سُوْرَةُ الاِنْشِقَاقِ
Surah Al-Inshiqaaq (84) — Ayah 19
لَتَرْكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٍ ﴿19﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
You shall certainly travel from stage to stage (in this life and in the Hereafter).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لَتَرْكَبُنَّ
latarkabunna
You will surely embark
طَبَقًا
ṭabaqan
(to) stage
عَن
ʿan
from
طَبَقٍۢ
ṭabaqin
stage
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 19) ➊ The oaths mentioned in the Noble Qur’an come for the emphasis of the response to the oath that follows, and generally serve as evidence of its certainty. Here, the matter for which oaths have been sworn is this reality: you will surely be transferred from one state to another. Now, consider the oaths! The things mentioned in all three verses clearly transition from one state to another, that is, after the sunlight of the whole day, the sun sets and twilight spreads, then night falls. Allah’s creation disperses during the day and gathers at night. Similarly, the moon is in the shape of a crescent on the first night, then gradually changes to become the full moon, then begins to wane again. All of this is evidence that you too do not remain in one state permanently, but just like these things, your continual transition from one state to another is also certain. In the same way, life is followed by death, then life again, and the occurrence of reward and punishment for every deed is also certain.
➋ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) explained {’’ طَبَقًا عَنْ طَبَقٍ ‘‘} : [ حَالًا بَعْدَ حَالٍ ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب: «لترکبن طبقا عن طبق » : ۴۹۴۰ ] “That is, after one state, into another state.” A person will continue to move from one new state to another at every moment. The major transformations are these: being created from dust, then a sperm-drop, then the various states in the mother’s womb, then birth, childhood, youth, old age, health, illness, poverty, wealth, then death, the grave, and the Resurrection. In short, a human being passes through countless states until he reaches Paradise or Hell.
➋ The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) explained {’’ طَبَقًا عَنْ طَبَقٍ ‘‘} : [ حَالًا بَعْدَ حَالٍ ] [ بخاري، التفسیر، باب: «لترکبن طبقا عن طبق » : ۴۹۴۰ ] “That is, after one state, into another state.” A person will continue to move from one new state to another at every moment. The major transformations are these: being created from dust, then a sperm-drop, then the various states in the mother’s womb, then birth, childhood, youth, old age, health, illness, poverty, wealth, then death, the grave, and the Resurrection. In short, a human being passes through countless states until he reaches Paradise or Hell.
