81: 15 So I swear by those receding,
81: 16 the running, the hiding,
81: 17 and by the night as it approaches,
81: 18 and by the dawn as it breaks,
81: 19 Indeed, it is the word of a noble Messenger.
81: 20 He is endowed with power, having a high rank with the Owner of the Throne.
81: 21 He is obeyed there and trustworthy.
81: 22 Your companion is not mad.
81: 23 Surely, he saw him on the clear horizon.
81: 24 And he is not stingy about conveying the news of the unseen.
81: 25 And it is not the word of an accursed Satan.
81: 26 Then where are you going?
81: 27 It is nothing but a reminder to the worlds,
81: 28 for whoever of you who wills to go straight.
81: 29 And you do not will unless Allah wills, the Lord of the worlds.
Relationship with the Previous Part
The previous part points out that the Day of Judgment will certainly take place. The disbelievers deny its occurrence and disbelieve in the Quran that warns them of the evil consequence of their disbelief in Allah’s Oneness. After mentioning the signs of the Day of Judgment, this part says that Allah revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad [At-Tahrir wa-at-Tanwir, Tafsir Ibn Ashur].
Tafsir
81: 15 So I swear by those receding,
81: 16 the running, the hiding,
The Arabic version says ‘so I swear by al-khunas, which is translated into those receding.’ Al-khunas means to recede, retreat, and hide. The ayah also says, ‘I swear by al-jawir al-kunas, which is translated into the running, the hiding.’ Al-jawir means to run fast, and al-kunas means to hide and conceal. These attributes refer to the stars as they hide in the day and appear in the night.
The meaning of the ayah is as follows: Indeed, the Day of Judgment will certainly take place. So I swear by the stars that recede and retreat in the day so their light cannot be seen and they run fast from a position to another by Allah’s will and then they hide when they set… indeed, the Quran is the word of a noble Messenger.
The scholars mention the following meaning for ‘those receding, al-khunas’: 1) they refer to some planets that hide in the day, namely, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars. 2) They refer to the stars. 3) They refer to addaxes. 4) They refer to gazelles. 5) They refer to the angels. After mentioning the opinions of the scholars, Imam Muhammad bin Jarir at-Tabari said, ‘Allah, Exalted be He, swore by things that hide sometimes and run sometimes. In the Arabic language, maknas is the place that the addaxes and gazelles take shelter in. It is not strange to use this word metaphorically to refer to the stars in the sky. And since there is no clear indication in the ayah that confirms that al-khunas refer to the stars or the addaxes; thus, the most correct opinion is that the meaning may refer to all things that hide sometimes and run sometimes [Jama al-Al-Bayan, Tafsir al-Tabari].’
81: 17 and by the night as it approaches,
81: 18 and by the dawn as it breaks,
Allah, Exalted be He, swore by the night as it approaches, bringing its darkness, and by the dawn as it breaks, bringing its brightness.
In the Arabic version, the word ‘as’as’ translated into approach is used. This word can be used to refer to something and its opposite. In the Arabic language, it means to approach and turn away. However, according to the context of the ayah, it is suitable that the meaning is to approach as it corresponds to the dawn as it breaks bringing brightness with it.
Allah swears by whatever of His creatures, but the created beings are prohibited to swear by other than Allah, Exalted be He.
81: 19 Indeed, it is the word of a noble Messenger.
Indeed, a noble Messenger brought the Quran to Messenger Muhammad. He is the archangel, Gabriel. The ayah attributes the Quran to the archangel Gabriel because he brought the revelation to Messenger Muhammad.
Allah swore by the aforementioned things because they indicate Allah’s great ability and marvelous creation in their different movement, e.g. appearance and disappearance, and approaching and turning away.
81: 20 He is endowed with power, having a high rank with the Owner of the Throne.
81: 21 He is obeyed there and trustworthy.
The ayat mention five characteristics of the archangel Gabriel. 1) He is a noble angel, having noble manners and a beautiful form. 2) He is strong and able to carry out the duty that Allah commands him to do. 3) He has a high rank with Allah, the Owner of the Throne. 4) The angels obey the archangel, Gabriel. 5) Gabriel is trustworthy and he carries out his duty without any addition or decrease.
81: 22 Your companion is not mad.
O people of Mecca, Messenger Muhammad is not mad. The ayah says ‘your companion’ to refer to the fact that the people of Mecca know, namely, Messenger Muhammad is not mad. It also points out that they falsely accuse him of such a thing though they are certain that he has the most sound mind and the most perfect manners.
In sum, the ayah negates that Messenger Muhammad is mad and reprimands his enemies for accusing him of a false accusation although they know that it is a fabrication and lie.
81: 23 Surely, he saw him on the clear horizon.
Surely, Messenger Muhammad saw the archangel Gabriel in his real form on the clear horizon, where there is no chance for any illusion nor delusion.
The ayah refutes the claims of the disbelievers who mocked Messenger Muhammad and refused to believe in Islam when he told them that he saw the archangel Gabriel in his real form. Therefore, the ayah confirms this fact and there is no doubt that it took place. It was narrated that Messenger Muhammad saw the archangel Gabriel, who has six hundred wings, in his real form [Tafsir al-Tabari, Jama al-Bayan].
81: 24 And he is not stingy about conveying the news of the unseen.
The pronoun ‘he’ refers to Messenger Muhammad. The unseen refers to things that people cannot perceive by their senses. Only Allah knows the unseen.
Messenger Muhammad is not stingy about conveying the news of the unseen, namely, the revelation that Allah revealed to him through the archangel Gabriel. He never failed to convey what Allah revealed to him nor teach it to those who seek knowledge.
There is another mode of recitation for ayah [24]. It is as follows: [And he is not accused of lying about the news of the unseen.] According to this mode of recitation, the word ‘daneen translated into stingy’ is pronounced ‘zaneen translated into accused of lying.’ Thus, the meaning of the ayah differs according to how this word is pronounced. Both modes are authentically transmitted recitations and their meanings are clear and not contradictory.
81: 25 And it is not the word of an accursed Satan.
The Quran is not the word of an accursed Satan. It is the speech of Allah and He revealed it to Messenger Muhammad to guide people to the right path. This refutes the claims of the disbelievers who claimed that the Quran is magic and some kind of divination. They believed that Satan taught the Quran to Messenger Muhammad, which is a blatant lie. The Quran contains the truth and only the truth and there is no falsehood therein.
81: 26 Then where are you going?
The ayah criticizes the disbelievers and challenges them to bring any proof that can support their claims.
O disbelievers, the matter is as Allah mentions in the Quran. Is there any path clearer than the right path that Messenger Muhammad invites you to follow? Verily, there is no right path other than Islam. This is similar to a statement that is said to a person, who avoids the right and clear path on purpose, though he knows that the other paths are wrong. Thus, it will be said to him, ‘Where are you going? Are you going to the path of misguidance after knowing the right path?
81: 27 It is nothing but a reminder to the worlds,
81: 28 for whoever of you who wills to go straight.
81: 29 And you do not will unless Allah wills, the Lord of the worlds.
The Quran is nothing but a reminder to the worlds. It contains guidance for all created beings. It guides them to the right path that will save them from loss in this world and the Hereafter.
The guidance of the Quran is beneficial for those who want to go straight, follow the right path, and avoid the path of misguidance. The ayah implies praise to the followers of the right path. It praises them because they choose to follow the path of guidance; thus, Allah helps and guides them to it.
Then the ayat confirm Allah’s perfect will and that what He wants will happen and what He does not want will never happen. Indeed, Allah is the Lord of the worlds and whatever is in this universe is under His control and will. The will of the created beings is worthless except when Allah’s will help and support it. It was narrated that Allah revealed, [for whoever of you who wills to go straight.] Then abu Jahl said, ‘It is up to us. If we want, we will follow the right path.] Then Allah revealed [And you do not will unless Allah wills, the Lord of the worlds.] [Tafsir al-Tabari, Jama al-Bayan].
Learned Lessons from Surah at-Takwir Ayah 15-29
• Allah swears by whatever of the creatures that He wants, living and non-living, but the created beings are forbidden to swear by anything other than Allah.
• Allah swore by the planets when they disappear in the day, and appear in the night, and the planets when they move in their orbits, which indicates Allah’s perfect ability.
• Allah swore by the night when it darkens and the dawn as it breaks bringing brightness with it.
• Allah revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad. The archangel Gabriel brought it to him.
• The archangel Gabriel is noble, strong, and trustworthy. Allah entrusted him with conveying His revelation to His Messenger. The angels in heaven obey him.
• The Quran refutes the claims of the disbelievers, who say that Messenger Muhammad is mad. Rather, he represents an embodiment of human perfection.
• Messenger Muhammad saw the archangel Gabriel, who has six hundred wings, in his real form on the clear horizon.
• Messenger Muhammad sincerely conveyed Allah’s revelation.
• The Quran is the speech of Allah, which He revealed to His Messenger Muhammad. Allah revealed it to guide people to the right path.
• The disbelievers follow the path of misguidance though the path of guidance is clear and they can recognize it.
• Allah’s will is perfect. What He wants will happen and what He does not want will never happen. Created beings have no will except after Allah’s will.
The Noble Quran, Surah a-Takwir, English Translation
Towards Understanding the Quran, Surah at-Takwir
The Noble Quran Surah Yusuf: Translation and Tafsir
Introduction to Tafsir of Surah Yusuf
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