Surah 81. At-Takwir

and when the seas are set on fire,¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 On the Day of Judgment the oceans and seas will be on fire.

When the oceans boil over with a swell; ⁵⁹⁷⁵

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

See lii. 6 and n. 5041. (6) The oceans, which now keep their bounds, will surge and boil over, and overwhelm all landmarks. At present the waters seem to have reached their fixed and normal levels, but the whole equilibrium will then be disturbed. Such will be the complete wreck of this transitory world, at the approach of the dawn of the permanent Reality. But these are physical symbols, relating to the outer nature surrounding the physical nature of man. The remaining six. viz.,: the 7th to the 12th, describe the ordering of the new World, from which all present seeming incongruities will be removed.

and when the souls 'and their bodies' are paired 'once more',

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the souls are sorted out (Being joined like with like); ⁵⁹⁷⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. lvi. 7, where the sorting out into three classes is mentioned, viz.,: Those Nearest to Allah, the Companions of the Right Hand, and the Companions of the Left Hand. That was a sort of broad general division. The meaning in this passage is wider, (7) Whereas in this world of probation, good is mixed with evil, knowledge with ignorance, power with arrogance, and so on, in the new world of Reality, all true values will be restored, and like will consort with like, for it will be a world of perfect Peace, Harmony, and Justice.

and when baby girls, buried alive, are asked

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the female (infant) Buried alive is questioned

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

for what crime they were put to death,¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 Some pagan Arabs used to bury their infant daughters alive for fear of shame or poverty. This practice was condemned and abolished by Islam. See 16:58-59.

For what crime she was killed; ⁵⁹⁷⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(8) In this world of sin and sorrow, much unjust suffering is caused, and innocent lives sacrificed, without a trace being left, by which offenders can be brought to justice. A striking example before the Quraish was female infanticide: cf. xvi. 58-59, and n. 2084. The crime was committed in the guise of social plausibility in secret collusion, and no question was asked here. But in the world of Justice, full questions will be asked, and the victim herself-dumb here-will be able to give evidence, for she had committed no crime herself. The proofs will be drawn from the very means used for concealment.

and when the records 'of deeds' are laid open,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the Scrolls are laid open; ⁵⁹⁷⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(9) The Scrolls recording the deeds of men, good or bad, will then be laid open before all. cf. 1. 17-18, n. 4954; also lxxxii. 11-12. In the present phenomenal world, things may be concealed; but in the world of absolute Reality, every secret is opened out, good or bad. The whole tale of acts, omissions, motives, imponderable spiritual hurt, neglect, or help will be laid bare.

and when the sky is stripped away,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the World on High is unveiled: ⁵⁹⁷⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The Sky, or Heaven as standing for both the Blazing Fre and the Garden, the Home of the Hereafter. (10) Just as when an animal is skinned, its real flesh and blood and inner organs become visible, without any outer coating to hold them together, so the inmost state of every soul will then become plain.

and when the Hellfire is fiercely flared up,

  - Mustafa Khattab

When the Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat; ⁵⁹⁸⁰

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(11) Then will burn the Blazing Fire of the Hell, worse than the fiercest fire.

and when Paradise is brought near-

  - Mustafa Khattab

And when the Garden is brought near ^{5981 5981}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

(12) Lastly the Garden will come in sight, not yet attained, but visible, or "brought near". For the scales have fallen from the eyes, and the soul knows itself.

'on that Day' each soul will know what 'deeds' it has brought along.

  - Mustafa Khattab

(Then) shall each soul know what it has put forward. ⁵⁹⁸³

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

This is the conclusion. It is only on such conditions that the soul reaches its full realization. Put forward: cf. "the Deeds which his hands have sent forth" in lxxviii. 40.

I do swear by the receding stars

  - Mustafa Khattab

So verily I call to witness the planets that recede ^{5984 5985}

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Cf. lvi. 75, n. 5258, for the witness that the heavenly bodies bear to the power, beauty, and goodness of Allah, in sending His Revelation. See n. 5798 to lxxiv. 32, for the significance of an adjuration in the Qur-an.

The appeal here is made to three things, the Planets, the Night, and the Dawn. (1) The Planets have a retrograde and a forward motion, and, during occultation, hide or disappear behind the sun or moon, or are otherwise invisible or appear stationary. They behave differently from the millions of stars around them. Yet they are not mere erratic bodies, but obey definite laws, and evidence the power and wisdom of Allah.

which travel and hide,¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 This probably refers to black holes. Kanasa means to sweep or hide. Miknasah is derived from this, and is the standard word for a vacuum cleaner.

Go straight or hide;

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

and the night as it falls

  - Mustafa Khattab

And the Night as it dissipates ⁵⁹⁸⁶

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

How the Night gradually declines after its height at midnight! It seems gradually to steal away, and as Dawn approaches, to merge into Day. So a soul in spiritual darkness gradually awakes to its spiritual Dawn through Revelation.

and the day as it breaks!¹

  - Mustafa Khattab

 lit., the day as it takes its first breath.

And the Dawn as it breathes away the darkness ⁵⁹⁸⁷

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

The slow "breathing out" of the darkness by the Dawn, shows us, by beautiful imagery, that these wonderful operations, of which people in their ignorance are frightened if they have to do with darkness, are really beneficent operations of Allah. They have nothing to do with evil spirits, or witches, or magic. For three questions were actually raised about the holy Prophet's Ministry by the ignorant. (1) Did his wonderful works come from himself and not from Allah? (2) Was he possessed of an evil spirit? In other words, was he mad? For that was the theory of madness then current. (3) Was he a soothsayer, or necromancer, or magician? For he had virtues, powers and eloquence, so extraordinary that they could not understand him.

Indeed, this 'Quran' is the Word of 'Allah delivered by Gabriel,' a noble messenger-angel,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Verily this is the word of a most honorable Messenger ⁵⁹⁸⁸

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

They are told here that all their three theories were foolish. The Revelation was really from Allah. Their wonder should cease if they observe the daily miracles worked round them in nature. The bringer of Allah's Message was the angel Gabriel, and not an evil spirit.

full of power, held in honour by the Lord of the Throne,

  - Mustafa Khattab

Endued with Power with rank before the Lord of the Throne ⁵⁹⁸⁹

  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Not only was the bringer of the Revelation, Gabriel, an honorable Messenger, incapable of deceit, but he had, in the angelic kingdom, rank and authority before Allah's Throne, and he could convey an authoritative divine Message. He was, like the holy Prophet, faithful to his trust; and therefore there could be no question of the Message being delivered in any other way than exactly according to the divine Will and Purpose. These epithets could apply to the Prophet himself, but in view of verse 23 below, it is best to understand them of Gabriel.