Surah 86. At-Tariq

'They were' created from a spurting fluid,

  - Mustafa Khattab

He is created from a drop emitted ⁶⁰⁷⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See n. 5832. to lxxvi. 2. See also last note.

stemming from between the backbone and the ribcage.¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Testes and ovaries are formed in the abdomen of the fetus during the first weeks of pregnancy, before descending to their permanent place in the pelvis. Both are sustained by arteries originating between the backbone and the ribcage.

Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs: ⁶⁰⁷¹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

A man's seed is the quintessence of his body. It proceeds from his loins, i.e., from his back between the hip-bones and his ribs. His back-bone is the source and symbol of his strength and personality. In the spinal cord and in the brain is the directive energy of the central nervous system, and this directs all action, organic and psychic. The spinal cord is continuous with the Medulla Oblongata in the brain.

Surely He is fully capable of bringing them back 'to life'

  - Mustafa Khattab

Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)! ⁶⁰⁷²

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Creator who can mingle the forces of psychic and physical muscular action in the creation of man, as explained in the last note, can surely give a new life after physical death here, and restore man's personality in the new world that will open out in the Hereafter.

on the Day all secrets will be disclosed.

  - Mustafa Khattab

The Day that (all) things secret will be tested.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Then one will have neither power nor 'any' helper.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Man) will have no power and no helper. ⁶⁰⁷³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

In that new world, all our actions, motives, thoughts, and imaginings of this life, however secret, will be brought into the open, and tested by the standards of absolute Truth, and not by false standards of custom, prejudice, or partiality. In that severe test, any adventitious advantages of this life will have no strength or force whatever, and cannot help in any way.

By the sky with its recurring cycles,

  - Mustafa Khattab

By the Firmament which returns (in its round) ⁶⁰⁷⁴

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Firmament above is always the same, and yet it performs its diurnal round, smoothly and punctually. So does Allah's Revelation show forth the Truth, which like a circle is ever true to its centre,-which is ever the same, though it revolves through the changing circumstances of our present life.

and the earth with its sprouting plants!

  - Mustafa Khattab

And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation) ⁶⁰⁷⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The earth seems hard, but springs can gush forth and vegetables sprout through it and make it green and soft. So is Truth: hard perhaps to mortals, but through the fertilising agency of Revelation, it allows our inner personality to sprout and blossom forth.

Surely this 'Quran' is a decisive word,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil): ⁶⁰⁷⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See the last two notes. Revelation-Allah's Truth-can pierce through the hardest crusts, and ever lead us back to the centre and goal of our life: for it separates Good from Evil definitely. It is not mere play or amusement, any more than the Sky or the Earth is. It helps us in the highest issues of our life.

and is not to be taken lightly.

  - Mustafa Khattab

It is not a thing for amusement.

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They are certainly devising 'evil' plans,

  - Mustafa Khattab

As for them they are but plotting a scheme ⁶⁰⁷⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Though Allah in His Mercy has provided a piercing light to penetrate our spiritual darkness, and made our beings responsive to the growth of spiritual understanding, just as the hard earth is responsive to the sprouting of a seed or the gushing of a stream, yet there are evil, unregenerate men who plot and scheme against the beneficent purpose of Allah. But their plots will be of no avail, and Allah's Purpose will prevail. It happened so with the Quraish who wanted to thwart the growth of Islam. It will be so in all ages.

but I too am planning.

  - Mustafa Khattab

And I am planning a scheme ⁶⁰⁷⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. iii. 54.

So bear with the disbelievers 'O Prophet'. Let them be for 'just' a little while.

  - Mustafa Khattab

Therefore grant a delay to the unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for a while). ⁶⁰⁷⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Gentle forbearance with Evil shows our trust in Allah and Allah's Plan: for it can never be frustrated. This does not mean that we should assist or compromise with evil, or fail to put it down where we have the power. It means patience and humility where we have no visible power to prevent Evil.