Surah At-Takwir 81:7
سُورَةُ التَّكۡوِيرِ · Meccan · Verse 7 of 29
وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ
Translation
when souls are sorted into classes,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah At-Takwir begins with a powerful sequence of "when" statements, painting a vivid picture of the universe undergoing cataclysmic changes on the Day of Judgment. Amidst these awe-inspiring transformations, Allah says: "وَإِذَا ٱلنُّفُوسُ زُوِّجَتْ" (Wa idhan-nufūsu zuwwijat). This verse translates to, "And when the souls are paired." It describes a pivotal moment when the very essence of human existence is brought back into order for accountability.
The Meaning of 'Paired'
The Arabic word "زُوِّجَتْ" (zuwwijat) comes from the root `zawj`, meaning a pair, a spouse, or something joined with another. Here, it is used in the passive voice, signifying that this pairing is an act decreed and carried out by Allah. The verse doesn't explicitly state *what* the souls are paired with, and this intentional absence invites us to reflect on several profound meanings.
Souls with Bodies
The most immediate and widely understood meaning, according to scholars like al-Jalalayn and Ibn Ashur, is the reunion of souls with their bodies. After death, the soul departs from the body. On the Day of Judgment, as a first step in the resurrection, these souls will be rejoined with the bodies they inhabited in the worldly life. This powerful re-pairing restores each individual to a complete state, ready for judgment and recompense. It signifies the commencement of the afterlife, as Ibn Ashur notes, following the six events of worldly dissolution.
Souls with Their Deeds and Kindred
Another profound interpretation, highlighted by scholars like al-Razi and Ibn Ashur, suggests that souls will be "paired" or grouped according to their deeds, their beliefs, and the company they kept. This means:
* With their actions: Each soul will be presented with and joined to its good or evil deeds. As al-Zajaj mentioned, the souls are "paired with their deeds," meaning their life's work becomes intrinsically linked to them.
* With their kind: The righteous will be paired with the righteous, the believers with the believers, and similarly, the disbelievers with the disbelievers and the wicked with the wicked. This is akin to the categorization mentioned in Surah Al-Waqi'ah, where humanity is divided into three kinds. Some interpretations even extend this to believers' souls being paired with the pure companions of Paradise (Houris) and disbelievers' souls with devils.
The power of "زُوِّجَتْ" lies in its concise yet comprehensive nature. By leaving the object of pairing unsaid, the verse encompasses both the physical re-assembly of human beings (souls to bodies) and their spiritual categorization based on their life's choices. It prepares us for the ultimate conclusion of this sequence of events: "عَلِمَتْ نَفْسٌ ما أَحْضَرَتْ" (every soul will know what it has brought forth). This pairing is the moment where our identity, actions, and destiny become irrevocably intertwined.
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 81:7 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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