Surah 81 · Meccan · 29 Verses
التكوير
SURAH AT-TAKWIR
The Overthrowing
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بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
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وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ
And when the stars fall, dispersing,
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وَإِذَا ٱلْجِبَالُ سُيِّرَتْ
And when the mountains are removed
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وَإِذَا ٱلْعِشَارُ عُطِّلَتْ
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وَإِذَا ٱلْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ
And when the wild beasts are gathered
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وَإِذَا ٱلْمَوْءُۥدَةُ سُئِلَتْ
And when the girl [who was] buried alive is asked
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بِأَىِّ ذَنۢبٍۢ قُتِلَتْ
For what sin she was killed
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وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتْ
And when the sky is stripped away
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وَإِذَا ٱلْجَحِيمُ سُعِّرَتْ
And when Hellfire is set ablaze
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وَإِذَا ٱلْجَنَّةُ أُزْلِفَتْ
And when Paradise is brought near,
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فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ
So I swear by the retreating stars -
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ٱلْجَوَارِ ٱلْكُنَّسِ
Those that run [their courses] and disappear [i.e., set]
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وَٱلصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ
And by the dawn when it breathes [i.e., stirs]
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إِنَّهُۥ لَقَوْلُ رَسُولٍۢ كَرِيمٍۢ
[That] indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a word [conveyed by] a noble messenger [i.e., Gabriel]
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ذِى قُوَّةٍ عِندَ ذِى ٱلْعَرْشِ مَكِينٍۢ
[Who is] possessed of power and with the Owner of the Throne, secure [in position],
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مُّطَاعٍۢ ثَمَّ أَمِينٍۢ
Obeyed there [in the heavens] and trustworthy.
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وَلَقَدْ رَءَاهُ بِٱلْأُفُقِ ٱلْمُبِينِ
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وَمَا هُوَ عَلَى ٱلْغَيْبِ بِضَنِينٍۢ
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وَمَا هُوَ بِقَوْلِ شَيْطَٰنٍۢ رَّجِيمٍۢ
And it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is not the word of a devil, expelled [from the heavens].
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إِنْ هُوَ إِلَّا ذِكْرٌۭ لِّلْعَٰلَمِينَ
It is not except a reminder to the worlds
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لِمَن شَآءَ مِنكُمْ أَن يَسْتَقِيمَ
For whoever wills among you to take a right course.
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وَمَا تَشَآءُونَ إِلَّآ أَن يَشَآءَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
And you do not will except that Allāh wills - Lord of the worlds.
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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
This section develops cosmic transformation and moral disclosure across verses 1-14. Read it as part of Surah At-Takwir’s complete sequence; it does not independently create a private ruling, diagnosis, prediction, punishment power, or guaranteed outcome.
Verses 15-21: Celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger — 15-21
This section develops celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger across verses 15-21. Read it as part of Surah At-Takwir’s complete sequence; it does not independently create a private ruling, diagnosis, prediction, punishment power, or guaranteed outcome.
Verses 22-25: Accusations against the Messenger rejected — 22-25
This section develops accusations against the messenger rejected across verses 22-25. Read it as part of Surah At-Takwir’s complete sequence; it does not independently create a private ruling, diagnosis, prediction, punishment power, or guaranteed outcome.
Verses 26-29: Universal reminder and responsible willing — 26-29
This section develops universal reminder and responsible willing across verses 26-29. Read it as part of Surah At-Takwir’s complete sequence; it does not independently create a private ruling, diagnosis, prediction, punishment power, or guaranteed outcome.
Reading Guide
Safety-focused reading step 1
Keep this boundary visible: Cosmic images do not provide an astronomical timetable, climate forecast, or current-event code. Compare the relevant passage with the complete surah before drawing any contemporary conclusion.
Safety-focused reading step 2
Keep this boundary visible: The buried-girl verse must center victims and not become ethnic stereotyping. Compare the relevant passage with the complete surah before drawing any contemporary conclusion.
Safety-focused reading step 3
Keep this boundary visible: Stars and celestial oaths do not authorize astrology, horoscopes, or omen reading. Compare the relevant passage with the complete surah before drawing any contemporary conclusion.
Safety-focused reading step 4
Keep this boundary visible: No named person or present event may be declared a certain fulfillment from this summary. Compare the relevant passage with the complete surah before drawing any contemporary conclusion.
Key Passages
Cosmic transformation and moral disclosure — 1-14
Verses 1-14 address cosmic transformation and moral disclosure. Their placement in Surah At-Takwir supplies the immediate context; this overview identifies the movement without turning it into a stand-alone legal ruling, clinical diagnosis, current-event prediction, private enforcement authority, or guaranteed worldly result.
Celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger — 15-21
Verses 15-21 address celestial oaths and the trustworthy messenger. Their placement in Surah At-Takwir supplies the immediate context; this overview identifies the movement without turning it into a stand-alone legal ruling, clinical diagnosis, current-event prediction, private enforcement authority, or guaranteed worldly result.
Accusations against the Messenger rejected — 22-25
Verses 22-25 address accusations against the messenger rejected. Their placement in Surah At-Takwir supplies the immediate context; this overview identifies the movement without turning it into a stand-alone legal ruling, clinical diagnosis, current-event prediction, private enforcement authority, or guaranteed worldly result.
Universal reminder and responsible willing — 26-29
Verses 26-29 address universal reminder and responsible willing. Their placement in Surah At-Takwir supplies the immediate context; this overview identifies the movement without turning it into a stand-alone legal ruling, clinical diagnosis, current-event prediction, private enforcement authority, or guaranteed worldly result.
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.