Anwar Al-Quran

Verses 1–7

81. At-Takwir · The Overthrowing

Makkan29 verses

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ

81:1When the sun is wound up,9

وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ

81:2when the stars scatter,10

وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ

81:3when the mountains are set moving,

وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ

81:4when the pregnant camels are neglected,1112

وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ

81:5when the wild beasts are mustered,

وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ

81:6when the seas are set afire,13

وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ

81:7when the souls are assorted,

Tafsir

Commentary on this passage

1.This Surah has two parts. In the first part after twelve Verses it is declared that on the Day of Judgement everyone will come to know what he has provided and what he has brought and the occasion will be so difficult that there will be no helper. (i) The sheet of the beams of the sun would be wounded up. (ii) Stars will break and fall. (iii) Mountains will start moving (they will be scattered about as dust). (iv) She-camels though being dear will be rendered useless. (v) Beasts would be herded together. (vi) Oceans are brought to a boil. (vii) Souls will be united with the bodies. (viii) Female infants buried alive will be asked questions. (ix) Records of deeds will be spread. (x) The heavens would be unveiled. (xi) Hell would be made to blaze. (xii) Paradise would brought near. In such circumstance what a person can do regarding his deeds? Its knowledge is with no one except Allah. What is intended, is that whatever you want to do, do it in the world. Otherwise whatever you have done is going to be presented before you.

Footnotes

Explanations of words and phrases in these verses

  1. 9

    Takwir - To engulf in roundness. That is the cooling down of the flames.

  2. 10

    Ankadaar - To break up and get scattered.

  3. 11

    Ishaar - It is the plural of Ashara. The she-camel which has completed ten months of pregnancy.

  4. 12

    Uttelat - To leave unattended.

  5. 13

    Sujjerat - To heat with fire so that it turns into vapour.