It is the Day when a soul will not possess for another soul [power to do] a thing; and the command, that Day, is [entirely] with Allāh.
Surah Al-Infitar (The Cleaving) — Full Text
Ayah 1
إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنفَطَرَتْ
When the sky breaks apart
The surah opens with a massive cosmic event: the sky splitting apart. Al-Infitar literally means "the cleaving" or "the breaking open" -- imagine the entire sky, which has held together perfectly since creation, suddenly cracking wide open. This is the first of four apocalyptic signs that set the scene for the Day of Judgment, and it immediately grabs your attention because if the sky itself can't hold it together, nothing is safe.
Ayah 2
وَإِذَا ٱلْكَوَاكِبُ ٱنتَثَرَتْ
And when the stars fall, scattering,
Next, the stars -- which have always been fixed in their positions, lighting up the night sky like clockwork -- will scatter and fall. The word used here (intatharat) means they'll be flung apart and dispersed in every direction, losing all their order and beauty. The universe as we know it is literally coming undone, piece by piece.
Ayah 3
وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ فُجِّرَتْ
And when the seas are erupted
Then the seas will erupt and burst forth, with their waters overflowing and mixing together. Fresh water and salt water, which Allah has always kept separate, will merge into one chaotic mass. Some scholars say the oceans will actually overflow onto the land, flooding everything. The natural boundaries that held the world in order are all breaking down at once.
Ayah 4
وَإِذَا ٱلْقُبُورُ بُعْثِرَتْ
And when the [contents of] graves are scattered [i.e., exposed],
Finally, the graves will be overturned and their contents scattered -- meaning the dead will be brought back to life and rise from their resting places. This is the climax of the four signs: the sky splits, stars fall, seas explode, and now the earth itself gives up its dead. Everything hidden underground is exposed. These four verses build an intense crescendo leading to the next verse's punchline.
Ayah 5
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ وَأَخَّرَتْ
A soul will [then] know what it has put forth and kept back.
When all of this happens, every single soul will finally know exactly what it sent ahead and what it left behind. "Sent ahead" means every deed you did in your life -- good or bad. "Left behind" means what you failed to do, or the traditions and examples (good or bad) that you set for others to follow after you. On that Day, there's total clarity -- no more guessing, no more excuses, no more hiding from the truth of your own record.
O mankind, what has deceived you concerning your Lord, the Generous,
Now Allah turns directly to you with a powerful question: O human being, what has deceived you about your Lord, the Most Generous? This isn't Allah looking for an answer -- it's a wake-up call. The word "al-Karim" (the Generous) is key here: ironically, it's Allah's own generosity and patience that makes people think they can get away with disobedience. He doesn't punish you instantly when you sin, so you start thinking maybe there are no consequences. But His patience isn't permission.
Ayah 7
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ فَسَوَّىٰكَ فَعَدَلَكَ
Who created you, proportioned you, and balanced you?
Allah then reminds you of who He is by pointing to you yourself: He's the One who created you, proportioned you perfectly, and balanced you. Think about it -- your body is an incredibly precise system where every limb, organ, and joint is placed exactly where it needs to be, in perfect harmony. Your eyes, your hands, your heart -- all working together seamlessly. The One who designed you this carefully is the same One you're ignoring?
Ayah 8
فِىٓ أَىِّ صُورَةٍ مَّا شَآءَ رَكَّبَكَ
In whatever form He willed has He assembled you.
And He assembled you in whatever form He chose. Despite billions of humans sharing the same basic blueprint, Allah made every single person look completely unique -- distinct facial features, different heights, different builds. No two people are exactly alike. This verse highlights the incredible creative power and artistry of Allah. He could have made everyone identical, but instead He chose to make each person a one-of-a-kind creation. That level of intentional design should make you reflect.
Ayah 9
كَلَّا بَلْ تُكَذِّبُونَ بِٱلدِّينِ
No! But you deny the Recompense.
After listing all these signs of Allah's creative power, here comes the real problem: despite all of this, you still deny the Day of Recompense. The word "ad-Din" here means the Day of Judgment and accountability. It's not that the evidence isn't there -- the sky above you, the body you live in, the world around you all point to a Creator. The issue is that people choose to reject the idea that they'll be held accountable for how they lived.
Ayah 10
وَإِنَّ عَلَيْكُمْ لَحَـٰفِظِينَ
And indeed, [appointed] over you are keepers,1
Here's something to sit with: there are guardians appointed over you right now. These are angels that Allah has assigned to every single person, and their job is to watch and record everything you do. You might think no one sees you when you're alone, but you're never actually alone. These angels are always present, always paying attention, always writing things down.
Ayah 11
كِرَامًا كَـٰتِبِينَ
Noble and recording;
These recording angels are described as "noble" -- they are dignified, honorable beings, not random surveillance. They are honored by Allah and given the important duty of documenting your deeds. The fact that Allah assigned such noble creatures to record your actions shows how seriously He takes accountability. Every deed, big or small, is being carefully written down.
Ayah 12
يَعْلَمُونَ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ
They know whatever you do.
They know everything you do -- not just your outward actions, but the full picture. Nothing slips past them, nothing is too small to record. This verse closes the section on the angels with a simple but heavy statement: your entire life is being documented in real time. The question is, knowing this, does it change how you act when you think no one is watching?
Ayah 13
إِنَّ ٱلْأَبْرَارَ لَفِى نَعِيمٍ
Indeed, the righteous will be in pleasure,
Now the surah shifts to outcomes. The righteous -- those who lived with faith and good deeds -- will be in absolute bliss and delight. The word "abrar" refers to people who were genuinely good, who obeyed Allah and stayed on the right path. Their reward is pure enjoyment in Paradise. This connects back to verse 5: when everyone sees their record, the righteous will see exactly why they earned this joy.
Ayah 14
وَإِنَّ ٱلْفُجَّارَ لَفِى جَحِيمٍ
And indeed, the wicked will be in Hellfire.
And the wicked -- the fujjar, those who lived in open sin and rebellion -- will be in the Hellfire. There's a sharp, clean contrast here: bliss for the righteous, fire for the sinners. No middle ground, no gray area. The surah doesn't spend time on details; it just lays out the two destinations plainly. Your choices in this life determine which group you end up in.
Ayah 15
يَصْلَوْنَهَا يَوْمَ ٱلدِّينِ
They will [enter to] burn therein on the Day of Recompense,
The sinners will enter the Hellfire and burn in it on the Day of Recompense -- that's the Day of Judgment when all accounts are settled. The word "yaslaw-naha" means they will be fully exposed to its heat and torment. This isn't a temporary punishment; it's the direct consequence of a lifetime of deliberate rejection and disobedience. The Day of Recompense is specifically named here to drive home that this is about justice.
Ayah 16
وَمَا هُمْ عَنْهَا بِغَآئِبِينَ
And never therefrom will they be absent.
And they will never be absent from it -- not for a moment, not for a single break. There is no time off, no relief, no escape. The punishment doesn't lighten, and they won't be granted the death they'll desperately wish for. This verse seals the fate of the wicked with a finality that's meant to make you take your life choices seriously right now, while you still can.
Ayah 17
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ
And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
And what can make you truly understand what the Day of Recompense is? This rhetorical question is meant to stop you in your tracks. When the Quran asks "what can make you know," it's signaling that this is something so immense, so beyond your current experience, that words can barely capture it. The Day of Judgment is bigger and more intense than anything your mind can fully process.
Ayah 18
ثُمَّ مَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ
Then, what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
Then again -- what can make you know what the Day of Recompense is? The question is repeated for emphasis, doubling down on the gravity of that Day. Repetition in the Quran is never filler; it's there to make sure the point really lands. If the first time didn't shake you, this second one is meant to hit even harder. Allah really wants you to internalize just how serious and overwhelming this Day will be.
It is the Day when a soul will not possess for another soul [power to do] a thing; and the command, that Day, is [entirely] with Allāh.
The surah closes with the answer: it is the Day when no soul will have any power to help another soul in any way. No connections, no favors, no one pulling strings for you. Every relationship and alliance from this world becomes meaningless. All authority and command on that Day belongs entirely to Allah alone. This is the ultimate reality check -- on that Day, it's just you and your deeds standing before Allah, and no one else can save you.