The Tafsīr of Sūrat Aṭ-Ṭāriq (Chapter - 86)

Which was revealed in Makkah

The Virtues of Sūrat Aṭ-Ṭāriq

An-Nasā'ī recorded that Jābir said, "Mu'ādh lead the Maghrib prayer and he recited Al-Baqarah and An-Nisā'. So the Prophet ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthأَفَتَّانٌ أَنْتَ يَا مُعَاذُ، مَا كَانَ يَكْفِيكَ أَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ وَالشَّمْسِ وَضُحَاهَا وَنَحْوِهَا؟

«Are you putting the people to trial O Mu'ādh?! Was it not sufficient for you to recite As-Samā'i waṭ-Ṭāriq, and Ash-Shamsi wa Ḍuḥāha, and something like them?»^{1An-Nasā'ī in Al-Kubrā 6:512.}

Qur’anبِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Qur’an 86:1–10وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌ يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ

«1. By the heaven, and Aṭ-Ṭāriq;» «2. And what will make you to know what Aṭ-Ṭāriq is?» «3. The star, Ath-Thāqib.» «4. There is no human being but has a protector over him.» «5. So, let man see from what he is created!» «6. He is created from a water gushing forth,» «7. Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.» «8. Verily, He is Able to bring him back!» «9. The Day when all the secrets will be examined.» «10. Then he will have no power, nor any helper.»

Swearing by the Existence of Humanity surrounded by the Organized System of Allāh

Allāh swears by the heaven and what He has placed in it of radiant stars. Thus, He says,

Qur’an 86:1وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ

«By the heaven, and Aṭ-Ṭāriq;» Then He says,

Qur’an 86:2وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ

«And what will make you to know what Aṭ-Ṭāriq is?»

Then He explains it by His saying,

Qur’an 86:3ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ

«The star of Ath-Thāqib.» Qatādah and others have said, "The star has been named Ṭāriq because it is only seen at night and it is hidden during the day."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:351.} His view is supported by what has been mentioned in the authentic Ḥadīth that prohibits a man to come to his family Ṭarūq. This means that he comes to them unexpectedly at nighttime.^{2Fatḥ Al-Bāri 9:251.}

Concerning Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 86:3ٱلثَّاقِبُ

«Ath-Thāqib.» Ibn 'Abbās said, "The illuminating."^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:352.} 'Ikrimah said, "It is illuminating and it burns the Shayṭān."

Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:4إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ

«There is no human being but has a protector over him.»

meaning, every soul has a guardian over it from Allāh that protects it from the calamities. This is as Allāh says,

Qur’an 13:11لَهُۥ مُعَقِّبَٰتٌ مِّنۢ بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَمِنْ خَلْفِهِۦ يَحْفَظُونَهُۥ مِنْ أَمْرِ ٱللَّهِ

«For Him, there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the command of Allāh.» (13:11)

How Man is created is a Proof of Allāh's Ability to Return Him to Him

Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:5فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ

«So, let man see from what he is created!» This is alerting man to the weakness of his origin from which he was created. The intent of it is to guide man to accept (the reality of) the Hereafter, because whoever is able to begin the creation then he is also able to repeat it in the same way. This is as Allāh says,

Qur’an 30:27وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ

«And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.» (30:27)

Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:6خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ

«He is created from a water gushing forth.» meaning, the sexual fluid that comes out bursting forth from the man and the woman. Thus, the child is produced from both of them by the permission of Allāh. Due to this Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:7يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ

«Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.»

meaning, the backbone (or loins) of the man and the ribs of the woman, which is referring to her chest. Shabīb bin Bishr reported from 'Ikrimah who narrated from Ibn 'Abbās that he said,

Qur’an 86:7يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ

«Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.»

"The backbone of the man and the ribs of the woman. It (the fluid) is yellow and fine in texture. The child will not be born except from both of them (i.e., their sexual fluids)."^{4Ad-Durr Al-Manthūr 8:475.} Concerning Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 86:8إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌ

«Verily, He is Able to bring him back (to life)!»

This means that He is able to return this man that is created from fluid gushed forth. In other words, He is able to repeat his creation and resurrect him to the final abode. This is clearly possible, because whoever is able to begin the creation then he surely is able to repeat it. Indeed Allāh has mentioned this proof in more than one place in the Qur'ān.

On the Day of Judgement, Man will have no Power or Assistance

In this regard Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:9يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ

«The Day when all the secrets will be examined.»

meaning, on the Day of Judgement the secrets will be tested. This means that they will be exposed and made manifest. Thus, the secret will be made open and that which is concealed will be well known. It is confirmed in the Two Ṣaḥīḥs on the authority of Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ said,

Ḥadīthيُرْفَعُ لِكُلِّ غَادِرٍ لِوَاءٌ عِنْدَ اسْتِهِ يُقَالُ: هٰذِهِ غَدْرَةُ فُلَانِ بْنِ فُلَانٍ

«Every betrayer will have a flag raised for him behind his back, and it will be said, 'This is the betrayal of so-and-so, the son of so-and-so.'»^{5Al-Bukhāri no. 6177, 6178, and Muslim 3:1359.}

Concerning Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 86:10فَمَا لَهُۥ

«Then he will have no» meaning, man on the Day of Judgement.

Qur’an 86:10مِن قُوَّةٍ

«any power» meaning, within himself.

Qur’an 86:10وَلَا نَاصِرٍ

Arabic quotation as printed; not matched to Tanzil, so not shown as the Qur’anوَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌ يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا سَبِّحِ ٱسْمَ رَبِّكَ ٱلْأَعْلَى ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ فَسَوَّىٰ وَٱلَّذِى قَدَّرَ فَهَدَىٰ وَٱلَّذِىٓ أَخْرَجَ ٱلْمَرْعَىٰ فَجَعَلَهُۥ غُثَآءً أَحْوَىٰ سَنُقْرِئُكَ فَلَا تَنسَىٰٓ إِلَّا مَا شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ إِنَّهُۥ يَعْلَمُ ٱلْجَهْرَ وَمَا يَخْفَىٰ وَنُيَسِّرُكَ لِلْيُسْرَىٰ فَذَكِّرْ إِن نَّفَعَتِ ٱلذِّكْرَىٰ سَيَذَّكَّرُ مَن يَخْشَىٰ وَيَتَجَنَّبُهَا ٱلْأَشْقَى ٱلَّذِى يَصْلَى ٱلنَّارَ ٱلْكُبْرَىٰ ثُمَّ لَا يَمُوتُ فِيهَا وَلَا يَحْيَىٰ قَدْ أَفْلَحَ مَن تَزَكَّىٰ وَذَكَرَ ٱسْمَ رَبِّهِۦ فَصَلَّىٰ

«nor any helper.» meaning, from other than himself. This statement means that he will not be able to save himself from the torment of Allāh, and nor will anyone else be able to save him.

Qur’an 86:11–17وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا

«11. By the sky which gives rain, again and again.» «12. And the earth which splits.» «13. Verily, this is the Word that separates.» «14. And it is not a thing for amusement.» «15. Verily, they are but plotting a plot.» «16. And I am planning a plan.» «17. So, give a respite to the disbelievers; deal gently with them for a while.»

Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'ān and the Failure of Those Who oppose it

Ibn 'Abbās said, "Ar-raj' means rain."^{1Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:360.} It has also been narrated from him that he said, "It means the clouds that contain rain." He also said,

Qur’an 86:11وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ

«By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.»

"This means that it rains and then it rains (again)." Qatādah said, "It returns the sustenance of the servants (creatures) every year. Were it not for this, they would all be destroyed and so would their cattle."^{2Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:360.}

Qur’an 86:12وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ

«And the earth which splits.» Ibn 'Abbās said, "Splitting to bring forth plant growths."^{3Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:361.} This was also said by Sa'īd bin Jubayr, 'Ikrimah, Abu Mālik, Aḍ-Ḍaḥḥāk, Al-Ḥasan, Qatādah, As-Suddi and others.^{4Ad-Durr Al-Manthūr 8:477.} Concerning Allāh's statement,

Qur’an 86:13إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

«Verily, this is the Word that separates.»

Ibn 'Abbās said (Faṣl is), "True."^{5Aṭ-Ṭabari 24:362.} Qatādah also said the same. Someone else said, "A just ruling."

Qur’an 86:14وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ

«And it is not a thing for amusement.»

meaning, rather it is serious and true. Then Allāh informs about the disbelievers saying that they reject Him and hinder others from His path. Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:15إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

«Verily, they are but plotting a plot.» meaning, they plot against the people in their calling them to oppose the Qur'ān. Then Allāh says,

Qur’an 86:17فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ

«So, give a respite to the disbelievers;» meaning, wait for them and do not be in haste concerning them.

Qur’an 86:17أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا

«deal gently with them for a while.» meaning, a little while. This means that you will see what befalls them of torment, punishment and destruction. This is as Allāh says,

Qur’an 31:24نُمَتِّعُهُمْ قَلِيلًا ثُمَّ نَضْطَرُّهُمْ إِلَىٰ عَذَابٍ غَلِيظٍ

«We let them enjoy for a little while, then in the end We shall oblige them to (enter) a great torment.» (31:24)

This is the end of the Tafsīr Sūrat Aṭ-Ṭāriq, and unto Allāh is all praise and thanks.