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Surah 81 · Meccan · 29 Verses

التكوير

SURAH AT-TAKWIR

The Overthrowing

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

1

إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ

When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]

2

وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ

And when the stars fall, dispersing,

3

وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ

And when the mountains are removed

4

وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ

And when full-term she-camels1865 are neglected

  1. [1865] Those ten months pregnant and nearing delivery. This verse alludes to distraction from the most valued of possessions. ↩

5

وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ

And when the wild beasts are gathered

6

وَإِذَا ٱلْبِحَارُ سُجِّرَتْ

And when the seas are filled with flame1866

  1. [1866] Or "when the seas have overflowed [into each other]." ↩

7

وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ

And when the souls are paired1867

  1. [1867] With another like soul. It can also mean "joined" (with their groups or sects) . ↩

8

وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ

And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked

9

بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍۢ قُتِلَتْ

For what sin she was killed

10

وَإِذَا ٱلصُّحُفُ نُشِرَتْ

And when the pages1868 are spread [i.e., made public]

  1. [1868] On which are recorded the deeds of all people. ↩

11

وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتْ

And when the sky is stripped away

12

وَإِذَا ٱلْجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتْ

And when Hellfire is set ablaze

13

وَإِذَا ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ

And when Paradise is brought near,

14

عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌۭ مَّآ أَحْضَرَتْ

A soul will [then] know what it has brought [with it].1869

  1. [1869] i.e., all of one's deeds from worldly life, which have accompanied the soul to the Hereafter. ↩

15

فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ

So I swear by the retreating stars -

16

ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْكُنَّسِ

Those that run [their courses] and disappear [i.e., set]

17

وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ

And by the night as it closes in1870

  1. [1870] An alternative meaning is "as it departs." ↩

18

وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

And by the dawn when it breathes [i.e., stirs]

19

إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ

[That] indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e., Gabriel]

20

ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍۢ

[Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position],

21

مُّطَاعٍۢ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍۢ

Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.

22

وَمَا صَاحِبُكُم بِمَجْنُونٍۢ

And your companion [i.e., Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) ] is not [at all] mad.1871

  1. [1871] Literally, "possessed by jinn." ↩

23

وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ

And he has already seen him [i.e., Gabriel] in the clear horizon.1872

  1. [1872] i.e., the eastern horizon, where the sun rises. See footnote to 53:6. ↩

24

وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍۢ

And he [i.e., Muḥammad (ﷺ)] is not a withholder of [knowledge of] the unseen.1873

  1. [1873] Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ) did not withhold that knowledge of the unseen which Allāh had revealed to him in the Qur’ān. ↩

25

وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ رَّجِيمٍۢ

And it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].

26

فَأَيْنَ تَذْهَبُونَ

So where are you going?1874

  1. [1874] In your denial of the Qur’ān and in your accusations against the Prophet (ﷺ) . The meaning is essentially "Surely, you have strayed far from Allāh's path." ↩

27

إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ

It is not except a reminder to the worlds

28

لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ

For whoever wills among you to take a right course.

29

وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds.

About This Surah

Surah At-Takwir presents a sequence of cosmic and moral unveiling: the sun folded, stars dimmed, mountains moved, neglected property, gathered creatures, seas ignited, records opened, and the buried girl asked for what crime she was killed. It then defends the trustworthiness of revelation. These images provide no astronomical timetable and must not be mapped confidently onto current events or technology.

At-Takwir opens with a rapid sequence introduced by “when”: the sun folded, stars dimmed, mountains moved, valuable pregnant camels neglected, wild creatures gathered, seas set ablaze, souls paired, records opened, heaven stripped away, and final destinations exposed.

Within the cosmic sequence, the buried girl is asked for what crime she was killed. The question condemns the killing and restores the victim’s moral centrality. It must not be generalized into contempt for an ethnicity or used to obscure present responsibilities toward girls and children.

The sequence culminates in every soul knowing what it brought. The imagery creates accountability but gives no date, astronomical calculation, climate prediction, or license to identify a current event as certain fulfillment.

The chapter then swears by receding celestial bodies, night, and dawn and describes the messenger of revelation as noble and trustworthy. Muhammad is not mad, and the message is not the word of a rejected devil. It is a reminder for the worlds for those who choose uprightness, while human willing remains under God’s will.

No celestial omen, horoscope, or end-times chart is supported. The chapter should be read as revelation and moral warning, not a technical forecast.

Core Themes

  • Cosmic unveiling and moral exposure
  • The murdered girl centered as victim
  • Records opened and deeds known
  • Trustworthy transmission of revelation
  • The Quran as reminder for the worlds
  • Human willing under divine will

Structure

Verses 1-14: Cosmic transformation and moral disclosure — 1-14

Verses 1-14 focus on cosmic transformation and moral disclosure.

Verses 15-21: Celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger — 15-21

Verses 15-21 focus on celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger.

Verses 22-25: Accusations against the Messenger rejected — 22-25

Verses 22-25 focus on accusations against the messenger rejected.

Verses 26-29: Universal reminder and responsible willing — 26-29

Verses 26-29 focus on universal reminder and responsible willing.

Key Passages

Cosmic transformation and moral disclosure — 1-14

Verses 1-14 address cosmic transformation and moral disclosure.

Celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger — 15-21

Verses 15-21 address celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger.

Accusations against the Messenger rejected — 22-25

Verses 22-25 address accusations against the messenger rejected.

Universal reminder and responsible willing — 26-29

Verses 26-29 address universal reminder and responsible willing.

Recitation Note

No exclusive time, fixed repetition count, or guaranteed worldly outcome is asserted here for reciting Surah At-Takwir. Reading it is worship and study; any claim about protection, healing, provision, family outcomes, or a prescribed number requires separate exact evidence and narrow wording.

Interpretation Limits

  • Cosmic images do not provide an astronomical timetable, climate forecast, or current-event code.
  • The buried-girl verse must center victims and not become ethnic stereotyping.
  • Stars and celestial oaths do not authorize astrology, horoscopes, or omen reading.
  • No named person or present event may be declared a certain fulfillment from this summary.

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