In the Name of Almighty Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate
29 آية
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Surah At-Takwir is the 81st chapter of the Quran, containing 29 verses. Revealed in Makkah, it takes its name from its opening verse describing the sun being folded up. It paints a series of vivid cosmic signs marking the Day of Judgement: the stars falling, the mountains set in motion, the seas boiling over, and the female infant buried alive being asked for what sin she was killed. The surah affirms that the Quran is the word conveyed by a noble, trustworthy angelic messenger, that the Prophet is not possessed, and closes declaring it a reminder for whoever among mankind wills to take a straight path to his Lord. Below you can read the full Surah At-Takwir in Arabic with a clear English translation and a verse-by-verse tafsir (explanation of the meaning) from Aysar al-Tafaseer, with the option to jump to any specific verse.
6. and when the oceans flare up and are blazing with fire (which could be a result of earthquakes and schisms at the bottom of the oceans; thus the water of the sea and combustible matter which is found within the earth seep through to the sites of burning liquids in the earth and are ignited: the fire will then be visible at the surface of the seas);
7. when the souls are reunited with the bodies on the Day of Resurrection, after they had separated upon death (some considered this evidence that the souls remain alive from the time of death till the time of assembly; the Almighty called this “coupling”; it was said that the meaning of “coupling” is the joining of each soul with its like, as the Almighty said in verse 22 of chapter 37- As-Saffat (Those Ranged in Ranks): “Bring up the wrong-doers with their wives”;
8. when, on Judgement Day, the little girl who was buried alive is questioned before he who buried her (before Islam, in the age of ignorance (the Jahiliyah) the Arabs used to bury their daughters alive);
14. when all the previously mentioned incidents take place, this is an indication of Judgement Day. People will be resurrected from their graves and gathered together for their reckoning. Each soul will then know its deeds and the good or evil prepared for it. It shall know which deeds have been accepted by Allah and which were rejected.
15. Allah swears by the planets that disappear from view in the daytime. They are like slinkers in the day. (The negative “No!” is to affirm the oath. It is said that it is a relative just like Allah’s words in verse 29 of chapter 57- Al-Hadid (Iron): “that the people of the Book may know.”)
19. After Allah Almighty has sworn by all the previously mentioned, He said: “What Mohammad told you about the Hour is not soothsaying nor is it a lie forged against Allah. It is a revelation to him from his Lord through Gabriel.” Allah Almighty describes Gabriel as an honourable messenger, dear to his Lord.
20. Allah Almighty continues His description of Gabriel and says that he is endowed with the power of memorizing and does not forget or fall into error. He is honoured by the Lord of the Throne Who accords him a place of distinction.
21. The angels obey him and act according to his orders and opinion. He is entrusted to convey his Lord’s Revelation and His Messages. Allah has made him infallible to the betrayal of his Lord’s commands, and protected him from error.
{ وَمَا صَاحِبُكُمْ بِمَجْنُونٍ }
(22) – وَبَعْدَ أَنْ وَصَفَ اللهُ تَعَالَى رَسُولَهُ جِبْرِيلَ، وَصَفَ نَبِيَّهُ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ، فَقَالَ إِنَّ مُحَمَّداً صلى الله عليه وسلم لَيْسَ بِمَجْنُونٍ، وَهُوَ صَاحِبُهُمْ، وَهُمْ يَعْرِفُونَهُ، لأَِنَّهَ خَالَطَهُمْ وَعَاشَرَهُمْ وَعَرَفُوا صِفَاتِهِ.
Surah At-Takwir: Verse 22
22. After describing His messenger Gabriel, Allah describes His Prophet and says: “Mohammad is not insane. He is their companion and they know him. He has lived and mixed with them, and they know his qualities.”
24. Mohammad should not be accused of forging the Quran; he is to be trusted for he will not change or alter. He does not begrudge the knowledge to anyone.
25. Nor is this Quran that Mohammad recites words from the accursed Satan who has been repelled from Allah Almighty’s mercy. He is not even allowed to touch the holy Quran.
26. Where then do your minds wander that you reject the Quran after it has become clear to you that it is revealed by the Lord of the Worlds? Where then will you flee when all passages have been blocked and your fabricated lies have become invalidated and the argument has been established against you?
28. Whoever wants to be guided and to follow the straight path should profit from the teachings of the holy Quran, for there is no guidance anywhere else.
29. When the previous verse descended, Abu Jahl, an unbeliever, said: “The matter is then left to us. If we wish to follow the Straight Path, then we will, and we do not wish to do so, then we will not.” Thus this next verse was revealed. The meaning is: That Allah places the will to do something or not to do it in us. It is not up to us to will or not to will. It is He who places the will in people to do good, and they act upon this. If He wills, He will deprive them of it (that is, the will to do righteous deeds).
Tafsir by Dr. Assaad Homad (1917–2011), Syrian scholar and jurist, author of Aysar al-Tafaseer, an accessible interpretation of the Quran reviewed by Sheikh Muhammad Mutwally Al-Shaarawi and certified by the Ministries of Awqaf in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. English translation by the Homad family. Read more about the author and this tafsir →
Source: This series of Tafsir books has been made available online by the family of Dr. Assaad Homad (may Allah have mercy on him). These volumes were entirely digitized to provide an accessible and easy format for todays digital age. Please keep Dr. Assaad and his family in your sincere prayers.
تم إتاحة هذه السلسلة من كتب التفسير عبر الإنترنت من قبل عائلة الدكتور أسعد حومد (رحمه الله). لقد قمنا برقمنة هذه المجلدات بالكامل لتوفير تنسيق يسهل الوصول إليه واستخدامه في عصرنا الرقمي الحالي. نرجو منكم ألا تنسوا الدكتور أسعد وعائلته من صالح دعائكم.