سُوْرَةُ التَّكْوِيْرِ
Surah At-Takwir (81) — Ayah 15
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ ﴿15﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
So verily, I swear by the planets that recede (i.e. disappear during the day and appear during the night).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَلَآ
falā
But nay
أُقْسِمُ
uq'simu
I swear
بِٱلْخُنَّسِ
bil-khunasi
by the retreating planets
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi
Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
(Ayah 16,15) {فَلَاۤ اُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ … : ’’اَلْخُنَّسُ‘‘ ’’خَنَسَ‘‘} (Ḍ) (to retreat) is the plural of {’’خَانِسٌ‘‘} on the pattern of {’’رُكَّعٌ‘‘}. {’’خَنَّاسٌ‘‘} is also from the same root. Similarly, it is the plural of {’’ الْكُنَّسِ ‘‘ ’’كَانِسٌ‘‘}. {’’كِنَاسٌ‘‘} is the place made by deer, etc., in trees, where they hide. {’’كَنَسَ‘‘} (Ḍ) entered into a hiding place, hid. {’’ الْجَوَارِ ‘‘ ’’جَرٰي يَجْرِيْ‘‘} is the plural of {’’جَارِيَةٌ‘‘}. The meaning is the sun, moon, and stars. They are called {’’اَلْخُنَّسُ‘‘} (those who retreat) because all of these, after setting in the west, start to return, that is, move towards the east, until they reappear from the east. {’’ الْجَوَارِ ‘‘} are those who move, meaning their task is to keep moving, from the west back to the east and from there again to the west. {’’ الْكُنَّسِ ‘‘} are those who hide, meaning while moving from the west to the east, they are not visible.
