التكوير
Surah At-Takwir
The Overthrowing · Surah 81 · Meccan · 29 verses
1إِذَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ كُوِّرَتۡ ١When the sun is overthrown.InsightElmalılı says this surah lists twelve events, each beginning “when”, all answered by “every soul will know what it has prepared”.2وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتۡ ٢And when the stars fall.InsightElmalılı explains “inkidar” as becoming cloudy and gives two meanings: their clear light fading out, or their scattering and falling.3وَإِذَا ٱلۡجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتۡ ٣And when the hills are moved.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the earth will quake and the mountains be tossed like wool, flung into space like clouds.4وَإِذَا ٱلۡعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتۡ ٤And when the camels big with young are abandoned.InsightElmalılı explains “‘ishar” as she-camels ten months pregnant: the Arabs’ most precious wealth; that day no one will tend them.5وَإِذَا ٱلۡوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتۡ ٥And when the wild beasts are herded together.InsightElmalılı explains “wuhush” as land animals that do not grow tame to man; they too will be gathered that day.6وَإِذَا ٱلۡبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتۡ ٦And when the seas rise.InsightElmalılı says “tasjir” means heating with blazing fire and filling, and relates that it may be the seas set aflame through volcanoes.7وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتۡ ٧And when souls are reunited.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, “nufus” means persons and souls; that day every soul will be joined with its like, the good with the good and the bad with the bad.8وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ ٨And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked.9بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبࣲ قُتِلَتۡ ٩For what sin she was slain.InsightElmalılı explains “maw’udah” as the little girl buried alive and killed; this cruelty of the pre-Islamic Arabs will be called to account that day.10وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتۡ ١٠And when the pages are laid open.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, these are the records of deeds, opened for the reckoning.11وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتۡ ١١And when the sky is torn away.InsightElmalılı explains “kasht” as removing a covering, like peeling bark from a tree or lifting a veil from a face.12وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتۡ ١٢And when hell is lighted.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Hell will be kindled to its full intensity for the arrogant by people’s evil deeds and Allah’s wrath.13وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُزۡلِفَتۡ ١٣And when the Garden is brought nigh.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, Paradise, adorned by Allah’s grace and mercy and the reward of good deeds, will be brought near to the mindful.14عَلِمَتۡ نَفۡسࣱ مَّآ أَحۡضَرَتۡ ١٤(Then) every soul will know what it hath made ready.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, every soul will know for certain what it has prepared for that day, good or evil; not even an atom’s weight is lost.15فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلۡخُنَّسِ ١٥Oh, but I call to witness the planets.16ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡكُنَّسِ ١٦The stars which rise and set.InsightElmalılı explains “khunnas” as those that appear and then hide, and “kunnas” as those that withdraw to their place like a gazelle entering its lair: stars that vanish by day.17وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا عَسۡعَسَ ١٧And the close of night.InsightElmalılı says “‘as‘as” means both approaching and departing, and that most explained it as the night’s departure.18وَٱلصُّبۡحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ ١٨And the breath of morning.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the dawn breathing is the moment it begins to open; it hints at the sweetness of the morning breeze and its relief from the night’s heaviness.19إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولࣲ كَرِيمࣲ ١٩That this is in truth the word of an honoured messenger.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this Qur’an is the speech brought by a messenger honoured and esteemed with Allah: Gabriel.20ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي ٱلۡعَرۡشِ مَكِينࣲ ٢٠Mighty, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, he is a messenger of great strength, without weakness in carrying out his charge, irresistible.21مُّطَاعࣲ ثَمَّ أَمِينࣲ ٢١(One) to be obeyed, and trustworthy.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, before Allah the angels brought near obey him; he is trustworthy in every way regarding revelation.22وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجۡنُونࣲ ٢٢And your comrade is not mad.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this recalls that the Prophet, whose company they kept, could not be doubted in his sanity; they knew him closely.23وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ٢٣Surely he beheld Him on the clear horizon.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet saw that trustworthy and mighty messenger, Gabriel, plainly on the clear horizon.24وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلۡغَيۡبِ بِضَنِينࣲ ٢٤And he is not avid of the Unseen.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Prophet does not hold back the revelation and the news of the unseen given to him, but conveys it as it is.25وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوۡلِ شَيۡطَٰنࣲ رَّجِيمࣲ ٢٥Nor is this the utterance of a devil worthy to be stoned.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is not the word of a devil cast out of mercy; it came not by eavesdropping like what came to soothsayers, but through a trustworthy messenger.26فَأَيۡنَ تَذۡهَبُونَ ٢٦Whither then go ye.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, before these truths, leaving the right path, what are you turning to, what great errors are you falling into?27إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرࣱ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٧This is naught else than a reminder unto creation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, the Qur’an is a pure reminder that must not be forgotten, meant for all people of reason.28لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ ٢٨Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, those who benefit from the reminder are those who seek truth and wish to go straight; they are the truly wise.29وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٩And ye will not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation.InsightAccording to Elmalılı, this reminds especially those who wish to go straight: even your willing depends on Allah’s will, so ask Him for help.