Surah At-Tariq — Word by Word
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.