Surah Al-Haqqah 69:16
سُورَةُ الحَاقَّةِ · Meccan · Verse 16 of 52
وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَهِىَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَاهِيَةٌۭ
Translation
The sky will be torn apart on that Day, it will be so frail.
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
The verses leading up to this point have been painting a dramatic picture of the Day of Judgment. Here, Allah describes one of its most awe-inspiring transformations: the very heavens themselves.
The Sky's Dramatic Change
The verse opens by telling us, "وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ" (And the sky will split). The word "انشقت" (inshaqqat) comes from a root implying a forceful tearing or cleaving, not a gentle parting. As Ibn Ashur explains, it signifies the sky yielding to the act of splitting, with openings being created in its expanse. This powerful image immediately conveys the disruption of all known order and structure.
Following this, Allah says, "فَهِىَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَاهِيَةٌۭ" (and it will be, that Day, weak and slack). The word "واهية" (wahiyah) is particularly striking. Al-Jalalayn defines it simply as "weak." Al-Razi expands on this, describing it as "slack, fallen in strength, like teased wool." Imagine the once vast, firm, and seemingly impregnable sky, which we perceive as a solid dome, becoming utterly fragile and dispersed, like cotton that has been pulled apart. Ibn Ashur notes that "wahiyah" describes things that are inanimate, highlighting its weakness and lack of resistance, a stark contrast to its previous strength and cohesion that the Quran elsewhere describes as "محكمة شديدة" (firm and strong). The power and solidity that held the sky together will be entirely gone.
The Significance of "That Day"
The phrase "يَوْمَئِذٍ" (yawma'idhin), meaning "that Day," is repeated multiple times in this sequence of verses (69:13-18). Ibn Ashur points out that this repetition serves to emphasize the terror and immense significance of that specific time. For this verse, "يَوْمَئِذٍ" underscores that the sky's weakness and disintegration are not its natural state, but a profound and terrifying transformation that occurs precisely on *that Day*. It marks a complete departure from everything we know about the heavens, signaling the ultimate culmination of all things and the beginning of the Reckoning.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Qur'anic Worlds
Surah 69:16 offers us a powerful glimpse into the Day of Judgment, portraying a dramatic transformation of the very fabric of our universe. Allah says, "وَٱنشَقَّتِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ فَهِىَ يَوْمَئِذٍۢ وَاهِيَةٌۭ" (And the heaven will split apart, for on that Day it will be frail.) This verse unfolds within the sequence of events following the blowing of the Trumpet, when the Earth and mountains are crushed, signalling the arrival of the Hour, al-Qiyamah.
The Day's Cosmic Transformation
This verse transports us to the "World of Creation," showing us how the ordered cosmos we inhabit today will undergo a radical change on that momentous Day. The sky, which appears so firm and vast, will "split apart" (وانشقت). This isn't a mere crack; it signifies a complete loss of its structural integrity. Sayyid Qutb reflects on this, noting that it means the "joints of the celestial bodies" will loosen, and the established order of the universe will unravel, leading to immense dispersion and upheaval. It's a depiction of cosmic collapse, where the entire structure holding the heavens together gives way.
What "Wahiyah" Means
The word "واهِيَةٌ" (wahiyah) describes the state of the sky after it splits. Scholars have elaborated on its profound meaning. Al-Baghawi explains it simply as "weak." Ibn Kathir, referencing Ibn Abbas, suggests it means "torn apart" or "full of holes," and connects it to other Quranic descriptions of the sky opening up "like doors" (Surah An-Naba, 78:19). Al-Razi further explains "wahiyah" as "relaxed, fallen in strength like fluffed wool," depicting a state of utter softness and fragility after its previous firmness. Imagine something once mighty and coherent becoming utterly undone, losing all its strength and form. This is the condition of the sky on that Day.
A Glimpse into the Unseen
Through this verse, Allah reveals a reality that is beyond our current experience, yet it is a certain future for the "World of Creation." It is a reminder that the universe, with all its grandeur, is entirely subject to Allah's will and will ultimately yield to His command. This vivid portrayal encourages us to ponder deeply on the temporary nature of this world and the ultimate power of our Creator, whose command will bring about such an overwhelming cosmic shift. It invites humility, knowing that all stability and order ultimately rest with Him.
Sources: al-Baghawi (Maalim al-Tanzil), Ma'arif al-Quran (Mufti Shafi), Sayyid Qutb (Fi Zilal al-Quran), Ibn Kathir, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Haqqah 69:16 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Al-Haqqah 69:16 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.