Tarek Khedr originally shared: Tafseer Surah al-Inshiqaq Ayaat 16-25
Suffering through Life
The Surah then refers briefly to some worldly scenes. People, however, continue to overlook the evidence such scenes provide of the deliberate planning that has gone into the making of this world. Indeed, this planning includes the creation of man himself, and his phases and transitions through life. Man does not remain in one and the same state, but passes through countless stages gradually, from youth to old age, from old age to death, from death to barzakh (the intermediary state between death and Resurrection), from barzakh to Resurrection from Resurrection to the Plain of Assembly, then to the Reckoning, and then to the meting out of rewards and punishments.
An oath has been sworn by three things to confine this:
(1) by the twilight,
(2) by the darkness of night and the gathering together in it of all those human beings and animals who remain scattered in the day time, and
(3) by the moon’s passing through different phases to become full. These are some of those things which testify that rest and stillness is unknown in the universe in which man lives.
There is a continuous and gradual change taking place everywhere. Therefore, the disbelievers are wrong in thinking that life comes to an end after man has breathed his last.
The oath serves to draw man’s attention to these universal scenes. The twilight refers to that period of stillness after sunset when the soul is overwhelmed by a deep feeling of awe. The heart feels, at such a time, the significance of parting with a beloved companion, and the quiet sadness and deep melancholy this involves. It also experiences fear of the approaching darkness. Then comes the full moon as its light descends over the earth. The full moon is always associated with tranquility.
“[that] you will surely experience, state after state,” [84: 19]. Explaining the state after state Hasan Basri said that this means ease after difficulty, difficulty after ease, wealth after poverty, poverty after wealth, health after sickness and sickness after health. This means, we will pass from one state of suffering to another, as has been charted for us until we eventually meet Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
Then follows an expression of wonder at those who persist in their denial of the faith when they have all these signs and abundant evidences around them which indicate the truth, “So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe, and when the Qur’an is recited to them, they do not *prostrate [to Allah]” [84:20-21].
*Ayah 21 is a place of prostration. It was the Sunnah of the Prophet to prostrate upon reciting or hearing an ayah that talks about prostration. This prostration is known as the prostration of recitation or sujood al-tilawah.
There are numerous indications in the universe and within the soul which point out that the path of faith is the right path. One only receives guidance when one pays attention. When one opens up the Qur’an and begins reciting it and it seems as if his heart is opening up to the truth as he begins to comprehend the meaning. This understanding of the Qur’an kindles in people’s hearts God-consciousness, humbleness, obedience and submission to the Creator of the universe. The expression, “fall down in prostration,” refers to these feelings. The universe is splendid and inspiring: it offers a multitude of signs, mental stimuli and moments of purity which combine to arouse in us a ready response and a willing submission.
The Qur’ān is also superb and inspiring; it links the human heart with the Creator who made it. Hence the wonder: “So what is [the matter] with them [that] they do not believe, and when the Qur’an is recited to them, they do not prostrate [to Allah]” [84:20-21].
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala does not dwell on this for long rather He proceeds to describe the behavior of the unbelievers and the end which awaits them. “So give them tiding of painful punishment,” [84: 24] an unpleasant tiding for anyone who is awaiting news of his future.
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala closes the address by describing what awaits the believers who prepare for their future by good deeds, “For them is a reward uninterrupted,” [84:25]. The unfailing recompense is one which is continuous and unceasing, and will be given in the Hereafter, when people will be immortal. View full size (606x474)
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