وَإِذَا ٱلسَّمَآءُ كُشِطَتْ 11
Translations
And when the sky is stripped away
Transliteration
Wa-idha as-sama'u kushitat
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes the cosmic event on the Day of Judgment when the sky will be stripped away or torn asunder. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'kushitat' (كُشِطَتْ) means the sky will be rolled up, removed, or stripped like a scroll, signifying the complete dissolution of the created order. This is part of Surah At-Takwir's vivid depiction of the Day of Resurrection, emphasizing the absolute certainty and dramatic nature of the final hour.
Revelation Context
Surah At-Takwir was revealed in Mecca during the early period of Islam and focuses entirely on the events of the Day of Judgment. This ayah is part of a sequential description of cosmic upheaval (verses 1-14), where natural phenomena unravel as signs of the approaching Day of Judgment. The surah serves to remind the Meccan audience of divine accountability and the reality of resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The heavens and earth will be rolled up on the Day of Resurrection,' which is related to Surah Az-Zumar 39:67. Also, in Sahih Muslim, there are descriptions of the Day of Judgment where the sky will be transformed and removed, corroborating this Quranic imagery.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that the material world we perceive as permanent and stable is temporary and will be utterly transformed by Allah's will, encouraging us to focus on the eternal rather than worldly attachments. It calls us to mindfulness of our accountability before Allah and to prepare spiritually for the certainty of the afterlife.