يَوْمَ تَكُونُ ٱلسَّمَآءُ كَٱلْمُهْلِ 8
Translations
On the Day the sky will be like murky oil,
Transliteration
Yawma takūnu as-samā'u ka-al-muhl
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes a scene from the Day of Judgment when the sky will become like molten copper or oil (muhl). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as depicting the sky's transformation into a liquid, viscous state—symbolizing the complete upheaval and dissolution of the celestial order. This vivid imagery emphasizes the catastrophic nature of the Day of Resurrection and the impossibility of the world continuing as we know it.
Revelation Context
Surah Al-Ma'arij is a Meccan chapter that describes the horrors and realities of the Day of Judgment in graphic terms to warn the disbelievers of Mecca about the consequences of rejecting the Message. This particular ayah is part of a series of descriptions (70:8-18) depicting various terrifying scenes of the Day of Judgment, meant to inspire fear of Allah and urgency in believers' hearts.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) described similar scenes: 'The sun will be brought close to the people on the Day of Judgment until it is at a distance of one mile' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2432). Additionally, Surah Al-Hajj 22:20 provides a complementary description: 'Whenever the fire breaks forth from it, they will be cast back into it' (Sahih al-Bukhari context).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the material world we perceive as permanent and unchanging will be utterly transformed, encouraging detachment from worldly concerns and focus on spiritual preparation through righteous deeds and obedience to Allah.
Related Ayahs
وَنُفِخَ فِى ٱلصُّورِ فَصَعِقَ مَن فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَن فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ إِلَّا مَن شَآءَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ ثُمَّ نُفِخَ فِيهِ أُخْرَىٰ فَإِذَا هُمْ قِيَامٌ يَنظُرُونَ
And the Horn will be blown, and whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth will fall dead except whom Allāh wills. Then it will be blown again, and at once they will be standing, looking on.
۞ يَوْمَ يَجْمَعُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلرُّسُلَ فَيَقُولُ مَاذَآ أُجِبْتُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَآ ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ عَلَّـٰمُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ
[Be warned of] the Day when Allāh will assemble the messengers and say, "What was the response you received?" They will say, "We have no knowledge. Indeed, it is You who is Knower of the unseen" -
بَلِ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ عَلَىٰ نَفْسِهِۦ بَصِيرَةٌ
Rather, man, against himself, will be a witness,
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱتَّبَعُوا۟ لَوْ أَنَّ لَنَا كَرَّةً فَنَتَبَرَّأَ مِنْهُمْ كَمَا تَبَرَّءُوا۟ مِنَّا ۗ كَذَٰلِكَ يُرِيهِمُ ٱللَّهُ أَعْمَـٰلَهُمْ حَسَرَٰتٍ عَلَيْهِمْ ۖ وَمَا هُم بِخَـٰرِجِينَ مِنَ ٱلنَّارِ
Those who followed will say, "If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disassociate ourselves from them as they have disassociated themselves from us." Thus will Allāh show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire.