Commentary · Quran
Surah 81: The OverthrowingThe Overthrowing
If you don’t know me, my name is Rachel, and these are my scripture notes on the Quran. The ayat are presented sequentially in English and Arabic, followed by my commentary. Think of it as a living midrash: whenever I learn something new, I add a note. My notes draw from an eclectic range of ancient sources, both Jewish and Gentile. See my about page for more.
I’ve used Mohammed Marmaduke Pickthall’s 1930 translation of the Quran’s meanings since it’s both public domain and very pretty.
Surah 81: The Overthrowing, The Cessationسُورَةُ التَّكۡوِيرِ
1When the sun is overthrown, 2And when the stars fall, 3And when the hills are moved, 4And when the camels big with young are abandoned, 5And when the wild beasts are herded together, 6And when the seas rise, 7And when souls are reunited, 8And when the girl-child that was buried alive is asked 9For what sin she was slain, 10And when the pages are laid open, 11And when the sky is torn away, 12And when hell is lighted, 13And when the Garden is brought nigh, 14(Then) every soul will know what it hath made ready. 15Oh, but I call to witness the planets, 16The stars which rise and set, 17And the close of night, 18And the breath of morning 19That this is in truth the word of an honoured messenger, 20Mighty, established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne, 21(One) to be obeyed, and trustworthy; 22And your comrade is not mad. 23Surely he beheld Him on the clear horizon. 24And he is not avid of the Unseen. 25Nor is this the utterance of a devil worthy to be stoned. 26Whither then go ye? 27This is naught else than a reminder unto creation, 28Unto whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight. 29And ye will not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ 2وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ 3وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ 4وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ 5وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ 6وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ 7وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ 8وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ 9بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍۢ قُتِلَتْ 10وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ 11وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتْ 12وَإِذَا ٱلْجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتْ 13وَإِذَا ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ 14عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّآ أَحْضَرَتْ 15فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ 16ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْكُنَّسِ 17وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ 18وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ 19إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ 20ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍۢ 21مُّطَاعٍۢ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍۢ 22وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍۢ 23وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ 24وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍۢ 25وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ رَّجِيمٍۢ 26فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ 27إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ 28لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ 29وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ