Interpretation of Surat At-Takwir (The Overthrowing)

By: Ayatullah Naser Makarem Shirazi from Tafseer Namuneh
Translated into English by:Fatima Zabeth Beenesh

The virtues of reciting this Sura
In the narration from the Holy Prophet it is quoted: Those who desire the Prophet to look upon them on the Day of Judgment he should read the Sura e Takvir.
Once the Prophet was asked: Why so soon the effects of old age appeared on your face? He replied: Sura e Hud, Sura e Waqiya, Sura e Mursilat, Sura e Nab’a and Sura e Takvir made me old. As the dreadful happenings of the doomsday are mentioned in these chapters which brings a man of enliven soul in the grip of the early old age effects. It is the fountain head of the awareness and creates the right beliefs and the virtuous practice.
أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ”أ¸أ³أ£أ؛أ“أµ أںأµأ¦أ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:1)
81:1 when the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ¤أ¸أµأŒأµأ¦أ£أµ أ‡أ¤أںأ³أڈأ³أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:2)
81:2 and when the stars lose their light,
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ؛أŒأ¶أˆأ³أ‡أ،أµ أ“أµأ­أ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:3)
81:3 and when the mountains are made to vanish,
And when the pregnant she-camels shall be neglected;
the day when the scroll of the universe will be fold
In the beginning of this Sura, as we had mentioned, it pointed out shortly the tense and shocking happening of the end of the world and the commencement of the doomsday that the human being will be going through the mysterious revolutions. Altogether it indicated eight signs from among the other signs of the judgment day’s predictions.
أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ”أ¸أ³أ£أ؛أ“أµ أںأµأ¦أ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:1)
81:1 when the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
أٹثœأ¦یأ‘ basically means to roll up or to fold up something. Any way here it gives the meaning that to put off the light of the sun and to get dark and the shrink down of its volume.
As we know at present the sun is a highly hot and burning sphere such that all its matters are compact gases and around it the burning flames are blazing. And there height is hundred thousand kilometers and in case if the globe of the world comes in the grip of one of its flames then within a moment it will be changed into ashes and transformed into handful of gas.
But at the end of the world and beginning of the judgment day this temperature of the sun will be reduced and finally vanished. All the flames will be gathered, it lighting will be put off and its volume will shrink away and it is the meaning of أٹثœأ¦یأ‘.
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ¤أ¸أµأŒأµأ¦أ£أµ أ‡أ¤أںأ³أڈأ³أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:2)
81:2 and when the stars fall, dispersing.
أ‡أ¤أںأ³أڈأ³أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ means to fall down and get disperse.
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ؛أŒأ¶أˆأ³أ‡أ،أµ أ“أµأ­أ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:3)
81:3 And when the mountains are removed
On the threshold and the entrance of the judgment day the mountains will pass through various stages first they move and in last phase they will change into dust.
Then it adds: In that period the most valuable thing will also be forgotten.
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ؛أڑأ¶أ”أ³أ‡أ‘أµ أڑأµأکأ¸أ¶أ،أ³أٹأ؛ (81:4)
81:4 And when the pregnant she-camels shall be neglected;
أ‡أ،أ؛أڑأ¶أ”أ³أ‡أ‘أµ means the pregnant she camel who is ten months pregnant and she is about to conceive her offspring in a short period of time and going to give abundant milk. The days when this ayat descended this kind of camel was the most valuable asset among Arabs.
أڑأµأکأ¸أ¶أ،أ³أٹأ؛ is taken from the word أٹأڑأکیأ، which means to leave away without any guardian and shepherd. By this extreme fear and shock it means that every human being will forgets his or her valuable, useful and desirable asset.
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ؛أ¦أµأچأµأ¦أ”أµ أچأµأ”أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:5)
81:5 and when all beasts are gathered together,
The animals normally keeps pace and distance with each other by the fear of each other but the intensity of fright and terror of resurrection day will occur so immense that they gather together and forget everything. That day will wipe out the natural disposition of the wild animals; in that case the grave condition of man is clearly evident.
By another definition the above ayat is about the assembling of the wild animal in the court of the resurrection. They too in their scope of enlightenment and intelligence have some duties in this world. In the case if they had committed any injustice and cruelty to each other, in hereafter they will be enquired and the punishment will be imposed upon them.
The similar ayat is defined in the Sura e أ‡أ¤أڑأ‡أ£ An’am and said: Surat Al-'An`ām (The Cattle) - أ“أ¦أ‘أ‰ أ‡أ،أƒأ¤أڑأ‡أ£
أ¦أ³أ£أ³أ‡ أ£أ¶أ¤ أڈأ³أ‚أˆأ¸أ³أ‰أ² أ‌أ¶أ­ أ‡أ،أƒأ³أ‘أ؛أ–أ¶ أ¦أ³أ،أ‡أ³ أکأ³أ‡أ†أ¶أ‘أ² أ­أ³أکأ¶أ­أ‘أµ أˆأ¶أŒأ³أ¤أ³أ‡أچأ³أ­أ؛أ¥أ¶ أ…أ¶أ،أ‡أ¸أ³ أƒأµأ£أ³أ£أ± أƒأ³أ£أ؛أ‹أ³أ‡أ،أµأںأµأ£ أ£أ¸أ³أ‡ أ‌أ³أ‘أ¸أ³أکأ؛أ¤أ³أ‡ أ‌أ¶أ­ أ‡أ،أںأ¶أٹأ³أ‡أˆأ¶ أ£أ¶أ¤ أ”أ³أ­أ؛أپأ² أ‹أµأ£أ¸أ³ أ…أ¶أ،أ³أ¬ أ‘أ³أˆأ¸أ¶أ¥أ¶أ£أ؛ أ­أµأچأ؛أ”أ³أ‘أµأ¦أ¤أ³ (6:38)
6:38 there is not a moving (living) creature on earth, or a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, and then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.
أ¦أ³أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أ‡أ،أ؛أˆأ¶أچأ³أ‡أ‘أµ أ“أµأŒأ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ (81:6)
81:6 and when the seas boil over,
أ“أµأŒأ¸أ¶أ‘أ³أٹأ؛ means to start the fire and intensifying the fire. As we know today, the water is the compound of two substances oxygen and hydrogen and the both are highly inflammable. Probably in the appearance of the doomsday the water of the oceans will come under such a pressure that they will get disintegrated and broken up and ultimately transformed into a body of fire.
The divine herald descended upon him
أ‌أ³أ،أ³أ‡ أƒأµأ‍أ؛أ“أ¶أ£أµ أˆأ¶أ‡أ،أ؛أژأµأ¤أ¸أ³أ“أ¶ (81:15
First it is said: I swear by the stars who return back.
أ‡أ،أ؛أŒأ³أ¦أ³أ‡أ‘أ¶ أ‡أ،أ؛أںأµأ¤أ¸أ³أ“أ¶ (81:16
They move and get disappeared from the eyes.
أ،أ؛أژأµأ¤أ¸أ³أ“ means to come back and to get disappeared. The Satan is called أژأ¤أ‡أ“ because he disappears when the name of the Allah is recited.
أ‡أ،أ؛أŒأ³أ¦أ³أ‡أ‘أ¶ means which passes by very fast.
أ‡أ،أ؛أںأµأ¤أ¸أ³أ“أ¶ means to hide away. Most of the narrators believe that this ayat is pointing towards the five stars (planets) of the solar system which can be seen by the plain eyes without any visual help. (Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn).
If the consecutive nights we watch the sky then we will find out the meaning of this word that the stars arise and set down all together without any change in their distance. As if the pearls are stitched on a black fabric in the fixed intervals. Only they are five stars which are exempt and free from this general law. That is among the other stars they move and stroll like the pearls which are left unstitched.
They are the five stars which belongs to the family of solar system we sight their movement as they are near to us, else the other stars too have the same movements. As they are too far away from us we are unable to feel their motions.
But the word أ‡أ،أ؛أںأµأ¤أ¸أ³أ“أ¶means, that probably they may hide in the rays of the sun. May be while circling around the sun, they reach to the point which is near to the sun so they totally get disappeared. The astrologers named this delicate point as the combustion (slow oxidation by high temperature and light).
The planets of solar system are not only these five stars, the other stars by the name Uranus, Neptune and Pluto also exists but they can be viewed by the telescope only. With the earth they altogether consists the solar system. Most of the planets have a moon or the moons.
Then it swears and said: I affirm by night when it returns and ends.
أ¦أ³أ‡أ،أ،أ¸أ³أ­أ؛أ،أ¶ أ…أ¶أگأ³أ‡ أڑأ³أ“أ؛أڑأ³أ“أ³ (81:17)
أڑأ³أ“أ؛أڑأ³أ“أ³ means flimsy and thin darkness, as the darkness of night is light at the hours of the beginning and the end of the night.
The night is one of the blessings of God as it provides peace for mind and body. It regulates the temperature and helps to continue the life of the creatures.
But the ayat are leaning upon the end of the night probably for it is proceeding towards the lights and illumination. Apart from this it is the best period for prayers and supplications for the Almighty and it is the beginning of the movement of life and existence.
How interesting the morning is compared to the living being and its first respiration is the whiteness of the sunset when the soul of life is blown into the creatures. As if by the radiation of the first ray of light the life breaths again and comes out of the clutches of the motionless night and acquires fresh vigor.
The next swear is that for which all the covenants were solemnized. Certainly this Quran is send by the magnanimous and great herald (the trusted Jibril alaihis salam) who bring from the direction of the Almighty Creator.
It was the answer to those who accused the Prophet that he himself created and composed the Quran and related it to the God. In this ayat and the following ayaat which described about the herald of the revelation Jibril alaihis salam in fact they are qualities which fulfils the total terms and conditions of every intermediate foreteller and representative. His first description is generosity ثœأ‘یأ£.
Then described the other characteristics of Jibril alaihis salam and added: He is the possessor of power and near to the benevolent God, he had the high status near the God, the master of the empyrean throne.
أگأ¶أ­ أ‍أµأ¦أ¸أ³أ‰أ² أڑأ¶أ¤أڈأ³ أگأ¶أ­ أ‡أ،أ؛أڑأ³أ‘أ؛أ”أ¶ أ£أ³أںأ¶أ­أ¤أ² (81:20)
The empyrean throne أڑأ‘أ” whether it is beyond the nature or it is the status of the hidden knowledge. It has immense importance and introducing the Jibril alaihis salam dominating the empyrean throne.
The term أگأ¶أ­ أ‍أµأ¦أ¸أ³أ‰أ² possessor of power ascertained for the Jibril alaihis salam as the master of the boundless power and ability which is essential for the accurate communicating of such great divine message. Basically every important messenger and representative in its own limits must have the control over the authority particularly in the field of denoting the message must be away from every kind of forgetfulness.
أ£أ³أںأ¶أ­أ¤أ² is one who owns a status and position. It is essential for the messenger to be a distinguished and extraordinary person to hold the responsibility of conveying the message and he should be very close and near to him.
And then it describes: He is the sovereign power of the angels and their trustee too.
أ£أµأکأ³أ‡أڑأ² أ‹أ³أ£أ¸أ³ أƒأ³أ£أ¶أ­أ¤أ² (81:21)
In fact the herald of the message of Omnipotent Allah among the dominion of the angels is the one who must be obeyed by all and in the conveying his message, he is immensely trusted entity.
According to some narrations Jibril alaihis salam used to arrive along with the massive group of the angels to impart the ayaat to the Prophet.
In a hadith it is defined that when these ayaat descended upon Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi told Jibril alaihis salam: How nice the magnanimous God appreciated you and said: you are the owner of power, possess the status in the empyrean near to the Almighty God and have ruling authority over there and a trustee. When the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi asked: Explain me an example of your power and trusteeship.
Jibril alaihis salam replied and said: The example of my power is that when I was given the authority to destroy the cities of the nation of the Prophet Lut alaihis salam which consisted of four cities and in each city 400 thousand strong and valiant warriors used to dwell. I had ruined their entire cities except their children. I raised them to the sky so much that the angels heard the howling and wailing of their animals and then hit them back to the ground and made them upside down.
And the example of my trusteeship is that whatever command was send through me by the Omnipotent and All Powerful God I had never made a single mistake in conveyance them.
Then negated the unjust accusation of being insane and added: Your companion is not weak minded and simpleton person.
أ¦أ³أ£أ³أ‡ أ•أ³أ‡أچأ¶أˆأµأںأµأ£ أˆأ¶أ£أ³أŒأ؛أ¤أµأ¦أ¤أ² (81:22)
Here أ•أ‡أچأˆ means the companion and friend. The courtesy of the prophet to the people indicates that he never had the intention to show himself greater than the others. It is mentioned that he lived among you for long period of time and had been your companion. You had accepted his wisdom, intelligence and trusteeship. How could you call him insane? Except that he had brought some teachings after ascending to the prophetic mission which is hitting against your blind superstitions, lusts and the merry makings of your life. Hence to exempt yourself from the rules and regulations of God, the creator, you are unjustly accusing him of being lunatic and crazy.
Hence stressed to prove the contact of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi with the Jibril alaihis salam it added: He certainly sighted clearly and openly Jibril alaihis salam in the horizon.
أ¦أ³أ،أ³أ‍أ³أڈأ؛ أ‘أ³أ‚أ¥أµ أˆأ¶أ‡أ،أ؛أƒأµأ‌أµأ‍أ¶ أ‡أ،أ؛أ£أµأˆأ¶أ­أ¤أ¶ (81:23)
Some stated that: The Holy Prophet viewed twice the Archangel Jibril alaihis salam in his real face. Once in the beginning of the prophetic mission when Jibril alaihis salam appeared upon Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi on the upper horizon which covered entirely the East and the West. It was such a magnificent view that the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi was greatly impressed by it.
The second time on the event of أ£أڑأ‘أ‡أŒ the ascension of the Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi to the heaven sighted the Archangel on the high heavens in his real countenance and the above ayat has indicated that occurrence.
Then added: the Prophet is not at all miser on whatever he achieved by the help of revelation from the unseen world.
أ¦أ³أ£أ³أ‡ أ¥أµأ¦أ³ أڑأ³أ،أ³أ¬ أ‡أ،أ؛أ›أ³أ­أ؛أˆأ¶ أˆأ¶أ–أ³أ¤أ¶أ­أ¤أ² (81:24)
And without any single alteration the Archangel handed them over to the creatures of Benevolent God. He is not like others who while achieving the important fact, conceal the secret and with much miserliness avoids explaining others.
The Prophet is not like the others, he with heart, full of generosity whatever he accomplished with the source of revelation would bestowed to those who were needful of guidance and even blessed those the divine knowledge to whoever were not eager and had not given any heed to it.
أˆأ¶أ–أ³أ¤أ¶أ­أ¤أ² means miserliness in giving the precious and valuable things. This is the characteristic which was not present in any of the prophets. The others possessed this quality but their awareness was limited. The fountain head of the prophet’s divine knowledge was like a boundless ocean and he was too far away and unfamiliar from this quality (miserliness in giving the precious and valuable things).
And adds this as well: it is not told by the Satan, the one who was thrown out of the heaven.
أ¦أ³أ£أ³أ‡ أ¥أµأ¦أ³ أˆأ¶أ‍أ³أ¦أ؛أ،أ¶ أ”أ³أ­أ؛أکأ³أ‡أ¤أ² أ‘أ³أŒأ¶أ­أ£أ² (81:25)
These ayat are not similar to the words of the fortune teller who have contacts with the devils. There words were mixed with untruth and numerable mistakes; they don’t have any relation with the Noble Quran.
The infidels propagated that: The Prophet was a fortune teller, he had taken the inspirations from the devil (ma’azallah). However the words of devil are dark and out of the right way but the ayaat of the Quran are clear and apparent. In the first impact it has a complete guidance and radiance.
The Holy Prophet Muhammad sallallaho alaihi va ala alehi was selecting his representatives who were having similar qualities. Amir ul-Momineen, the Commander of the Pious, Hazrat Ali alaihis salam was selected by the Prophet to convey the ayaat of Sura e Bara’at to the polytheists of Makkah on those specific social situation.
Amir ul-Momineen the Commander of the Pious, Hazrat Ali alaihis salam stated: The person whom you send as your envoy and delegate, he represents your wisdom and your letter is the most expressive medium of your words.
Oh thoughtless people where are you going?
In the related aayat the opponents, for not following the meritorious words of the Quran had been bounded for the punishment and interrogated: Then in this condition, where are you going?
أ‌أ³أƒأ³أ­أ؛أ¤أ³ أٹأ³أگأ؛أ¥أ³أˆأµأ¦أ¤أ³ (81:26)
Why did you leave the right path and stepping towards the wrong path? Why did you turn your back to the sparkling lamp? Are you the enemy of your own happiness and contentment?
Then it includes: This Quran, have advices and instructions only, for the people of the entire world.
أ…أ¶أ¤أ؛ أ¥أµأ¦أ³ أ…أ¶أ،أ¸أ³أ‡ أگأ¶أںأ؛أ‘أ± أ،أ¸أ¶أ،أ؛أڑأ³أ‡أ،أ³أ£أ¶أ­أ¤أ³ (81:27)
It gives everyone instructions and warnings and wakes them up from the slumber of unawareness.
For the guidance and education, only the activities are not enough but the capabilities are required too. In the next aayat it is defined: Quran is the means of guidance for those who wants and desires to step forward in the right way.
أ،أ¶أ£أ³أ¤ أ”أ³أ‡أپ أ£أ¶أ¤أںأµأ£أ؛ أƒأ³أ¤ أ­أ³أ“أ؛أٹأ³أ‍أ¶أ­أ£أ³ (81:28)
If we pay attention to the previous ayat it is said: Quran is the means of awareness and advice for the whole mankind. In this ayat it is mentioning a specific group, those who decided to accept the guidance and desires to proceeds and travels in the straight path. The difference is because the previous ayat of the benevolent Allah is for one and all. This ayat has the condition that is to gain the benefit from the favors of God, the Omnipotent. As the God love’s the whole universe and his kindness is for everyone but it needs the ability of man’s determination and decision to gain his blessings.
Similar to this ayat is present in Sura e Baqra:
أگأ³أ،أ¶أںأ³ أ‡أ،أ؛أںأ¶أٹأ³أ‡أˆأµ أ،أ‡أ³ أ‘أ³أ­أ؛أˆأ³ أ‌أ¶أ­أ¥أ¶ أ¥أµأڈأ°أ¬ أ،أ¸أ¶أ،أ؛أ£أµأٹأ¸أ³أ‍أ¶أ­أ¤أ³ (2:2)
2:2
This is the Book (the Quran), whereof there is no doubt, a guidance to those who are Al-Muttaqun [the pious and righteous persons who fear Allah much (abstain from all kinds of sins and evil deeds which He has forbidden).
However this ayat is from the aayat of the Noble Quran which indicates that the Merciful God had created the man free, in his will and the ultimate decision is up to the man, to select the journey of truth or proceed for an invalid and vain life.
The interpretation of the أ­أ³أ“أ؛أٹأ³أ‍أ¶أ­أ£أ³ is very interesting. It illustrates the real path which is laid before the human being and it is in the straight path of guidance and happiness, whereas all the other ways are the roads and passages of the deviation and transgression. The entire internal and external strength of the man is mobilized to move him to the direction of the straight path and if the extravagances or lack of moderations or the states below the perfection, the wastages, the devil’s temptations, the deviating and deceitful propaganda of media would not had been actively working in the present world, the human beings would surely had been stepped into the right path, by hearing the voice of his heart. We all know the straight path is the nearest way to the destination.
But the determination and decision of the man may create false and misleading impression for the realities, as the man is so much liberated in the choice of this path that he does not needs any specific godly favors in going ahead in this path. In the next ayat which is the last ayat of the Sura, it describes the effects of the God’s will and states:
أ¦أ³أ£أ³أ‡ أٹأ³أ”أ³أ‡أ„أµأ¦أ¤أ³ أ…أ¶أ،أ¸أ³أ‡ أƒأ³أ¤ أ­أ³أ”أ³أ‡أپ أ‡أ،أ،أ¸أ³أ¥أµ أ‘أ³أˆأ¸أµ أ‡أ،أ؛أڑأ³أ‡أ،أ³أ£أ¶أ­أ¤أ³ (81:29)
In fact these two ayaat together describes the intricate and delicate problem of the أ‡أ£أ‘ أˆیأ¤ أ‡أ،أ‡أ£أ‘یأ¤ that is to select a matter between the two matters. From one side the God in Quran says that decision is on your part and from the other side he relates that till the God does not wills, you cannot decide anything. That is, if you are created free in your will and decisions this liberation too is blessed from the Omnipotent God, because he wanted such deeds from you, so you had been guided that way.
The human being is not forced in his or her acts and they are not hundred percent free, not the أŒأˆأ‘ compulsion is right nor the process of surrender and handing over but whatever he or she possess. It is from his or her wisdom, physical strength and will power which are entirely from the Almighty God. This is the fact that the man is always in need of the creator and in the other side the duties and commitments had been imposed upon him because of his free will and liberations.
The definition of the أ‘أˆ أ‡أ،أڑأ‡أ،أ£یأ¤ the Lord of the universe has been described beautifully that the will of God is always in the way of the education and perfection of the man. He never wants man to go astray or commit a sin or go far away from the nearness of his creator. The Omnipotent God by his benevolent character, maintains whoever he wants, he helps and supports those who are stepping forward in the path of perfection.
O God! we are aware that without your help it is impossible to step in the way of truth. Bless us success in this way and give us prosperity.
O Lord! We had desired to step in the way of truth and guidance; you too decide to hold our hands in this path.
O God! The Provider for the poor, the ground of the judgment day is immensely horrible before the man and our file of the deeds are empty of the virtuous accomplishments. Bless us shelter in your favors and forgive when we come before the scale of the justice, Amen, O Lord of the universe.