Surah At-Takwir 81:2
سُورَةُ التَّكۡوِيرِ · Meccan · Verse 2 of 29
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ
Translation
when the stars are dimmed,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, "وَإِذَا ٱلنُّجُومُ ٱنكَدَرَتْ" (And when the stars lose their light and fall), is part of a powerful sequence in Surah At-Takwir that paints a vivid picture of the cataclysmic events leading up to the Day of Judgment. Allah, the All-Mighty, is the Speaker, addressing all of humanity by describing these earth-shattering (and heaven-shattering) signs, aiming to instill awe and a profound sense of accountability.
The Stars Losing Their Radiance
The word "ٱلنُّجُومُ" (An-Nujūm) simply refers to the stars, those countless celestial bodies that fill our night sky with distant light. The profound transformation described for them is captured by the single word "ٱنكَدَرَتْ" (Inkadarāt). Scholars like al-Jalalayn and al-Razi explain this word to mean that the stars will scatter, fall, and lose their brilliance, effectively becoming dim and lifeless. Imagine the sheer number of stars, now not only falling but also losing their very essence of light.
Ibn Ashur, delving deeper into the word's structure, notes that "انْكَدَرَتْ" (inkadarāt) is a form that implies a change or dimming that occurs *to* the stars, often as a result of something else. In this context, it subtly links back to the preceding verse, "When the sun is wrapped up and darkened." The stars, many of which shine by reflecting the sun's light, would naturally become dim or turbid once the sun itself has lost its radiance. This interconnectedness highlights a complete cosmic disruption, not just isolated events. Furthermore, the meaning of "falling and colliding" (تساقطت) implies a breakdown of the precise gravitational balance that holds them in their courses.
Emphasizing the Magnitude
The linguistic structure of this verse, and others in this sequence (e.g., "إذا الشَّمْسُ كُوِّرَتْ"), begins with "إذا" (when), followed by the subject (like "الشمس" - the sun, or "النُّجُومُ" - the stars), and *then* the verb describing what happens to them. As Ibn Ashur points out, this particular word order emphasizes the very entity itself, *the stars*, and their immense significance in undergoing such a drastic change. It's not just "when stars fall," but "when *the stars*, those magnificent, seemingly eternal lights, fall and dim." This emphasis is a rhetorical device used to instill fear and anticipation, making the listener truly grasp the scale of the impending Day of Judgment and the power of the One who ordains these changes.
Through this powerful wording, Allah reminds us that the vast, seemingly stable universe we know is entirely at His command. Every star, every celestial body, is subject to His will, and their ultimate fate is tied to the grand unfolding of the Day of Accountability. This reflection serves to humble us and prepare our hearts for that inevitable reality.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah At-Takwir 81:2 is discussed in 5 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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