Abstract
The enduring debate surrounding the interpretation of the "Splitting of the Moon" verse (Qur'an 54:1) reflects a profound transformation within Islamic hermeneutics, spanning from the era of transmission (Naql) to the encounter with modernity. Departing from conventional polemical approaches, the present study employs discourse analysis within a comparative-historical framework to trace the genealogy of the evolving understanding of this verse in relation to the epistemic challenges of each epoch. An examination of exegetical opinions reveals how the discourse founded upon the "naqli certitude" of the Companions' narrations during the early period transitioned into "rational-kalami apologetics" during the medieval era, primarily in response to challenges such as the non-tawatur status of the relevant hadiths and the impossibility of celestial "breaching and healing" (kharq wa iltiyām) posited by Ptolemaic cosmology. Subsequently, the modern era, influenced by the scientific revolution and novel hermeneutical perspectives, witnessed the emergence of "meaning-oriented readings" (emphasizing the verse's eschatological/monitory message) alongside "critical and allegorical discourses". The novelty of this research lies in its analysis of the mechanisms underlying this discursive transition, demonstrating that the history of this verse's interpretation serves not merely as a history of opinions, but as a condensed mirror reflecting the dynamic engagement of Islamic rationality with endogenous and exogenous epistemic challenges throughout time.