الطارق
The Nightcommer
Explanations are simplified from tafsirs by Ibn Kathir, Mufti Muhammad Shafi, and Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Spot an inaccuracy? Let us know.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
wal-samāi wal-ṭāriqi
By the sky and the night comer
wamā adrāka mā l-ṭāriqu
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
al-najmu l-thāqibu
It is the piercing star
in kullu nafsin lammā ʿalayhā ḥāfiẓun
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
falyanẓuri l-insānu mimma khuliqa
So let man observe from what he was created.
khuliqa min māin dāfiqin
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
yakhruju min bayni l-ṣul'bi wal-tarāibi
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
innahu ʿalā rajʿihi laqādirun
Indeed, He [i.e., Allāh], to return him [to life], is Able.
yawma tub'lā l-sarāiru
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,
famā lahu min quwwatin walā nāṣirin
Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.
wal-samāi dhāti l-rajʿi
By the sky which sends back
wal-arḍi dhāti l-ṣadʿi
And [by] the earth which splits,
innahu laqawlun faṣlun
Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,
wamā huwa bil-hazli
And it is not amusement.
innahum yakīdūna kaydan
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
wa-akīdu kaydan
But I am planning a plan.
famahhili l-kāfirīna amhil'hum ruwaydan
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.