Surah Al-Infitar 82:2
سُورَةُ الانفِطَارِ · Meccan · Verse 2 of 19
وَإِذَا ٱلْكَوَاكِبُ ٱنتَثَرَتْ
Translation
when the stars are scattered,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse, "وَإِذَا ٱلْكَوَاكِبُ ٱنتَثَرَتْ" (And when the stars are scattered), paints a powerful picture of the universe's dramatic end, signaling the imminent Day of Judgment. It is one of a sequence of verses, each beginning with "إذا" (when), which create a sense of mounting anticipation and certainty for these awe-inspiring events.
The Word's Deep Meaning
The Arabic word `ٱنتَثَرَتْ` (intatharat) for "scattered" holds profound meaning. Al-Jalalayn simplifies it to "fell and dropped," suggesting a chaotic descent of celestial bodies. Imam al-Razi expands on this, explaining that when the heavens lose their structure, the stars will inevitably scatter onto the Earth.
Ibn Ashur delves deeper into the essence of `انتثرت`, explaining it means the opposite of gathering or compacting; it's like throwing things on the ground in a dispersed manner. For the stars, which currently appear fixed and orderly in their paths, this word implies a complete breaking apart of their known arrangements. They will lose their places in their orbits, appearing disturbed and erratic in space. This terrifying imagery, Ibn Ashur notes, points to the "disruption of gravitational force" that currently maintains the order of our solar system.
A Message for Reflection
The choice of `انتثرت` is not merely descriptive; it's a profound reminder of Allah's absolute power. We observe the stars in their majestic, predictable courses, a symbol of cosmic order and stability. Yet, this verse reveals that this very order is fragile and temporary, held together by Allah's command alone. The scattering of stars signifies a collapse of all familiar structure, leaving no doubt that a new, ultimate reality is at hand. This vivid description prepares our hearts and minds for the verse that follows, where every soul will come to know what it has sent forth and what it has left behind.
Source: al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Muyassar plain meaning.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-Infitar 82:2 is discussed in 3 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-Infitar 82:2 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.