إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ 1
Translations
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
Transliteration
Idha ash-shamsu kuwwirat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the signs of the Day of Judgment when the sun will be rolled up or wrapped up, losing its light and heat. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'kuwwirat' (كُوِّرَتْ) as the sun being wound up like a turban or scroll, signifying the cosmic upheaval and end of the world. This opening verse sets the tone for Surah At-Takwir, which vividly describes various catastrophic events marking the arrival of the Hour.
Revelation Context
This Meccan surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period to strengthen the faith of believers and warn them of the inevitable Day of Judgment. The surah opens with a series of cosmic events to capture attention and emphasize the certainty of the Hereafter, addressing the Meccan disbelievers who denied resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described the Day of Judgment with cosmic signs in various hadiths. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain numerous narrations about the sun being folded up and the stars scattering, confirming the Quranic description of these apocalyptic events.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all earthly powers and phenomena, no matter how permanent they seem, are temporary and subject to Allah's will. It should inspire consciousness of the Hereafter and motivate righteous deeds while we have time in this world.
Related Ayahs
وَيَوْمَ يَحْشُرُهُمْ وَمَا يَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ فَيَقُولُ ءَأَنتُمْ أَضْلَلْتُمْ عِبَادِى هَـٰٓؤُلَآءِ أَمْ هُمْ ضَلُّوا۟ ٱلسَّبِيلَ
And [mention] the Day He will gather them and that which they worship besides Allāh and will say, "Did you mislead these, My servants, or did they [themselves] stray from the way?"
وَٱلشَّفْعِ وَٱلْوَتْرِ
And [by] the even [number] and the odd
وَيَوْمَ يُنَادِيهِمْ فَيَقُولُ أَيْنَ شُرَكَآءِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ كُنتُمْ تَزْعُمُونَ
And [warn of] the Day He will call them and say, "Where are My 'partners' which you used to claim?"
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَتَوَفَّىٰكُم بِٱلَّيْلِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا جَرَحْتُم بِٱلنَّهَارِ ثُمَّ يَبْعَثُكُمْ فِيهِ لِيُقْضَىٰٓ أَجَلٌ مُّسَمًّى ۖ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ مَرْجِعُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُنَبِّئُكُم بِمَا كُنتُمْ تَعْمَلُونَ
And it is He who takes your souls by night and knows what you have committed by day. Then He revives you therein [i.e., by day] that a specified term may be fulfilled. Then to Him will be your return; then He will inform you about what you used to do.