Tafseer of Surah Taariq

بِسۡمِ اللّٰہِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِیۡمِ

وَ السَّمَآءِ  وَ الطَّارِقِ ۙ﴿۱﴾ وَ مَاۤ  اَدۡرٰىکَ مَا الطَّارِقُ ۙ﴿۲﴾ النَّجۡمُ الثَّاقِبُ ۙ﴿۳﴾ اِنۡ کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَیۡہَا حَافِظٌ ؕ﴿۴﴾ فَلۡیَنۡظُرِ الۡاِنۡسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ ؕ﴿۵﴾ خُلِقَ مِنۡ مَّآءٍ  دَافِقٍ ۙ﴿۶﴾ یَّخۡرُجُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ الصُّلۡبِ وَ التَّرَآئِبِ ؕ﴿۷﴾ اِنَّہٗ  عَلٰی رَجۡعِہٖ لَقَادِرٌ ؕ﴿۸﴾ یَوۡمَ تُبۡلَی السَّرَآئِرُ ۙ﴿۹﴾ فَمَا لَہٗ  مِنۡ قُوَّۃٍ  وَّ لَا  نَاصِرٍ ﴿ؕ۱۰﴾ وَ السَّمَآءِ  ذَاتِ الرَّجۡعِ ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدۡعِ ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾ اِنَّہٗ  لَقَوۡلٌ  فَصۡلٌ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾ وَّ مَا ہُوَ  بِالۡہَزۡلِ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾ اِنَّہُمۡ یَکِیۡدُوۡنَ  کَیۡدًا ﴿ۙ۱۵﴾ وَّ اَکِیۡدُ  کَیۡدًا ﴿ۚ۱۶﴾ فَمَہِّلِ الۡکٰفِرِیۡنَ  اَمۡہِلۡہُمۡ رُوَیۡدًا ﴿٪۱۷﴾

By the sky and the night-comer, and what may let you know what the night-comer is? (It is) the star which shines brightly. There is no soul (human being) but there is a protector over him. So let man consider from what substance he was created. He was created from an ejected fluid, emerging from between the back bone and the chest bones. Surely, He (Allah Ta‘ala) is able to bring him back (to life), on the day when all the secrets will be exposed. Then he shall have no power and no helper (to defend him). By the sky that brings down rain repeatedly, and by the earth which splits open (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of plants and vegetation). Indeed it (the Quraan) is surely a decisive word, and it is not a thing for amusement. Indeed, they are devising a plan and plot, and I am also devising a plan. So, give respite to the disbelievers, give them respite for a little time.

Commentary:

In the beginning of this surah, Allah Ta‘ala takes an oath by the sky and the radiant stars contained in it. The word “الطَّارِقِ” refers to the illuminating star.

Imaam Qataadah (rahimahullah) has mentioned that the star is called “الطَّارِقِ” because it is only seen during the night and it is not visible during the day. The word “الطَّارِقِ” comes from the word “طَرَقَ”, which means “to come unexpectedly at night”.

In some Ahaadith, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) prevented a musaafir (traveler) from coming home unexpectedly at night, without giving his family prior notification of his arrival. The Hadith uses the word “طَرَقَ”, which means returning home unexpectedly at night.

The reason for the Hadith preventing a musaafir from coming home unexpectedly at night is that by him not informing them and returning unexpectedly, he might find them in a condition that is not pleasing to him. Therefore, if they are notified in advance, they may prepare themselves and be ready to receive him in a pleasing manner.

According to Imaam Ikrimah (rahimahullah), the word “الطَّارِقِ” mentioned in the verse refers to the illuminating star which burns and repels the Shayaateen.

The Angels Appointed Over Every Person

اِنۡ کُلُّ نَفۡسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَیۡہَا حَافِظٌ ؕ﴿۴﴾

There is no soul (human being) but there is a protector over him.

After taking oaths on the sky and the illuminating stars, Allah Ta‘ala mentions the subject matter of the oaths in this verse. Allah Ta‘ala says that there is no human being but he has a protector over him from the angels.

Allah Ta‘ala has appointed angels over every human being to protect him from all calamities besides those calamities which are decreed to befall him. This is also mentioned in another verse of the Qur’aan Majeed where Allah Ta‘ala says:

لَہٗ  مُعَقِّبٰتٌ مِّنۡۢ بَیۡنِ یَدَیۡہِ وَ مِنۡ خَلۡفِہٖ  یَحۡفَظُوۡنَہٗ  مِنۡ اَمۡرِ اللّٰہِ

For him (man), there are angels who come in succession, who remain in front of him and behind him, guarding him (from calamities) by the command of Allah. (Surah Ra’d v. 11)

In one Hadith, it is reported that Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said, “Allah Ta‘ala has appointed three hundred and sixty angels to protect a believer, from calamities unless they are decreed for him, from the three hundred and sixty angels, seven angels alone protect man’s eyes. They protect a person (from the evil Shayateen) like how a fan chases away the flies coming to a bowl which is filled with honey. If a person is entrusted to himself (and he is not protected by these angels appointed by Allah Ta‘ala), the Shayateen would have snatched him away”. (Majma’uz Zawaa’id #11903, Mu’jam Kabeer li-Tabraani #7704)

The word “حَافِظٌ” mentioned in this verse can also translate as “a watcher” over man or “a guardian” appointed over him. If the word “حَافِظٌ” refers to a watcher or a guardian, then the translation of the verse will be, “There is no human being except that there is a watcher (or guardian) over him.”

According to this translation, the purport of the verse is that there is not a single person upon whom Allah Ta‘ala has not placed angels to watch over him and record his deeds.

Though the word “حَافِظٌ” appears in the singular form, it refers to an entire group of angels, who are appointed to fulfil this task. This is supported by another verse where Allah Ta‘ala mentions,

وَ  اِنَّ عَلَیۡکُمۡ  لَحٰفِظِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۰﴾ کِرَامًا  کَاتِبِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾ یَعۡلَمُوۡنَ مَا تَفۡعَلُوۡنَ ﴿۱۲﴾

 (appointed) over you are watchers, who are noble, writers (of your deeds), who know whatever you do.

The Weak Beginning and Origin of Man

فَلۡیَنۡظُرِ الۡاِنۡسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ ؕ﴿۵﴾ خُلِقَ مِنۡ مَّآءٍ  دَافِقٍ ۙ﴿۶﴾ یَّخۡرُجُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ الصُّلۡبِ وَ التَّرَآئِبِ ؕ﴿۷﴾ اِنَّہٗ  عَلٰی رَجۡعِہٖ لَقَادِرٌ ؕ﴿۸﴾

So let man consider from what substance he was created. He was created from an ejected fluid. Emerging from between the back bone and chest bones. Surely, He (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)

In these verses, Allah Ta‘ala draws man’s attention towards his weak beginning and origin from which he was created. The purpose of this verse is to make man realise how weak he is before the power of Allah Ta‘ala and to get him to understand and accept the reality of the Hereafter.

Man should understand and realise that if Allah Ta‘ala has the ability to create him from a mere drop of semen, then definitely Allah Ta‘ala has the ability to give him life after death and resurrect him in the Hereafter. Why then does man deny resurrection and deny the Hereafter?

The kuffaar denied resurrection and the Hereafter. Therefore, in these verses, Allah Ta‘ala urges the kaafir to reflect and ponder over his origin, thereby reaching the correct conclusion in recognizing the magnificent power of Allah Ta‘ala and believing in life after death.

In another verse, Allah Ta‘ala mentions:

وَ ہُوَ الَّذِیۡ  یَبۡدَؤُا  الۡخَلۡقَ ثُمَّ  یُعِیۡدُہٗ وَ ہُوَ اَہۡوَنُ عَلَیۡہِ

And He (Allah Ta‘ala) originates the creation, then He will repeat it, and this is easier for Him. (Surah Room v. 27)

Generally, making something for the first time is more difficult for a person than making the same thing for the second time. However, this is in regard to human beings. As far as Allah Ta‘ala is concerned, then both – creating for the first time and repeating the process of creation for the second time – are equal. However, for man’s understanding, Allah Ta‘ala mentioned in this verse that repeating the process of creation is even easier for Him.

یَّخۡرُجُ مِنۡۢ بَیۡنِ الصُّلۡبِ وَ التَّرَآئِبِ ؕ﴿۷﴾

Emerging from between the back bone and chest bones.

In this verse, Allah Ta‘ala mentions that the drop of semen emerges from between the back bone and the chest bones. The general Mufassireen explain that the semen emerges from the back bone of the man and from the chest bones of the woman, and when both combine, then the woman conceives.

According to other Mufassireen, since this verse does not specify which part of the man or woman the semen comes out from, instead the verse merely says that “he (man) was created from an ejected fluid, emerging from between the back bone and chest bones.”, this verse may refer to the semen that comes from the entire body of both men and women.

According to this explanation, the “back bone and chest bones” are mentioned, but the entire body of the human being is intended, as the back bone and the chest bones are the main organs in the front and back of a human being’s body. Therefore, the main parts are mentioned but the entire body is intended.

The Day when All Secrets Will be Exposed

یَوۡمَ تُبۡلَی السَّرَآئِرُ ۙ﴿۹﴾ فَمَا لَہٗ  مِنۡ قُوَّۃٍ  وَّ لَا  نَاصِرٍ ﴿ؕ۱۰﴾

on the day when all the secrets will be exposed. Then he shall have no power and no helper (to defend him).

The word “تُبۡلَی” literally means “for something to be seen and examined properly”, and the word “السَّرَآئِرُ” means “secrets”. On the Day of Qiyaamah, the secrets of every person will be exposed before all to witness and see it entirely and properly.

Man’s beliefs and thoughts, and his motives and intentions, that were all hidden in this worldly life and known by no one – all will be revealed and exposed before everyone in the Hereafter.

Likewise, his deeds and actions which he had carried out secretly, and which no one knew about in this world, all of them will be scrutinised on the Plain of Gathering.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) has said that on the Day of Judgement, Allah Ta‘ala will disclose the secrets of all human beings. The sign of every good or bad belief and action will be displayed on man’s face in the form of radiance and beauty, or darkness and gloom (depending on each individual’s condition).

The High and Exalted Position of the Qur’aan Majeed

وَ السَّمَآءِ  ذَاتِ الرَّجۡعِ ﴿ۙ۱۱﴾ وَ الۡاَرۡضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدۡعِ ﴿ۙ۱۲﴾ اِنَّہٗ  لَقَوۡلٌ  فَصۡلٌ ﴿ۙ۱۳﴾ وَّ مَا ہُوَ  بِالۡہَزۡلِ ﴿ؕ۱۴﴾

By the sky that brings down rain repeatedly, and by the earth which splits open (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of plants and vegetation). Indeed it (the Quraan) is surely a decisive word, and it is not a thing for amusement.

The word “الرَّجۡعِ” refers to “the rain that comes down repeatedly”. In other words, it refers to the rain that comes down, and then stops, and then resumes falling once again after some time when Allah Ta‘ala decrees.

In this verse, after taking an oath on the sky and earth, Allah Ta‘ala says that the Qur’aan Majeed is truly a Decisive Word that decides between truth and falsehood, and there is no room for any doubt in it. Furthermore, it is a Divine Book sent for the guidance of man – to guide him and show him how to please Allah Ta‘ala and earn salvation in the Hereafter. This Qur’aan Majeed is not a book for man’s amusement and entertainment.

Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) says that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) saying about the Holy Qur’aan, “(It is) a book which describes the incidents of past communities and (it contains) injunctions for future generations. It is truly a Decisive Word. It is no joke.”