The Morning Star
The opening names the night visitor, asks about it and describes a piercing star, then turns toward human life. Observe this shift in scale. What new question about human beginnings does the passage invite?
Based on Quran 86:1–5. 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 وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
(1) By the sky and the knocker
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ
(2) And what can make you know what is the knocker?
ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ
(3) It is the piercing star[1901].
إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌۭ
(4) There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
(5) So let man observe from what he was created.
خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍۢ دَافِقٍۢ
(6) He was created from a fluid, ejected,
يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ
(7) Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌۭ
(8) Indeed, He [i.e., Allāh], to return him [to life], is Able.
يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ
(9) The Day when secrets will be put on trial,[1902]
فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍۢ وَلَا نَاصِرٍۢ
(10) Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ
(11) By the sky which sends back[1903]
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ
(12) And [by] the earth which splits,[1904]
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌۭ فَصْلٌۭ
(13) Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,
وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ
(14) And it is not amusement.
إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا
(15) Indeed, they are planning a plan,
وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًۭا
(16) But I am planning a plan.
فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا
(17) So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.[1905]