فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِٱلْخُنَّسِ 15
Translations
So I swear by the retreating stars -
Transliteration
Fa-la uqsimu bil-khunnas
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah swears by the stars that hide or disappear (al-khunnas), referring to the planets that seem to vanish from sight or the stars that become obscured. This oath emphasizes the divine power over the celestial bodies and serves as evidence of Allah's majesty and control over creation. Ibn Kathir explains that al-khunnas refers to planets that move backward (retrograde motion) or stars that disappear from view, making them remarkable signs of Allah's wisdom and creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Takwir, which was revealed in Mecca and describes the cosmic events of the Day of Judgment. The surah opens with vivid imagery of celestial phenomena being overturned and disrupted, and this particular ayah uses the extraordinary nature of the stars as an oath to emphasize the truthfulness of the message being conveyed about the Hereafter.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly addresses this specific oath, the hadith in Sahih Bukhari regarding the night prayer emphasizes the importance of contemplating the stars and heavens as signs of Allah's creation. Additionally, hadiths about swearing by Allah's creation highlight the permissibility and significance of such oaths in Islamic discourse.
Themes
Key Lesson
Reflecting on the mysteries and movements of the heavens should deepen our appreciation for Allah's infinite wisdom and power, encouraging us to recognize the extraordinary nature of creation as evidence of the Truth and the reality of the Day of Judgment.