بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
At-Takwir 81:21
The Overthrowing · Juz 30 · Page 586
مُّطَاعٖ ثَمَّ أَمِينٖ ٢١
Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
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Ma'arif al-Qur'an
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Commentary on 81:19–82:4
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ (it [ the Qur'an ] is surely the word of a noble messenger [ Jibra'il ], the one possessing power and a high status with the Lord of the Throne...81:19-20). This is the subject of oath that affirms that Qur'an is the word brought by a noble messenger. Then three qualities are attributed to this noble messenger. The first quality is that he possesses power. The second quality is that he has high status and lofty rank with Allah, and he is obeyed in the upper realm. The third quality is that he is trusted, and there is no possibility of his committing any breach of trust or tampering with the message he conveys. The word 'noble messenger' obviously refers to the angel Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) because the word 'messenger' is used for angels as it is used for prophets, and all the three qualities attributed to the 'messenger' in the next verses are truly present in Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) . His being powerful is mentioned in Surah An-Najm in the following words;
عَلَّمَهُ شَدِيدُ الْقُوَىٰ
It is taught to him by one (angel) of strong faculties.[ 53:5)
It is established through the hadith of Mi` raj that he is obeyed by other angels, because when he accompanied the Holy Prophet ﷺ to the sky and ordered the angels appointed on its doors to open them he was obeyed by them. That he is trust-worthy is too obvious to need a proof.
Some commentators, however, take the phrase 'honourable messenger' to refer to the Holy Prophet Muhammad "and accordingly have made an attempt to take all the three qualities referring to the Holy Prophet ﷺ .
In the next verses, the Holy Qur'an has mentioned the high status of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and has refuted the silly objections raised against him by the infidels.
(And your companion [ Muhammad ﷺ ] madman....81:22) This is rebuttal to the foolish criticism of the enemies who said that Muhammad ﷺ is [ God forbid!] insane.
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالْأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ (And he did see him [ Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) ] on the clear horizon. _81:23) In other words, Muhammad saw Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) on a clear horizon. A similar statement occurs in Surah An-Najm as follows:
The purpose of mentioning this is to show that the Holy Prophet ﷺ was well-acquainted with Jibra'il (علیہ السلام) the angel of revelation. He had seen him in his original shape. Therefore, there can be no room for doubt in the veracity of revelation he brings to him.
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Surah At-Takwir
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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.
Translation: Saheeh International · Text and layout: Quran Foundation · Mushaf fonts: King Fahd Complex, provided by Quran Foundation · Privacy