Tafsīr of Sūrah at-Takwīr: Signs of Qiyāmah & Qur’an’s Truth

❖ Tafsīr of Sūrah at-Takwīr in Light of Qur’an and Hadith ❖
Written by: Qārī Usāmah bin ʿAbd al-Salām ḥafiẓahullāh

✦ Introduction​

Sūrah at-Takwīr is a Makkan chapter, located in the 30th Juzʾ of the Qur’an. It contains 29 verses, focusing primarily on the terrifying signs of the Day of Judgment and the truthfulness of the Qur’an.


Allah ﷻ describes the catastrophic scenes of Qiyāmah (the Day of Resurrection) in a vivid and alarming manner to warn mankind and invite them to repentance and reflection.

✿ Verses 1–14: The Signs of Qiyāmah​

◉ Verses 1–6: Cosmic Upheaval​

➊ ﴿إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ﴾
“When the sun is wrapped up.”
The light of the sun will be extinguished, or the sun will collapse, possibly like a black hole.


➋ ﴿وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انكَدَرَتْ﴾
“When the stars fall and scatter.”
The stars will lose their light and disperse in the vastness of space.


➌ ﴿وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ﴾
“When the mountains are set in motion.”
Massive mountains will disintegrate into dust and the earth will become a barren plain.


➍ ﴿وَإِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ﴾
“When the pregnant she-camels are neglected.”
In ancient Arabia, pregnant camels were the most prized possession, yet on Qiyāmah, their value will be forgotten due to the overwhelming terror.


➎ ﴿وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ﴾
“When wild beasts are gathered together.”
Normally solitary animals will gather in panic, reflecting the magnitude of fear on that day.


➏ ﴿وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ﴾
“When the seas are set ablaze.”
Oceans will boil over or ignite like fire, symbolizing massive geological and elemental upheaval.

◉ Verses 7–14: The Human Outcome​

➐ ﴿وَإِذَا النُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ﴾
“When souls are paired.”
Souls will be reunited with bodies, and judgment will commence.


➑ ﴿وَإِذَا الْمَوْءُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ (8) بِأَيِّ ذَنبٍ قُتِلَتْ (9)﴾
“When the girl who was buried alive is asked: for what sin was she killed?”
In pre-Islamic Arabia, daughters were buried alive. On Qiyāmah, these innocent victims will be given a voice and justice.


➒ ﴿وَإِذَا الصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ﴾
“When the records [of deeds] are laid open.”
Every individual will be shown their book of deeds, documenting every good and bad action.

✿ Verses 15–29: The Truthfulness of the Qur’an and the Messenger ﷺ​

◉ Verses 15–25: The Reality of Revelation and the Messenger ﷺ​

➊ ﴿فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ (16) الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ﴾
“But no! I swear by the retreating stars, those that run their course and disappear.”
Many scholars interpret this to possibly refer to black holes, which pull in matter and light.


➋ ﴿إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ﴾
“Indeed, this is the word brought by a noble messenger.”
This refers to Jibrīl عليه السلام, who conveyed Allah’s message to the Prophet ﷺ.


➌ ﴿وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالْأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ﴾
“And indeed, he (the Prophet ﷺ) saw him (Jibrīl) at the clear horizon.”
The Prophet ﷺ saw Jibrīl عليه السلام in his true angelic form.

◉ Verses 26–29: Allah’s Warning and Reminder​

➊ ﴿فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ﴾
“So where are you going?”
A rebuke: where are you turning when the truth is clear before you?


➋ ﴿إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِّلْعَالَمِينَ﴾
“It is nothing but a reminder to the worlds.”
The Qur’an is a universal reminder and guidance for all of mankind.

Summary and Advice​

• Sūrah at-Takwīr offers vivid descriptions of Qiyāmah, urging people to reflect and return to Allah ﷻ.
• It affirms the authenticity of the Qur’an and that it is revealed through Jibrīl عليه السلام to the final Messenger ﷺ.
• The Surah serves as a warning and reminder that success in the Hereafter lies in following the Qur’an.
• Guidance is solely in the hands of Allah ﷻ, and He guides whomever He wills to the straight path.

Let every believer prepare for the Day of Judgment by understanding and acting upon the Qur’an.