Surah Tariq Quran 411

[Giorgio Aguilar]

Theprevious surah ended with a mention of something which was the highest thing in the sky, the Quran in its protected tablet, and this surah commences with the mention of the sky itself. We also learnt in the previous surah that Allah (swt) had surrounded the disbelievers from all sides. This surah adds further detail by explaining that every soul has a guardian over it. This surah is essentially divided into five sections. The first four verses are an oath that Allah (swt) takes by the sky and by something called at-Tariq.

In this verse the limitation has been put on the sky through the word at-Tariq. One of the key functions of taking an oath it to make the object a witness and thus Allah (swt) makes the sky a witness to what he is about to say. The common translation of at-Tariq is the one that arrives at night. It comes from the word taraqa which is to walk and the word tareeq means a road or path. A road is called tareeq because literally tarq means to strike and when you cross a road your feet strike it.

There are two main opinions as to what At-Tariq could be referring to. It could refer to the large brilliant stars in the night sky. The night was a relief for the Arabs, cool and fresh, the sky embedded with stars like pearls was the best scenery for them in comparison to the plain desert during the day. Alternatively it could refer to one major star that the night traveller would look for, a highlight and companion of his journey. Either way, the essential linguistic meaning of tariq is that which arrives at night and generates attention and this would be perfectly achieved by the piercing star in the night sky.

Najm means star and it has been used before in Juzz Amma but here it is followed by the adjective thaqib (from the verb thaqaba) which renders the star as brilliant or blazing. The meaning of thaqaba is when light essentially passes through something almost like it rips through it. The idea being presented is almost as if the night is like a blanket that has a hole in it through which the light of the stars pierces through. For example, if in the day you cover yourself with a blanket, you can still tell its daytime as the light pierces through the blanket. So, thaqib is the light that travels vast distances and pierces through the night. One of the central themes of this surah is journey. For instance in thaqib is the implication of the journey the light from the stars took. Another theme is secrecy and secrecy is associated with the night and this surah begins with mention of the night. The piercing star seems as though it is unveiling the secret of the night by unveiling light when you only expect darkness.

The ulema have commented that the connection this has to do with the previous verses is that the stars are so far away but it is as though they are eyes or cameras positioned towards the earth. Allah (swt) has made the sky and the brilliant star a witness to man and his behaviour and just like the piercing star is staring at man and his conduct in the night, unveiling the secrets of darkness, so too will the angels unveil the deeds of people on judgment day. Allah (swt) swears by the sky and all that which is above which means it is not possible for someone to question how the stars can witness us in the daytime when the stars are not apparent. Thus, Allah (swt) swears first by the sky and then by the stars if you can see them. If Allah (swt) can install these magnificent witnesses in the sky, it is not far fetched to imagine that we have all been given our own individual witnesses.

Earlier the sky was given an adjective and in this verse water is given an adjective. Daafiq means that which pushes and breaks through, like water breaking through a dam for example, and is always associated with water that is gushing and not with water that is still. Allah (swt) has already mentioned the light from stars which journeys billions of miles to reach the desert Arab and now He is talking about a different journey. The journey of this fluid that begins with man himself and which gushes forward through the private parts to impregnate the female.

The classical interpretation of this verse is that the sky brings returning rain. Rain is a product of the water cycle and begins when rain falls and is soaked up by the ground, much of which runs off the surface of the land, and flows down hill into streams and rivers. When the water is subsequently evaporated and rises up to the sky it falls again once more as rain.

Fassl literally means to separate two things so far apart that you can distinguish them from one another (i.e. if two branches are intertwined, you separate them apart to see the difference from each one). So, Allah (swt) is saying this word is a decisive distinguisher between people. The connection to the oaths taken in the previous two verses is that this verse comes from the sky just like the rain does and the rain enters into the earth and gives it life just like this revelation enters into the hearts of man and gives it life. In Sahih Muslim number 5668:

In the previous surah the disbelievers are oppressing the Muslims and Allah (swt) said the he had them encompassed. In this surah they are making plots to destroy the Muslims and Allah (swt) informs the messenger (pbuh) to go easy on them and that he has a plan to undo all of their plots. The lesson for us here is not matter how much we think we are in a position of weakness, those who truly believe are always in a position of strength and those who are on the path of Islam are empowered with dua.

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