The Overthrowing
The sun and stars begin a sequence of striking changes. These opening images unsettle what seems stable in everyday experience. Read the continuing sequence carefully and identify how it prepares the listener for accountability.
Based on Quran 81:1–2. Original study prompt, not a complete tafsir. Compare the passage ↗English Translation - Noor International Center · QuranEnc.com · v1.1.2 ↗
Issued by Noor International Center. Publisher footnotes appear with their verses.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
(1) When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ
(2) And when the stars fall, dispersing,
وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ
(3) And when the mountains are removed
وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ
(4) And when full-term she-camels[1865] are neglected
وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
(5) And when the wild beasts are gathered
وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ
(6) And when the seas are filled with flame[1866]
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ
(7) And when the souls are paired[1867]
وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ
(8) And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked
بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍۢ قُتِلَتْ
(9) For what sin she was killed
وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ
(10) And when the pages[1868] are spread [i.e., made public]
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتْ
(11) And when the sky is stripped away
وَإِذَا ٱلْجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتْ
(12) And when Hellfire is set ablaze
وَإِذَا ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ
(13) And when Paradise is brought near,
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّآ أَحْضَرَتْ
(14) A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].[1869]
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ
(15) So I swear by the retreating stars -
ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْكُنَّسِ
(16) Those that run [their courses] and disappear [i.e., set]
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ
(17) And by the night as it closes in[1870]
وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
(18) And by the dawn when it breathes [i.e., stirs]
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ
(19) [That] indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e., Gabriel]
ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍۢ
(20) [Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position],
مُّطَاعٍۢ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍۢ
(21) Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍۢ
(22) And your companion [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) ] is not [at all] mad.[1871]
وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
(23) And he has already seen him [i.e., Gabriel] in the clear horizon.[1872]
وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍۢ
(24) And he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] is not a withholder of [knowledge of] the unseen.[1873]
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ رَّجِيمٍۢ
(25) And it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].
فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ
(26) So where are you going?[1874]
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
(27) It is not except a reminder to the worlds
لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ
(28) For whoever wills among you to take a right course.
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
(29) And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds.