In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
A summary of the Tafsir of al-Tabari.
Abridged by Dr. Aqil ibn Salim al-Shammari.
Surah al-Takwir.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness].
And when the stars fall, losing their luster.
And when the mountains are made to pass away.
And when the pregnant she-camels are neglected.
And when the wild beasts are gathered together.
And when the seas are set ablaze.
And when the souls are paired.
And when the girl buried alive is asked.
For what sin she was killed.
And when the records are laid open.
And when the sky is stripped away.
And when the Hellfire is set ablaze.
And when Paradise is brought near.
“(Then) every soul will know what it hath made ready.” (81:14)
When the sun is gathered together, part of it to another.
Then it is folded up and cast away.
When that is done to it, its light will vanish.
And when the stars are scattered from the sky and fall down.
And when Allah moves the mountains, so they become a mirage and scattered dust.
And when the pregnant she-camels are neglected.
The 'ishar' are the plural of 'ushara'.
These are the camels that have reached ten months of pregnancy.
The Almighty says, in His exposition:
When these pregnant animals, which their owners prize so highly,
Are neglected and abandoned due to the sheer terror that has descended upon them,
Then what of everything else?
And when the wild beasts are gathered and caused to die.
And when the seas are filled until they overflow.
Then they burst forth and flood.
And when the souls are paired.
Every person will be joined with their like.
Those of similar character and kind will be grouped together in both good and evil.
And when the girl buried alive is asked.
The 'maw'uda' is the one buried alive.
She will be asked about her killers and those who buried her: for what sin did they kill her?
And when the records of the servants' deeds are laid open for them.
After having been folded up, containing all the good and evil deeds written therein.
And when the sky is pulled away, drawn off, and then folded up.
And when the Hellfire is fueled and made to blaze.
And when Paradise is brought close and drawn near.
At that moment, a soul will know what it has brought forth; if it is good, it will lead to Paradise,
Or if it is evil, it will lead to the Fire.
So I swear by the retreating stars.
Those that run their courses and disappear.
Our Lord, exalted be His majesty, swears by things that occasionally retreat,
Meaning they disappear and then run their courses at other times.
Their 'kunus' (hiding) is their taking shelter in their dens.
The 'makanis' (dens) according to the Arabs,
Are the places where wild cattle and gazelles take shelter.
It is not unlikely that this also applies to the places where the stars are in the sky.
There is no evidence in the verse that the intended meaning is restricted to stars rather than cattle,
Or to cattle rather than gazelles.
The correct view is that it encompasses everything that has the quality of retreating at times,
And running its course at others.
And by the night as it departs.
And by the morning as it breathes.
Indeed, it is the word of a noble messenger.
“Mighty, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne,” (81:20)
Obeyed and trustworthy.
Our Lord, exalted be His majesty, swears by the night as it retreats,
And by the light of day as it approaches and becomes clear.
Indeed, this Qur'an is the revelation of a noble messenger,
Meaning Jibril.
Possessing power over the task he has been entrusted with,
Not incapable of performing it.
Held in high status by the Lord of the Mighty Throne.
Obeyed in the heavens,
For the angels obey him.
Trustworthy before Allah regarding His revelation and His message,
And everything else He has entrusted him with.
And your companion is not mad.
“Surely he beheld Him on the clear horizon.” (81:23)
“And he is not avid of the Unseen.” (81:24)
Your companion, O people—Muhammad, peace be upon him—is not mad,
Such that he would speak of a paradise and rave like the insane.
“Nay, but he brought the Truth, and he confirmed those sent (before him).” (37:37)
Muhammad saw Jibril in his true form in the direction where things are clearly visible,
Which you see from that vantage point.
This was in the direction of the sunrise, from the east.
And Muhammad, regarding what Allah has taught him of His revelation and scripture,
Is not a miser in teaching it to you, O people.
Rather, he is eager for you to believe in it and to learn.
And it is not the word of a cursed devil.
So where are you going?
It is but a reminder to the worlds.
“Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight.” (81:28)
“And ye will not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation.” (81:29)
This Qur'an is not the word of a cursed, outcast devil.
Rather, it is the speech of Allah and His revelation.
So where are you turning away from this Qur'an and deviating from it?
This Qur'an is nothing but a reminder and an admonition to the worlds, both jinn and mankind,
For whoever among you wills to remain on the path of truth,
So he follows it and believes in it.
And you do not will, O people, to remain on the truth,
Unless Allah wills that for you.