بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
At-Takwir 81:1
The Overthrowing · Juz 30 · Page 586
إِذَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ كُوِّرَتۡ ١
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 81:1
Commentary
إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ (When the sun will be folded up...81:1) The word kawwara is derived from Takwir which denotes for the sun 'to lose its light'.1 Sayyidna Hasan Basri (رح) has attached this interpretation to it. Another sense of the word is 'to cause to fall'. Rabi` Ibn Khaitham assigns the following interpretation to this verse: The Sun will be thrown into the ocean, and as a result of its heat the entire ocean will turn into fire. The two interpretations are not contradictory. They may be reconciled thus: first, its light will be put off and then it may be thrown into the ocean. Sahih of Bukhari records from Sayyidna Abu Huharirah ؓ that the Holy Prophet ﷺ said that on the Day of Resurrection the Sun and the Moon would be thrown into the ocean. Musnad of Bazzar has the addition that they will be thrown into Hell. Ibn Abi Hatim, Ibn Abid-Dunya and Abush-Shaikh stated that on the Day of Resurrection Allah will throw the Sun, the Moon and all stars into the ocean. Then a violent wind will blow over them, as a result of which the entire ocean will turn into fire. Thus it is correct to say that the Sun and the Moon will be put into the ocean. It is likewise correct to say that they will be put into Hell, because the entire ocean at that time will have been turned into Hell. [ Derived from Mazhari and Qurtubi ]
(1) Another meaning of Takwir is 'to fold', and the translation in the text is based on this meaning. The sense of folding the sun is that its function will come to an end, and it will lose its light. As such, it comes to mean same thing as mentioned in first interpretation. Muhammad Taqi Usmani
Page 586
سورة التكوير
At-Takwir
The Overthrowing · Meccan · 29 ayahs
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
81:1
إِذَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ كُوِّرَتۡ ١
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
81:2
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتۡ ٢
And when the stars fall, dispersing,
81:3
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتۡ ٣
And when the mountains are removed
81:4
وَإِذَا ٱلۡعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتۡ ٤
And when full-term she-camels1 are neglected
1 translator’s note
- Those ten months pregnant and nearing delivery. This verse alludes to distraction from the most valued of possessions. ↩
81:5
وَإِذَا ٱلۡوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتۡ ٥
And when the wild beasts are gathered
81:6
وَإِذَا ٱلۡبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتۡ ٦
And when the seas are filled with flame1
1 translator’s note
- Or "when the seas have overflowed [into each other]." ↩
81:7
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتۡ ٧
And when the souls are paired1
1 translator’s note
- With another like soul. It can also mean "joined" (with their groups or sects) . ↩
81:8
وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ ٨
And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked
81:9
بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبٖ قُتِلَتۡ ٩
For what sin she was killed
81:10
وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتۡ ١٠
And when the pages1 are spread [i.e., made public]
1 translator’s note
- On which are recorded the deeds of all people. ↩
81:11
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتۡ ١١
And when the sky is stripped away
81:12
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتۡ ١٢
And when Hellfire is set ablaze
81:13
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُزۡلِفَتۡ ١٣
And when Paradise is brought near,
81:14
عَلِمَتۡ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أَحۡضَرَتۡ ١٤
A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., all of one's deeds from worldly life, which have accompanied the soul to the Hereafter. ↩
81:15
فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلۡخُنَّسِ ١٥
So I swear by the retreating stars -
81:16
ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡكُنَّسِ ١٦
Those that run [their courses] and disappear [i.e., set]
81:17
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا عَسۡعَسَ ١٧
And by the night as it closes in1
1 translator’s note
- An alternative meaning is "as it departs." ↩
81:18
وَٱلصُّبۡحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ ١٨
And by the dawn when it breathes [i.e., stirs]
81:19
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولٖ كَرِيمٖ ١٩
[That] indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e., Gabriel]
81:20
ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي ٱلۡعَرۡشِ مَكِينٖ ٢٠
[Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position],
81:21
مُّطَاعٖ ثَمَّ أَمِينٖ ٢١
Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
81:22
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجۡنُونٖ ٢٢
And your companion [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) ] is not [at all] mad.1
1 translator’s note
- Literally, "possessed by jinn." ↩
81:23
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ ٢٣
And he has already seen him [i.e., Gabriel] in the clear horizon.1
1 translator’s note
- i.e., the eastern horizon, where the sun rises. See footnote to 53:6. ↩
81:24
وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلۡغَيۡبِ بِضَنِينٖ ٢٤
And he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] is not a withholder of [knowledge of] the unseen.1
1 translator’s note
- Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) did not withhold that knowledge of the unseen which Allāh had revealed to him in the Qur’ān. ↩
81:25
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوۡلِ شَيۡطَٰنٖ رَّجِيمٖ ٢٥
And it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].
81:26
فَأَيۡنَ تَذۡهَبُونَ ٢٦
So where are you going?1
1 translator’s note
- In your denial of the Qur’ān and in your accusations against the Prophet (ﷺ) . The meaning is essentially "Surely, you have strayed far from Allāh's path." ↩
81:27
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٧
It is not except a reminder to the worlds
81:28
لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ ٢٨
For whoever wills among you to take a right course.
81:29
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢٩
And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds.