إِذَا ٱلشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ 1
Translations
When the sun is wrapped up [in darkness]
Transliteration
Idha ash-shamsu kuwwirat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes one of the signs of the Day of Judgment when the sun will be rolled up or wrapped up, losing its light and heat. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'kuwwirat' (كُوِّرَتْ) as the sun being wound up like a turban or scroll, signifying the cosmic upheaval and end of the world. This opening verse sets the tone for Surah At-Takwir, which vividly describes various catastrophic events marking the arrival of the Hour.
Revelation Context
This Meccan surah was revealed in Mecca during the early Islamic period to strengthen the faith of believers and warn them of the inevitable Day of Judgment. The surah opens with a series of cosmic events to capture attention and emphasize the certainty of the Hereafter, addressing the Meccan disbelievers who denied resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described the Day of Judgment with cosmic signs in various hadiths. Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim contain numerous narrations about the sun being folded up and the stars scattering, confirming the Quranic description of these apocalyptic events.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all earthly powers and phenomena, no matter how permanent they seem, are temporary and subject to Allah's will. It should inspire consciousness of the Hereafter and motivate righteous deeds while we have time in this world.
Related Ayahs
وَمَآ أَدْرَىٰكَ مَا يَوْمُ ٱلدِّينِ
And what can make you know what is the Day of Recompense?
فَأَمَّا مَنْ أُوتِىَ كِتَـٰبَهُۥ بِيَمِينِهِۦ
Then as for he who is given his record in his right hand,
قَالُوٓا۟ أَوَلَمْ تَكُ تَأْتِيكُمْ رُسُلُكُم بِٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتِ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ ۚ قَالُوا۟ فَٱدْعُوا۟ ۗ وَمَا دُعَـٰٓؤُا۟ ٱلْكَـٰفِرِينَ إِلَّا فِى ضَلَـٰلٍ
They will say, "Did there not come to you your messengers with clear proofs?" They will say, "Yes." They will reply, "Then supplicate [yourselves], but the supplication of the disbelievers is not except in error [i.e., futility]."
فَلَيْسَ لَهُ ٱلْيَوْمَ هَـٰهُنَا حَمِيمٌ
So there is not for him here this Day any devoted friend