Commentary · Quran
Surah 84: The SunderingThe Sundering
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 84: The Sundering, Splitting Openسُورَةُ الانشِقَاقِ
1When the heaven is split asunder 2And attentive to her Lord in fear, 3And when the earth is spread out 4And hath cast out all that was in her, and is empty 5And attentive to her Lord in fear! 6Thou, verily, O man, art working toward thy Lord a work which thou wilt meet (in His presence). 7Then whoso is given his account in his right hand 8He truly will receive an easy reckoning 9And will return unto his folk in joy. 10But whoso is given his account behind his back, 11He surely will invoke destruction 12And be thrown to scorching fire. 13He verily lived joyous with his folk, 14He verily deemed that he would never return (unto Allah). 15Nay, but lo! his Lord is ever looking on him! 16Oh, I swear by the afterglow of sunset, 17And by the night and all that it enshroudeth, 18And by the moon when she is at the full, 19That ye shall journey on from plane to plane. 20What aileth them, then, that they believe not 21And, when the Qur'an is recited unto them, worship not (Allah)? 22Nay, but those who disbelieve will deny; 23And Allah knoweth best what they are hiding. 24So give them tidings of a painful doom, 25Save those who believe and do good works, for theirs is a reward unfailing.
1بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنشَقَّتْ 2وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ 3وَإِذَا ٱلْأَرْضُ مُدَّتْ 4وَأَلْقَتْ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتْ 5وَأَذِنَتْ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتْ 6يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلْإِنسَٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدْحًۭا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ 7فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ 8فَسَوْفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابًۭا يَسِيرًۭا 9وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًۭا 10وَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهْرِهِۦ 11فَسَوْفَ يَدْعُوا۟ ثُبُورًۭا 12وَيَصْلَىٰ سَعِيرًا 13إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِىٓ أَهْلِهِۦ مَسْرُورًا 14إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ 15بَلَىٰٓ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرًۭا 16فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلشَّفَقِ 17وَٱلَّيْلِ وَمَا وَسَقَ 18وَٱلْقَمَرِ إِذَا ٱتَّسَقَ 19لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍۢ 20فَمَا لَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ 21وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقُرْءَانُ لَا يَسْجُدُونَ ۩ 22بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ يُكَذِّبُونَ 23وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ 24فَبَشِّرْهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ 25إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَعَمِلُوا۟ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمْ أَجْرٌ غَيْرُ مَمْنُونٍۭ