The Splitting Open
The sky’s splitting is followed by its attentiveness to its Lord. Read these two ideas together rather than as separate descriptions. Notice how the passage portrays creation as responsive to divine command.
Based on Quran 84:1–2. 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 ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنشَقَّتْ
(1) When the sky has split [open]
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ
(2) And has listened [i.e., responded][1888] to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]
وَإِذَا ٱلْأَرْضُ مُدَّتْ
(3) And when the earth has been extended[1889]
وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ
(4) And has cast out that within it[1890] and relinquished [it]
وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ
(5) And has listened [i.e., responded] to its Lord and was obligated [to do so] –
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًۭا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ
(6) O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion[1891] and will meet it.[1892]
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ
(7) Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand,
فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًۭا يَسِيرًۭا
(8) He will be judged with an easy account
وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًۭا
(9) And return to his people in happiness.
وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهْرِهِۦ
(10) But as for he who is given his record behind his back,
فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًۭا
(11) He will cry out for destruction
وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا
(12) And [enter to] burn in a Blaze.
إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا
(13) Indeed, he had [once] been among his people in happiness;
إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ
(14) Indeed, he had thought he would never return [to Allāh].
بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًۭا
(15) But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever, of him, Seeing.
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلشَّفَقِ
(16) So I swear by the twilight glow
وَٱلَّيْلِ وَمَا وَسَقَ
(17) And [by] the night and what it envelops
وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا ٱتَّسَقَ
(18) And [by] the moon when it becomes full
لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍۢ
(19) [That] you will surely embark upon [i.e., experience] state after state.[1893]
فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
(20) So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe,
وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩
(21) And when the Qur’ān is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allāh]?
بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُكَذِّبُونَ
(22) But those who have disbelieved deny,
وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ
(23) And Allāh is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.
فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ
(24) So give them tidings of a painful punishment,
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍۭ
(25) Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds. For them is a reward uninterrupted.