The Quraysh told the Prophet ﷺ they would not believe unless they saw a miracle with their own eyes. They demanded that he make a spring burst out of the ground, or produce a garden with rivers gushing through it. They demanded that he bring the sky down on them in pieces, or bring Allah and the angels before them. They also asked for a house of gold, or for him to climb into the sky and bring back a book they could read (Qur'an 17:90-93). Allah told him to reply only that he was nothing but a human messenger.
Allah did show them major miracles. The greatest was the splitting of the moon (Qur'an 54:1), yet they dismissed it, saying their eyes had been bewitched (Qur'an 54:2). Allah says that even if the angels came down and the dead spoke to them, they still would not believe (Qur'an 6:111). In any case, the Qur'an itself is Allah's greatest miracle, and it was enough. Allah also does not grant a demanded sign lightly. Whoever still refuses after seeing it faces a swift and final punishment (Qur'an 17:59 and 6:109).
Explains why Allah did not grant every miracle demanded of the Prophet ﷺ. The demands came from stubbornness, not sincerity, and a sign that is then rejected brings immediate punishment.
Other events recorded around the same time. Their order within the year is not established; use the storyline above for the sequence.
If I were to split the moon in half, would you believe in me?
Said to the Quraysh, who had challenged him to split the moon in exchange for their belief.
Split the moon in half before the eyes of the Quraysh, with the mountain of Safa visible between the two halves.
“And even if We had sent down to them the angels [with the Message] and the dead spoke to them [of it] and We gathered together every [created] thing in front of them, they would not believe unless Allah should will.”
This ayah is part of Surah al-An'am's response to the Quraysh's oath that they would believe if a miracle/sign came to them -- the demand described at this event.
“What will make you realize [ya Rasulullah], that even if a sign were to come to them, they still would not believe?”
This ayah is part of Surah al-An'am's response to the Quraysh's oath that they would believe if a miracle/sign came to them -- the demand described at this event.
وَقَالُوا لَن نُّؤْمِنَ لَكَ حَتَّىٰ تَفْجُرَ لَنَا مِنَ الْأَرْضِ يَنبُوعًا
“And they say, 'We will not believe you until you break open for us from the ground a spring.”
This ayah is part of the passage in Surah al-Isra (17:90-93) listing the specific miracles the Quraysh demanded before they would believe -- described at this event.
أَوْ تَكُونَ لَكَ جَنَّةٌ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَعِنَبٍ فَتُفَجِّرَ الْأَنْهَارَ خِلَالَهَا تَفْجِيرً
“Or [until] you have a garden of palm trees and grapes and make rivers gush forth within them in force [and abundance].”
This ayah is part of the passage in Surah al-Isra (17:90-93) listing the specific miracles the Quraysh demanded before they would believe -- described at this event.
أَوْ تُسْقِطَ السَّمَاءَ كَمَا زَعَمْتَ عَلَيْنَا كِسَفًا أَوْ تَأْتِيَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْمَلَائِكَةِ قَبِيلًا
“Or you make the heaven fall upon us in fragments as you have claimed or you bring Allah and the angels before [us].”
This ayah is part of the passage in Surah al-Isra (17:90-93) listing the specific miracles the Quraysh demanded before they would believe -- described at this event.
أَوْ يَكُونَ لَكَ بَيْتٌ مِّن زُخْرُفٍ أَوْ تَرْقَىٰ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَلَن نُّؤْمِنَ لِرُقِيِّكَ حَتَّىٰ تُنَزِّلَ عَلَيْنَا كِتَابًا نَّقْرَؤُهُ ۗ قُلْ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّي هَلْ كُنتُ إِلَّا بَشَرًا رَّسُولًا
“Or you have a house of gold or you ascend into the sky. And [even then], we will not believe in your ascension until you bring down to us a book we may read.' Say, 'Exalted is my Lord! Was I ever but a human messenger?'”
This ayah is part of the passage in Surah al-Isra (17:90-93) listing the specific miracles the Quraysh demanded before they would believe -- described at this event.
“The only reason We don't send the [demanded] signs (i.e., miracles) is because the earlier nations rejected them.”
This ayah is part of the passage in Surah al-Isra (17:90-93) listing the specific miracles the Quraysh demanded before they would believe -- described at this event.
اقْتَرَبَتِ السَّاعَةُ وَانشَقَّ الْقَمَرُ
“The Hour draws near; the moon is split in two.”
This ayah opens Surah al-Qamar with the Splitting of the Moon -- the very miracle described at this event -- noting that even after seeing it, the Quraysh dismissed it as "continuous magic."
“He bewitched our eyes.”
This ayah opens Surah al-Qamar with the Splitting of the Moon -- the very miracle described at this event -- noting that even after seeing it, the Quraysh dismissed it as "continuous magic."