Lessons from the Qur’an: Surah At-Tariq

Surah At-Tariq (chapter 86 of the Qur’an) was revealed in Makkah. The subject matter of this Surah indicates that it was revealed when the people of Makkah were employing all sorts of devices and plans to defeat and frustrate the message of the Qur’an.

The main themes of this Surah are:

a) The belief of life after death

b) Truthfulness of the Qur’an and its Divine origin

SUMMARIZED INTERPRETATION OF SURAH AT-TARIQ:  

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

[In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.]

1) وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ

[By the heaven, and At-Târiq (the night-comer, i.e. the bright star);]

2) وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ

[And what will make you to know what At-Târiq (the night-comer) is?]

3) النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ

[(It is) the star of piercing brightness;]

ALLAH HAS APPOINTED ANGELS OVER EVERY MAN:

4) إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ

[There is no human being but has a protector over him (or her).]

Allah has appointed angels over every man and woman in order to guard them and write down their records of good and bad deeds. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“For him (each person), there are angels in succession, before and behind him. They guard him by the Command of Allah.” [Al Qur’an 13:11]

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Angels come (to you) in succession by night and day, and all of them get together at the time of the Fajr and ‘Asr prayers. Then those who have stayed with you overnight, ascend to Allah, Who asks them (and He knows the answer better than they): ‘How have you left My (believing) slaves?’ They reply, ‘We left them while they were praying and we came to them while they were praying.’” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

The angels appointed over a man record every action and deed of that person. Apart from deeds, the angels also record the intention of a man. The Prophet said:

“Allah ordered (the appointed angels over you) that the good and the bad deeds be written, and He then showed (the way) how (to write). If somebody intends to do a good deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write for him a full good deed (in his account with Him); and if he intends to do a good deed and actually does it, then Allah will write for him (in his account) with Him (its reward equal) from ten to seven hundred times, to many more times; and if somebody intended to do a bad deed and he does not do it, then Allah will write a full good deed (in his account) with Him, and if he intended to do it (a bad deed) and actually does it, then Allah will write one bad deed (in his account).” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

CREATION OF MAN IS A PROOF FOR LIFE AFTER DEATH:

5) فَلْيَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ

[So, let man see from what he is created!]

The intent of this verse is to guide man to accept the reality of the Hereafter, because Allah, who has created him from a small amount of fluid, is also able to repeat his creation after his death. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it (after it has been perished); and this is easier for Him.” [Al Qur’an 30:27]

6) خُلِقَ مِن مَّاءٍ دَافِقٍ

[He is created from a water gushing forth,]

7) يَخْرُجُ مِن بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ

[Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs.]

Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas, the cousin of the Prophet and the great commentator of the Qur’an is reported to have said, explaining this verse:

“(Here the backbone refers to) the backbone of the man and (the ribs refers to) 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).” [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

8) إِنَّهُ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ

[Verily, (Allah) is Able to bring him back (to life)!]

HELPLESSNESS OF MAN ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT:

9) يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ

[The Day when all the secrets (of deeds) will be examined (as to their truth).]

10) فَمَا لَهُ مِن قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ

[Then he will have no power, nor any helper.]

“He will have no power” means a man will have no power within himself and “any helper” means from other than himself. Therefore, this statement means that nobody (i.e. disbelievers and the wicked) will be able to save himself from the torment of Allah, nor will anyone else be able to save him. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

TRUTHFULNESS OF THE QUR’AN:

11) وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ

[By the sky (having rain clouds) which gives rain, again and again.]

12) وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ

[And the earth which splits (with the growth of trees and plants).]

13) إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ

[Verily, this (the Qur’an) is the Word that separates (the truth from falsehood, and commands strict laws for mankind to cut the roots of evil).]

14) وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ

[And it is not a thing for amusement.]

OPPONENTS OF THE QUR’AN WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL:

15) إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا

[Verily, they (the disbelievers) are but plotting a plot.]

16) وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا

[And I (too) am planning a plan.]

Verses 15 and 16 of this Surah indicate that the opponents of the Qur’an will never be successful in their plotting against the Qur’an, because Allah will make their efforts fruitless.

17) فَمَهِّلِ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا

[So, give a respite to the disbelievers; and leave them for a while.]