle

3. Historical Significance

When this verse was revealed:

• Most civilizations used inaccurate solar calendars
• The concept of lunar stations was unknown in Arabia
• The verse established basis for Islamic calendar
  Now science confirms its perfect accuracy:
• Lunar month averages 29.53 days
• Moon's orbit inclined at 5.1° to ecliptic
• 19-year Metonic cycle predicts moon phases

This verse encourages us to think about:

• How nature follows a structured and predictable order.
• How ancient texts described scientific facts in simple, understandable ways.
• How the Moon’s movement plays a key role in timekeeping, tides, and even life on Earth.

The Moon’s phases show the beauty of precision in the universe, something both religion and science appreciate.

The Quran describes the Moon’s phases in a poetic yet scientifically accurate way. The comparison to an old date stalk perfectly matches the thin, curved shape of the waning crescent moon.

Modern astronomy confirms that the Moon follows a precise orbit and its phases are predictable, supporting what the Quran states. This verse reminds us of the connection between celestial movements and time, a concept that remains relevant in both religious and scientific discussions today.