وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا ٱلطَّارِقُ 2
Translations
And what can make you know what is the night comer?
Transliteration
Wa mā adrāka mā aṭ-ṭāriq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah poses a rhetorical question to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), asking what knowledge he has of Al-Tariq (the Nightcommer). According to classical tafsir scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, Al-Tariq refers to the star Sirius (Al-Shi'ra Al-Yamamiyyah), which appears in the night sky, or more broadly to the piercing star that cuts through darkness. The verse employs the rhetorical device of questioning to emphasize the significance and mystery of what is about to be revealed—namely the grandeur of creation and divine oath-taking—preparing the listener's mind to receive profound knowledge about God's creation and human origin.
Revelation Context
This surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Meccan period and addresses the fundamental questions of creation, human origin, and divine power. The opening ayah introduces the surah's central theme by invoking an oath by Al-Tariq, which immediately captures attention and establishes a solemn tone for the spiritual and existential truths that follow, including the creation of humans from a drop of fluid (nutfah).
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, the broader theme of creation and human origin is supported by multiple hadiths, such as the one in Sahih Bukhari where the Prophet describes how an embryo is formed in the womb over stages of forty days. The surah's emphasis on divine creation relates to numerous hadiths about pondering the signs (āyāt) of Allah in creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to develop humility and wonder before the mysteries of creation and the divine wisdom embedded in the universe. Modern readers should recognize that acknowledging the limits of human knowledge ("what knowledge do you have") is the first step toward genuine faith and deeper contemplation of God's infinite wisdom manifest in creation.