The Tearing
84: Al Inshiqaq, Meccan Period
This very early chapter was revealed
after Islam’s main teachings had been made public, but before the period of
persecution by the Meccans began. Its message is simple and direct and is one of
those chapters whose main purpose was to introduce to the pagans of the city the
concept of accountability for one’s faith in God (or lack thereof) and one’s
life’s work, whether dedicated to good or evil. The concluding question as to
why people are not accepting the Qur’an when its author is God, Himself, is
evidence that at this stage in Muhammad’s ministry he faced mere verbal
rejection and ridicule from his peers.
In the Name of Allah,
the Compassionate Source of All Mercy.
When the sky is torn away, (1) by the will of its Lord which it must obey, (2) when the earth is leveled (3) and casts out all it contains, (4) by the will of its Lord which it must obey, (5) then you, human beings, who’ve been struggling on the journey towards your Lord, will finally meet Him! [1] (6)
Then, whoever receives his record in his right hand (7) will have an easy assessment. [2] (8) He’ll return to his people celebrating. (9) But whoever receives his record from behind his back, (10) will wish for oblivion (11) as he’s driven into the raging blaze. (12) Indeed, he spent his life celebrating with his friends, (13) never thinking he’d be (brought before his Creator) in the end (14) - but no! His Lord was always watching him. (15)
So, by the fleeting afterglow of sunset, (16) by the gradual approach of night, (17) and by the moon as it grows bright (18) – (know by this same token) that you’re certainly progressing in stages. (19) So what’s the matter with them that they don’t they believe, (20) and why don’t they bow themselves in wonder upon hearing the Qur’an read to them? (21) But no! The faithless just deny it outright! [3] (22)
God knows their inner-most thoughts, (23) so give them the news of a painful doom. [4] (24) But for those who believe and do what’s morally right, there’s a reward that will never end. (25)
[1] The Angel Gabriel went to the Prophet one day and said, “Muhammad, live as long as you want to, but one day you will meet your death. Love whoever you want to, but one day you will have to leave them. Do whatever you like, but one day you will have to answer for your actions.” (Abu Dawud)
[2] Whenever A’ishah, the Prophet’s wife, heard something she didn’t understand, she used to ask about it until it was made clear to her. A’ishah reports that once the Prophet said, “Whoever will be interrogated (on Judgment Day concerning his record,) will surely be punished.” A’ishah said, “Doesn’t God say, ‘he will give an easy assessment?” (84:8) The Prophet replied, “This refers only to the presentation of the record, but whoever will be interrogated about his record will be ruined.” (Bukhari) One day A’ishah heard the Prophet supplicating, “O God, give me an easy accounting.” She asked, “What is an easy accounting?” The Prophet explained, “It means that God will merely glance over the record of deeds and forgive the sins within. But A’ishah, whoever is going to have to answer for their record is ruined!” (Ahmad)
[3] Muhammad al Ghazali (d. 1111) once wrote, “A worldly oriented person is like an ant crawling on paper. He sees the black lettering and thinks it was made by a pen and nothing more.” (The Alchemy of Happiness)
[4] The Prophet said, “God has accepted my plea to forgive the whispers in the hearts of my followers, unless they put them into action or talk about them.” (Bukhari)
