وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ 2
Translations
And when the stars fall, dispersing,
Transliteration
Wa-idha an-nujoomu ankadarat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the cosmic events of the Day of Judgment when the stars will scatter and lose their light. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'ankadarat' (scattered/dispersed) to mean the stars will be thrown down from their positions and their light extinguished, signifying the complete dissolution of the cosmic order. This imagery emphasizes the magnitude and certainty of the Day of Judgment, as even the most stable and eternal-seeming celestial bodies will be overcome.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Takwir is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of prophecy, focusing on eschatological signs (alamat as-sa'ah) and the certainty of the Last Day. This ayah is part of a vivid sequence describing multiple cosmic upheavals that will occur when the Hour is established, meant to awaken the hearts of the Meccan polytheists to the reality of divine accountability.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The sun and moon will be darkened and thrown into the Fire on the Day of Resurrection' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Also relevant is the hadith in Sahih Muslim describing how the stars will fall and the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll on the Day of Judgment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that nothing in this material universe, no matter how permanent it appears, is eternal except Allah's dominion. We should use awareness of the Last Day as motivation for righteousness and detachment from worldly illusions.