TAFSEER OF QUR'AN 81, Suurah At-Takwīr continues

 *_DAILY ISLAMIC REMINDER_*

Yaum Arba'a | 9th day of Muharram, 1448 AH | Wednesday, 24th June, 2026. *_TAFSEER OF QUR'AN 81, Suurah At-Takwīr continues_*. BismilLah. 

Let's continue with our studies of this beautiful suurah At-Takwīr but before that I hope you are fasting today and intend to continue tomorrow as the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam recommended. May ALLAH Azzawajal accept it from us all. Aameen.

Verses 15–18

فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ ۝١٥

الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ ۝١٦

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ ۝١٧

وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ ۝١٨

15. "Nay! I swear by the retreating stars,"

16. "Those that move swiftly and then disappear,"

17. "And by the night as it departs,"

18. "And by the dawn as it breathes forth."

Commentary:

After describing the scenes of the Day of Judgment in previous verses, ALLAH Azzawajal now swears by some of HIS magnificent signs in creation to establish the truth of what follows: namely, that the Qur'an is a revelation from HIM conveyed by Jibrīl (عليه السلام), not the words of a poet, fortune-teller, or madman as the disbelievers were claiming. 

Verse 15–16: The Retreating Stars

فَلَا أُقْسِمُ بِالْخُنَّسِ ۝ الْجَوَارِ الْكُنَّسِ

The majority of the early scholars of Tafsīr explained "Al-Khunnas" and "Al-Jawār Al-Kunnas" as celestial bodies (stars or planets) that appear, move across the sky, and then disappear from sight.

Al-Khunnas: those that retreat or withdraw.

Al-Jawār: those that move in their courses.

Al-Kunnas: those that disappear or hide, just as a deer retreats into its shelter.

Allah draws attention to the precision and order of His creation. The heavenly bodies move according to His perfect decree and never deviate from their appointed paths.

This orderly universe is evidence of the wisdom and power of its Creator.

Verse 17: The Night as It Departs

وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا عَسْعَسَ

The word "عَسْعَسَ" (ʿasʿasa) can refer to either the coming of the night or its departure. Many scholars, considering the context with the following verse, understood it here as the night drawing to an end.

As darkness recedes, Allah reminds us that every hardship has an end and every period of darkness is followed by light.

Verse 18: The Dawn as It Breathes

وَالصُّبْحِ إِذَا تَنَفَّسَ

This is one of the most beautiful expressions in the Qur'an.

ALLAH Azzawajal describes dawn as "breathing."

Just as a person breathes after being constrained, the light of dawn gradually spreads across the horizon after the darkness of night.

The image conveys: Relief after hardship. Hope after despair.

Light after darkness. Guidance after misguidance.

Just as ALLAH Azzawajal brings the dawn every morning without fail, HE brings guidance, mercy, and ease to those who turn to HIM. Allahu Akbar. To be continued tomorrow in Shaa ALLAH. *_May ALLAH Azzawajal keep guiding and protecting us from any satanic influences. Aameen.