86:1
وَالسَّمَآءِ وَالطَّارِقِ
By the sky and the knocker
Surah 86 of 114 · Makkah · Juz 30
Surah At-Tariq
The Nightcommer
الطارق17 ayahs
Revealed in Makkah
Translation: Saheeh International
About Surah At-Tariq
At-Tariq means the one that comes by night, and this is one of the few surahs that stops to define its own title. The oath is sworn at the opening, the question what is at-Tariq is asked at 86:2, and the answer is given at 86:3: the piercing star. Seventeen ayahs long, it makes one point and makes it twice, first about the person and then about the message. The point about the person is at 86:4, that there is no soul without a keeper set over it.
The proof of resurrection is put in the plainest possible terms. Man is told to look at what he was made from, a spurting fluid emerging from between the backbone and the ribs, and then to consider that the one who did that is able to bring him back (86:5 to 86:8). What returns is not the body alone. The Day is described at 86:9 as the day when secrets are tested, and no one will have strength or a helper then. The second half swears by the sky that returns and the earth that splits open, and declares the Quran a decisive word and not entertainment (86:13, 86:14). It closes calmly. They are plotting, God is planning, and the Prophet is told simply to give them time.
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
86:2
وَمَاۤ اَدْرٰىكَ مَا الطَّارِقُ
And what can make you know what is the knocker?
86:3
النَّجْمُ الثَّاقِبُ
It is the piercing star.
86:4
اِنْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ لَّمَّا عَلَیْهَا حَافِظٌ ۟ؕ
There is no soul but that it has over it a protector.
86:5
فَلْیَنْظُرِ الْاِنْسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ ۟ؕ
So let man observe from what he was created.
86:6
خُلِقَ مِنْ مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ
He was created from a fluid, ejected,
86:7
یَّخْرُجُ مِنْ بَیْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَالتَّرَآىِٕبِ ۟ؕ
Emerging from between the backbone and the ribs.
86:8
اِنَّهٗ عَلٰی رَجْعِهٖ لَقَادِرٌ ۟ؕ
Indeed, He [i.e., Allāh], to return him [to life], is Able.
86:9
یَوْمَ تُبْلَی السَّرَآىِٕرُ
The Day when secrets will be put on trial,
86:10
فَمَا لَهٗ مِنْ قُوَّةٍ وَّلَا نَاصِرٍ ۟ؕ
Then he [i.e., man] will have no power or any helper.
86:11
وَالسَّمَآءِ ذَاتِ الرَّجْعِ
By the sky which sends back
86:12
وَالْاَرْضِ ذَاتِ الصَّدْعِ
And [by] the earth which splits,
86:13
اِنَّهٗ لَقَوْلٌ فَصْلٌ
Indeed, it [i.e., the Qur’ān] is a decisive statement,
86:14
وَّمَا هُوَ بِالْهَزْلِ ۟ؕ
And it is not amusement.
86:15
اِنَّهُمْ یَكِیْدُوْنَ كَیْدًا
Indeed, they are planning a plan,
86:16
وَّاَكِیْدُ كَیْدًا
But I am planning a plan.
86:17
فَمَهِّلِ الْكٰفِرِیْنَ اَمْهِلْهُمْ رُوَیْدًا
So allow time for the disbelievers. Leave them awhile.
Surah At-Tariq in the Quran, with the Arabic in IndoPak Nastaleeq, 17 ayahs, translation, word by word meaning and recitation. Recite it offline on your phone with the free Android app.