الطَّارِقِ
- Meccan
- 17 verses
- Surah 86 of 114
Introduction to Surah At-Tariq
Seventeen verses, Meccan, eighty-sixth in the written order, and one of the shortest arguments in the Qur’an.
The oath
It opens by swearing by the sky and by at-tariq — the night-comer, the one that knocks — and then asks what will explain what the night-comer is, and answers: the star of piercing brightness. The identification is the surah’s own, which is rare; usually it leaves such things open.
The oath concludes that there is no soul without a protector over it.
The argument
Now let man but think from what he is created! He is created from a drop emitted- Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs: Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)! (86:5–8)
Four lines, and the whole resurrection argument is in them. No cosmology, no history of destroyed nations, no list of signs. Just: consider where you started, and then consider whether the second time is harder than the first.
The anatomical phrase in verse 7 has been read in several ways by commentators and by modern writers; the translations here render it as their translators understood it.
How it ends
By swearing by the sky which sends back the rain and the earth which splits with growth, and asserting that this is a decisive word and not an amusement. Then a short passage saying that they plot a plot and God plans a plan — and the closing instruction, which is to give the rejectors respite, to deal gently with them for a while.
A surah that has just described a watcher over every soul ends by asking for patience.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
Wassamaaa’i wattaariq
By the Sky and the Night-Visitant (therein);-
By the heaven and the Morning Star
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ
Wa maaa adraaka mattaariq
And what will explain to thee what the Night-Visitant is?-
– Ah, what will tell thee what the Morning Star is!
ٱلنَّجْمُ ٱلثَّاقِبُ
Annajmus saaqib
(It is) the Star of piercing brightness;-
– The piercing Star!
إِن كُلُّ نَفْسٍۢ لَّمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌۭ
In kullu nafsil lammaa ‘alaihaa haafiz
There is no soul but has a protector over it.
No human soul but hath a guardian over it.
فَلْيَنظُرِ ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ
Fal yanzuril insaanu mimma khuliq
Now let man but think from what he is created!
So let man consider from what he is created.
خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍۢ دَافِقٍۢ
Khuliqa mim maaa’in daafiq
He is created from a drop emitted-
He is created from a gushing fluid
يَخْرُجُ مِنۢ بَيْنِ ٱلصُّلْبِ وَٱلتَّرَآئِبِ
Yakhruju mim bainissulbi wat taraaa’ib
Proceeding from between the backbone and the ribs:
That issued from between the loins and ribs.
إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ رَجْعِهِۦ لَقَادِرٌۭ
Innahoo ‘alaa raj’ihee laqaadir
Surely (Allah) is able to bring him back (to life)!
Lo! He verily is Able to return him (unto life)
يَوْمَ تُبْلَى ٱلسَّرَآئِرُ
Yawma tublas saraaa’ir
The Day that (all) things secret will be tested,
On the day when hidden thoughts shall be searched out.
فَمَا لَهُۥ مِن قُوَّةٍۢ وَلَا نَاصِرٍۢ
Famaa lahoo min quwwatinw wa laa naasir
(Man) will have no power, and no helper.
Then will he have no might nor any helper.
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ ٱلرَّجْعِ
Wassamaaa’i zaatir raj’
By the Firmament which returns (in its round),
By the heaven which giveth the returning rain,
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ ٱلصَّدْعِ
Wal ardi zaatis sad’
And by the Earth which opens out (for the gushing of springs or the sprouting of vegetation),-
And the earth which splitteth (with the growth of trees and plants)
إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلٌۭ فَصْلٌۭ
Innahoo laqawlun fasl
Behold this is the Word that distinguishes (Good from Evil):
Lo! this (Qur’an) is a conclusive word,
وَمَا هُوَ بِٱلْهَزْلِ
Wa maa huwa bil hazl
It is not a thing for amusement.
It is no pleasantry.
إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًۭا
Innahum yakeedoona kaidaa
As for them, they are but plotting a scheme,
Lo! they plot a plot (against thee, O Muhammad)
وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًۭا
Wa akeedu kaidaa
And I am planning a scheme.
And I plot a plot (against them).
فَمَهِّلِ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًۢا
Famahhilil kaafireena amhilhum ruwaidaa
Therefore grant a delay to the Unbelievers: Give respite to them gently (for awhile).
So give a respite to the disbelievers. Deal thou gently with them for a while.
Sources. Arabic text: Tanzil Uthmani edition. Translations: Abdullah Yusuf Ali (original edition, 1934–1938) and Marmaduke Pickthall (1930), both in the public domain. Any introduction above is original writing and is not part of any translation.