Surah 86. At-Tariq

CONSIDER the heavens and that which comes in the night!¹

  - Mohammad Asad

Some commentators assume that what is described here as at-tariq ("that which comes in the night") is the morning-star, because it appears towards the end of the night; others - like Zamakhshari or Raghib - understand by it "the star" in its generic sense. Now if we analyze the origin of this noun, we find that it is derived from the verb taraqa, which primarily means "he beat [something]" or "knocked [at something]"; hence, taraqa 'l-bab, "he knocked at the door". Tropically, the noun signifies "anything [or "anyone"] that comes in the night", because a person who comes to a house by night is expected to knock at the door (Taj al-'Arus). In the Qur'anic mode of expression, at-tariq is evidently a metaphor for the heavenly solace which sometimes comes to a human being lost in the deepest darkness of affliction and distress; or for the sudden, intuitive enlightenment which disperses the darkness of uncertainty; or, finally, for divine revelation, which knocks, as it were, at the doors of man's heart, and thus fulfils the functions of both solace and enlightenment. (For my rendering of the adjurative wa as "Consider", see surah {74}, first half of note [23].)

By the heaven and by the visitant by night,

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

By the heaven and the nightly star!

  - Mustafa Khattab

By the heaven and the Morning Star

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

By the Sky and the Night-Visitant (therein) ^{6067 6068}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The appeal here is to single Sign, viz.: the Sky with its Night. Visitant; and the substantive proposition is in verse 4: "There is no soul but has a protector over it". In the last Sura we considered the persecution of Allah's votaries, and how Allah protects them. Here the same theme is presented in another aspect. In the darkest sky shines out most brilliantly the light of the most brilliant star. So in the night of spiritual darkness- whether through ignorance or distress shines the glorious star of Allah's revelation. By the same token the man of Faith and Truth has nothing to fear. Allah will protect His own.

This is explained in verse 3 below. The "Star of piercing brightness" is understood by some to be the Morning Star, by others to be the planet Saturn, by others again to be Sirius, or the Pleiads or shooting stars. I think it is best to take the "Star" in the collective or generic sense, for stars shine on every night in the year, and their piercing brightness is most noticeable on the darkest night.

And what could make thee conceive what it is that comes in the night?

  - Mohammad Asad

and what will explain to you what the visitant by night is?

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

And what will make you realize what the nightly star is?

  - Mustafa Khattab

Ah, what will tell thee what the Morning Star is!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

And what will explain to thee what the Night-Visitant is?

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

It is the star that pierces through [life's] darkness:

  - Mohammad Asad

It is the star of piercing brightness.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

'It is' the star of piercing brightness.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The piercing Star!

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

(It is) the Star of piercing brightness

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

[for] no human being has ever been left unguarded.²

  - Mohammad Asad

Lit., "there is no human being without a guardian [or "without a watch being kept"] over it". See in this connection note [7] on {82:10-12}.

(Just as Allah Almighty is taking care of each star in the galaxies, similarly) over each soul there is an appointed guardian angel.

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

There is no soul without a vigilant angel 'recording everything'.

  - Mustafa Khattab

No human soul but hath a guardian over it.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

There is no soul but has a protector over it. ⁶⁰⁶⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

If man has a true spiritual understanding, he has nothing to be afraid of. He is protected by Allah in many ways that he does not even know. He may be an insignificant creature as a mere animal, but his soul raises him to a dignity above other creation. And all sorts of divine forces guard and protect him.

LET MAN, then, observe out of what he has been created:

  - Mohammad Asad

Let man consider from what he is created!

  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik

Let people then consider what they were created from!

  - Mustafa Khattab

So let man consider from what he is created.

  - Marmaduke Pickthall

Now let man but think from what he is created!

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali