Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Surah At-Tariq /The Night

Surah Tariq = The Night
Number of Surah (chapter) = 86
Number of Ayah (verses)= 17
Place of revelation = Macca

The Surah taken its name from the word at-tariq in its first verse.

This surah was sent down at a stage when the disbelievers of Makkah were employing all sorts of devices and plans to defeat and frustrate the message of the Qur'an and Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings).


The meaning of the Surah are:

  • Verses 1-4: Swearing by the Existence of Humanity surrounded by the Organized System of Allah

    وَالسَّمَاءِ وَالطَّارِقِ وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ إِنْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَمَّا عَلَيْهَا حَافِظٌ


    • 1. I swear by the heaven and the comer by night;
    • 2. And what will make you know what the comer by night is?
    • 3. The star of piercing brightness;
    • 4. There is not a soul but over it is a keeper.


    The sky and those which appear in the night—and what do you understand what those which appear in the night are? Shinning stars—bear witness that indeed there is no soul over which there is no guardian. (verses 1-4)

    In the first four verses, Allah Almighty Himself, Who is looking after and watching over every creature, big or small, in the earth and heavens. He it is Who has brought everything into existence, Who is maintaining and sustaining everything in its place and position, and Who has taken the responsibility to provide for every creature and to protect it from calamities till an appointed tune.


  • Verses 5-8: How Man is created is a Proof of Allah's Ability to Return Him to Him

    فَلْيَنظُرْ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ خُلِقَ مِنْ مَاءٍ دَافِقٍ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ بَيْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَائِبِ إِنَّهُ عَلَى رَجْعِهِ لَقَادِرٌ



    • 5. So let man consider of what he is created:
    • 6. He is created of water pouring forth,
    • 7. Coming from between the back and the ribs.
    • 8. Most surely He is able to return him (to life).


    So, let man ponder on what he has been created from. He has been created from a spurting fluid that comes from between the bones of the back and the chest. Indeed He [– the Almighty –] is able to resurrect him. (verses 5-8)

    In the next four verses, an invitation has been extended to all disbelievers to meditate over the mysteries of creation. Man has not been created by some rare material which is beyond the reach of Allah but by a drop of water which gushes forth from within himself. Thus, when Allah is able to make a whole person from just a drop of water, He can surely resurrect the whole mankind on the Last Day and take account from everyone.

  • Verses 9-10: On the Day of Judgement, Man will have no Power or Assistance

    يَوْمَ تُبْلَى السَّرَائِرُ فَمَا لَهُ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَلَا نَاصِرٍ


    • 9. On the day when hidden things shall be made manifest,
    • 10. He shall have neither strength nor helper.


    On that day, when all secrets will be probed, then, neither will he have any might nor will he find any helper. (verses 9-10)

    The next two verses allude to the fact that Allah has full knowledge of what is in the hearts. All acts, however secretly conducted, shall be judged openly on the Last Day and no might or a helper will a person find at his disposal to escape the judgment pronounced.

  • Verses 11-17: Swearing to the Truthfulness of the Qur'an and the Failure of Those Who oppose it

    وَالسَّمَاءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ وَالْأَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ وَمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ


    إِنَّهُمْ يَكِيدُونَ كَيْدًا وَأَكِيدُ كَيْدًا فَمَهِّلْ الْكَافِرِينَ أَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَيْدًا


    • 11. I swear by the raingiving heavens,
    • 12. And the earth splitting (with plants);
    • 13. Most surely it is a decisive word,
    • 14. And it is no joke.
    • 15. Surely they will make a scheme,
    • 16. And I (too) will make a scheme.
    • 17. So grant the unbelievers a respite: let them alone for a


    This sky brimful of rain and the earth with splits bear witness that this is a decisive word and it is no jest. (verses 11-14)

    In verses eleven to fourteen, a combination of the celestial and the terrestrial phenomena is again mentioned to reinforce the warning of the Qur’an regarding the Day of Resurrection lest man should take it a pleasantry when it is inevitably going to take place.

    They are devising a plan and I am also scheming a plan. So, leave the disbelievers; leave them for a while. (verses 15-17)

    In the last three verses, the Prophet Muhammad (sws) is consoled that whatever the disbelievers are planning will be turned against them. The Almighty has laid down a firm plan which shall soon be executed to seize them and to bring them to justice.


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Activities and worksheets for kids:

  • Memorize the surah.
  • Write surah At-Tariq in Arabic.
  • Write the meaning.
  • Write the paragraph and draw the system reproductive.


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Let's hear surah At-Tariq and memorize it:


Listen to tafsir Surah At-Tariq:



Here are other links:



Sources:

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