Surah At-Takwir is the 81st chapter in the Quran. It derives its name from the first verse, Kuwwirat. Kuwwirat refers to the folding up or the overthrowing. This chapter was uncovered in Makkah. It gives a strong image of the Judgment Day. The Surah has 29 verses. It is found in the 30th and last Juz (part) of the Quran.
The style of the Surah is straightforward and effective. It contains short and powerful sentences. Therefore, this brings out a sense of urgency. It also grabs the reader to their attention. Thus, there are two ideas addressed in the content. So, the former is the fact of the Hereafter. The second is the truth of what truth that the Prophet taught. Thus, this chapter serves as an excellent reminder of personal responsibility.
What Does “Kuwwirat” Mean?
Kuwwirat is a word derived from the Arabic origin meaning “folding” or “wrapping.” It makes a vivid picture in the light of the first verse, in which it is stated that when the sun is Kuwwirat (folded up). The verse talks about the sun that is fading away. Its immense brightness will be bound up and dimmed down. Therefore, this is the start of the end.
This is a peculiar and strong metaphor. Suppose a turban is undone from the head. The sun, which radiates throughout the solar system, can be compared to that turban. Thus, this turban of light would be returned to the sun on the Day of Judgment. The world will sink into the darkness. Thus, this is one word that harnesses a grand cosmic event. It also provides a dramatic atmosphere for the whole chapter.
Surah At-Takweer Transliteration, English & Urdu Translation
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
إِذَا ٱلشَّمۡسُ كُوِّرَتۡ
Izash shamsu kuwwirat
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتۡ
Wa izan nujoomun kadarat
And when the stars fall, dispersing,
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتۡ
Wa izal jibaalu suyyirat
And when the mountains are removed
وَإِذَا ٱلۡعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتۡ
Wa izal ‘ishaaru ‘uttilat
And when full-term she-camels are neglected
وَإِذَا ٱلۡوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتۡ
Wa izal wuhooshu hushirat
And when the wild beasts are gathered
وَإِذَا ٱلۡبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتۡ
Wa izal bihaaru sujjirat
And when the seas are filled with flame
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتۡ
Wa izan nufoosu zuwwijat
And when the souls are paired
وَإِذَا ٱلۡمَوۡءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتۡ
Wa izal maw’oodatu su’ilat
And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked
بِأَيِّ ذَنۢبٖ قُتِلَتۡ
Bi ayyi zambin qutilat
For what sin was she killed
وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتۡ
Wa izas suhufu nushirat
And when the pages are made public
وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتۡ
Wa izas samaaa’u kushitat
And when the sky is stripped away
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتۡ
Wa izal jaheemu su’-‘irat
And when Hellfire is set ablaze
وَإِذَا ٱلۡجَنَّةُ أُزۡلِفَتۡ
Wa izal jannatu uzlifat
And when Paradise is brought near,
عَلِمَتۡ نَفۡسٞ مَّآ أَحۡضَرَتۡ
‘Alimat nafsum maaa ahdarat
A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].
فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلۡخُنَّسِ
Falaaa uqsimu bil khunnas
So I swear by the retreating stars –
ٱلۡجَوَارِ ٱلۡكُنَّسِ
Al jawaaril kunnas
Those that run [their courses] and disappear –
وَٱلَّيۡلِ إِذَا عَسۡعَسَ
Wallaili izaa ‘as’as
And by the night as it closes in
وَٱلصُّبۡحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
Wassubhi izaa tanaffas
And by the dawn when it breathes
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوۡلُ رَسُولٖ كَرِيمٖ
Innahoo laqawlu rasoolin kareem
[That] indeed, the Qur’an is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger
ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِي ٱلۡعَرۡشِ مَكِينٖ
Zee quwwatin ‘inda zil ‘arshi makeen
[Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position],
مُّطَاعٖ ثَمَّ أَمِينٖ
Mutaa’in samma ameen
Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجۡنُونٖ
Wa maa saahibukum bimajnoon
And your companion is not [at all] mad.
وَلَقَدۡ رَءَاهُ بِٱلۡأُفُقِ ٱلۡمُبِينِ
Wa laqad ra aahu bilufuqil mubeen
And he has already seen Gabriel on the clear horizon.
وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلۡغَيۡبِ بِضَنِينٖ
Wa maa huwa ‘alal ghaibi bidaneen
And Muhammad is not a withholder of [knowledge of] the unseen.
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوۡلِ شَيۡطَٰنٖ رَّجِيمٖ
Wa maa huwa biqawli shaitaanir rajeem
And the Qur’an is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].
فَأَيۡنَ تَذۡهَبُونَ
Fa ayna tazhaboon
So where are you going?
إِنۡ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكۡرٞ لِّلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
In huwa illaa zikrul lil’aalameen
It is not except a reminder to the world
لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمۡ أَن يَسۡتَقِيمَ
Liman shaaa’a minkum ai yastaqeem
For whoever wills among you to take the right course.
وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ
Wa maa tashaaa’oona illaaa ai yashaaa ‘al laahu Rabbul ‘Aalameen
And you do not will except that Allah wills – Lord of the worlds.
The Two Stages of the Last Day
Surah At-Takwir explains the Day of Judgment in two separate stages. Both stages describe a sequence of frightening and earth-shaking happenings. These are the descriptions that are supposed to wake up the human conscience.
The First Level: Universal Disorder.
The initial six verses describe the beginning stage of the Resurrection. Thus, these happenings indicate the fall of the physical world as we know it.
- The Sun is Folded Up: The generator of all the light and life on the earth is gone. Darkness covers everything. So, this is the first sign.
- The Stars Fall: The celestial bodies lose their places. Therefore, they fall and disperse into the clouds. Thus, there is no longer the familiar night sky.
- The Mountains are Moved: Mountains, which are synonymous with stability, are lifted. Therefore, they are moved and blown away like dust. Even the basics of the earth are trembling.
- Pregnant Camels are Abandoned: The most valuable items to Arabs were ten months who are pregnant camels. Such terror will also force people to leave even their most valuable assets behind.
- Wild Beasts are Gathered: Terror will bring to one all beasts. Wild animals, which are supposed to be enemies, will also make a huddle in shock and confusion.
- The Sea Boil Over: The deep waters will be brought blazing. Water, which puts out fire, will itself be a cause of fire.
Thus, these happenings portray a scenario of complete anarchy. Therefore, there is an absolute upheaval of the natural order in the universe. Whatever appears to be permanent is depicted as being temporary.
The Second Stage: The Reckoning.
The second stage is described in the following 7 verses. Therefore, this stage is replaced with universal annihilation by personal responsibility.
- Souls are Rejoined with Bodies: All souls are reunited with their material bodies. Thus, this makes every individual ready to be judged.
- The Girl Child is Interrogated: The scene is a painful one. Therefore, the female infant who was buried alive in pre-Islamic times is questioned on what is the crime she was killed. This is not her question, but to disgrace her murderer. It also brings out a serious form of injustice.
- Records are Laid Open: The tablets of all the actions of all persons are opened. Nothing is hidden. Thus, all the good or bad actions are brought up.
- The Sky is Stripped Away: The skies are disclosed or disemboweled. This is a new reality that is outside of our present perception.
- Hellfire is Prepared: Hellfire is heated and prepared to burn the wicked.
Paradise is Brought Near Paradise is brought near, so that righteous people can see their reward. Having drawn out this flow, the Surah makes its point. All of them will also be aware of what they have created. One will not have to doubt what he/she does or what the consequences are.
The Message of Prophethood
After such an impressive portrayal of the Last Day, the Surah shifts its subject. It also deals with the authenticity of the Quran and the Prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Therefore, the main audience is the people of Makkah.
A Noble Messenger
The Surah takes an oath using the stars and the arrival of the dawn. It also proves that the Quran is not made by humans. Therefore, the word of a nice messenger. Thus, this prophet is the Angel Jibril (Gabriel). He is presented with some major characteristics:
Endowment of Power: He is very strong.
Take protection with the Lord of the Throne: he is a high man and a high position with God.
Obeyed and Trustworthy: Other angels obey him, and he fulfills his trust. Therefore, these verses confirm that the revelation has got divine origin. Thus, thee Quran is not a figment of the imagination of a poet. It is not what a madman says, as some thought. It is also a religious word given by a strong and credible angel.
The Prophet’s Vision
The Surah then substantiates the experience of the Prophet Muhammad. It also says that he had beheld the Angel Jibril on the clear horizon. It was a real and true vision, and not a hallucination. The Prophet is not withholding any unseen knowledge that has been shown to him. Lastly, Surah lynches the notion that this message is the work of a rejected devil. It literally interrupts the listener with the question: So, where you going? Thus, this query is enough to make one reflect. And what other course could one possibly take after hearing this truth? The Quran is a universal reminder. Anyone who wants to follow a straight path will follow it.
The End of Female Infanticide
Another prominent theme in Surah At-Takwir is that female infanticide is condemned there. It is a barbaric act that was widespread in pre-Islamic Arabia. Women had daughters who were considered costly or a source of embarrassment. Other fathers would even bury their infant daughters alive.
This brutality is directly dealt with in the Surah. When the judgment day comes, the innocent girl will be questioned why they killed her. This question works wonders to display the injustice of the act. Islam denounced this practice as much as possible by providing a voice to the victim. The verse formed a foundation for defining the rights and worth of ladies. It was a drastic change in the social consciousness. The custom was done away with, and women status was upgraded.
Conclusion
Surah At-Takwir is not just a chapter of a holy book. It is a cosmic alarm clock. It wakes us up to our daily preoccupations. Also, it compels us to the final reality. The imagery is not meant to frighten merely. It is meant to awaken. It challenges us to take our eyes off ourselves and think about where we are headed. The only result of the Surah is that our will is bound to the will of God. We are free to take the righteous way.
But even so, to be able to make that choice is the gift of the Lord of the Worlds. It helps us to remember that we are helpless creatures in the hands of a higher power. It is not totally in our control. This chapter, with its dramatic introduction to its deep conclusion, calls upon us to an overhaul of our priorities. It challenges us to live meaningfully, consciously, and with a very strong sense of responsibility for what we do.
