Surah At-Tariq 86:1
سُورَةُ الطَّارِقِ · Meccan · Verse 1 of 17
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ وَٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلطَّارِقِ
Translation
By the sky and the night-comer––
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
Surah Al-Tariq opens with a powerful oath from Allah, drawing our attention to two magnificent creations: the heavens and a mysterious "Night-Comer." When Allah takes an oath by something, it's not just a linguistic formality, but an invitation to ponder the profound significance of what He swears by, foreshadowing a great truth to follow.
The Power of Oath
The opening word, وَٱلسَّمَآءِ (Wa al-Sama'), translates to "By the heaven." The Arabic letter 'waw' (و) here functions as an oath, similar to saying "I swear by." The heaven, a vast and visible sign of Allah's power, is a recurring object of such oaths in the Quran, instantly reminding us of His majesty.
The Mysterious Night-Comer
Next, Allah swears by وَٱلطَّارِقِ (Wa al-Tariq), meaning "and the Night-Comer." This word choice is particularly striking. The term الطارق (al-Tariq) itself refers to anything that comes at night. As scholars like Ibn Ashur explain, it originates from the custom of a traveler arriving at night who would "knock" (طرق, from which Tariq derives) to announce their presence. This imagery immediately conjures a sense of an unexpected, yet significant, arrival.
Instead of directly naming a specific celestial body, Allah uses this evocative, somewhat ambiguous term. This deliberate choice creates a sense of wonder and anticipation. Al-Zamakhshari notes that this phrasing, followed by the question in the next verse, "And what will make you know what the Night-Comer is?", serves to magnify the importance and status of this Night-Comer, piquing our curiosity about its nature. It’s as if Allah wants us to deeply ponder its identity before revealing it, emphasizing its extraordinary creation. The very word "Tariq" highlights its nightly appearance, making its presence distinct and noteworthy within the vast canvas of the night sky.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah At-Tariq 86:1 is discussed in 4 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah At-Tariq 86:1 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.