Tazkirul Quran · Tafsir · in English
الطارق
At-Tariq
The Nightcommer · Meccan · 17 ayahs
86:1–3Page 591
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ ١
By the sky and the knocker
وَمَآ أَدۡرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ ٢
And what can make you know what is the knocker?
ٱلنَّجۡمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ ٣
It is the piercing star1.
A star shining upon a man is a symbolic reminder of the fact that an Observer is watching him. This Observer is recording man’s deeds. He will resurrect man after his death and take the reckoning of all his deeds. It is the period of respite (during which man is put to the test) which acts as a ‘wedge’ between man and the aforesaid event. As soon as the period of trial is over, he will face the consequences—from which he seems to be far away today.
86:4–17Page 591
إِن كُلُّ نَفۡسٖ لَّمَّا عَلَيۡهَا حَافِظٞ ٤
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
فَلۡيَنظُرِ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ ٥
So let man observe from what he was created.
خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٖ دَافِقٖ ٦
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
يَخۡرُجُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ ٱلصُّلۡبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ ٧
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجۡعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٞ ٨
Indeed, He [i.e., Allāh], to return him [to life], is Able.
يَوۡمَ تُبۡلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ ٩
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,1
فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٖ وَلَا نَاصِرٖ ١٠
Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجۡعِ ١١
By the sky which sends back1
وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدۡعِ ١٢
And [by] the earth which splits,1
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلٞ فَصۡلٞ ١٣
Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,
وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلۡهَزۡلِ ١٤
And it is not amusement.
إِنَّهُمۡ يَكِيدُونَ كَيۡدٗا ١٥
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
وَأَكِيدُ كَيۡدٗا ١٦
But I am planning a plan.
فَمَهِّلِ ٱلۡكَٰفِرِينَ أَمۡهِلۡهُمۡ رُوَيۡدَۢا ١٧
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.1
It is quite evident that there is planning in the creation of man and the world. This planning strongly implies that there must be some purpose behind this creation. And indeed, this purpose has been revealed to man through divine revelation. However, only that individual learns a lesson from revelation who is of a receptive nature. Such people will be introduced to the eternal bounties of God. But those whose arrogance prevents them from accepting guidance, will be doomed to being cast into the flames of the eternal fire.
Text: through the Quran Foundation. The ayahs: Quran Foundation. Sources and licences