وَٱلْتَفَّتِ ٱلسَّاقُ بِٱلسَّاقِ 29
Translations
And the leg is wound about the leg,
Transliteration
Wa-l-taffa-t al-sāqu bi-l-sāq
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the moment of death when 'the shin shall be wrapped with the shin,' a metaphorical expression signifying the onset of severe distress and the arrival of the final hour. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as the intertwining of trials and hardships at death, or as literal physical contraction, while others view it as the Day of Resurrection when one calamity follows another in succession. The image conveys the intensity and inescapability of the final moments before standing before Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Al-Qiyamah, a Meccan surah focused on the certainty of the Day of Resurrection and the reality of the afterlife. Verse 29 appears within a passage (verses 26-30) depicting the agony and finality of death, serving to remind the believer of the seriousness of this inevitable appointment and the importance of spiritual preparation.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (3144) regarding the Prophet's (peace be upon him) description of the signs before the Day of Judgment resonates with this theme of increasing calamities. Additionally, Sunan Ibn Majah contains hadiths describing the difficulties and trials at the time of death that relate to this imagery.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers of the inevitability and seriousness of death, encouraging constant spiritual vigilance and righteous living in preparation for that decisive moment. It teaches that worldly distractions pale in comparison to the ultimate reality awaiting every soul.