INTRODUCTION:
This Surah consists of 29 verses, 104 sentences, 530 letters and 1 Ruku .
It is derived from the word kuwwirat in the first verse. Kuwwirat is passive voice from takvir in the past tense, and means "that which is folded up", thereby implying that it is a Surah in which the "folding up" has been mentioned.
The subject matter and the style clearly show that it is one of the earliest Surahs to be revealed at Makkah.
It has two themes: the Hereafter and the institution of Apostleship.
In the first six verses the first stage of the Resurrection has been mentioned when the sun will lose its light, the stars will scatter, the mountains will be uprooted and will disperse, the people will become heedless of their dearest possessions, the beasts of the jungle will be stupefied and will gather together, and the seas will boil up. Then in the next seven verses the second stage has been described when the souls will be reunited with the bodies, the records will be laid open, the people will be called to account for their crimes, the heavens will be unveiled, and Hell and Heaven will be brought into full view. After depicting the Hereafter thus, man has been left to ponder his own self and deeds, saying: "Then each man shall himself know what he has brought with him."
After this the theme of Apostleship has been taken up. In this the people of Makkah have been addressed, as if to say "Whatever Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) is presenting before you, is not the bragging of a madman, nor an evil suggestion inspired by Satan, but the word of a noble, exalted and trustworthy messenger sent by God, whom Muhammad (upon whom be Allah's peace and blessings) has seen with his own eyes in the bright horizon of the clear sky in broad day light. Whither then are you going having turned away from this teaching?"
Maududi
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
81
: 1
1. Itha alshshamsu kuwwirat
When the sun is folded up -
81 : 2
2. Wa-itha alnnujoomu inkadarat
And when the stars lose their gleam and come hurtling down -
81 : 3
3. Wa-itha aljibalu suyyirat
And when the mountains are set afloat -
81 : 4
4. Wa-itha alAAisharu AAuttilat
And when the she camels, ten months pregnant, are abandoned -
81 : 5
5. Wa-itha alwuhooshu hushirat
And when the wild beasts are herded together -
81 : 6
6. Wa-itha albiharu sujjirat
And when the oceans inundate -
81 : 7
7. Wa-itha alnnufoosu zuwwijat
And when souls are reunited -
81 : 8
8. Wa-itha almawoodatu su-ilat
And when the infant girl who was buried alive is asked -
81 : 9
9. Bi-ayyi thanbin qutilat
For what sin was she slain?
81 : 10
10. Wa-itha alssuhufu nushirat
And when the pages are laid open, -
81 : 11
11. Wa-itha alssamao kushitat
And when the sky is whisked away, -
81 : 12
12. Wa-itha aljaheemu suAAAAirat
And when Hell is set ablaze, -
81 : 13
13. Wa-itha aljannatu ozlifat
And when the Garden is brought into focus, -
81 : 14
14. AAalimat nafsun ma ahdarat
Then shall every soul come to know how it has come prepared with!
81 : 15
15. Fala oqsimu bialkhunnasi
Verily I shall call to witness the receding planets, -
81 : 16
16. Aljawari alkunnasi
And the stars which rise and set, -
81 : 17
17. Waallayli itha AAasAAasa
And the night when it descends, -
81 : 18
18. Waalssubhi itha tanaffasa
And the morning when it ascends, -
81 : 19
19. Innahu laqawlu rasoolin kareemin
That verily this is the word of an illustrious messenger (the Archangel) -
81 : 20
20. Thee quwwatin AAinda thee alAAarshi makeenin
Great, and of high standing in the presence of the Lord of the Throne -
81 : 21
21. MutaAAin thamma ameenin
Who is to be obeyed and trusted!
81 : 22
22. Wama sahibukum bimajnoonin
And (O people) your mentor (the Prophet) is not mad!
81 : 23
23. Walaqad raahu bialofuqi almubeeni
Verily he beheld him (Gabriel) on the flared horizon!
81 : 24
24. Wama huwa AAala alghaybi bidaneenin
He does not withhold the Unseen -
81 : 25
25. Wama huwa biqawli shaytanin rajeemin
Nor is this (the Qur'aan) the utterance of Satan, the renegade!
81 : 26
26. Faayna tathhaboona
Why, then, are you backing off?
81 : 27
27. In huwa illa thikrun lilAAalameena
This is nothing short of an admonishment for the entire creation -
81 : 28
28. Liman shaa minkum an yastaqeema
For those of you who have the will to walk aright -
81 : 29
29. Wama tashaoona illa an yashaa Allahu rabbu alAAalameena
And you will not walk aright, unless if it also be the will of Allah, Lord of the worlds! (R)
1. When the sun Kuwwirat (wound round and lost its light and is overthrown[] ).
2. And when the stars shall fall;
3. And when the mountains shall made to pass away;
4. And when the pregnant she-camels shall be neglected;
5. And when the wild beasts shall be gathered together;
6. And when the seas shall become as blazing Fire or shall overflow;
7. And when the souls shall be joined with their bodies;
8. And when the female (infant) buried alive (as the pagan Arabs used to do) shall be questioned.[]
9. For what sin she was killed?
10. And when the written pages of deeds (good and bad) of every person shall be laid open;
11. And when the heaven shall be stripped off and taken away from its place;
12. And when Hell-fire shall be kindled to fierce ablaze.
13. And when Paradise shall be brought near,
14. (Then) every person will know what he has brought (of good and evil).
15. So verily, I swear by the planets that recede (i.e. disappear during the day and appear during the night).
16. And by the planets that move swiftly and hide themselves,
17. And by the night as it departs;
18. And by the dawn as it brightens;
19. Verily, this is the Word (this Qur'ān brought by) a most honourable messenger [Jibrael (Gabriel), from Allāh to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)].
20. Owner of power, and high rank with (Allāh) the Lord of the Throne,
21. Obeyed (by the angels), trustworthy there (in the heavens).
22. And (O people) your companion (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) is not a madman;
23. And indeed he (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) saw him [Jibrael (Gabriel)] in the clear horizon (towards the east).
24. And he (Muhammad (Peace be upon him)) withholds not a knowledge of the unseen.
25. And it (the Qur'ān) is not the word of the outcast Shaitān (Satan).
26. Then where are you going?
27. Verily, this (the Qur'ān) is no less than a Reminder to (all) the 'Alamīn (mankind and jinns)[] .
28. To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight,
29. And you will not, unless (it be) that Allāh wills, the Lord of the 'Alamīn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
081.001
YUSUFALI: When the sun
(with its spacious light) is folded up;
PICKTHAL: When the sun
is overthrown,
SHAKIR: When the sun
is covered,
081.002
YUSUFALI: When the
stars fall, losing their lustre;
PICKTHAL: And when the
stars fall,
SHAKIR: And when the
stars darken,
081.003
YUSUFALI: When the
mountains vanish (like a mirage);
PICKTHAL: And when the
hills are moved,
SHAKIR: And when the
mountains are made to pass away,
081.004
YUSUFALI: When the
she-camels, ten months with young, are left untended;
PICKTHAL: And when the
camels big with young are abandoned,
SHAKIR: And when the
camels are left untended,
081.005
YUSUFALI: When the
wild beasts are herded together (in the human habitations);
PICKTHAL: And when the
wild beasts are herded together,
SHAKIR: And when the
wild animals are made to go forth,
081.006
YUSUFALI: When the
oceans boil over with a swell;
PICKTHAL: And when the
seas rise,
SHAKIR: And when the
seas are set on fire,
081.007
YUSUFALI: When the
souls are sorted out, (being joined, like with like);
PICKTHAL: And when
souls are reunited,
SHAKIR: And when souls
are united,
081.008
YUSUFALI: When the
female (infant), buried alive, is questioned -
PICKTHAL: And when the
girl-child that was buried alive is asked
SHAKIR: And when the
female infant buried alive is asked
081.009
YUSUFALI: For what
crime she was killed;
PICKTHAL: For what sin
she was slain,
SHAKIR: For what sin
she was killed,
081.010
YUSUFALI: When the
scrolls are laid open;
PICKTHAL: And when the
pages are laid open,
SHAKIR: And when the
books are spread,
081.011
YUSUFALI: When the
world on High is unveiled;
PICKTHAL: And when the
sky is torn away,
SHAKIR: And when the
heaven has its covering removed,
081.012
YUSUFALI: When the
Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat;
PICKTHAL: And when
hell is lighted,
SHAKIR: And when the
hell is kindled up,
081.013
YUSUFALI: And when the
Garden is brought near;-
PICKTHAL: And when the
Garden is brought nigh,
SHAKIR: And when the
garden is brought nigh,
081.014
YUSUFALI: (Then) shall
each soul know what it has put forward.
PICKTHAL: (Then) every
soul will know what it hath made ready.
SHAKIR: Every soul
shall (then) know what it has prepared.
081.015
YUSUFALI: So verily I
call to witness the planets - that recede,
PICKTHAL: Oh, but I
call to witness the planets,
SHAKIR: But nay! I
swear by the stars,
081.016
YUSUFALI: Go straight,
or hide;
PICKTHAL: The stars
which rise and set,
SHAKIR: That run their
course (and) hide themselves,
081.017
YUSUFALI: And the
Night as it dissipates;
PICKTHAL: And the
close of night,
SHAKIR: And the night
when it departs,
081.018
YUSUFALI: And the Dawn
as it breathes away the darkness;-
PICKTHAL: And the
breath of morning
SHAKIR: And the
morning when it brightens,
081.019
YUSUFALI: Verily this
is the word of a most honourable Messenger,
PICKTHAL: That this is
in truth the word of an honoured messenger,
SHAKIR: Most surely it
is the Word of an honored messenger,
081.020
YUSUFALI: Endued with
Power, with rank before the Lord of the Throne,
PICKTHAL: Mighty,
established in the presence of the Lord of the Throne,
SHAKIR: The processor
of strength, having an honorable place with the Lord of the Dominion,
081.021
YUSUFALI: With
authority there, (and) faithful to his trust.
PICKTHAL: (One) to be
obeyed, and trustworthy;
SHAKIR: One (to be)
obeyed, and faithful in trust.
081.022
YUSUFALI: And (O
people!) your companion is not one possessed;
PICKTHAL: And your
comrade is not mad.
SHAKIR: And your
companion is not gone mad.
081.023
YUSUFALI: And without
doubt he saw him in the clear horizon.
PICKTHAL: Surely he
beheld Him on the clear horizon.
SHAKIR: And of a truth
he saw himself on the clear horizon.
081.024
YUSUFALI: Neither doth
he withhold grudgingly a knowledge of the Unseen.
PICKTHAL: And he is
not avid of the Unseen.
SHAKIR: Nor of the
unseen is he a tenacious concealer.
081.025
YUSUFALI: Nor is it
the word of an evil spirit accursed.
PICKTHAL: Nor is this
the utterance of a devil worthy to be stoned.
SHAKIR: Nor is it the
word of the cursed Shaitan,
081.026
YUSUFALI: When whither
go ye?
PICKTHAL: Whither then
go ye?
SHAKIR: Whither then
will you go?
081.027
YUSUFALI: Verily this
is no less than a Message to (all) the Worlds:
PICKTHAL: This is
naught else than a reminder unto creation,
SHAKIR: It is naught
but a reminder for the nations,
081.028
YUSUFALI: (With
profit) to whoever among you wills to go straight:
PICKTHAL: Unto
whomsoever of you willeth to walk straight.
SHAKIR: For him among
you who pleases to go straight.
081.029
YUSUFALI: But ye shall
not will except as Allah wills,- the Cherisher of the Worlds.
PICKTHAL: And ye will
not, unless (it be) that Allah willeth, the Lord of Creation.
SHAKIR: And you do not
please except that Allah please, the Lord of the worlds.