The Noble Quran, Tafsir of Surah at-Tariq, Ayah 11-17 The truthfulness of the Quran & Warning the Disbelievers

 

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

86:14 and it is not a jest. 

86:15 Indeed, they are devising a plot, 

86:16 and I too am devising a plot. 

86:17 So give the disbelievers a respite; let them for a while.

Relationship with the Previous Part

The previous part confirms Allah’s Oneness and His ability to resurrect people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Then this part confirms the truthfulness of the Quran and that Allah revealed it to Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him]. Then the disbelievers, who plot against Messenger Muhammad, are warned of the evil result of their plotting. Finally, Messenger Muhammad is promised that victory will be for him and the believers. 

Tafsir

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

86:14 and it is not a jest. 

Allah swears by the rain that repeatedly comes down from the sky whereby the earth revives. Then it splits causing plants, fruits, trees, water, and treasures to come out of its underground. 

Allah swears by the sky and the earth that the noble Quran is a decisive word in which there is no doubt. It distinguishes the truth from falsehood. It contains solemn revelation, not a jest, amusement, poetry, or magic. Allah revealed the Quran to bring people out of the darknesses of disbelief in His Oneness and falsehood to the light of belief in His Oneness and the truth. 

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

This is an eloquent refutation of the claims of the disbelievers who say that the Quran is revealed to Messenger Muhammad to be a source of amusement because it says that they will be resurrected after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment, which they deny. 

Mentioning that the rain comes down from the sky whereby the earth revives implies that resurrection on the Day of Judgment will certainly take place. Just as the rain causes the earth to revive, Allah, by His will and ability, will make people raise after death for reckoning. 

86:15 Indeed, they are devising a plot, 

86:16 and I too am devising a plot. 

86:17 So give the disbelievers a respite; let them for a while.

The surah is concluded with consoling Messenger Muhammad and giving him the good news of the happy end awaiting him and the believers.

Devising with regard to the disbelievers refers to the plots and schemes they do to harm Messenger Muhammad and the believers.

Devising with regard to Allah, Exalted be He, means giving the disbelievers time so that they keep on sinning and plotting against Messenger Muhammad and the believers, and then Allah suddenly seizes them at the time He wants and punishes them severely. 

The disbelievers devise plots and schemes to harm Messenger Muhammad and the believers. Allah will meet their devising and plotting with giving them time until He decides to punish them severely while they do not expect that His punishment will befall them. He will revenge on them for their plots and schemes at the suitable time He chooses. Therefore, O noble Messenger, ‘Give the disbelievers a respite and do not hope that a swift punishment should befall them. Wait for Allah’s wise scheme against them. Let them for a while. Indeed, whatever is destined to happen will surely happen, but at the time Allah wants.’

Indeed, Allah fulfilled His promise to His Messenger Muhammad and the believers. He gave them victory and severely punished the disbelievers. 

Learned Lessons from Surah at-Tariq Ayah 11-17

• Allah swears by the sky that repeatedly rains and the earth that splits producing plants that the Quran is a decisive word distinguishing the truth from falsehood. It is not something for a jest or amazement. 

• Allah revealed the Quran to Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him].

• The enemies of Islam plot against Messenger Muhammad and believers.

• Allah will justly recompense the enemies of Islam. He will give them a respite in this world so that they keep on their evil plotting until His severe punishment befalls them suddenly. He also has prepared painful torment for them in the Hereafter.

• Divine wisdom necessitates giving Islam’s enemies a respite so that they may repent of their disbelief and plotting against Islam and its followers. However, if they insist on disbelief in Allah’s Oneness and potting against the believers, Allah’s punishment will befall them at the time that He has appointed. 

The Noble Quran, Surah at-Tariq English Translation
The Noble Quran, Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah at-Tariq
The Noble Quran, Tafsir of Surah Hud, Allah Will Certainly Give Victory to the Believers
The Noble Quran Surah Jonah English Translation and Tafsir 

 

The Noble Quran, Tafsir Surah at-Tariq, Ayah 1-10 Watchers over Human Beings

86:1 By the sky and the night comer. 

86:2 And what will make you know what the night comer is? 

86:3 It is the piercing star.

86:4 No soul but has a watcher over it.

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:7 issuing from between the backbone and the ribs.

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back

86:9 on the day when the secrets are tested.

86:10 Then he will have neither power nor helper.

Tafsir

86:1 By the sky and the night comer. 

86:2 And what will make you know what the night comer is? 

86:3 It is the piercing star.

At-Tariq refers to a star that appears during the night.

 Allah, Exalted be He, swears by the vast sky and the star that appears in the night.

What will you make you know what the night comer is? At-Tariq is a shining star that pierces the darkness of the night with its light whereby the travelers know their way in the sea and land and times of rains and other beneficial things to human beings are known. 

The interrogation is to magnify the greatness of the creation of this universe. It implies that human beings cannot know the reality of this far star no matter how much advancement they may achieve. Even if they can gain much information about it, still their knowledge is incomplete and commensurate with their imperfect intellects. 

Swearing by the sky and the stars that have different shapes and experience various changes indicate that their Creator, who manages their affairs is great. It is Allah, who created this marvelous universe with its wonderful sky, stars, suns, and moon, etc. 

86:4 No soul but has a watcher over it.

No soul but has a watcher from Allah over it. The watchers are angels who protect human beings from harm and dangers. They also record all deeds and statements of human beings, good or evil. In fact, Allah is the Protector and Guardian; however, the angels watch over human beings by His commands. 

The intended meaning is that all deeds and statements of human beings are recorded and they will be called to account for them on the Day of Judgment and recompensed according to them. 

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:7 issuing from between the backbone and the ribs.

This part of the surah calls man’s attention to consider his creation to confirm that resurrection on the Day of Judgment for reckoning is possible and easy.

Let man consider how he was created in the first place so that he will know Allah’s perfect ability. 

Allah created man from gushing water that comes from the male and female. It comes from the backbone of the male and the ribs of the female. The embryo is formed by the combination of these fluids. It settles in the female’s womb. Then Allah creates the embryo from that fluid. 

‘Let man consider his creation, from what he was created and what he became. He was created from gushing water that comes from the backbones of the male and the ribs of the female. This fact has been secret that no one knows but Allah until the last half-century when modern science has discovered it. It has known that the male fluid is formed in the backbones of the man and the female fluid is formed in the ribs of the woman. Then they are combined and then the embryo is formed. 

The distance between the beginning and the end is great, i.e. between the gushing water from the backbones and the ribs and the rational being with his sophisticated bodily, neurological, mental, and psychological structure. This great distance that the gushing water takes to become a speaking creature reveals that there is a power that pushes this shapeless, will-less, and impotent thing to begin a long, miraculous, and great journey until it reaches this end and becomes this creature. This reveals that there is a guardian appointed by Allah that takes care of this sperm that has no shape, no reason, no will, and no ability throughout its long and miraculous journey that has great wonders more than that what man encounters from the time of his birth and his death [Fi Zilal al-Quran].’ 

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back

86:9 on the day when the secrets are tested.

Allah is able to bring back man after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Indeed, the One who is able to create man in the first place is able to revive him after death. 

On the Day of Judgment, the secrets will be tested, namely, what is hidden in the hearts, such as intentions. When what is hidden in the hearts is tested, they will be revealed and become known. 

Allah created man by combining the fluid from the male and the female. Then, He is able to combine his dispersed parts after death and reform man, bring him back to his original form. 

86:10 Then he will have neither power nor helper.

When man is resurrected on the Day of Judgment for reckoning, he will have neither power nor helper against Allah’s torment. On that day, the disbeliever will be helpless that he cannot help himself nor others.

In this world, he used to have a clan and family that protect him from whatever harm that may touch him. He also used to have allies and helpers who support him. However, the matter will change completely on the Day of Judgment. The disbelievers will stand alone before Allah with no power nor helper against Allah’s punishment. 

Learned Lessons from Surah at-Tariq Ayah 1-10

• Allah swears by the sky and the shining stars that every soul has watchers, who record its sustenance, deeds, and lifespan. Allah swears by whatever He wants of His creatures, but the created beings must only swear by Allah.

• Creating man from nothing is clear evidence confirming that it is possible to re-create man after death for reckoning on the Day of Judgment.

• Allah created man from the water coming from the backbones of the male and the ribs of the female. Then the embryo is formed by combining these fluids.

• Allah will resurrect people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. On this day, all secrets, deeds, and statements will be revealed. Then people will be recompensed according to their deeds, good or evil.

• On the Day of Judgment, man will have no power nor helper against Allah’s punishment, and the disbeliever will be powerless and supportless. 

The Noble Quran English Translation of Surah at-Tariq

The Holy Quran, Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah at-Tariq

Tafsir of Surah an-Naba' Ayah 1-16 The Disbelievers Mock the Truth

The Noble Quran Surah ar-Ra'd: Translation and Tafsir

The Noble Quran, Tafsir of Surah at-Tariq, Introduction to Tafsir of Surah at-Tariq

 

Name of Surah at-Tariq

This surah is named at-Tariq ‘the night comer’ because Allah, Exalted be He, swears by ‘86:1 By the sky and the night comer.’

At-Tariq refers to a star that appears in the night and disappears during the day. 

Relationship between Surah al-Buruj and at-Tariq

Both surahs begin by referring to the sky, [85:1 By the sky with the constellations…] [86:1 By the sky and the night comer.]

Both surahs speak about the resurrection on the Day of Judgment and some attributes of the Quran to refute the claims of the disbelievers, who said that Allah did not reveal it to His Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him].

85:13 Indeed, it is He who originates and brings again.

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back…

85:21 Nay, it is a Glorious Quran,

85:22 in a Preserved Tablet.

86:13 surely it is a decisive word,

Topics Discussed in Surah at-Tariq

The main theme of surah at-Tariq, just as all surahs revealed in Mecca, is discussing belief in the resurrection and reckoning on the Day of Judgment. It confirms that the Day of Judgment will certainly take place by referring to the fact that Allah created man from nothing. Logically, One, Allah, who is able to create something from nothing, is able to recreate it after death. 

Surah at-Tariq begins by swearing by the sky and the shining stars therein to confirm that there are noble angels responsible for protecting human beings. 

86:1 By the sky and the night comer. 

86:4 No soul but has a watcher over it.

Then Allah confirms that resurrection for reckoning on the Day of Judgment is possible by referring to the fact that He created man from nothing in the first place, namely, creating Prophet Adam (the father of human beings) from dust. The One, who is able to create something from nothing is certainly able to resurrect it after death.

86:5 So let man consider from what he was created. 

86:6 He was created from gushing water 

86:7 issuing from between the backbone and the ribs.

86:8 Indeed, He is able to bring him back

Then surah at-Tariq mentions that all secrets that human beings hide in this world will be disclosed on the Day of Judgment. Human beings will stand before Allah, the Able, helpless and they will be justly recompensed for their deeds on that day. 

86:9 on the day when the secrets are tested, 

86:10 Then he will have neither power nor helper.

Surah at-Tariq is concluded with swearing by the sky that repeatedly rain and the earth that splits producing plants that the Quran is truthful and a decisive word that distinguishes between the truth and falsehood. It also warns the disbelievers of the evil end awaiting them in the Hereafter. 

86:11 By the sky that rains repeatedly, 

86:12 and by the earth that splits,

86:17 So give the disbelievers a respite; let them for a while.

Khalid bin Abi Jabal al-Udwani reported that he saw Messenger Muhammad [peace be upon him] in the market of the tribe of Thaqif in Ta’if city when he went there to invite its inhabitants to believe in Islam and support him. Khalid heard Messenger Muhammad reciting surah at-Tariq. Then he said, ‘I knew it when I was a disbeliever and recited it when I became a Muslim.’ The people of Thaqif asked me and said, ‘What did you hear that man saying?’ He said, ‘I recited surah at-Tariq to them.’ Then some men who belonged to the tribe of Quraysh and were present said, ‘We know best our companion. If we know that he invites to the truth, we shall follow him.’ 

Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘Muadh bin Jabal prayed al-Maghreb prayer ‘the evening prayer’ with some believers and he was the imam. He recited surah al-Baqarah and an-Nisa’. When Messenger Muhammad knew about that he said, ‘Do you want to put a burden on people? Was it not sufficient that you should recite surah at-Tariq, surah ash-Shams, and so on?’ 

The Noble Quran, English Translation, Surah at-Taqriq

The Noble Quran, Tafsir ibn Kathir, Surah at-Tariq 

Recitation of Surah at-Tariq Sheikh Mishary Al-Afasy 

The Noble Quran: Introduction to Tafsir of Surah at-Takwir

The Noble Quran Surah an-Nahl: Translation and Tafsir