84. Surah Inshiqaq

Surah with Translation : https://quran.com/84

 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ

إِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ ٱنشَقَّتۡ ١  وَأَذِنَتۡ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتۡ ٢  وَإِذَا ٱلۡأَرۡضُ مُدَّتۡ ٣  وَأَلۡقَتۡ مَا فِيهَا وَتَخَلَّتۡ ٤  وَأَذِنَتۡ لِرَبِّهَا وَحُقَّتۡ ٥

When the sky has split [open] [1] And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so][2]And when the earth has been extended[3]And has cast out that within it and relinquished [it][4]And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so] -[5]

Allah starts this Surah with the mention of major events that will occur on the Day of Judgement. He specifically mentions about the splitting of the sky and the extending of the Earth. Both the Heavens and the Earth in spite of their enormity and magnificence will surrender to Allah immediately. This urges one to think, what then is the matter with man that he disobeys and is ungrateful to Him?

يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنُ إِنَّكَ كَادِحٌ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكَ كَدۡحٗا فَمُلَٰقِيهِ ٦ 

O mankind, indeed you are laboring toward your Lord with [great] exertion and will meet it.[6]

We as humans are in a constant state of toil and struggle, but the question is, what are we striving for? Are we striving for that which is temporary or are we striving for that which is permanent? The mention of the changes that will occur to the sky and the Earth in the beginning of the Surah and the statement of Allah- " And has responded to its Lord and was obligated [to do so]" , increases the conviction in ones heart about the reality of this day. And thus simply listening to recitation of these verses with attention is sufficient to send a surge of chill down our spines and push us towards action.

And the word وَأَذِنَتۡ indicates that the Sky and Earth has been paying close attention to the commandments of Allah, which is a key factor that led to their prompt obedience. Likewise, if we want to obey Allah with similar humility, then, we too must adopt the habit of listening to the words of Allah (i.e. the Qur'an) attentively. For an attentive mind submits while the heedless mind continues to wander aimlessly.

فَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ ٧  فَسَوۡفَ يُحَاسَبُ حِسَابٗا يَسِيرٗا ٨ وَيَنقَلِبُ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ مَسۡرُورٗا ٩  وَأَمَّا مَنۡ أُوتِيَ كِتَٰبَهُۥ وَرَآءَ ظَهۡرِهِۦ ١٠ فَسَوۡفَ يَدۡعُواْ ثُبُورٗا ١١  وَيَصۡلَىٰ سَعِيرًا ١٢  إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ فِيٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ مَسۡرُورًا ١٣ إِنَّهُۥ ظَنَّ أَن لَّن يَحُورَ ١٤  بَلَىٰٓۚ إِنَّ رَبَّهُۥ كَانَ بِهِۦ بَصِيرٗا ١٥ 

Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand, [7]He will be judged with an easy account[8]And return to his people in happiness.[9]But as for he who is given his record behind his back,[10]He will cry out for destruction[11]And [enter to] burn in a Blaze.[12] Indeed, he had [once] been among his people in happiness;[13]Indeed, he had thought he would never return [to Allah ].[14]But yes! Indeed, his Lord was ever of him, Seeing.[15]

Having tossed and turned in different struggles in life, man finally stand before his Lord to be recompensed. But sadly, not all will look forward to this meeting with their Creator. The ones whose efforts were exerted only for dunya will find no share in the eternal home of bliss. Instead he will be punished for all his wrong doings, which he committed while neglecting the warnings about the coming of the Hour. On the other hands, all those who strove hard to seek Allah's pleasure will be rewarded for their struggles. All the battles they fought against their desires and all the sacrifices they made against the loud cries of their craving soul will be duly recompensed. So glad tidings for the believers.

However, what is note worthy here is that Allah uses the word مَسۡرُورًا , this word shows that this feeling is not just a fake smile or happiness that was only displayed on the outside, rather it is the true; genuine; pure happiness of the heart. As for the righteous person, he will be given an easy accounting and he would turn back to his family and/or friends with much joy and excitement to show his book of deeds that he received on his right hand.

But as for the one with a wicked soul, he will receive his book from behind his back on his left hand. At this, he will call upon destruction on himself, but for no avail. He will be punished in the blazing fire. All this because of his disbelief in the Day of Recompense.

Ask yourself, what is my attitude towards the Day of Judgement? For a wrong attitude can lead to your doom, if you but know. 

فَلَآ أُقۡسِمُ بِٱلشَّفَقِ ١٦  وَٱلَّيۡلِ وَمَا وَسَقَ ١٧  وَٱلۡقَمَرِ إِذَا ٱتَّسَقَ ١٨ لَتَرۡكَبُنَّ طَبَقًا عَن طَبَقٖ ١٩  فَمَا لَهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُونَ ٢٠ وَإِذَا قُرِئَ عَلَيۡهِمُ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ لَا يَسۡجُدُونَۤ۩ ٢١ بَلِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ 

يُكَذِّبُونَ ٢٢ 

So I swear by the twilight glow[16] And [by] the night and what it envelops[17] And [by] the moon when it becomes full[18] [That] you will surely experience state after state.[19] So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe,[20] And when the Qur'an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah ]?[21] But those who have disbelieved deny,[22]

Then, Allah takes oath by the signs in the universe. He speaks of the twilight, night and moon - those which change its state to make man realize that he too would experience changes whether he likes it or not. For an example, his transition from childhood to adulthood to death and beyond.

وَٱللَّهُ أَعۡلَمُ بِمَا يُوعُونَ ٢٣  فَبَشِّرۡهُم بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ ٢٤ إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّٰلِحَٰتِ لَهُمۡ أَجۡرٌ غَيۡرُ مَمۡنُونِۢ ٢٥ 

And Allah is most knowing of what they keep within themselves.[23] So give them tidings of a painful punishment,[24] Except for those who believe and do righteous deeds. For them is a reward uninterrupted.[25]

But whichever state man is in Allah is most knowing of man and what he does. And he'll be recompensed according to his deeds.

                       ACTION POINTS            

     1. Listen to the Qur'an attentively.

2. Make the sajdah tilawa in this surah.

3. Use you right hand to do all good deeds.