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 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.
19. That you will surely ascend from one stage to another [14].
[14] At this point, three things have been sworn by, from which it becomes clear that there is only movement in the universe, there is no stillness or stagnation. Moreover, this movement does not occur all at once, rather the principle of gradualness is at work in it. When the sun sets, darkness does not fall all of a sudden, but its effects remain for a while. Night too gradually draws its inhabitants to their respective resting places. When the moon becomes full, it does so gradually; it takes several days. However, it certainly becomes complete. In the same way, you too are gradually, stage by stage, moving towards your final destination, and you will only find rest when you reach there. In the beginning, man was a drop of fluid. Even in the mother's womb, he passed through seven different stages. Then childhood, from childhood to youth, from youth to old age, and from old age to death. These are such stages that man is completely helpless and compelled in traversing them. If anyone wishes to skip any of these stages, he absolutely cannot do so. As for the question of what is man's final destination, the answer is that it is either Paradise or Hell. That is, even after death, man will be compelled to pass through several stages. He will have to face the punishment or reward of the grave. After dying, he will have to be resurrected. He will have to endure the hardships of the Day of Judgment. He will have to be presented in the court of Allah. The same law of Allah is operative in this world as well. All these events will certainly take place in the Hereafter too, and man's own will and choice will have no part in it.
[14] At this point, three things have been sworn by, from which it becomes clear that there is only movement in the universe, there is no stillness or stagnation. Moreover, this movement does not occur all at once, rather the principle of gradualness is at work in it. When the sun sets, darkness does not fall all of a sudden, but its effects remain for a while. Night too gradually draws its inhabitants to their respective resting places. When the moon becomes full, it does so gradually; it takes several days. However, it certainly becomes complete. In the same way, you too are gradually, stage by stage, moving towards your final destination, and you will only find rest when you reach there. In the beginning, man was a drop of fluid. Even in the mother's womb, he passed through seven different stages. Then childhood, from childhood to youth, from youth to old age, and from old age to death. These are such stages that man is completely helpless and compelled in traversing them. If anyone wishes to skip any of these stages, he absolutely cannot do so. As for the question of what is man's final destination, the answer is that it is either Paradise or Hell. That is, even after death, man will be compelled to pass through several stages. He will have to face the punishment or reward of the grave. After dying, he will have to be resurrected. He will have to endure the hardships of the Day of Judgment. He will have to be presented in the court of Allah. The same law of Allah is operative in this world as well. All these events will certainly take place in the Hereafter too, and man's own will and choice will have no part in it.
