Yusuf ‘Ali in footnote 5128 says, "Three explanations are given in the Mufradat, and perhaps all three apply here: (1) that the moon once appeared cleft asunder in the valley of Makkah within sight of the Prophet, his Companions, and some Unbelievers; (2) that the prophetic past tense indicates the future, the cleaving asunder of the moon being a Sign of the Judgment approaching; and (3) that the phrase is metaphorical, meaning that the matter has become clear as the moon.
Yusuf ‘Ali, kwenye rejeo la 5128 chini ya ukurasa, anasema, "Maelezo matatu yametolewa kwenye Mufradat, na pengine yote matatu yanahusika hapa: (1) kwamba mwezi ulionekana ukiwa umepasuka vipande viwili kwenye bonde la Maka machoni pa Nabii, washirika wake, na baadhi ya watu wasiokuwa waumini; (2) kwamba wakati uliopita wa kinabii huonyesha wakati ujao, kupasuka kwa mwezi vipande viwili ikiwa ni Ishara ya Hukumu inayokuja; na (3) kwamba msemo huu ni sitiari, ukimaanisha kuwa jambo hili liko wazi kama mwezi.