سُوْرَةُ الطَّارِقِ
Surah At-Taariq (86) — Ayah 1
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ ﴿1﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
By the heaven, and At-Târiq (the night-comer, i.e. the bright star);
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَٱلسَّمَآءِ
wal-samāi
By the sky
وَٱلطَّارِقِ
wal-ṭāriqi
and the night comer
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 1 to 4) ➊ The original meaning of {وَ السَّمَآءِ وَ الطَّارِقِ …: ’’طَرَقَ يَطْرُقُ‘‘} (ن) is to strike forcefully so that a sound is produced. {’’مِطْرَقَةٌ‘‘} (hammer) and {’’طَرِيْقٌ‘‘} (path) are derived from this, because the footsteps of those who walk on the path fall with force and thus make a sound. {’’ الطَّارِقِ ‘‘} is called the one who comes at night, because usually he has to knock on the door. In {’’ النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ ‘‘}, the alif-lam is for genus, so even though the word is singular, it includes all stars. Allah Almighty has stated one purpose of creating the stars is that they are a means of protecting the sky of the world from devils. (See Saaffaat: 6, 7) {’’ اِنْ ‘‘} is in the meaning of negation and {’’ لَمَّا ‘‘} is in the meaning of {’’إِلَّا‘‘}.
➋ An oath is taken to emphasize a matter and usually bears witness to the thing for which the oath is taken. In these verses, Allah Almighty has sworn by the sky and the shining star and said that over every soul there is a guardian. The meaning is that this magnificent system of the sky and stars, which stands without any support and in which no defect or accident occurs, bears witness to the fact that the All-Powerful who has arranged for their protection is the same who protects every soul, and He alone is the real protector of everything; if He were to turn His attention away even for a moment, everything would perish. Just as He has protected the heavens from devils through the stars, similarly, for protection from calamities, angels are appointed over every person in turn (see Ra’d: 11), and to record and preserve his deeds, noble scribes are appointed. See Surah Infitar (10 to 13).
➋ An oath is taken to emphasize a matter and usually bears witness to the thing for which the oath is taken. In these verses, Allah Almighty has sworn by the sky and the shining star and said that over every soul there is a guardian. The meaning is that this magnificent system of the sky and stars, which stands without any support and in which no defect or accident occurs, bears witness to the fact that the All-Powerful who has arranged for their protection is the same who protects every soul, and He alone is the real protector of everything; if He were to turn His attention away even for a moment, everything would perish. Just as He has protected the heavens from devils through the stars, similarly, for protection from calamities, angels are appointed over every person in turn (see Ra’d: 11), and to record and preserve his deeds, noble scribes are appointed. See Surah Infitar (10 to 13).
