At-Takwir (التكوير)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ إِذَا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
Izash shamsu kuwwirat
WHEN THE SUN is shrouded in darkness,
وَإِذَا النُّجُومُ انْكَدَرَتْ
Wa izan nujoomun kadarat
and when the stars lose their light,
وَإِذَا الْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ
Wa izal jibaalu suyyirat
and when the mountains are made to vanish,
وَإِذَا الْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ
Wa izal 'ishaaru 'uttilat
and when she-camels big with young, about to give birth, are left untended,
وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
Wa izal wuhooshu hushirat
and when all beasts are gathered together,
وَإِذَا الْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ
Wa izal bihaaru sujjirat
and when the seas boil over,
وَإِذَا النُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ
Wa izan nufoosu zuwwijat
and when all human beings are coupled [with their deeds],
وَإِذَا الْمَوْءُودَةُ سُئِلَتْ
Wa izal maw'oodatu su'ilat
and when the girl-child that was buried alive is made to ask
بِأَيِّ ذَنْبٍ قُتِلَتْ
Bi ayyi zambin qutilat
for what crime she had been slain,
وَإِذَا الصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ
Wa izas suhufu nushirat
and when the scrolls [of men's deeds] are unfolded,
وَإِذَا السَّمَاءُ كُشِطَتْ
Wa izas samaaa'u kushitat
and when heaven is laid bare,
وَإِذَا الْجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتْ
Wa izal jaheemu su'-'irat
and when the blazing fire [of hell] is kindled bright,
وَإِذَا الْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ
Wa izal jannatu uzlifat
and when paradise is brought into view:
عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ مَا أَحْضَرَتْ
'Alimat nafsum maaa ahdarat
[on that Day] every human being will come to know what he has prepared [for himself].
فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ
Falaaa uqsimu bil khunnas
BUT NAY! I call to witness the revolving stars,
الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ
Al jawaaril kunnas
the planets that run their course and set,
وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ
Wallaili izaa 'as'as
and the night as it darkly falls,
وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
Wassubhi izaa tanaffas
and the morn as it softly breathes:
إِنَّهُ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍ كَرِيمٍ
Innahoo laqawlu rasoolin kareem
behold, this [divine writ] is indeed the [inspired] word of a noble apostle,
ذِي قُوَّةٍ عِنْدَ ذِي الْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍ
Zee quwwatin 'inda zil 'arshi makeen
with strength endowed, secure with Him who in almightiness is enthroned
مُطَاعٍ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍ
Mutaa'in samma ameen
[the word] of one to be heeded, and worthy of trust!
وَمَا صَاحِبُكُمْ بِمَجْنُونٍ
Wa maa saahibukum bimajnoon
For, this fellow-man of yours is not a madman:
وَلَقَدْ رَآهُ بِالْأُفُقِ الْمُبِينِ
Wa laqad ra aahu bilufuqil mubeen
he truly beheld [the angel - beheld] him on the clear horizon;
وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍ
Wa maa huwa 'alal ghaibi bidaneen
and he is not one to begrudge others the knowledge [of whatever has been revealed to him] out of that which is beyond the reach of human Perception.
وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَانٍ رَجِيمٍ
Wa maa huwa biqawli shaitaanir rajeem
Nor is this [message] the word of any satanic force accursed.
فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ
Fa ayna tazhaboon
Whither, then, will you go?
إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌ لِلْعَالَمِينَ
In huwa illaa zikrul lil'aalameen
This [message] is no less than a reminder to all mankind –
لِمَنْ شَاءَ مِنْكُمْ أَنْ يَسْتَقِيمَ
Liman shaaa'a minkum ai yastaqeem
to everyone of you who wills to walk a straight way.
وَمَا تَشَاءُونَ إِلَّا أَنْ يَشَاءَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Wa maa tashaaa'oona illaaa ai yashaaa 'al laahu Rabbul 'Aalameen
But you cannot will it unless God, the Sustainer of all the worlds, wills [to show you that way].
Meaning
The Overthrowing
Ayas
29
Revelation
Meccan
Surah No
81
Surah At-Takwir addresses the cataclysmic events of the Day of Judgment and the ultimate transformation of the universe, emphasizing the final end of the world and the fate of the disbelievers and believers. Key themes include:
The cosmic upheaval: The Surah vividly describes the catastrophic events that will take place at the end of the world, where the sun will lose its light, stars will fall, and the earth will be shaken.
The accountability of deeds: It mentions the fate of the souls, where every person will be judged according to their deeds, and the true outcome will be revealed on the Day of Resurrection.
The truth of the message: It emphasizes the truth of the Quran as divine revelation from Allah, urging people to accept it before it is too late.
Reminder of the Day of Judgment: Surah At-Takwir serves as a powerful reminder of the inevitable end of the world and the coming of the Day of Judgment, urging believers to live righteously and be mindful of their actions.
Affirmation of the Quran’s divine origin: The Surah reaffirms that the Quran is the revealed truth from Allah, warning those who deny it of the consequences they will face.
Urgency of preparation: It urges Muslims to prepare for the afterlife by remaining steadfast in faith and following Allah’s guidance.
efits of Reading Surah At-Takwir:
Strengthens belief in the Day of Judgment and reinforces the reality of the afterlife.
Increases mindfulness of the transient nature of this world and the certainty of the Hereafter.
Spiritual reflection: It encourages reflection on the importance of righteous deeds, as every individual will be judged accordingly.
Reminder of the Day of Judgment:
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Surah At-Takwir, he will be protected from the tribulations of the Day of Judgment.” (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
The importance of reflecting on the Hereafter:
The Prophet (ﷺ) stated: “Remember the Day of Judgment frequently, for it destroys all pleasures.” (Tirmidhi)
“If you find any mistakes in this, please let us know. For a more accurate translation, please refer to the English version. May Allah forgive us for any unintentional mistakes.”
