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 Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
15. I swear by the retreating stars [14],
[14]
The Ptolemaic Theory of Astronomy and the Five Wandering Planets:
In the above verses, twelve events have been mentioned. Of these, the first six verses or six events pertain to the beginning of the Day of Judgment or the first blowing of the Trumpet, and the other six relate to the second blowing of the Trumpet or the Plain of Resurrection. Now, Allah Almighty has sworn by some important matters of this very world. The Ptolemaic theory of astronomy, from 400 BC until the seventeenth century—that is, for more than two thousand years—remained so popular that it was taught in all the schools and universities of the world. According to this theory, the earth was considered stationary and the sun was considered to be moving. Seven heavens and celestial spheres were acknowledged, and upon them, seven planets; that is, in each sphere, one planet revolves. The popularity of this theory was such that even today, calendars in India and Pakistan are prepared according to this theory. According to this theory, the moon revolves in the first heaven, Venus in the second, Mercury in the third, the sun in the fourth, Jupiter in the fifth, Mars in the sixth, and Saturn in the seventh. The movement of the moon and the sun is always straightforward, as stated: ﴿وَسَخَّــرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَايِٕـبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الَّيْلَ﴾ but the remaining five planets, while moving forward, suddenly begin to move backward, that is, they start moving in reverse. Then they begin to move forward again, and at times, they even disappear. These planets are called the five wandering planets (Khamsa Mutahayyirah). In these two verses, most likely, an oath has been sworn by these very planets.
[14]
The Ptolemaic Theory of Astronomy and the Five Wandering Planets:
In the above verses, twelve events have been mentioned. Of these, the first six verses or six events pertain to the beginning of the Day of Judgment or the first blowing of the Trumpet, and the other six relate to the second blowing of the Trumpet or the Plain of Resurrection. Now, Allah Almighty has sworn by some important matters of this very world. The Ptolemaic theory of astronomy, from 400 BC until the seventeenth century—that is, for more than two thousand years—remained so popular that it was taught in all the schools and universities of the world. According to this theory, the earth was considered stationary and the sun was considered to be moving. Seven heavens and celestial spheres were acknowledged, and upon them, seven planets; that is, in each sphere, one planet revolves. The popularity of this theory was such that even today, calendars in India and Pakistan are prepared according to this theory. According to this theory, the moon revolves in the first heaven, Venus in the second, Mercury in the third, the sun in the fourth, Jupiter in the fifth, Mars in the sixth, and Saturn in the seventh. The movement of the moon and the sun is always straightforward, as stated: ﴿وَسَخَّــرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَايِٕـبَيْنِ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الَّيْلَ﴾ but the remaining five planets, while moving forward, suddenly begin to move backward, that is, they start moving in reverse. Then they begin to move forward again, and at times, they even disappear. These planets are called the five wandering planets (Khamsa Mutahayyirah). In these two verses, most likely, an oath has been sworn by these very planets.
